
Text -- Leviticus 5:16-19 (NET)




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collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)
Wesley -> Lev 5:17
Wesley: Lev 5:17 - -- The former law concerns the alienation of holy things from sacred to common use; this may concern other miscarriages about holy things, and holy dutie...
The former law concerns the alienation of holy things from sacred to common use; this may concern other miscarriages about holy things, and holy duties, as may be gathered from Lev 5:19, where this is said to be a trespass against the Lord, not in a general sense, for so every sin was; but in a proper and peculiar sense.
JFB -> Lev 5:15-16; Lev 5:17-19
JFB: Lev 5:15-16 - -- This is a case of sacrilege committed ignorantly, either in not paying the full due of tithes, first-fruits, and similar tribute in eating of meats, w...
This is a case of sacrilege committed ignorantly, either in not paying the full due of tithes, first-fruits, and similar tribute in eating of meats, which belonged to the priests alone--or he was required, along with the restitution in money, the amount of which was to be determined by the priest, to offer a ram for a trespass offering, as soon as he came to the knowledge of his involuntary fraud.

JFB: Lev 5:17-19 - -- This also refers to holy things, and it differs from the preceding in being one of the doubtful cases,--that is, where conscience suspects, though the...
This also refers to holy things, and it differs from the preceding in being one of the doubtful cases,--that is, where conscience suspects, though the understanding be in doubt whether criminality or sin has been committed. The Jewish rabbis give, as an example, the case of a person who, knowing that "the fat of the inwards" is not to be eaten, religiously abstained from the use of it; but should a dish happen to have been at table in which he had reason to suspect some portion of that meat was intermingled, and he had, inadvertently, partaken of that unlawful viand, he was bound to bring a ram as a trespass offering [Lev 5:16]. These provisions were all designed to impress the conscience with the sense of responsibility to God and keep alive on the hearts of the people a salutary fear of doing any secret wrong.
Clarke: Lev 5:16 - -- Shall make amends - Make restitution for the wrong he had done according to what is laid down in the preceding verse.
Shall make amends - Make restitution for the wrong he had done according to what is laid down in the preceding verse.

Clarke: Lev 5:19 - -- He hath certainly trespassed - And because he hath sinned, therefore he must bring a sacrifice. On no other ground shall he be accepted by the Lord....
He hath certainly trespassed - And because he hath sinned, therefore he must bring a sacrifice. On no other ground shall he be accepted by the Lord. Reader, how dost thou stand in the sight of thy Maker? On the subject of this chapter it may be proper to make the following reflections. When the infinite purity and strict justice of God are considered, the exceeding breadth of his commandment, our slowness of heart to believe, and our comparatively cold performance of sacred duties, no wonder that there is sinfulness found in our holy things; and at what a low ebb must the Christian life be found when this is the case! This is a sore and degrading evil in the Church of God; but there is one even worse than this, that is, the strenuous endeavor of many religious people to reconcile their minds to this state of inexcusable imperfection, and defend it zealously, on the supposition that it is at once both unavoidable and useful - unavoidable, for they think they cannot live without it; and useful, because they suppose it tends to humble them! The more inward sin a man has, the more pride he will feel; the less, the more humility. A sense of God’ s infinite kindness to us, and our constant dependence on him, will ever keep the soul in the dust. Sin can never be necessary to the maintenance or extension of the Christian life, it is the thing which Jesus Christ came into the world to destroy; and his name is called Jesus or Savior because he saves his people from their sins. But how little of the spirit and influence of his Gospel is known in the world! He saves, unto the uttermost, them who come unto the Father through him. But alas! how few are thus saved! for they will not come unto him that they might have life. Should any Christian refuse to offer up the following prayer to God? "Almighty God, unto whom all hearts be open, and from whom no secrets are hid, cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy name, through Christ our Lord. Amen."- The Liturgy.
Calvin: Lev 5:16 - -- 16.And he shall make amends for the harm Hence it more plainly appears, as I have recently stated, that they, who withheld anything of God’s full r...
16.And he shall make amends for the harm Hence it more plainly appears, as I have recently stated, that they, who withheld anything of God’s full right, are said to have sinned “in the holy thing;” since they are commanded to make restitution with the addition of a fifth part. Yet let my readers remember, that those who are compelled to make restitution, are not such as have fraudulently embezzled the sacred things, but those who under some vain pretext have flattered themselves for a time, so as to be unaffected by any conviction of their fault. The object therefore of this sacrifice, was to arouse the people to attention, so that postponing their private advantage, they should freely pay what was due to God. 270 Theirs is but foolish trifling who think that Moses, having before spoken of sins ( peccata ), now prescribes the mode of making expiation for delinquencies ( delicta ), since he uses the same words indifferently on all occasions, and also designates all the victims by the same name. But to make out a delinquency to be greater than a sin is a piece of gross ignorance; nor does it need a long refutation, since it manifestly appears that in this passage a special rule is delivered as to the means of obtaining pardon when a person through thoughtlessness has not reflected that he has omitted to discharge in full either his vows or oblations.

