Leviticus 5:14-19

The Restitution Offering

14 Then the Lord spoke to Moses:
15 "If someone offends by sinning unintentionally in regard to any of the Lord's holy things,[a] he must bring his restitution offering[b] to the Lord: an unblemished ram from the flock by your valuation in silver shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel, as a restitution offering.
16 He must make restitution for his sin regarding any holy thing, adding a fifth of its value to it, and give it to the priest. Then the priest will make atonement on his behalf with the ram of the restitution offering, and he will be forgiven.[c]
17 "If someone sins and without knowing [it] violates any of the Lord's commands concerning anything prohibited, he bears the consequences of his guilt.
18 He must bring an unblemished ram from the flock according to your valuation as a restitution offering to the priest. Then the priest will make atonement on his behalf for the error he has committed unintentionally, and he will be forgiven.
19 It is a restitution offering; he is indeed guilty before the Lord."

Leviticus 5:14-19 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.

Footnotes 3

  • [a]. Things dedicated to the Lord such as tabernacle furnishings, priestly portions of the sacrifices, tenths, firstfruits, and firstborn livestock
  • [b]. Lv 7:1-7; Isa 53:10
  • [c]. Lv 4:20,26,31,35; 6:7
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