Leviticus 5:1-7

The Law of Guilt Offerings

1 'Now if a person sins after he hears a public 1adjuration to testify when he is a witness, whether he has seen or otherwise known, if he does not tell it, then he will bear his guilt.
2 'Or if a person touches 2any unclean thing, whether a carcass of an unclean beast or the carcass of unclean cattle or a carcass of unclean swarming things, though it is hidden from him and he is unclean, then he will be guilty.
3 'Or if he touches human uncleanness, of whatever sort his uncleanness may be with which he becomes unclean, and it is hidden from him, and then he comes to know it, he will be guilty.
4 'Or if a person 3swears thoughtlessly with his lips to do evil or to do good, in whatever * matter a man may speak thoughtlessly with an oath, and it is hidden from him, and then he comes to know it, he will be guilty in one of these.
5 'So it shall be when he becomes guilty in one of these, that he shall 4confess that in which he has sinned.
6 'He shall also bring his guilt offering to the LORD for his sin which he has committed, 5a female from the flock, a lamb or a goat * as a sin offering. So the priest shall make atonement on his behalf for his sin.
7 'But if he cannot afford * a lamb, then he shall bring to the LORD his guilt offering for that in which he has sinned, two turtledoves or two young pigeons, 6one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering.

Leviticus 5:1-7 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO LEVITICUS 5

This chapter treats of the trespass offering, points at the sins for which it was to be made, and the matter of it; it was for secret sins, and sins of ignorance, such as refusing to bear witness in a known case, Le 5:1 touching unclean things and false swearing, Le 5:2-4 the things directed to in such cases are confession, Le 5:5 sacrifice of a lamb, or kid of the goats, Le 5:6 and in case of poverty, two turtle doves, or two young pigeons; concerning the offering of which instructions are given, Le 5:7-10 and if not able to bring them, then a meat offering of fine flour, about which rules are laid down, Le 5:11-13 and for sins committed through ignorance in holy things or sacrileges, the sacrifice of a ram is enjoined, and satisfaction ordered to be made for the injury done in the holy thing, by adding a fifth part to it, Le 5:14-16 and for sins committed ignorantly against negative precepts, only a ram is appointed for the trespass offering, Le 5:17-19.

Cross References 6

  • 1. Proverbs 29:24; Jeremiah 23:10
  • 2. Lev 11:8, 11, 24-40; Numbers 19:11-16; Deuteronomy 14:8
  • 3. Numbers 30:6, 8; Psalms 106:33
  • 4. Leviticus 16:21; Leviticus 26:40; Numbers 5:7; Proverbs 28:13
  • 5. Leviticus 4:28, 32
  • 6. Leviticus 12:6, 8; Leviticus 14:22, 30, 31

Footnotes 5

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