Leviticus 5:1-7

1 If a soul, that is, (a) man, sinneth, and heareth the voice of an oath, and is (a) witness, that is, (is) required to bear witnessing of a thing that he knoweth, for either he saw, either is witting, if he showeth (it) not, but hideth the truth, he shall bear his sin. (If someone taketh an oath, for he is a witness, for either he saw, or heard, or knoweth something, but if he hideth the truth, and telleth it not, he sinneth, and he shall bear his sin.)

2 A person that toucheth any unclean thing, or which is slain of a beast, either is dead by itself, either toucheth any other creeping beast, and forgetteth his uncleanness, he is guilty, and trespasseth. (A person who toucheth any unclean thing, such as the dead body of an unclean beast killed by another beast, or one which dieth naturally, or the body of an unclean creeping beast, that is, an unclean reptile, and forgetteth its uncleanness, he is guilty, and trespasseth.)

3 And if he toucheth anything of the uncleanness of man, by all the uncleanness by which he is wont to be defouled (Or if he toucheth anything of the uncleanness of man, by all the uncleanness by which he is wont to be defiled), and he forgetteth it, and knoweth this afterward, he shall be subject to that trespass.

4 A soul that sweareth (Anyone who maketh an oath), and bringeth forth with his lips, that he should do either evil, or well, and doeth it not, and confirmeth the same thing with an oath, either with a word, and forgetteth what he swore, or said, and afterward understandeth his trespass,

5 do he penance for his sin,

6 and offer he of the flocks a female lamb, either a goat, (for a sin offering); and the priest shall pray for him, and for his sin.

7 But if he may not offer a beast, offer he two turtles, either two birds of culvers to the Lord, one for [the] sin, and the tother into burnt sacrifice. (And if he cannot offer such a beast, offer he two turtledoves, or two young pigeons to the Lord, one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt sacrifice.)

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.