The Peace-Offering

1-5 “If your offering is a Peace-Offering and you present an animal from the herd, either male or female, it must be an animal without any defect. Lay your hand on the head of your offering and slaughter it at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. Aaron’s sons, the priests, will throw the blood on all sides of the Altar. As a Fire-Gift to God from the Peace-Offering, present all the fat that covers or is connected to the entrails, the two kidneys and the fat around them at the loins, and the lobe of the liver that is removed along with the kidneys. Aaron and his sons will burn it on the Altar along with the Whole-Burnt-Offering that is on the wood prepared for the fire: a Fire-Gift, a pleasing fragrance to God.

6-11 “If your Peace-Offering to God comes from the flock, bring a male or female without defect. If you offer a lamb, offer it to God. Lay your hand on the head of your offering and slaughter it at the Tent of Meeting. The sons of Aaron will throw its blood on all sides of the Altar. As a Fire-Gift to God from the Peace-Offering, present its fat, the entire fat tail cut off close to the backbone, all the fat on and connected to the entrails, the two kidneys and the fat around them on the loins, and the lobe of the liver which is removed along with the kidneys. The priest will burn it on the Altar: a meal, a Fire-Gift to God.

12-16 “If the offering is a goat, bring it into the presence of God, lay your hand on its head, and slaughter it in front of the Tent of Meeting. Aaron’s sons will throw the blood on all sides of the Altar. As a Fire-Gift to God present the fat that covers and is connected to the entrails, the two kidneys and the fat which is around them on the loins, and the lobe of the liver which is removed along with the kidneys. The priest will burn them on the Altar: a meal, a Fire-Gift, a pleasing fragrance.

16-17 “All the fat belongs to God. This is the fixed rule down through the generations, wherever you happen to live: Don’t eat the fat; don’t eat the blood. None of it.”

The Absolution-Offering

1-12 God spoke to Moses: “Tell the Israelites, When a person sins unintentionally by straying from any of God’s commands, breaking what must not be broken, if it’s the anointed priest who sins and so brings guilt on the people, he is to bring a bull without defect to God as an Absolution-Offering for the sin he has committed. Have him bring the bull to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting in the presence of God, lay his hand on the bull’s head, and slaughter the bull before God. He is then to take some of the bull’s blood, bring it into the Tent of Meeting, dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle some of it seven times before God, before the curtain of the Sanctuary. He is to smear some of the blood on the horns of the Altar of Fragrant Incense before God which is in the Tent of Meeting. He is to pour the rest of the bull’s blood out at the base of the Altar of Whole-Burnt-Offering at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. He is to remove all the fat from the bull of the Absolution-Offering, the fat which covers and is connected to the entrails, the two kidneys and the fat that is around them at the loins, and the lobe of the liver which he takes out along with the kidneys—the same procedure as when the fat is removed from the bull of the Peace-Offering. Finally, he is to burn all this on the Altar of Burnt Offering. Everything else—the bull’s hide, meat, head, legs, organs, and guts—he is to take outside the camp to a clean place where the ashes are dumped and is to burn it on a wood fire.

13-21 “If the whole congregation sins unintentionally by straying from one of the commandments of God that must not be broken, they become guilty even though no one is aware of it. When they do become aware of the sin they’ve committed, the congregation must bring a bull as an Absolution-Offering and present it at the Tent of Meeting. The elders of the congregation will lay their hands on the bull’s head in the presence of God and one of them will slaughter it before God. The anointed priest will then bring some of the blood into the Tent of Meeting, dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle some of it seven times before God in front of the curtain. He will smear some of the blood on the horns of the Altar which is before God in the Tent of Meeting and pour the rest of it at the base of the Altar of Whole-Burnt-Offering at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. He will remove all the fat and burn it on the Altar. He will follow the same procedure with this bull as with the bull for the Absolution-Offering. The priest makes atonement for them and they are forgiven. They then will take the bull outside the camp and burn it just as they burned the first bull. It’s the Absolution-Offering for the congregation.

22-26 “When a ruler sins unintentionally by straying from one of the commands of his God which must not be broken, he is guilty. When he becomes aware of the sin he has committed, he must bring a goat for his offering, a male without any defect, lay his hand on the head of the goat, and slaughter it in the place where they slaughter the Whole-Burnt-Offering in the presence of God—it’s an Absolution-Offering. The priest will then take some of the blood of the Absolution-Offering with his finger, smear it on the horns of the Altar of Whole-Burnt-Offering, and pour the rest at the base of the Altar. He will burn all its fat on the Altar, the same as with the fat of the Peace-Offering.

“The priest makes atonement for him on account of his sin and he’s forgiven.

