Leviticus 5:4-13

4 or if anyone thoughtlessly takes an oath to do anything, whether good or evil (in any matter one might carelessly swear about) even though they are unaware of it, but then they learn of it and realize their guilt—

5 when anyone becomes aware that they are guilty in any of these matters, they must confess in what way they have sinned.

6 As a penalty for the sin they have committed, they must bring to the LORD a female lamb or goat from the flock as a sin offering^[a] ; and the priest shall make atonement for them for their sin.

7 “ ‘Anyone who cannot afford a lamb is to bring two doves or two young pigeons to the LORD as a penalty for their sin—one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering.

8 They are to bring them to the priest, who shall first offer the one for the sin offering. He is to wring its head from its neck, not dividing it completely,

9 and is to splash some of the blood of the sin offering against the side of the altar; the rest of the blood must be drained out at the base of the altar. It is a sin offering.

10 The priest shall then offer the other as a burnt offering in the prescribed way and make atonement for them for the sin they have committed, and they will be forgiven.

11 “ ‘If, however, they cannot afford two doves or two young pigeons, they are to bring as an offering for their sin a tenth of an ephah^[b] of the finest flour for a sin offering. They must not put olive oil or incense on it, because it is a sin offering.

12 They are to bring it to the priest, who shall take a handful of it as a memorial^[c] portion and burn it on the altar on top of the food offerings presented to the LORD. It is a sin offering.

13 In this way the priest will make atonement for them for any of these sins they have committed, and they will be forgiven. The rest of the offering will belong to the priest, as in the case of the grain offering.’ ”

Leviticus 5:4-13 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

• 1. Numbers 30:6,8
• 2. Isaiah 41:23
• 3. Leviticus 16:21; Leviticus 26:40; Numbers 5:7; Joshua 7:19; 1 Kings 8:47; Proverbs 28:13
• 4. S Leviticus 1:10; S Leviticus 4:3
• 5. S Leviticus 4:28
• 6. S Exodus 32:30
• 7. ver 11; Leviticus 12:8; Leviticus 14:21; Leviticus 27:8
• 8. Leviticus 12:8; Leviticus 14:22,30
• 9. S Genesis 15:9; Numbers 6:10
• 10. Leviticus 1:15
• 11. Leviticus 1:17
• 12. S Exodus 24:6
• 13. Leviticus 1:15
• 14. S Leviticus 4:7; Leviticus 4:7,18
• 15. Leviticus 1:14-17; 1 Chronicles 15:13
• 16. S Exodus 32:30
• 17. S Leviticus 4:26
• 18. S ver 7
• 19. S Genesis 15:9
• 20. S Exodus 16:36
• 21. S Leviticus 2:1
• 22. S Leviticus 2:2
• 23. Leviticus 2:9
• 24. S Exodus 32:30; Leviticus 4:26
• 25. Leviticus 2:3
• 26. S Exodus 29:41

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "purification offering" ; here and throughout this chapter
• [b]. That is, probably about 3 1/2 pounds or about 1.6 kilograms
• [c]. Or "representative"