Vayikra 5:15

15 If a nefesh commit a ma’al (trespass), and sin through ignorance (unintentionally), in the holy things of Hashem; then he shall bring for his asham unto Hashem a ram tamim [see Gn 22:13 on the vicarious aspect of the substitutionary atonement and compare Isa 53:5,8] out of the flocks, with thy estimation by shekels of kesef, after the Shekel HaKodesh (the Shekel of the Sanctuary), for an asham (trespass or guilt offering).

Vayikra 5:15 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 5:15

If a soul commit a trespass, and sin through ignorance in
the holy things of the Lord
In the payment of tithes, or offering first fruits as he ought, by withholding them, or any part of them, or through eating of sacred things he ought not:

then shall he bring for his trespass unto the Lord;
for it being a trespass in holy things, it might be properly called a trespass to or against the Lord; unless this is rather to be understood of the offering brought to the Lord for his trespass as follows:

a ram without blemish out of the flocks;
out of the sheep and not the goats, as Ben Gersom observes; and this being for sacrifice, or for a trespass in holy things though ignorantly done, an offering of more value is required than for sins of ignorance in other cases, ( Leviticus 5:6 ) a type of Christ, who for his strength may be compared to a ram, and to one without blemish, for his purity and holiness, and to a choice one, selected out of the flock, for his being chosen out from among the people:

with thy estimation by shekels of silver, after the shekel of the
sanctuary, for a trespass offering;
that is, either an estimation was to be taken of the damage done in the holy things, an account of which was to be brought along with the ram, and the cost paid; or else the ram brought was to be of the value of, or worth shekels of silver; and the least of many being two, as Aben Ezra and Ben Gersom observe, the sense is, that the ram brought for the trespass offering should be at least worth two shekels of silver; so Jarchi and Ben Gersom.

Vayikra 5:15 In-Context

13 And the kohen shall make kapporah for him as touching his chattat (sin) that he hath sinned in one of these, and it shall be forgiven him; and the remnant shall be the kohen’s, like the minchah.
14 And Hashem spoke unto Moshe, saying,
15 If a nefesh commit a ma’al (trespass), and sin through ignorance (unintentionally), in the holy things of Hashem; then he shall bring for his asham unto Hashem a ram tamim [see Gn 22:13 on the vicarious aspect of the substitutionary atonement and compare Isa 53:5,8] out of the flocks, with thy estimation by shekels of kesef, after the Shekel HaKodesh (the Shekel of the Sanctuary), for an asham (trespass or guilt offering).
16 And he shall make restitution in regard to the holy thing in which he was remiss, and shall add the fifth part thereto, and give it unto the kohen; and the kohen shall make kapporah for him with the ram of the asham (trespass offering), and it shall be forgiven him.
17 And if a nefesh sin, and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the mitzvot Hashem; though he know it not, yet he is guilty, and shall bear his avon (iniquity).
The Orthodox Jewish Bible fourth edition, OJB. Copyright 2002,2003,2008,2010, 2011 by Artists for Israel International. All rights reserved.