Leviticus 5

The Voice

5 Eternal One: When anyone sins by hearing a public call to testify about a matter he has seen or knows something about, yet he does not speak up, then he is considered guilty and must be punished. ²If anyone has physical contact with some impure thing such as the carcass of a ritually unclean wild animal, domestic animal, or even an insect—even if he is unaware of the incident—he has become ritually unclean and must accept the consequences. ³If anyone has physical contact with some kind of human impurity, regardless of the form of impurity it is—even if he was unaware of it at the time—once he realizes it, he must accept the consequences. ⁴If anyone speaks a careless vow to do something bad or something good or any careless vow for that matter—even if he was unaware of it at the time—once he realizes what he has done, he must accept the consequences. ⁵Regarding any of these situations, when the guilty party realizes the offense, he must confess it. ⁶He must present to Me an offering for his guilt as a remedy for the sin he has committed. This purification offering for sin must be a female lamb or goat from the flock. The priest will make atonement for the guilty person’s sin.

These are some cases where a purification offering for sin is required. It is important to note that sacrifice is not some magical cure for sin or its consequences. Before you come to God through the sacrifice, you must realize the error of your ways and confess it. Confession has always been act one of restoration.

Eternal One: ⁷But if the guilty person is poor and cannot afford to offer a lamb, then he must bring to Me two turtledoves or two pigeons as a purification offering for sin. One of these will act as the purification offering and the other will be a burnt offering. ⁸The guilty person must take them to the priest, and the priest will offer the purification offering for sin first. He will wring the bird’s neck but not separate its head from its body. ⁹He will sprinkle some of its blood on the side of the altar and drain the remaining blood out at the base of the altar. This will be the ritual for the purification offering for sin. ¹⁰Then the priest will conduct the ritual for the second sacrifice, the burnt offering, in accordance with the regulations. The priest is to make atonement to cover the sin of the guilty, and the guilty will be forgiven.

¹¹If a person cannot afford to offer two turtledoves or two young pigeons, he must offer four pints of his finest flour as the purification offering for sin. He should not mix it with oil or frankincense because it is an offering for the purification of sin. ¹²He will give it to the priest, and the priest will take a handful of the flour as a memorial portion and offer it up as smoke along with the other fire-offerings presented to Me. The flour is a purification offering for sin. ¹³This is how the priest will make atonement to cover the sin of anyone guilty of these things, and the guilty will be forgiven. The leftover flour belongs to the priest as in the grain offering.

¹⁴The Eternal One then told Moses about the guilt offering.

Eternal One: ¹⁵If anyone violates his covenant duties and unwittingly commits a sin against any of My sacred objects, then that person must bring Me an unblemished ram from the flock or its value in silver (according to the sanctuary standards) for a guilt offering.

A guilt offering provides a remedy for offenses when there is some type of financial restitution with 20 percent interest.

¹⁶The guilty person must offer restitution for the wrong he has committed against the sacred thing, add ⅕ of its value, and then give it to the priest. The priest will then make atonement for him by offering the ram to cover his guilt; and the guilty will be forgiven.

¹⁷If anyone commits a sin by violating the directives I have given you—even if he was unaware of it—once he realizes it, he bears the guilt and must still accept the consequences. ¹⁸He must bring to the priest an unblemished ram from the flock or its equivalent value as a guilt offering. The priest will then make atonement to cover the guilty person’s wrong, which he unwittingly committed, and the guilty will be forgiven. ¹⁹This is a guilt offering because the person was guilty in My eyes.

Leviticus 5

New International Version

5 “‘If anyone sins because they do not speak up when they hear a public charge to testify^(A) regarding something they have seen or learned about, they will be held responsible.^(B)

²“‘If anyone becomes aware that they are guilty—if they unwittingly touch anything ceremonially unclean (whether the carcass of an unclean animal, wild or domestic, or of any unclean creature that moves along the ground)^(C) and they are unaware that they have become unclean,^(D) but then they come to realize their guilt; ³or if they touch human uncleanness^(E) (anything that would make them unclean)^(F) even though they are unaware of it, but then they learn of it and realize their guilt; ⁴or if anyone thoughtlessly takes an oath^(G) to do anything, whether good or evil^(H) (in any matter one might carelessly swear about) even though they are unaware of it, but then they learn of it and realize their guilt— ⁵when anyone becomes aware that they are guilty in any of these matters, they must confess^(I) in what way they have sinned. ⁶As a penalty for the sin they have committed, they must bring to the Lord a female lamb or goat^(J) from the flock as a sin offering^[a];^(K) and the priest shall make atonement^(L) for them for their sin.

