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LEVITICUS 5:1-6:7
(MT 5:1-26)

PARAGRAPH DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

 NASB  NKJV  NRSV  TEV  NJB
The Law of the Guilt Offerings The Trespass Offering The Sin Offering (4:1-5:13) Cases Requiring Sin Offerings Some Cases of Sacrifice for Sin
5:1-6 5:1-10 5:1-6 5:1 5:1
5:2 5:2
5:3 5:3
5:4 5:4
5:5-6 5:5-6
Sins of Private Individuals
5:7-10 5:7-10 5:7-10 5:7-10
5:11-13 5:11-13 5:11-13 5:11-13 5:11-13
Offerings with Restitution The Guilt Offering (5:14-6:7) Repayment Offerings (5:14-6:7) The Sacrifice of Reparation
5:14-16 5:14-16 5:14-16 5:14-16 5:14
5:15-16
5:17-19 5:17-19 5:17-19 5:17-6:7 5:17-19
Guilt Offering
6:1-7 6:1-7 6:1-7 6:1-7 5:20
5:21
5:22
5:23-26

READING CYCLE THREE (see "Bible Interpretation Seminar")
FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT THE PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects. Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.
  1. First paragraph
  2. Second paragraph
  3. Etc.

CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS

  1. Summary of what happened to the offerings.
    1. all of the animal burned on the altar, Leviticus 1
    2. small part of the grain/cereal offering burned on the altar; remaining used for priests' food, Leviticus 2
    3. all internal fat and blood given to YHWH but some meat given to
      1. priest
      2. offerer
      3. symbolically to YHWH, Leviticus 3
    4. all internal fat and blood given to YHWH but large portion of meat given to the priests, Leviticus 4-5

  2. Brief outline of this literary unit (i.e., Lev. 5:1-6:7)
    1. witness who refuses to testify, Lev. 5:1,5; 6:5
    2. touching an unclean thing, Lev. 5:3,5
    3. rash oath/vow, Lev. 5:4-5
    4. fraud/theft, Lev. 6:2-4

  3. Distinction between intentional and unintentional sin
    1. unintentional sins against YHWH, Lev. 4:1-35; 5:14-19
    2. intentional sins against a covenant brother, Lev. 5:1-13; 6:1-7
     For definition of "unintentional" see full note at Lev. 4:2 and SPECIAL TOPIC: UNINTENTIONAL SINS.

  4. Since the destruction of the temple in A.D. 70 by Titus, it has been impossible to perform the rituals of sacrifice. The rabbis have had to interpret them in symbolic, allegorical, or typological ways. These rituals are simply historical information!

WORD AND PHRASE STUDY

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 5:1-6
  1"Now if a person sins after he hears a public adjuration to testify when he is a witness, whether he has seen or otherwise known, if he does not tell it, then he will bear his guilt. 2Or if a person touches any unclean thing, whether a carcass of an unclean beast or the carcass of unclean cattle or a carcass of unclean swarming things, though it is hidden from him and he is unclean, then he will be guilty. 3Or if he touches human uncleanness, of whatever sort his uncleanness may be with which he becomes unclean, and it is hidden from him, and then he comes to know it, he will be guilty. 4Or if a person swears thoughtlessly with his lips to do evil or to do good, in whatever matter a man may speak thoughtlessly with an oath, and it is hidden from him, and then he comes to know it, he will be guilty in one of these. 5So it shall be when he becomes guilty in one of these, that he shall confess that in which he has sinned. 6He shall also bring his guilt offering to the Lord for his sin which he has committed, a female from the flock, a lamb or a goat as a sin offering. So the priest shall make atonement on his behalf for his sin."

5:1 It was crucial in a society which was meant to reflect YHWH's character to an unbelieving world that fairness, honesty, and transparency be demonstrated between covenant partners.
Leviticus 5:1, 5 and 6:4 all deal with public, legal testimony.
If a person lied in court he/she was held responsible for the crime they lied or were silent about. If it was a death penalty case, then they were put to death (cf. Deut. 19:16-21). If it was a property case, they must make restitution "plus."

▣
NASB, NRSV  "a public adjuration"
NKJV, LXX  "the utterance of an oath"
TEV  "officially summoned"
NJB  "the formal adjuration"
JPSOA  "a public imprecation"
REB  "a solemn adjuration"
Peshitta  "a voice of swearingt"
This phrase (BDB 876 CONSTRUCT BDB 46) may imply
  1. a witness heard something (i.e., Pro. 29:24)
  2. a judge pronounced a curse on the one who does not come forward and testify (cf. Num. 5:21)
  3. the LXX may refer to an idolatrous oath (Targum Neofiti)

5:2 "any unclean thing" In this context it refers to an "unclean" animal (cf. Leviticus 11; Deut. 14:8), but it could refer to a dead human body (cf. Lev. 5:3; Num. 6:6-12; 19:11-16). This was a way to show the pollution caused by "unclean things." The book of Leviticus is about "purity," which was so important in the Mosaic covenant. Their preoccupation with "ceremonial" impurity/uncleanness is surprising to modern, western people.

