Bible Study Leviticus 5
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Leviticus 5 · WEB

The Guilt Offering and Cases of Unintentional Sin

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"'If anyone sins, in that he hears the voice of swearing, and he is 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. 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 offer that which is for the sin offering first, 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. 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, the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering. He shall put no oil on it, and he shall put no 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 remainder shall be the priest's, as the grain 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 flocks, according to your valuation 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. 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 valuation, for a trespass offering, to the priest. 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.'"
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Summary

Chapter 5 bridges the sin offering laws of chapter 4 with the guilt offering (*asham*), addressing specific cases including failure to testify, touching unclean things, and rash oaths. Provision is made for the poor — those who cannot afford a lamb may bring two birds, and those who cannot afford birds may bring fine flour. The chapter then introduces the guilt offering for violations of sacred things, requiring both a ram sacrifice and monetary restitution plus a twenty percent penalty, showing that some sins require both atonement and restitution.

Themes

  • Confession is required as part of the atonement process (v. 5)
  • God's mercy meets people at every economic level
  • Some sins require restitution, not just forgiveness
  • Objective guilt — sin incurs guilt even when committed in ignorance

Key verses

  • Lev 5:11 — “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, the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering.”
  • Lev 5:17 — “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.”
  • Lev 5:5 — “It shall be, when he is guilty of one of these, he shall confess that in which he has sinned.”

Context & background

This chapter reflects the Israelite legal and worship system being established at Mount Sinai (modern Sinai Peninsula, Egypt). The guilt offering (*asham*) was distinct from the sin offering in that it addressed situations involving a debt owed — either to God (misappropriation of holy things) or to others (addressed more fully in chapter 6). The principle of adding a fifth (20%) as restitution connects to a broader ancient Near Eastern concept of restorative justice. The provision of a flour offering for the very poor is a remarkable accommodation showing God's concern for equal access to atonement regardless of socioeconomic status.

Cross-references

  • 1 John 1:9 — "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins" — connects to the confession principle of Lev 5:5
  • Isa 53:10 — The Servant of the Lord makes "his soul an offering for guilt" (*asham*) — the clearest messianic use of guilt offering language
  • Lev 6:1-7 — Extends the guilt offering to cover sins against a neighbor
  • Luke 19:8 — Zacchaeus's fourfold restitution echoes the spirit of making right what was wronged
  • Num 5:5-8 — Reaffirms the principle of confession and restitution for guilt

Check your reading

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  1. Observe

    Which of the following is NOT one of the four specific situations requiring a sin/guilt offering in verses 1-4?

  2. Observe

    What three levels of offering are available for those of different economic means?

  3. Interpret

    Why is failure to testify (v. 1) treated as a sin requiring a guilt offering?

  4. Interpret

    What is the significance of requiring BOTH restitution (plus 20%) AND a sacrifice for violations of holy things (vv. 15-16)?

  5. Apply

    Verse 5 requires verbal confession before bringing the offering. What does this say about the role of confession today?

  6. Apply

    The flour provision for the poor shows what about God's character?

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