Leviticus chapter six details further laws concerning offerings and priestly duties. It begins by outlining the restitution and trespass offering required for sins committed against a neighbour, emphasizing restoration of what was taken plus an additional fifth part. The chapter then provides specific instructions for the priests regarding the burnt offering, including the maintenance of the perpetual altar fire. Finally, it details the laws for the meat offering and the sin offering, specifying how they are to be prepared, consumed by the priests, and handled due to their extreme holiness.
If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the LORD, and lie unto his neighbour in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbour;
Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found,
Or all that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering.
And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD, a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest:
And the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD: and it shall be forgiven him for any thing of all that he hath done in trespassing therein.
Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt offering: It is the burnt offering, because of the burning upon the altar all night unto the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be burning in it.
And the priest shall put on his linen garment, and his linen breeches shall he put upon his flesh, and take up the ashes which the fire hath consumed with the burnt offering on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar.
And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings.
And he shall take of it his handful, of the flour of the meat offering, and of the oil thereof, and all the frankincense which is upon the meat offering, and shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savour, even the memorial of it, unto the LORD.
And the remainder thereof shall Aaron and his sons eat: with unleavened bread shall it be eaten in the holy place; in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation they shall eat it.
It shall not be baken with leaven. I have given it unto them for their portion of my offerings made by fire; it is most holy, as is the sin offering, and as the trespass offering.
All the males among the children of Aaron shall eat of it. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations concerning the offerings of the LORD made by fire: every one that toucheth them shall be holy.
This is the offering of Aaron and of his sons, which they shall offer unto the LORD in the day when he is anointed; the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a meat offering perpetual, half of it in the morning, and half thereof at night.
In a pan it shall be made with oil; and when it is baken, thou shalt bring it in: and the baken pieces of the meat offering shalt thou offer for a sweet savour unto the LORD.
Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, saying, This is the law of the sin offering: In the place where the burnt offering is killed shall the sin offering be killed before the LORD: it is most holy.
Whatsoever shall touch the flesh thereof shall be holy: and when there is sprinkled of the blood thereof upon any garment, thou shalt wash that whereon it was sprinkled in the holy place.
And no sin offering, whereof any of the blood is brought into the tabernacle of the congregation to reconcile withal in the holy place, shall be eaten: it shall be burnt in the fire.
Study Notes for Leviticus 6
Verse 2
This section concludes the law of the trespass offering (Asham), specifically addressing sins of misappropriation, theft, or deceit where a neighbor is financially harmed. The focus is on violating trust.
Verse 5
Crucially, atonement requires not only the restoration of the principal amount stolen or withheld, but also a penalty of one-fifth (20%) added. This ensures justice is served before spiritual forgiveness is granted.
Verse 7
The priest makes atonement only after the required restitution (v. 5) and the offering (v. 6) are presented. This sequence demonstrates that true repentance involves righting the wrong done to one’s neighbor.
Verse 8
This marks the beginning of a new major section (Lev 6:8–7:38), known as the 'Torah of the Offerings,' which details the specific procedures and priestly prerogatives for handling the sacrifices.
Verse 9
The burnt offering (Olah) must burn throughout the night. This continuous burning symbolized the complete, uninterrupted dedication of the worshiper to the LORD.
Verse 10
The priest must wear specific sacred linen garments when handling the holy ashes, emphasizing the necessity of ritual purity even during the mundane task of cleaning the altar.
Verse 12
The fire on the altar was considered sacred, having been initially ignited by divine fire (Lev 9:24). The priests were commanded to continuously maintain this sacred fire, symbolizing God’s constant presence and acceptance.
Verse 13
The requirement that the fire 'shall ever be burning' (perpetual fire) highlights the continuous readiness required of the priests and the constant need for atonement and communion with God.
Verse 16
Unlike the burnt offering (which was wholly consumed), the priests received the remainder of the grain offering as their sustenance. It had to be eaten in the sacred precincts due to its holiness.
Verse 17
The Grain Offering is designated 'most holy' (qodesh qodeshim), placing it on the same level of sanctity as the sin and trespass offerings, requiring strict handling and consumption only by consecrated priests.
Verse 20
This describes a mandatory perpetual offering required of the High Priest, offered daily (half in the morning, half at night). It served as a personal dedication ritual upon his anointing.
Verse 23
The Grain Offering of the priest must be entirely burned and not eaten. Priests were forbidden from consuming offerings made for their own behalf or atonement, ensuring integrity in their service.
Verse 25
The Sin Offering (Hattat) is also designated 'most holy.' It was slaughtered in the same location as the burnt offering, emphasizing the seriousness and immediate necessity of dealing with sin.
Verse 27
This verse addresses the 'contagious' nature of holiness. Anything that touches the sacrificial flesh becomes holy, necessitating careful washing or destruction of vessels to manage the sacred substance.
Verse 30
This provides a critical exception: if the blood of the sin offering was taken into the Holy Place (the Tent of Meeting) for reconciliation (as on the Day of Atonement), the flesh could not be eaten by the priests but had to be burned outside the camp.
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