Calvin: Lev 5:17 - -- 17.And if soul sin Although the expressions seem to be general, as if he briefly confirmed what he had said before, yet it is necessary to connect th...
17.And if soul sin Although the expressions seem to be general, as if he briefly confirmed what he had said before, yet it is necessary to connect them with the last sentence, or at least to restrict them to certain cases. The former exposition appears to me to be the right one; nor is there any absurdity in the repetition, to cut off all occasion for subterfuge from the disobedient. Still I do not deny that the reason which is added at the end, applies to all the modes of expiation of which he has been treating; viz., that although he may pretend ignorance who has fallen into sin inconsiderately, or who has not intentionally sinned, or who through forgetfulness has contracted any defilement, still he is guilty before God until he makes reconciliation. When therefore he again commands that a ram without blemish, and of full value should be offered, he once more shews how they must purge themselves who have been too stingy in their oblations. Immediately after he adds a reason common to all the other errors; as if he had said, that they are not absolved before God who offer the excuse of ignorance as a cover for their fault.
Defender: Lev 5:19 - -- This is the fifth type of offering described in Leviticus, the others being the burnt offering, the meal offering, the peace offering and the sin offe...
This is the fifth type of offering described in Leviticus, the others being the burnt offering, the meal offering, the peace offering and the sin offering, as described in chapters 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Defender: Lev 5:19 - -- This statement confirms that a trespass against one's fellow man is also a sin against the Lord."
This statement confirms that a trespass against one's fellow man is also a sin against the Lord."
TSK: Lev 5:16 - -- make : Lev 22:14; Exo 22:1, Exo 22:3, Exo 22:4; Psa 69:4; Luk 19:8; Act 26:20
the fifth : Lev 6:4, Lev 6:5, Lev 27:13, Lev 27:15, Lev 27:27, Lev 27:31...

TSK: Lev 5:17 - -- a soul sin : This case is supposed to differ from the preceding, merely in that the person concerned was not certain whether he had or had not committ...
a soul sin : This case is supposed to differ from the preceding, merely in that the person concerned was not certain whether he had or had not committed the trespass. It is therefore called by the Hebrews a doubtful trespass offering. Lev 5:1, Lev 4:2-4, Lev 4:13, Lev 4:22, Lev 4:27

TSK: Lev 5:18 - -- And he : Lev 5:15, Lev 5:16
for a trespass : Lev 6:6; 1Ti 2:5, 1Ti 2:6
and the priest : Lev 5:16, Lev 1:4, Lev 4:20, Lev 6:7

collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Barnes -> Lev 5:17
Barnes: Lev 5:17 - -- Though he wist it not - Ignorance of the Law, or even of the consequences of the act at the time that it was committed, was not to excuse him f...
Though he wist it not - Ignorance of the Law, or even of the consequences of the act at the time that it was committed, was not to excuse him from the obligation to offer the sacrifice.
Poole: Lev 5:16 - -- Shall add the fifth part so much they were to add to holy things redeemed, Lev 27:13,15,19 .
Shall add the fifth part so much they were to add to holy things redeemed, Lev 27:13,15,19 .