27-31 “When an ordinary member of the congregation sins unintentionally, straying from one of the commandments of God which must not be broken, he is guilty. When he is made aware of his sin, he shall bring a goat, a female without any defect, and offer it for his sin, lay his hand on the head of the Absolution-Offering, and slaughter it at the place of the Whole-Burnt-Offering. The priest will take some of its blood with his finger, smear it on the horns of the Altar of Whole-Burnt-Offering, and pour the rest at the base of the Altar. Finally, he’ll take out all the fat, the same as with the Peace-Offerings, and burn it on the Altar for a pleasing fragrance to God.

“In this way, the priest makes atonement for him and he’s forgiven.

32-35 “If he brings a lamb for an Absolution-Offering, he shall present a female without any defect, lay his hand on the head of the Absolution-Offering, and slaughter it at the same place they slaughter the Whole-Burnt-Offering. The priest will take some of the blood of the Absolution-Offering with his finger, smear it on the horns of the Altar of Burnt-Offering, and pour the rest at the base of the Altar. He shall remove all the fat, the same as for the lamb of the Peace-Offering. Finally, the priest will burn it on the Altar on top of the gifts to God.

“In this way, the priest makes atonement for him on account of his sin and he’s forgiven.”

* * *

“If you sin by not stepping up and offering yourself as a witness to something you’ve heard or seen in cases of wrongdoing, you’ll be held responsible.

“Or if you touch anything ritually unclean, like the carcass of an unclean animal, wild or domestic, or a dead reptile, and you weren’t aware of it at the time, but you’re contaminated and you’re guilty;

“Or if you touch human uncleanness, any sort of ritually contaminating uncleanness, and you’re not aware of it at the time, but later you realize it and you’re guilty;

“Or if you impulsively swear to do something, whether good or bad—some rash oath that just pops out—and you aren’t aware of what you’ve done at the time, but later you come to realize it and you’re guilty in any of these cases;

5-6 “When you are guilty, immediately confess the sin that you’ve committed and bring as your penalty to God for the sin you have committed a female lamb or goat from the flock for an Absolution-Offering.

“In this way, the priest will make atonement for your sin.

7-10 “If you can’t afford a lamb, bring as your penalty to God for the sin you have committed two doves or two pigeons, one for the Absolution-Offering and the other for the Whole-Burnt-Offering. Bring them to the priest who will first offer the one for the Absolution-Offering: He’ll wring its neck but not sever it, splash some of the blood of the Absolution-Offering against the Altar, and squeeze the rest of it out at the base. It’s an Absolution-Offering. He’ll then take the second bird and offer it as a Whole-Burnt-Offering, following the procedures step-by-step.

“In this way, the priest will make atonement for your sin and you’re forgiven.

11-12 “If you cannot afford the two doves or pigeons, bring two quarts of fine flour for your Absolution-Offering. Don’t put oil or incense on it—it’s an Absolution-Offering. Bring it to the priest; he’ll take a handful from it as a memorial and burn it on the Altar with the gifts for God. It’s an Absolution-Offering.

13 “The priest will make atonement for you and any of these sins you’ve committed and you’re forgiven. The rest of the offering belongs to the priest, the same as with the Grain-Offering.”

Compensation-Offering

14-16 God spoke to Moses: “When a person betrays his trust and unknowingly sins by straying against any of the holy things of God, he is to bring as his penalty to God a ram without any defect from the flock, the value of the ram assessed in shekels, according to the Sanctuary shekel for a Compensation-Offering. He is to make additional compensation for the sin he has committed against any holy thing by adding twenty percent to the ram and giving it to the priest.

“Thus the priest will make atonement for him with the ram of the Compensation-Offering and he’s forgiven.

17-18 “If anyone sins by breaking any of the commandments of God which must not be broken, but without being aware of it at the time, the moment he does realize his guilt he is held responsible. He is to bring to the priest a ram without any defect, assessed at the value of the Compensation-Offering.

18-19 “Thus the priest will make atonement for him for his error that he was unaware of and he’s forgiven. It is a Compensation-Offering; he was surely guilty before God.”

The Fellowship Offering

“‘If your offering is a fellowship offering,(A) and you offer an animal from the herd, whether male or female, you are to present before the Lord an animal without defect.(B) You are to lay your hand on the head(C) of your offering and slaughter it(D) at the entrance to the tent of meeting.(E) Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall splash(F) the blood against the sides(G) of the altar.(H) From the fellowship offering you are to bring a food offering to the Lord: the internal organs(I) and all the fat(J) that is connected to them, both kidneys(K) with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which you will remove with the kidneys. Then Aaron’s sons(L) are to burn it on the altar(M) on top of the burnt offering(N) that is lying on the burning wood;(O) it is a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.(P)

