Leviticus 5:1-6

1 “ ‘If anyone sins because they do not speak up when they hear a public charge to testify regarding something they have seen or learned about, they will be held responsible.

2 “ ‘If anyone becomes aware that they are guilty—if they unwittingly touch anything ceremonially unclean (whether the carcass of an unclean animal, wild or domestic, or of any unclean creature that moves along the ground) and they are unaware that they have become unclean, but then they come to realize their guilt;

3 or if they touch human uncleanness (anything that would make them unclean) even though they are unaware of it, but then they learn of it and realize their guilt;

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.

Leviticus 5:1-6 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. Proverbs 29:24; Matthew 26:63
• 2. ver 17; S Exodus 28:38; Leviticus 7:18; Leviticus 17:16; Leviticus 19:8; Leviticus 20:17; Leviticus 24:15; Numbers 5:31; Numbers 9:13; Numbers 15:31; Numbers 19:20; Numbers 30:15
• 3. Lev 11:11,24-40; Deuteronomy 14:8; Isaiah 52:11
• 4. ver 3; Leviticus 7:21; Leviticus 11:8,24; Leviticus 13:45; Numbers 19:22; Job 15:16; Psalms 51:5; Isaiah 6:5; Isaiah 64:6; Ezekiel 36:17; Haggai 2:13
• 5. Numbers 19:11-16
• 6. Leviticus 7:20; Leviticus 11:25; Leviticus 14:19; Leviticus 21:1; Numbers 5:2; Numbers 9:6; Numbers 19:7; Ezekiel 44:25
• 7. Numbers 30:6,8
• 8. Isaiah 41:23
• 9. Leviticus 16:21; Leviticus 26:40; Numbers 5:7; Joshua 7:19; 1 Kings 8:47; Proverbs 28:13
• 10. S Leviticus 1:10; S Leviticus 4:3
• 11. S Leviticus 4:28
• 12. S Exodus 32:30

Footnotes

• [a] Or "purification offering" ; here and throughout this chapter