Leviticus — Chapter 5

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1“If someone sins by failing to testify when he hears a public charge about something he has witnessed, whether he has seen it or learned of it, he shall bear the iniquity.

2Or if a person touches anything unclean—whether the carcass of any unclean wild animal or livestock or crawling creature—even if he is unaware of it, he is unclean and guilty.

3Or if he touches human uncleanness—anything by which one becomes unclean—even if he is unaware of it, when he realizes it, he is guilty.

4Or if someone swears thoughtlessly with his lips to do anything good or evil—in whatever matter a man may rashly pronounce an oath—even if he is unaware of it, when he realizes it, he is guilty in the matter.

5If someone incurs guilt in one of these ways, he must confess the sin he has committed,

6and he must bring his guilt offering to the LORD for the sin he has committed: a female lamb or goat from the flock as a sin offering. And the priest will make atonement for him concerning his sin.

7If, however, he cannot afford a lamb, he may bring to the LORD as restitution for his sin two turtledoves or two young pigeons—one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering.

8He is to bring them to the priest, who shall first present the one for the sin offering. He is to twist its head at the front of its neck without severing it;

9then he is to sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering on the side of the altar, while the rest of the blood is drained out at the base of the altar. It is a sin offering.

10And the priest must prepare the second bird as a burnt offering according to the ordinance. In this way the priest will make atonement for him for the sin he has committed, and he will be forgiven.

11But if he cannot afford two turtledoves or two young pigeons, he may bring a tenth of an ephah of fine flour as a sin offering. He must not put olive oil or frankincense on it, because it is a sin offering.

12He is to bring it to the priest, who shall take a handful from it as a memorial portion and burn it on the altar atop the food offerings to the LORD; it is a sin offering.

13In this way the priest will make atonement for him for any of these sins he has committed, and he will be forgiven. The remainder will belong to the priest, like the grain offering.”

14Then the LORD said to Moses,

15“If someone acts unfaithfully and sins unintentionally against any of the LORD’s holy things, he must bring his guilt offering to the LORD: an unblemished ram from the flock, of proper value in silver shekels according to the sanctuary shekel; it is a guilt offering.

16Regarding any holy thing he has harmed, he must make restitution by adding a fifth of its value to it and giving it to the priest, who will make atonement on his behalf with the ram as a guilt offering, and he will be forgiven.

17If someone sins and violates any of the LORD’s commandments even though he was unaware, he is guilty and shall bear his punishment.

18He is to bring to the priest an unblemished ram of proper value from the flock as a guilt offering. Then the priest will make atonement on his behalf for the wrong he has committed in ignorance, and he will be forgiven.

19It is a guilt offering; he was certainly guilty before the LORD.”

1And if a soul sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and

2Or if a soul touch any unclean thing, whether

3Or if he touch the uncleanness of man, whatsoever uncleanness

4Or if a soul swear, pronouncing with

5And it shall be, when he shall be guilty in one of these

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

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

10And he shall offer the second

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

12Then shall he bring it to the priest, and the priest shall take his handful of it,

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

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

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

19It

1And 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.

2Or 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.

3Or 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.

4Or 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].

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

6and 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.

7And 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.

8And 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:

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 drained out at the base of the altar: it is a sin-offering.

10And he shall offer the second for a burnt-offering, according to the ordinance; and the priest shall make atonement for him as concerning his sin which he hath sinned, and he shall be forgiven.

11But if his means suffice not for two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, then he shall bring his oblation for that wherein he hath sinned, 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.

12And he shall bring it to the priest, and the priest shall take his handful of it as the memorial thereof, and burn it on the altar, upon the offerings of Jehovah made by fire: it is a sin-offering.

13And the priest shall make atonement for him as touching his sin that he hath sinned in any of these things, and he shall be forgiven: and [the remnant] shall be the priest`s, as the meal-offering.

14And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,

15If any one commit a trespass, and sin unwittingly, in the holy things of Jehovah; then he shall bring his trespass-offering unto Jehovah, a ram without blemish out of the flock, according to thy estimation in silver by shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass-offering:

16and he shall make restitution for that which he hath done amiss in the holy thing, and shall add the fifth part thereto, and give it unto the priest; and the priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the trespass-offering, and he shall be forgiven.