“‘If you offer an animal from the flock as a fellowship offering(Q) to the Lord, you are to offer a male or female without defect. If you offer a lamb,(R) you are to present it before the Lord,(S) lay your hand on its head and slaughter it(T) in front of the tent of meeting. Then Aaron’s sons shall splash its blood against the sides of the altar. From the fellowship offering you are to bring a food offering(U) to the Lord: its fat, the entire fat tail cut off close to the backbone, the internal organs and all the fat that is connected to them, 10 both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which you will remove with the kidneys. 11 The priest shall burn them on the altar(V) as a food offering(W) presented to the Lord.(X)

12 “‘If your offering is a goat,(Y) you are to present it before the Lord, 13 lay your hand on its head and slaughter it in front of the tent of meeting. Then Aaron’s sons shall splash(Z) its blood against the sides of the altar.(AA) 14 From what you offer you are to present this food offering to the Lord: the internal organs and all the fat that is connected to them, 15 both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which you will remove with the kidneys.(AB) 16 The priest shall burn them on the altar(AC) as a food offering,(AD) a pleasing aroma.(AE) All the fat(AF) is the Lord’s.(AG)

17 “‘This is a lasting ordinance(AH) for the generations to come,(AI) wherever you live:(AJ) You must not eat any fat or any blood.(AK)’”

The Sin Offering

The Lord said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites: ‘When anyone sins unintentionally(AL) and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands(AM)

“‘If the anointed priest(AN) sins,(AO) bringing guilt on the people, he must bring to the Lord a young bull(AP) without defect(AQ) as a sin offering[a](AR) for the sin he has committed.(AS) He is to present the bull at the entrance to the tent of meeting before the Lord.(AT) He is to lay his hand on its head and slaughter it there before the Lord. Then the anointed priest shall take some of the bull’s blood(AU) and carry it into the tent of meeting. He is to dip his finger into the blood and sprinkle(AV) some of it seven times before the Lord,(AW) in front of the curtain of the sanctuary.(AX) The priest shall then put some of the blood on the horns(AY) of the altar of fragrant incense that is before the Lord in the tent of meeting. The rest of the bull’s blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar(AZ) of burnt offering(BA) at the entrance to the tent of meeting. He shall remove all the fat(BB) from the bull of the sin offering—all the fat that is connected to the internal organs, both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which he will remove with the kidneys(BC) 10 just as the fat is removed from the ox[b](BD) sacrificed as a fellowship offering.(BE) Then the priest shall burn them on the altar of burnt offering.(BF) 11 But the hide of the bull and all its flesh, as well as the head and legs, the internal organs and the intestines(BG) 12 that is, all the rest of the bull—he must take outside the camp(BH) to a place ceremonially clean,(BI) where the ashes(BJ) are thrown, and burn it(BK) there in a wood fire on the ash heap.(BL)

13 “‘If the whole Israelite community sins unintentionally(BM) and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands, even though the community is unaware of the matter, when they realize their guilt 14 and the sin they committed becomes known, the assembly must bring a young bull(BN) as a sin offering(BO) and present it before the tent of meeting. 15 The elders(BP) of the community are to lay their hands(BQ) on the bull’s head(BR) before the Lord, and the bull shall be slaughtered before the Lord.(BS) 16 Then the anointed priest is to take some of the bull’s blood(BT) into the tent of meeting. 17 He shall dip his finger into the blood and sprinkle(BU) it before the Lord(BV) seven times in front of the curtain. 18 He is to put some of the blood(BW) on the horns of the altar that is before the Lord(BX) in the tent of meeting. The rest of the blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar(BY) of burnt offering at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 19 He shall remove all the fat(BZ) from it and burn it on the altar,(CA) 20 and do with this bull just as he did with the bull for the sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement(CB) for the community, and they will be forgiven.(CC) 21 Then he shall take the bull outside the camp(CD) and burn it as he burned the first bull. This is the sin offering for the community.(CE)

22 “‘When a leader(CF) sins unintentionally(CG) and does what is forbidden in any of the commands of the Lord his God, when he realizes his guilt 23 and the sin he has committed becomes known, he must bring as his offering a male goat(CH) without defect. 24 He is to lay his hand on the goat’s head and slaughter it at the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered before the Lord.(CI) It is a sin offering.(CJ) 25 Then the priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar(CK) of burnt offering and pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar.(CL) 26 He shall burn all the fat on the altar as he burned the fat of the fellowship offering. In this way the priest will make atonement(CM) for the leader’s sin, and he will be forgiven.(CN)

