Short answer: Leviticus 5 describes the guilt offering (asham), which deals with sins that require restitution. It covers cases where a person fails to testify, touches uncleanness, or makes a rash oath. The offering required a female lamb or goat, or two doves for the poor, and always included repayment plus a fifth of the value.
Historical and Literary Context
Leviticus 5 bridges the sin offering and the guilt offering. The first part covers cases requiring a sin offering (failure to testify, touching uncleanness, rash oaths). The second part introduces the guilt offering proper, which required restitution. This combination of sacrifice and repayment shows that sin has both vertical (against God) and horizontal (against neighbor) dimensions. True repentance addresses both.
Scripture Passage: Leviticus 5
“ ‘If anyone sins, in that he hears a public adjuration to testify, he being a witness, whether he has seen or known, if he doesn’t report it, then he shall bear his iniquity. “ ‘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. “ ‘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. “ ‘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 will be guilty of one of these. It shall be, when he is guilty of one of these, he shall confess that in which he has sinned; and 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. “ ‘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.
Verse-by-Verse Analysis
Verses 1-6 list cases requiring a sin offering: failure to testify, touching unclean things, rash oaths. The offering was a female lamb or goat. Verses 7-10 provide for the poor: two turtledoves or pigeons, one as a sin offering and one as a burnt offering. Verses 11-13 provide for the very poor: a tenth of an ephah of fine flour as a sin offering — the only bloodless sin offering in the entire system. Verses 14-19 introduce the guilt offering proper: a ram without defect, plus restitution for what was taken from the sanctuary plus one-fifth.
The combination of offering and restitution in the guilt offering is unique. The sinner had to repay the value of what was taken plus an additional twenty percent, demonstrating that genuine repentance requires making things right with those we have wronged. This principle anticipates Zacchaeus' response to Jesus: 'If I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore fourfold' (Luke 19:8).
The chapter also addresses cases where the sinner did not know they had sinned — 'if his sin, which he has sinned, becomes known to him' (verse 3). Once the person became aware of the sin, they were responsible to bring the offering. Ignorance did not make the sin acceptable, but God provided a remedy once the sin was discovered. This teaches that growing in knowledge of God's will brings growing responsibility.
He 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. “ ‘But if he can’t afford two turtledoves or two young pigeons, then he shall bring as 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. He 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. The 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.’ ” Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, “If anyone commits a trespass, and sins unwittingly regarding Yahweh’s holy things, then he shall bring his trespass offering to Yahweh: a ram without defect from the flock, according to your estimation in silver by shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass offering. He shall make restitution for that which he has done wrong regarding 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. “If anyone sins, doing any of the things which Yahweh has commanded not to be done, though he didn’t know it, he is still guilty, and shall bear his iniquity. He 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. It is a trespass offering. He is certainly guilty before Yahweh.”
Key Themes in Leviticus 5
The guilt offering teaches that sin requires both sacrifice and restitution. The combination of offering and repayment (plus one-fifth) shows that genuine repentance addresses both the offense against God and the harm done to others. This principle anticipates Zacchaeus' response to Jesus: 'If I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore fourfold' (Luke 19:8). True repentance always seeks to make things right. The guilt offering also covers sins against holy things — teaching that our obligations to God are real and must be honored.
He 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. “ ‘But if he can’t afford two turtledoves or two young pigeons, then he shall bring as 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. He 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. The 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.’ ” Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, “If anyone commits a trespass, and sins unwittingly regarding Yahweh’s holy things, then he shall bring his trespass offering to Yahweh: a ram without defect from the flock, according to your estimation in silver by shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass offering. He shall make restitution for that which he has done wrong regarding 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. “If anyone sins, doing any of the things which Yahweh has commanded not to be done, though he didn’t know it, he is still guilty, and shall bear his iniquity. He 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. It is a trespass offering. He is certainly guilty before Yahweh.”
How Leviticus 5 Points to Christ
The guilt offering's combination of sacrifice and restitution finds its fulfillment in Christ, who both died for our sins and provides the righteousness we need to stand before God. Where the guilt offering required repayment plus one-fifth, Christ's righteousness is credited to us as a gift — infinitely more than the law demanded. He paid a debt he did not owe because we owed a debt we could not pay. The restitution principle anticipates the complete restoration that Christ accomplishes for all who trust in him.
It shall be, when he is guilty of one of these, he shall confess that in which he has sinned; and 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. “ ‘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. He shall bring them to the priest, who shall first offer the one which is for the sin offering. He shall wring off its head from its neck, but shall not sever it completely. He 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. He 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.
Practical Application for Today
The guilt offering's requirement of restitution challenges you to make things right when you have wronged others. If you have defrauded, stolen, or harmed someone, do not stop at asking God's forgiveness — seek to restore what was taken. Zacchaeus understood this (Luke 19:8), and Jesus commended him for it. True repentance always seeks to make things right, both with God and with those we have wronged.
Related Bible Studies
- Leviticus 1: The Burnt Offering
- Leviticus 4: The Sin Offering
- Leviticus 8: The Consecration of the Priests
- Leviticus 16: The Day of Atonement
- Leviticus 19: Holiness in Daily Life
- Leviticus 25: The Sabbath Year and Jubilee
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main theme of Leviticus 5?
Leviticus 5 focuses on the guilt offering. The chapter provides divine instruction for how Israel was to worship God and live as his holy people. It is part of God's covenant revelation at Sinai, teaching his people how to approach him and dwell in his presence.
How does Leviticus 5 point forward to Jesus Christ?
The sacrificial system in Leviticus 5 prefigures Christ's once-for-all sacrifice. The offerings, priesthood, and purification rituals all anticipated the perfect high priest and perfect sacrifice who would come. Hebrews 9-10 explains that the law was a shadow of the good things to come, but Christ is the substance.
Why should Christians study Leviticus 5 today?
Christians study Leviticus 5 to understand the depth of God's holiness, the seriousness of sin, and the grace of the gospel. The chapter reveals what it cost to approach God under the old covenant and helps us appreciate what Christ accomplished. Paul wrote that whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction (Romans 15:4).
Biblical fidelity check
This study of Leviticus 5 draws directly from the World English Bible (WEB) text. The WEB is a modern, public-domain English translation based on the Masoretic Text and the Greek Textus Receptus. All scripture quotations in this article are from the WEB translation. The interpretations presented here follow the historic Christian understanding of Leviticus as part of God's inspired Word and as a witness to Christ, in line with the Reformation principle that Scripture interprets Scripture and that the Old Testament bears witness to Christ (Luke 24:27).
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