17And if any one sin, and do any of the things which Jehovah hath commanded not to be done; though he knew it not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity.

18And he shall bring a ram without blemish out of the flock, according to thy estimation, for a trespass-offering, unto the priest; and the priest shall make atonement for him concerning the thing wherein he erred unwittingly and knew it not, and he shall be forgiven.

19It is a trespass-offering: he is certainly guilty before Jehovah.

1“‘When a person sins in that he hears a public curse against one who fails to testify and he is a witness (he either saw or knew what had happened) and he does not make it known, then he will bear his punishment for iniquity.

2Or when there is a person who touches anything ceremonially unclean, whether the carcass of an unclean wild animal, or the carcass of an unclean domesticated animal, or the carcass of an unclean creeping thing, even if he did not realize it, he has become unclean and is guilty;

3or when he touches human uncleanness with regard to anything by which he can become unclean, even if he did not realize it, but he has later come to know it and is guilty;

4or when a person swears an oath, speaking thoughtlessly with his lips, whether to do evil or to do good, with regard to anything which the individual might speak thoughtlessly in an oath, even if he did not realize it, but he has later come to know it and is guilty with regard to one of these oaths—

5when an individual becomes guilty with regard to one of these things he must confess how he has sinned,

6and he must bring his penalty for guilt to the Lord for his sin that he has committed—a female from the flock, whether a female sheep or a female goat, for a sin offering. So the priest will make atonement on his behalf for his sin.

7“‘If he cannot afford an animal from the flock, he must bring his penalty for guilt for his sin that he has committed, two turtledoves or two young pigeons, to the Lord, one for a sin offering and one for a burnt offering.

8He must bring them to the priest and present first the one that is for a sin offering. The priest must pinch its head at the nape of its neck, but must not sever the head from the body.

9Then he must sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering on the wall of the altar, and the remainder of the blood must be squeezed out at the base of the altar—it is a sin offering.

10The second bird he must make a burnt offering according to the standard regulation. So the priest will make atonement on behalf of this person for his sin which he has committed, and he will be forgiven.

11“‘If he cannot afford two turtledoves or two young pigeons, he must bring as his offering for his sin which he has committed a tenth of an ephah of choice wheat flour for a sin offering. He must not place olive oil on it, and he must not put frankincense on it, because it is a sin offering.

12He must bring it to the priest, and the priest must scoop out from it a handful as its memorial portion and offer it up in smoke on the altar on top of the other gifts of the Lord—it is a sin offering.

13So the priest will make atonement on his behalf for his sin which he has committed by doing one of these things, and he will be forgiven. The remainder of the offering will belong to the priest like the grain offering.’”

14Then the Lord spoke to Moses:

15“When a person commits a trespass and sins by straying unintentionally from the regulations about the Lord’s holy things, then he must bring his penalty for guilt to the Lord, a flawless ram from the flock, convertible into silver shekels according to the standard of the sanctuary shekel, for a guilt offering.

16And whatever holy thing he violated he must restore and must add one-fifth to it and give it to the priest. So the priest will make atonement on his behalf with the guilt-offering ram, and he will be forgiven.

17“If a person sins and violates any of the Lord’s commandments that must not be violated (although he did not know it at the time, but later realizes he is guilty), then he will bear his punishment for iniquity

18and must bring a flawless ram from the flock, convertible into silver shekels, for a guilt offering to the priest. So the priest will make atonement on his behalf for his error that he committed (although he himself had not known it), and he will be forgiven.

19It is a guilt offering; he was surely guilty before the Lord.”

1“‘If anyone sins, in that he hears the voice of adjuration, he being a witness, whether he has seen or known, if he doesn’t report it, then he shall bear his iniquity.

2“‘Or if anyone touches any unclean thing, whether it is the carcass of an unclean animal, or the carcass of unclean livestock, or the carcass of unclean creeping things, and it is hidden from him, and he is unclean, then he shall be guilty.

3“‘Or if he touches the uncleanness of man, whatever his uncleanness is with which he is unclean, and it is hidden from him; when he knows of it, then he shall be guilty.