⁷“‘Anyone who cannot afford^(M) a lamb^(N) is to bring two doves or two young pigeons^(O) to the Lord as a penalty for their sin—one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. ⁸They are to bring them to the priest, who shall first offer the one for the sin offering. He is to wring its head from its neck,^(P) not dividing it completely,^(Q) ⁹and is to splash^(R) some of the blood of the sin offering against the side of the altar;^(S) the rest of the blood must be drained out at the base of the altar.^(T) It is a sin offering. ¹⁰The priest shall then offer the other as a burnt offering in the prescribed way^(U) and make atonement^(V) for them for the sin they have committed, and they will be forgiven.^(W)

¹¹“‘If, however, they cannot afford^(X) two doves or two young pigeons,^(Y) they are to bring as an offering for their sin a tenth of an ephah^[b]^(Z) of the finest flour^(AA) for a sin offering. They must not put olive oil or incense on it, because it is a sin offering. ¹²They are to bring it to the priest, who shall take a handful of it as a memorial^[c] portion^(AB) and burn it on the altar^(AC) on top of the food offerings presented to the Lord. It is a sin offering. ¹³In this way the priest will make atonement^(AD) for them for any of these sins they have committed, and they will be forgiven. The rest of the offering will belong to the priest,^(AE) as in the case of the grain offering.^(AF)’”

The Guilt Offering

¹⁴The Lord said to Moses: ¹⁵“When anyone is unfaithful to the Lord by sinning unintentionally^(AG) in regard to any of the Lord’s holy things, they are to bring to the Lord as a penalty^(AH) a ram^(AI) from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value in silver, according to the sanctuary shekel.^[d]^(AJ) It is a guilt offering.^(AK) ¹⁶They must make restitution^(AL) for what they have failed to do in regard to the holy things, pay an additional penalty of a fifth of its value^(AM) and give it all to the priest. The priest will make atonement for them with the ram as a guilt offering, and they will be forgiven.

¹⁷“If anyone sins and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands, even though they do not know it,^(AN) they are guilty and will be held responsible.^(AO) ¹⁸They are to bring to the priest as a guilt offering^(AP) a ram from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value. In this way the priest will make atonement for them for the wrong they have committed unintentionally, and they will be forgiven.^(AQ) ¹⁹It is a guilt offering; they have been guilty of^[e] wrongdoing against the Lord.”^(AR)

Footnotes

Leviticus 5:6 Or purification offering; here and throughout this chapter
Leviticus 5:11 That is, probably about 3 1/2 pounds or about 1.6 kilograms
Leviticus 5:12 Or representative
Leviticus 5:15 That is, about 2/5 ounce or about 12 grams
Leviticus 5:19 Or offering; atonement has been made for their

Leviticus 5

King James Version

5 And if a soul sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and is a witness, whether he hath seen or known of it; if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity.

²Or if a soul touch any unclean thing, whether it be a carcase of an unclean beast, or a carcase of unclean cattle, or the carcase of unclean creeping things, and if it be hidden from him; he also shall be unclean, and guilty.

³Or if he touch the uncleanness of man, whatsoever uncleanness it be that a man shall be defiled withal, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty.

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

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

⁶And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the Lord for his sin which he hath sinned, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats, for a sin offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his sin.

⁷And if he be not able to bring a lamb, then he shall bring for his trespass, which he hath committed, two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, unto the Lord; one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering.

⁸And he shall bring them unto the priest, who shall offer that which is for the sin offering first, and wring off his head from his neck, but shall not divide it asunder:

⁹And he shall sprinkle of the blood of the sin offering upon the side of the altar; and the rest of the blood shall be wrung out at the bottom of the altar: it is a sin offering.

¹⁰And he shall offer the second for a burnt offering, according to the manner: and the priest shall make an atonement for him for his sin which he hath sinned, and it shall be forgiven him.

¹¹But if he be not able to bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, then he that sinned shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering; he shall put no oil upon it, neither shall he put any frankincense thereon: for it is a sin offering.

¹²Then shall he bring it to the priest, and the priest shall take his handful of it, even a memorial thereof, and burn it on the altar, according to the offerings made by fire unto the Lord: it is a sin offering.

¹³And the priest shall make an atonement for him as touching his sin that he hath sinned in one of these, and it shall be forgiven him: and the remnant shall be the priest's, as a meat offering.

¹⁴And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

¹⁵If a soul commit a trespass, and sin through ignorance, in the holy things of the Lord; then he shall bring for his trespass unto the Lord a ram without blemish out of the flocks, with thy estimation by shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass offering.

¹⁶And he shall make amends for the harm that he hath done in the holy thing, and shall add the fifth part thereto, and give it unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering, and it shall be forgiven him.

¹⁷And if a soul sin, and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the Lord; though he wist it not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity.

¹⁸And he shall bring a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his ignorance wherein he erred and wist it not, and it shall be forgiven him.

¹⁹It is a trespass offering: he hath certainly trespassed against the Lord.

Leviticus 5

New King James Version

The Trespass Offering

5 ‘If a person sins in ^(A)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 ^(B)bears ^[a]guilt.

²‘Or ^(C)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 ^(D)guilty. ³Or if he touches ^(E)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 ^[b]swears, speaking thoughtlessly with his lips ^(F)to do evil or ^(G)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 ^(H)confess that he has sinned in that thing; ⁶and 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.

