Leviticus 5:3-13

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.)

8 And he shall give those to the priest, which shall offer the first for [the] sin, and shall fold again the head thereof to the wings, so that it cleave to the neck, and be not broken utterly. (And he shall give them to the priest, who shall offer the first for a sin offering; and he shall fold back its head to its wings, but it shall still cleave to the neck, and not be broken completely off.)

9 And the priest shall sprinkle the wall of the altar, of the blood thereof; soothly whatever is residue, he shall make to drop down at the foundament of the altar, for it is for sin. (And the priest shall sprinkle the side of the altar with some of its blood; and whatever is left, he shall pour out at the foundation, or at the base, of the altar, for it is a sin offering.)

10 Soothly he shall burn the tother bird into burnt sacrifice, as it is wont to be done; and the priest shall pray for him, and for his sin, and it shall be forgiven to him. (And he shall burn the other bird for a burnt sacrifice, as it is wont to be done; and the priest shall pray for him, and for his sin, and he shall be forgiven.)

11 That if his hand for poverty may not offer two turtles, either two birds of culvers, he shall offer for his sin the tenth part of ephah of tried wheat flour; he shall not put oil into it, neither he shall put anything of incense, for it is for sin. (But if for poverty, his hand cannot find two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, to offer, he shall offer the tenth part of an ephah of fine wheat flour for a sin offering; he shall not put any oil on it, nor shall he put any frankincense on it, for it is a sin offering.)

12 And he shall give it to the priest, which priest shall take up an handful thereof, and shall burn it on the altar, into mind of him that offered it (as a token that all of it hath been offered to the Lord),

13 and the priest shall pray for him, and cleanse him; forsooth the priest shall have the tother part into gift. (and the priest shall pray for his cleansing, and he shall be forgiven; and the priest shall have the other part for a gift, as it is with the grain offering.)

Leviticus 5:3-13 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.