5:3 "and then he comes to know it, he will be guilty" Notice it is the knowledge (not the unclean thing itself) that makes "guilty" or "unclean." the human conscience is the key (cf. Lev. 5:4)!

5:4 Humans are responsible for what they say! See SPECIAL TOPIC: HUMAN SPEECH.

5:5 "he shall confess" This VERB (BDB 392, KB 389, Hithpael PERFECT; the Hiphil stem means "to praise"; NIDOTTE, vol. 2, pp. 405-408) has two primary connotations.

  1. confess sin - Lev. 5:5; 16:21; 26:40; Num. 5:7; Ezra 10:1; Neh. 1:6; 9:2-3; Dan. 9:20
  2. thanksgiving - 2 Chr. 30:22; Ezra 10:11 (possibly)
This is similar to the NT usage. See SPECIAL TOPIC: CONFESSION/PROFESSION. Notice that the human acknowledgment of sin is crucial to restoration (i.e., 1 John 1:9).

5:6 Notice the offering of the offending Israelite is called both

  1. guilt offering (see NIDOTTE, vol. 1, pp. 557-565)
  2. sin offering (see NIDOTTE, vol. 1, pp. 335-338)

▣ "shall make atonement" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ATONEMENT.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 5:7-10
  7"But if he cannot afford a lamb, then he shall bring to the Lord his guilt offering for that in which he has sinned, two turtledoves or two young pigeons, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. 8He shall bring them to the priest, who shall offer first that which is for the sin offering and shall nip its head at the front of its neck, but he shall not sever it. 9He shall also sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering on the side of the altar, while the rest of the blood shall be drained out at the base of the altar: it is a sin offering. 10The second he shall then prepare as a burnt offering according to the ordinance. So the priest shall make atonement on his behalf for his sin which he has committed, and it will be forgiven him."

5:7 Notice again the uniqueness of the Mosaic code in the ANE, which provides for the poor (cf. Lev. 5:12-13) the two birds. They are used for two different rituals.

  1. burnt offering to restore "favor"
  2. sin offering to cover/forgive the sin
It is assumed all burnt offerings were accompanied by another offering of some type (i.e., Lev. 5:7; 12:8; 14:30-31; 15:15).
An additional option is made for the very poor (Lev. 5:12-13). YHWH cares for the poor and powerless! It is surprising that grain/cereal is accepted as a sin offering, which normally requires the death of an animal. Here the gracious character of YHWH supercedes even normal ritual.

5:9 "sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering on the side of the altar"

  1. sprinkle - BDB 633 I, KB 683, Hiphil PERFECT with waw; see full note at Lev. 1:5
  2. the blood - see SPECIAL TOPIC: BLOOD
  3. the altar - see SPECIAL TOPIC: ALTAR OF SACRIFICE

5:10 "and it will be forgiven him" This is the goal of the sacrificial system. Fellowship between YHWH and His people is restored.
This VERB (BDB 699, KB 757, Niphal PERFECT) is repeated often (cf. Lev. 4:20,26,31,35; 5:10,13,16,18; 6:7).

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 5:11-13
  11"But if his means are insufficient for two turtledoves or two young pigeons, then for his offering for that which he has sinned, he shall bring the tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering; he shall not put oil on it or place incense on it, for it is a sin offering. 12He shall bring it to the priest, and the priest shall take his handful of it as its memorial portion and offer it up in smoke on the altar, with the offerings of the Lord by fire: it is a sin offering. 13So the priest shall make atonement for him concerning his sin which he has committed from one of these, and it will be forgiven him; then the rest shall become the priest's, like the grain offering."

5:11 If the grain/cereal offering is used as a "sin offering" for the very poor, it must not have either oil or incense on it, but a memorial portion is burned and the rest goes to the priest.

5:12 "memorial portion" See full note at Lev. 2:2 and NIDOTTE, vol. 1, pp. 1100-1106.