27 “‘If any member of the community sins unintentionally(CO) and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands, when they realize their guilt 28 and the sin they have committed becomes known, they must bring as their offering(CP) for the sin they committed a female goat(CQ) without defect. 29 They are to lay their hand on the head(CR) of the sin offering(CS) and slaughter it at the place of the burnt offering.(CT) 30 Then the priest is to take some of the blood with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering(CU) and pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. 31 They shall remove all the fat, just as the fat is removed from the fellowship offering, and the priest shall burn it on the altar(CV) as an aroma pleasing to the Lord.(CW) In this way the priest will make atonement(CX) for them, and they will be forgiven.(CY)

32 “‘If someone brings a lamb(CZ) as their sin offering, they are to bring a female without defect.(DA) 33 They are to lay their hand on its head and slaughter it(DB) for a sin offering(DC) at the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered.(DD) 34 Then the priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar.(DE) 35 They shall remove all the fat, just as the fat is removed from the lamb of the fellowship offering, and the priest shall burn it on the altar(DF) on top of the food offerings presented to the Lord. In this way the priest will make atonement for them for the sin they have committed, and they will be forgiven.

“‘If anyone sins because they do not speak up when they hear a public charge to testify(DG) regarding something they have seen or learned about, they will be held responsible.(DH)

“‘If anyone becomes aware that they are guilty—if they unwittingly touch anything ceremonially unclean (whether the carcass of an unclean animal, wild or domestic, or of any unclean creature that moves along the ground)(DI) and they are unaware that they have become unclean,(DJ) but then they come to realize their guilt; or if they touch human uncleanness(DK) (anything that would make them unclean)(DL) even though they are unaware of it, but then they learn of it and realize their guilt; or if anyone thoughtlessly takes an oath(DM) to do anything, whether good or evil(DN) (in any matter one might carelessly swear about) even though they are unaware of it, but then they learn of it and realize their guilt— when anyone becomes aware that they are guilty in any of these matters, they must confess(DO) in what way they have sinned. As a penalty for the sin they have committed, they must bring to the Lord a female lamb or goat(DP) from the flock as a sin offering[c];(DQ) and the priest shall make atonement(DR) for them for their sin.

“‘Anyone who cannot afford(DS) a lamb(DT) is to bring two doves or two young pigeons(DU) to the Lord as a penalty for their sin—one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. They are to bring them to the priest, who shall first offer the one for the sin offering. He is to wring its head from its neck,(DV) not dividing it completely,(DW) and is to splash(DX) some of the blood of the sin offering against the side of the altar;(DY) the rest of the blood must be drained out at the base of the altar.(DZ) It is a sin offering. 10 The priest shall then offer the other as a burnt offering in the prescribed way(EA) and make atonement(EB) for them for the sin they have committed, and they will be forgiven.(EC)

11 “‘If, however, they cannot afford(ED) two doves or two young pigeons,(EE) they are to bring as an offering for their sin a tenth of an ephah[d](EF) of the finest flour(EG) for a sin offering. They must not put olive oil or incense on it, because it is a sin offering. 12 They are to bring it to the priest, who shall take a handful of it as a memorial[e] portion(EH) and burn it on the altar(EI) on top of the food offerings presented to the Lord. It is a sin offering. 13 In this way the priest will make atonement(EJ) for them for any of these sins they have committed, and they will be forgiven. The rest of the offering will belong to the priest,(EK) as in the case of the grain offering.(EL)’”

The Guilt Offering

14 The Lord said to Moses: 15 “When anyone is unfaithful to the Lord by sinning unintentionally(EM) in regard to any of the Lord’s holy things, they are to bring to the Lord as a penalty(EN) a ram(EO) from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value in silver, according to the sanctuary shekel.[f](EP) It is a guilt offering.(EQ) 16 They must make restitution(ER) for what they have failed to do in regard to the holy things, pay an additional penalty of a fifth of its value(ES) and give it all to the priest. The priest will make atonement for them with the ram as a guilt offering, and they will be forgiven.

17 “If anyone sins and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands, even though they do not know it,(ET) they are guilty and will be held responsible.(EU) 18 They are to bring to the priest as a guilt offering(EV) a ram from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value. In this way the priest will make atonement for them for the wrong they have committed unintentionally, and they will be forgiven.(EW) 19 It is a guilt offering; they have been guilty of[g] wrongdoing against the Lord.”(EX)

Footnotes

  1. Leviticus 4:3 Or purification offering; here and throughout this chapter
  2. Leviticus 4:10 The Hebrew word can refer to either male or female.
  3. Leviticus 5:6 Or purification offering; here and throughout this chapter
  4. Leviticus 5:11 That is, probably about 3 1/2 pounds or about 1.6 kilograms
  5. Leviticus 5:12 Or representative
  6. Leviticus 5:15 That is, about 2/5 ounce or about 12 grams
  7. Leviticus 5:19 Or offering; atonement has been made for their