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

¹¹‘But if he is ^(O)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. ^(P)He shall put no oil on it, nor shall he put frankincense on it, for it is a sin offering. ¹²Then he shall bring it to the priest, and the priest shall take his handful of it ^(Q)as a memorial portion, and burn it on the altar ^(R)according to the offerings made by fire to the Lord. It is a sin offering. ¹³^(S)The priest shall make atonement for him, ^[d]for his sin that he has committed in any of these matters; and it shall be forgiven him. ^(T)The rest shall be the priest’s as a grain offering.’ ”

Offerings with Restitution

¹⁴Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: ¹⁵^(U)“If a person commits a trespass, and sins unintentionally in regard to the holy things of the Lord, then ^(V)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 ^(W)the shekel of the sanctuary, as a trespass offering. ¹⁶And he shall make restitution for the harm that he has done in regard to the holy thing, ^(X)and shall add one-fifth to it and give it to the priest. ^(Y)So the priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering, and it shall be forgiven him.

¹⁷“If a person sins, and commits any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the Lord, ^(Z)though he does not know it, yet he is ^(AA)guilty and shall bear his ^[e]iniquity. ¹⁸^(AB)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. ¹⁹It is a trespass offering; ^(AC)he has certainly trespassed against the Lord.”

Footnotes

Leviticus 5:1 his iniquity
Leviticus 5:4 vows
Leviticus 5:8 Lit. apart
Leviticus 5:13 concerning his sin
Leviticus 5:17 punishment

Leviticus 5

English Standard Version

5 “If anyone sins in that he hears a public ^(A)adjuration to testify, and though he is a witness, whether he has seen or come to know the matter, yet does not speak, he shall ^(B)bear his iniquity; ²or ^(C)if anyone touches an unclean thing, whether a carcass of an unclean wild animal or a carcass of unclean livestock or a carcass of unclean swarming things, and it is hidden from him and he has become unclean, and he realizes his guilt; ³or if he touches ^(D)human uncleanness, of whatever sort the uncleanness may be with which one becomes unclean, and it is hidden from him, when he comes to know it, and realizes his guilt; ⁴or if anyone utters with his lips a ^(E)rash oath to do evil or to do good, any sort of rash oath that people ^(F)swear, and it is hidden from him, when he comes to know it, and he realizes his guilt in any of these; ⁵when he realizes his guilt in any of these and ^(G)confesses the sin he has committed, ⁶he shall bring to the Lord as his compensation^[a] for the sin that he has committed, a female from the flock, a lamb or a goat, for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for him for his sin.

⁷“But ^(H)if he cannot afford a lamb, then he shall bring to the Lord as his compensation for the sin that he has committed two ^(I)turtledoves or two pigeons,^[b] one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. ⁸He shall bring them to the priest, who shall offer first the one for the sin offering. He shall ^(J)wring its head from its neck ^(K)but shall not sever it completely, ⁹and he shall sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering on the side of the altar, while ^(L)the rest of the blood shall be drained out ^(M)at the base of the altar; it is a sin offering. ¹⁰Then he shall offer the second for a burnt offering according to the rule. ^(N)And the priest shall make atonement for him for the sin that he has committed, and he shall be forgiven.

¹¹“But if he cannot afford two turtledoves or two pigeons, then he shall bring as his offering for the sin that he has committed a ^(O)tenth of an ephah^[c] of fine flour for a sin offering. He ^(P)shall put no oil on it and shall put no frankincense on it, for it is a sin offering. ¹²And he shall bring it to ^(Q)the priest, and the priest shall take a handful of it as its memorial portion and ^(R)burn this on the altar, on the Lord's food offerings; it is a sin offering. ¹³Thus ^(S)the priest shall make atonement for him for the sin which he has committed in any one of these things, and he shall be forgiven. And the remainder^[d] shall be for the priest, as in the grain offering.”

Laws for Guilt Offerings

¹⁴The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ¹⁵^(T)“If anyone commits a breach of faith and sins unintentionally in any of the holy things of the Lord, ^(U)he shall bring to the Lord as his compensation, a ram without blemish out of the flock, valued^[e] in silver shekels,^[f] according to the ^(V)shekel of the sanctuary, for a guilt offering. ¹⁶He shall also make restitution for what he has done amiss in the holy thing and ^(W)shall add a fifth to it and give it to the priest. ^(X)And the priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the guilt offering, and he shall be forgiven.

¹⁷^(Y)“If anyone sins, doing any of the things that by the Lord's commandments ought not to be done, ^(Z)though he did not know it, then realizes his guilt, he shall bear his iniquity. ¹⁸^(AA)He shall bring to the priest a ram without blemish out of the flock, or its equivalent, for a guilt offering, and ^(AB)the priest shall make atonement for him for the mistake that he made unintentionally, and he shall be forgiven. ¹⁹It is a guilt offering; he has indeed incurred guilt before^[g] the Lord.”

Footnotes

Leviticus 5:6 Hebrew his guilt penalty; so throughout Leviticus
Leviticus 5:7 Septuagint two young pigeons; also verse 11
Leviticus 5:11 An ephah was about 3/5 bushel or 22 liters
Leviticus 5:13 Septuagint; Hebrew it
Leviticus 5:15 Or flock, or its equivalent
Leviticus 5:15 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams
Leviticus 5:19 Or he has paid full compensation to

The Voice (VOICE)

New International Version (NIV)

Leviticus 5

The Voice