4“‘Or if anyone swears rashly with his lips to do evil, or to do good, whatever it is that a man might utter rashly with an oath, and it is hidden from him; when he knows of it, then he shall be guilty of one of these.

5It shall be, when he is guilty of one of these, he shall confess that in which he has sinned:

6and he shall bring his trespass offering to Yahweh for his sin which he has sinned, a female from the flock, a lamb or a goat, for a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement for him concerning his sin.

7“‘If he can’t afford a lamb, then he shall bring his trespass offering for that in which he has sinned, two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, to Yahweh; one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering.

8He shall bring them to the priest, who shall first offer the one which is for the sin offering, and wring off its head from its neck, but shall not sever it completely.

9He 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.

10He shall offer the second for a burnt offering, according to the ordinance; and the priest shall make atonement for him concerning his sin which he has sinned, and he shall be forgiven.

11“‘But if he can’t afford two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, then he shall bring his offering for that in which he has sinned, one tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering. He shall put no oil on it, and he shall not put any frankincense 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 the memorial portion, and burn it on the altar, on the offerings of Yahweh made by fire. It is a sin offering.

13The priest shall make atonement for him concerning his sin that he has sinned in any of these things, and he will be forgiven; and the rest shall be the priest’s, as the meal offering.’”

14Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

15“If anyone commits a trespass, and sins unwittingly, in the holy things of Yahweh; then he shall bring his trespass offering to Yahweh, a ram without defect from the flock, according to your estimation in silver by shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass offering.

16He shall make restitution for that which he has done wrong in the holy thing, and shall add a fifth part to it, and give it to the priest; and the priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering, and he will be forgiven.

17“If anyone sins, and does any of the things which Yahweh has commanded not to be done; though he didn’t know it, yet he is guilty, and shall bear his iniquity.

18He shall bring a ram without defect from of the flock, according to your estimation, for a trespass offering, to the priest; and the priest shall make atonement for him concerning the thing in which he sinned and didn’t know it, and he will be forgiven.

19It is a trespass offering. He is certainly guilty before Yahweh.”

Summary
Authorship & Background
Commentary
Videos
Articles
Reflection

Summary

The chapter lists specific unintentional sins that require a sin offering: failing to testify after hearing a public call for witnesses, unknowingly touching an unclean carcass or human uncleanness, and thoughtlessly swearing an oath one later forgets (vv. 1-4). Once a person recognizes his guilt, he must confess the sin and bring a female lamb or goat, or, if that is unaffordable, two turtledoves or pigeons — one for the sin offering and one for a burnt offering (vv. 5-10). Someone too poor even for birds may bring a tenth of an ephah of fine flour without oil or frankincense, from which the priest burns a memorial portion (vv. 11-13). The LORD then addresses guilt offerings for unintentional misuse of holy things, requiring a ram plus restitution of the value lost plus one-fifth (vv. 14-16), and for any unwitting violation of a command, requiring a ram without defect so that the priest may make atonement and the offender be forgiven (vv. 17-19).

