Chapter 5
Themes, discussion questions, Christ connections, and denomination lenses.
Just read this chapter →Scripture
KJV1And 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.
“And 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.”
Overview
God continues the instructions for the sin offering, addressing specific cases: failing to testify as a witness, touching an unclean thing, or making a rash oath. He then introduces the trespass (guilt) offering for sins involving unfaithfulness against holy things or wrongs committed against a neighbor. Restitution plus one-fifth must be made in addition to the sacrifice.
Key Themes
The Seriousness of Sins of Omission
God holds people guilty not only for what they do wrong but for what they fail to do — such as withholding testimony — teaching that silence in the face of injustice is itself sinful.
Graduated Offerings Based on Ability
God provides a sliding scale — a lamb, two doves, or even fine flour — so that no one is excluded from atonement on account of poverty, revealing His mercy and accessibility.
Restitution and the Trespass Offering
The trespass offering requires not only sacrifice but restitution with an added fifth, teaching that forgiveness does not eliminate the obligation to make things right with those we have wronged.
Study Questions
What does the inclusion of sins of omission — failing to speak up as a witness — teach about our moral responsibility in daily life?
How does the sliding scale of offerings (from a lamb to fine flour) reveal God's heart toward the poor, and what does this say about access to forgiveness?
Why does the trespass offering require restitution plus a fifth in addition to the sacrifice, and what does this teach about the relationship between forgiveness and justice?
How do these offerings challenge the idea that forgiveness is 'free' in the sense of costing nothing?
What categories of sin covered in this chapter are most commonly overlooked in modern Christian life?
Connection to Christ
Christ is our trespass offering, making full restitution for what we could never repay. He not only paid the debt of our sin but restored more than was taken — bringing us not merely back to innocence but into the riches of God's grace (Romans 5:15-17).
Personal Reflection
Take time to journal or meditate on what God is teaching you through Leviticus 5. How can these truths transform your thinking and actions today?