Leviticus 5

Leviticus 5 continues the laws regarding sin offerings and guilt offerings, emphasizing unintentional sins and specific circumstances where an individual becomes unclean or guilty before God. It addresses various types of offenses, including failure to testify, touching unclean things, and making rash oaths. This chapter provides guidance on how to atone for these sins, offering both general principles and specific instructions.

Leviticus 5:1-5 (NKJV)
1 If a person sins in hearing the utterance of an oath, and is a witness, whether he has seen or known of the matter—if he does not tell it, he bears guilt.
2 Or if a person touches any unclean thing, whether it is the carcass of an unclean beast, or the carcass of unclean livestock, or the carcass of unclean creeping things, and he is unaware of it, he also shall be unclean and guilty.
3 Or if he touches human uncleanness—whatever uncleanness with which a man may be defiled, and he is unaware of it—when he realizes it, then he shall be guilty.
4 Or if a person swears, speaking thoughtlessly with his lips to do evil or to do good, whatever it is that a man may pronounce by an oath, and he is unaware of it—when he realizes it, then he shall be guilty in any of these matters.
5 And it shall be, when he is guilty in any of these matters, that he shall confess that he has sinned in that thing.

These verses outline various ways in which a person can become guilty, including failing to testify about an oath, touching something unclean, or making a rash vow. Even if the person was initially unaware of their guilt, they are still accountable once they realize their wrongdoing. The key point here is that guilt is tied to awareness, and confession is the first step toward atonement. This stresses personal responsibility for one's actions, even unintentional ones, and the need to be cleansed before God.

Leviticus 5:6 (NKJV)
6 And he shall bring his trespass offering to the Lord for his sin which he has committed, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats as a sin offering. So the priest shall make atonement for him concerning his sin.

Once the person has confessed their sin, they must bring a trespass offering, which is typically a lamb or a goat. The priest acts as a mediator between the person and God, offering the sacrifice to make atonement. This demonstrates that sin requires a substitutionary offering and that atonement must be made through the shedding of blood, reflecting the seriousness of sin in God’s sight.

Leviticus 5:7-10 (NKJV)
7 If he is not able to bring a lamb, then he shall bring to the Lord for his trespass which he has committed two turtledoves or two young pigeons: one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering.
8 And he shall bring them to the priest, who shall offer that which is for the sin offering first, and wring off its head from its neck, but shall not divide it completely.
9 Then he shall sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering on the side of the altar, and the rest of the blood shall be drained out at the base of the altar. It is a sin offering.
10 And he shall offer the second as a burnt offering according to the prescribed manner. So the priest shall make atonement on his behalf for his sin which he has committed, and it shall be forgiven him.

For those who cannot afford a lamb, God provides a more accessible option: two birds, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. This shows God’s fairness and mercy in making atonement possible for everyone, regardless of economic status. The procedure involves sprinkling the blood of the sin offering on the altar, symbolizing cleansing from sin, and the priest’s role is again central to making atonement and securing forgiveness.

Leviticus 5:11-13 (NKJV)
11 But if he is not able to bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons, then he who sinned shall bring for his offering one-tenth of an ephah of fine flour as a sin offering. He shall put no oil on it, nor shall he put frankincense on it, for it is a sin offering.
12 Then he shall bring it to the priest, and the priest shall take his handful of it as a memorial portion, and burn it on the altar according to the offerings made by fire to the Lord. It is a sin offering.
13 The priest shall make atonement for him, for his sin that he has committed in any of these matters; and it shall be forgiven him. The rest shall be the priest’s as a grain offering.

For those who are too poor to offer even two birds, a grain offering of fine flour is acceptable. Unlike other grain offerings, no oil or frankincense is added because this is a sin offering, not a fellowship or thanksgiving offering. The priest burns a portion of the flour as a memorial before God, and the remainder is kept by the priest. This provision emphasizes God's desire for atonement over ritual and makes a way for everyone to receive forgiveness, regardless of wealth.

Leviticus 5:14-16 (NKJV)
14 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
15 “If a person commits a trespass, and sins unintentionally in regard to the holy things of the Lord, then he shall bring to the Lord as his trespass offering a ram without blemish from the flocks, with your valuation in shekels of silver according to the shekel of the sanctuary, as a trespass offering.
16 And he shall make restitution for the harm that he has done in regard to the holy thing, and shall add one-fifth to it and give it to the priest. So the priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering, and it shall be forgiven him.

These verses introduce the concept of a trespass offering for sins against sacred things. If a person unintentionally violates something holy (such as misusing sacred property), they must offer a ram and also make restitution by repaying the value of the damage, plus 20 percent. This highlights the importance of respecting God's holiness and shows that even unintentional sins against sacred things must be corrected with both atonement and restitution.

Leviticus 5:17-19 (NKJV)
17 “If a person sins, and commits any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the Lord, though he does not know it, yet he is guilty and shall bear his iniquity.
18 And he shall bring to the priest a ram without blemish from the flock, with your valuation, as a trespass offering. So the priest shall make atonement for him regarding his ignorance in which he erred and did not know it, and it shall be forgiven him.
19 It is a trespass offering; he has certainly trespassed against the Lord.”

This section addresses unintentional sins, even when the person is unaware they have sinned. Once they become aware, they must still make atonement by offering a ram. The principle of guilt is tied to the violation of God’s commandments, whether knowingly or unknowingly. This underscores the seriousness of sin, regardless of intent, and the need for atonement through sacrifice to maintain a right relationship with God.