Authorship & Background

Author: Moses. Leviticus is the third book of the Pentateuch, written during the wilderness period (approximately 1445-1405 BC). Hebrew title: "Vayikra" — "And He called." God speaks from the Tabernacle, giving instructions for worship, sacrifice, and holy living.
Historical Context: Leviticus 5 continues the sin offering regulations from chapter 4 (vv.1-13) and then introduces the trespass or guilt offering (Hebrew: "asham") in vv.14-19. The chapter bridges two categories: sins of omission and contamination (the sin offering) and sins involving violation of sacred things (the guilt offering). The distinction is important — the sin offering (chattat) addresses the condition of sin and defilement, while the guilt offering (asham) addresses specific acts of trespass that require restitution. The guilt offering introduces a principle absent from the other offerings: restitution plus a penalty of one-fifth (20%). The offender must not only atone for his sin but make the wronged party whole — and then some. This reflects God's justice: sin creates a debt that must be paid in full with interest. Christ is our guilt offering — He bore our guilt, paid our debt, and restored more than what was lost. Isaiah 53:10 explicitly calls Christ's sacrifice an "asham": "When his soul makes an offering for guilt [asham], he shall see his offspring."
Classification: Law — Sacrificial Instruction
Key Themes: Guilt incurred by silence and by contact as well as by act, confession required before sacrifice, the cost of the offering scaled to what the worshipper can afford, and restitution with a fifth added where a wrong has a victim
Sins of Silence, Contact, and Rash Oaths (vv.1-6): The chapter opens with three cases that are not obviously acts at all. A man who hears an adjuration and does not testify bears his iniquity, so keeping quiet is the offense. Touching what is unclean incurs guilt without any intention. So does swearing thoughtlessly, whether to do good or evil. Verse 5 adds a step the earlier chapters did not require: he shall confess, and only then bring the offering.
If He Cannot Afford a Lamb (vv.7-13): Two provisions scale the cost down. A worshipper who cannot bring a lamb brings two turtledoves or two young pigeons, and one who cannot afford birds brings fine flour — without oil or frankincense, since this is a sin offering and not a gift. The atonement is described in exactly the same terms in every case. The offering's value varies and its effect does not, which is the most practically merciful arrangement in the sacrificial code.
The Trespass Offering: Restitution with a Fifth Added (vv.14-16): The guilt offering, asham, introduces something absent from the others: paying the wrong back. A ram is brought, and alongside it the offender restores what he took and adds a fifth of its value. Sacrifice alone does not settle a debt that has a victim. Isaiah 53:10 uses this same word for the servant's offering, which is the one place the Old Testament applies the term to a person.
Guilt Without Knowing It (vv.17-19): The chapter closes on the hardest case: a man who sins and “wist it not” is still guilty and still bears his iniquity. No mechanism is offered for discovering such a sin, and the offering is prescribed for when he does. Read alongside chapter 4, the effect is to remove ignorance as a defense entirely while providing a remedy in every instance where it applies.

Commentary

  • Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik highlights the four specific sins of vv.1-4 (withholding testimony, touching uncleanness, rash oaths) and emphasizes God's gracious provision for the poor — scaling the offering to the offerer's ability without eliminating the requirement. He notes the guilt offering's distinctive feature: restitution plus one-fifth, showing that sin creates a debt.
  • Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871): blueletterbible.org A critical and explanatory commentary on the whole Bible, more concise than Matthew Henry and closer to the Hebrew and Greek, with attention to historical and geographical detail. Public domain.
  • Matthew Henry's Exposition (1710): blueletterbible.org A devotional verse-by-verse commentary in the Puritan tradition, still among the most widely read three centuries on. Public domain.

Videos

Leviticus 5 Summary: A Concise Overview in 5 Minutes
2BeLikeChrist

Leviticus 5:14-6:7 | The Guilt Offering | Bible Study
Spoken Gospel

How The Trespass & Guilt Offerings Points to Jesus – Leviticus Chapter 5
David Guzik

Articles

  • BibleProject: bibleproject.com On the whole book: a case for reading the book most reading plans stall in.
  • GotQuestions.org: gotquestions.org On the whole book: an overview of the book of Leviticus -- who wrote it, when, why, and how it fits the rest of Scripture.

Links open on the publisher's own site. Nothing here is reproduced on this page.

Reflection

  • Withholding the Truth Is Sin (v.1) — Someone who saw or knew something and stayed silent under oath was held guilty, not innocent. Is there a situation where you know the truth but have kept quiet out of fear or convenience?
  • Confession as the Turning Point (v.5) — Forgiveness followed only after the person realized their guilt and confessed the specific sin. Is there something you've recognized as wrong but still haven't brought honestly to God?
  • God Scales Provision, Not Standards (vv.7-13) — Whether a person brought a lamb, two birds, or a handful of flour, atonement was still required and still granted. Do you believe God meets you where you are financially and practically, without ever excusing what still needs to be dealt with?
  • Restitution Plus a Fifth (v.16) — Wronging someone in sacred or borrowed things required not just returning what was taken but adding twenty percent on top. When you've wronged someone, do you stop at "sorry," or do you actually try to make it right?
  • Guilt Exists Even When You Didn't Know (v.17) — A person could be guilty of violating God's command without realizing it at the time. What unseen faults might you be carrying that only God's Spirit can reveal to you?