5:13 "the rest shall become the priest's, like the grain offering" See Leviticus 2.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 5:14-16
  14Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 15"If a person acts unfaithfully and sins unintentionally against the Lord's holy things, then he shall bring his guilt offering to the Lord; a ram without defect from the flock, according to your valuation in silver by shekels, in terms of the shekel of the sanctuary, for a guilt offering. 16He shall make restitution for that which he has sinned against the holy thing, and shall add to it a fifth part of it and give it to the priest. The priest shall then make atonement for him with the ram of the guilt offering, and it will be forgiven him."

5:15 "acts unfaithfully" This is a VERB and NOUN from the same root (BDB 591, KB 612, cf. Lev. 6:2).

▣ "the Lord's holy things" This is a "catch all" summary statement (cf. Lev. 4:2), which refers to all the commands of the Mosaic covenant (see Lev. 5:17).
Notice the violation is characterized by

  1. unfaithfully - lit. "commits a breach of faith" (BDB 591, KB 612, Qal IMPERFECT)
  2. unintentionally - see full note at Lev. 4:2; see SPECIAL TOPIC: UNINTENTIONAL SINS
The Jewish Study Bible, p. 216, suggests that this refers to an abuse of the Tabernacle and the gifts/offerings made to it, but this seems out of context here. The abuse spoken of would have been done by priests. They are not discussed in detail until Lev. 6:8-7:38.

▣ "shekels" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ANCIENT NEAR EASTERN WEIGHTS AND VOLUMES.

5:16 "shall make restitution" This VERB (BDB 1022, KB 1521, Piel IMPERFECT) is from the root meaning "be complete" or "be sound." Here, it is used of restoring that which was damaged by paying a price.
Forgiveness from YHWH involved the offended covenant brother being compensated.
This same root is the source of Shalom. See SPECIAL TOPIC: PEACE (OT). YHWH wants peace, fairness, and restoration of fellowship among His people.

▣ "shall add" This is a JUSSIVE form. It is repeated in Lev. 6:5. Forgiveness from YHWH involved restoration and added compensation (i.e., a "fifth part").

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 5:17-19
  17"Now if a person sins and does any of the things which the Lord has commanded not to be done, though he was unaware, still he is guilty and shall bear his punishment. 18He is then to bring to the priest a ram without defect from the flock, according to your valuation, for a guilt offering. So the priest shall make atonement for him concerning his error in which he sinned unintentionally and did not know it, and it will be forgiven him. 19It is a guilt offering; he was certainly guilty before the Lord."

5:17-19 The Jewish Study Bible, p. 217, asserts that

"The case is unclear. The circumstances are almost identical to those requiring the 'hata't' in ch. 4, the only difference being the words 'without knowing it' in v. 17, repeated in v. 18."


It should be stated that the procedures we have in the Pentateuch were developed over time and are not precise on all matters. The first hearers would have understood the unexpressed rituals and expectations. For me as a NT believer, the details for an obsolete temple are for historical information only (see SPECIAL TOPIC: PAUL'S VIEWS OF THE MOSAIC LAW). For me, the NT texts which trump this Mosaic information are:
  1. Matt. 5:21-48
  2. Mark 7:18-23
  3. Acts 15:6-29
  4. Galatians 3
  5. The book of Hebrews

5:19 "he was certainly guilty before the Lord" This is an intensified grammatical form (i.e., an INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and a PERFECT VERB of the same root).

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 6:1-7
  1Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2"When a person sins and acts unfaithfully against the Lord, and deceives his companion in regard to a deposit or a security entrusted to him, or through robbery, or if he has extorted from his companion, 3or has found what was lost and lied about it and sworn falsely, so that he sins in regard to any one of the things a man may do; 4then it shall be, when he sins and becomes guilty, that he shall restore what he took by robbery or what he got by extortion, or the deposit which was entrusted to him or the lost thing which he found, 5or anything about which he swore falsely; he shall make restitution for it in full and add to it one-fifth more. He shall give it to the one to whom it belongs on the day he presents his guilt offering. 6Then he shall bring to the priest his guilt offering to the Lord, a ram without defect from the flock, according to your valuation, for a guilt offering, 7and the priest shall make atonement for him before the Lord, and he will be forgiven for any one of the things which he may have done to incur guilt."

6:2 Notice a sin against a covenant brother is a sin against the covenant Deity!

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.

  1. What is Lev. 5:1 referring to?
  2. In the Mosaic covenant is there a distinction between ceremonial guilt and sinful guilt?
  3. In this chapter on sin offerings, how does YHWH make special provisions for the poor and very poor?
  4. What kind of sins are being discussed in Lev. 5:15?
  5. What does "make restitution" in Lev. 5:16 mean?
  6. Explain Lev. 5:17 in your own words.

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