Leviticuschapter 5

19 verses · ASV

This chapter sends 224 cross-references outward and receives 155 — heaviest partner: Leviticus.

Chapter summary

The trespass offering continues the sin-offering law. A witness who refuses to testify; one who touches an unclean thing or a dead body; one who swears rashly — each brings a trespass offering, with a graduated scale of victims down to two turtledoves or two young pigeons, and for the very poor a tenth part of an ephah of fine flour (without oil or frankincense, as befits a sin offering). Restitution for sanctuary trespass adds a fifth and pays in a ram without blemish. The chapter's care is pastoral: no Israelite, rich or poor, is beyond the reach of atonement.

Drafted from Matthew Henry, Calvin, Gill, Clarke, JFB, and Barnes.

Context

Law · Moses — see the Leviticus overview for the book's full setting.

1 And if any one sin, in that he heareth the voice of adjuration, he being a witness, whether he hath seen or known, if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity.

2 Or if any one touch any unclean thing, whether it be the carcass of an unclean beast, or the carcass of unclean cattle, or the carcass of unclean creeping things, and it be hidden from him, and he be unclean, then he shall be guilty.

3 Or if he touch the uncleanness of man, whatsoever his uncleanness be wherewith he is unclean, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty.

4 Or if any one swear rashly with his lips to do evil, or to do good, whatsoever it be that a man shall utter rashly with an oath, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty in one of these things.

5 And it shall be, when he shall be guilty in one of these things, that he shall confess that wherein he hath sinned:

6 and he shall bring his trespass-offering unto Jehovah for his sin which he hath sinned, a female from the flock, a lamb or a goat, for a sin-offering; and the priest shall make atonement for him as concerning his sin.

7 And if his means suffice not for a lamb, then he shall bring his trespass-offering for that wherein he hath sinned, two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, unto Jehovah; one for a sin-offering, and the other for a burnt-offering.

8 And he shall bring them unto 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 asunder:

9 and he shall sprinkle of the blood of the sin-offering upon 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.