Bible Commentaries
Leviticus 5

Verse 1

soul = a person. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

sin. Hebrew. chata. App-44 .

and hear = because he heard.

swearing = adjuration. is = "he [is]".

iniquity = perverseness. Hebrew. 'avail. App-44 . Put here by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause) for the punishment due to it. App-6 .

Verse 2

be hidden: i.e. if he forget his uncleanness. This clause "and if", &c, is omitted in the Septuagint and included in Leviticus 5:3 .

Verse 3

man. Hebrew. 'adam. See App-14 .

Verse 4

pronouncing with his lips = speaking heedlessly.

evil. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44 .

evil . . . good. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Whole), to include all human actions. Compare Genesis 24:50 ; Genesis 31:29 . Numbers 24:13 .

Verse 5

sinned. Hebrew. chata. App-44 .

Verse 6

his trespass offering = as his trespass offering. Hebrew. 'asham.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

sin. Hebrew. chata. App-44 .

make an atonement. See note on Exodus 26:33 .

Verse 7

trespass. Hebrew. 'asham. App-44 .

Verse 10

manner. See note on Leviticus 1:14 , &c.

Verse 11

offering. Hebrew. korban. App-43 . For the poor only a little flour. Compare Leviticus 4:23 ; Leviticus 4:28 . All equally forgiven. Compare Leviticus 4:26 , Leviticus 4:31 and Leviticus 5:13 .

sin offering: and not a minchah, Leviticus 2:11 .

Verse 12

a memorial thereof = a memorial portion.

burn = burn as incense. Hebrew. katar. App-43 .

according to = upon.

offerings made by fire. Hebrew. ishsheh. App-43 .

Verse 13

one of these. Specified in verses: Leviticus 5:1-4 above. Compare Leviticus 5:5 .

and the remnant: better "and it shall belong to the priest".

Verse 14

spake. This formula denotes another communication made at a different time, and gives a further development of the laws of the trespass offering. Note that in this book Jehovah "spake" at thirty-five "sundry times", and in ten "divers manners" (see App-10 ):

(1) To Moses alone (Leviticus 5:14 ; Leviticus 6:1 , Leviticus 6:19 ; Leviticus 8:1 ; Leviticus 14:1 ; Leviticus 22:26 ; Leviticus 23:26 ). (2) To Moses, to speak to Aaron alone (Leviticus 16:1 ). (3) To Moses, to speak to "Aaron and his sons" (Leviticus 6:8 , Leviticus 6:24 ; Leviticus 22:1 ). (4) To Moses, to speak to "the priests, the sons of Aaron" (Leviticus 21:1 ). (5) To Moses, to speak to "Aaron and his sons, and in all the children of Israel" (Leviticus 17:1 ; Leviticus 21:16 (Compare Lev 5:24 ); Leviticus 22:17 ). (6) To Moses, to speak to "the children of Israel" (Leviticus 1:1 ; Leviticus 4:1 ; Leviticus 7:22 , Leviticus 7:28 ; Leviticus 12:1 ; Leviticus 18:1 ; Leviticus 20:1 ; Leviticus 23:1 , Leviticus 23:9 , Leviticus 23:23 ; Leviticus 24:1 , Leviticus 24:13 ; Leviticus 25:1 ; Leviticus 27:1 ). (7) To Moses, to speak "to all the congregation of the children of Israel" (Leviticus 19:1 ). (8) To Moses and Aaron conjointly (Leviticus 13:1 ; Leviticus 14:33 ). (9) To Moses and Aaron, to speak to "the children of Israel" (Leviticus 11:1 ; Leviticus 15:1 ). (10) To Aaron alone (Leviticus 10:8 ).

The reasons for these distinctions will be seen from the respective contexts.

Verse 15

trespass. Hebrew. ma'al, to act covertly; to be faithless, especially in covenant matters, either with God (Leviticus 26:40 . Numbers 31:16 . Deuteronomy 32:51 , &c.) or between husband and wife (Numbers 5:12 , Numbers 5:27 ). Not the same word as in verses: Leviticus 5:6 , Leviticus 5:7 , Leviticus 5:15 , Leviticus 6:16 , and below in this verse.

holy things, &c., such as firstfruits, firstborn, &c. Exodus 28:38 . See note on Exodus 3:5 .

estimation = valuation. Made here by Moses, transferred by him to the priests. See Leviticus 27:8 , Leviticus 27:12 .Numbers 18:16 .

Verse 16

harm that he hath done. Hebrew. chat'a. App-44 .

add. In trespass in holy things sacrifice comes first (Leviticus 5:15 ) and addition afterwards. In human affairs the addition comes first (Leviticus 6:5 ) and sacrifice follows (Leviticus 6:7 ).

Verse 17

any = any one of these things specified in Leviticus 5:15 .

wist it not = knew it not. This effectually disposes of the fallacy that it is only sincerity that matters. Note the repetition of the words in verses: Leviticus 5:17-19 to emphasize this.

iniquity. Hebrew. 'avah. App-44 .

Verse 18

erred. Hebrew. shagag. App-44 .

Verse 19

trespassed. Hebrew. 'asham. App-44 . Compare Leviticus 5:17 .