Poole: Lev 5:17 - -- Any of these things to wit, concerning holy things, of which he is yet speaking, though with some difference and addition, as it may seem. The former...
Any of these things to wit, concerning holy things, of which he is yet speaking, though with some difference and addition, as it may seem. The former law concerns the alienation of holy things from the sacred to a common use; and this may concern other miscarriages about holy things and holy duties, as may be gathered from Lev 5:19 , where this is said to be a trespass against the Lord , not in a general sense, for so every sin war, but in a proper and peculiar sense.
Though he wist it not for if he did it knowingly, he must die, Num 15:30 .
Haydock: Lev 5:17 - -- Through ignorance. These words are not found in the Hebrew or Septuagint; but the context shews, that they must be understood. Some pretend that th...
Through ignorance. These words are not found in the Hebrew or Septuagint; but the context shews, that they must be understood. Some pretend that the ignorance here spoken of, is that by which a person doubts whether the thing which he touched was unclean or not. But we may explain these last verses as a recapitulation of what had been already ordered. (Calmet)

Haydock: Lev 5:18 - -- Sin. If it were grievous, the priest required a more valuable victim, ver. 15.
Sin. If it were grievous, the priest required a more valuable victim, ver. 15.

Haydock: Lev 5:19 - -- Lord. Hebrew, "It is a victim for the sin which he has committed against the Lord." From this chapter, as well as from Numbers v. 7, it is obvious ...
Lord. Hebrew, "It is a victim for the sin which he has committed against the Lord." From this chapter, as well as from Numbers v. 7, it is obvious that a special confession was necessary, not only for those who had fallen into the disorder of leprosy, which was a figure of sin, and often inflicted by God in punishment of it; but also, when they had given way to the smallest transgression against the commands and ceremonies of the Lord. (Haydock) ---
This custom is still observed by the Jews. (Galatinus x. 3.)
Gill: Lev 5:16 - -- And he shall make amends for the harm that he hath done in the holy thing,.... This seems to favour the sense of the word "estimation", in the precedi...
And he shall make amends for the harm that he hath done in the holy thing,.... This seems to favour the sense of the word "estimation", in the preceding verse, as understood of the estimate of the damage done in the holy things, which belonged to the priests, for which recompense was to be made according as the damage was valued:
and shall add the fifth part thereto, and give it unto the priest; besides paying the whole damage, he was to give a fifth part of the whole to the priest; which was ordered to show the evil nature of the sin of sacrilege, though done ignorantly, and to make men careful and cautious of committing it: the fifth part, according to the Jewish writers f, is the fourth part of that of which a man eats, ("viz." of the holy things,) which is the fifth of the whole; thus, if he eats the value of a penny, he pays the penny and the fourth part of one, and so it is in all the fifths mentioned in the law; or, as Ben Gersom on the place expresses it, if he has had profit by the holy things to the value of four shekels, he pays five shekels; for the fifth of the shekels they add the fifth part to the four shekels; in this he observes, all are alike, the priest, the anointed, the prince, and a private person, for the law makes no difference between them in this:
and the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering; by offering it up for him:
and it shall be forgiven him; after he has paid the whole damage, and a fifth part besides, and offered the trespass offering for atonement; See Gill on Lev 5:10.

Gill: Lev 5:17 - -- And if a soul sin, and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the Lord,.... Respecting holy things:
thoug...
And if a soul sin, and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the Lord,.... Respecting holy things:
though he wist it not; or did not know that he had transgressed a negative command:
yet he is guilty, and shall bear the iniquity; be chargeable with guilt, and is liable to punishment, and must make an atonement and satisfaction for it; see Luk 12:48.

Gill: Lev 5:18 - -- And he shall bring a ram without blemish out of the flock,.... See Gill on Lev 5:15.
with thy estimation for a trespass offering to the priest; al...
And he shall bring a ram without blemish out of the flock,.... See Gill on Lev 5:15.
with thy estimation for a trespass offering to the priest; along with the offering was to be brought an estimate of whatsoever damage had been done through the breach of any of the commands of God, where damage could take place, that so recompense be made as before directed; or else the ram brought was to be valued, and examined whether it was worth two shekels of silver, as before explained; see Gill on Lev 5:15 but no fifth was required as in the former cases:
and the priest shall make atonement for him concerning his ignorance wherein he erred, and wist it not, and it shall be forgiven him; See Gill on Lev 5:10 this is what the Jews call "Asham Talui", doubtful trespass offering.

Gill: Lev 5:19 - -- It is a trespass offering,.... An offering for a trespass committed:
he hath certainly trespassed against the Lord; though committed ignorantly, ...
It is a trespass offering,.... An offering for a trespass committed:
he hath certainly trespassed against the Lord; though committed ignorantly, and therefore an offering must be brought; for no sin of any kind must be overlooked, passed by, or forgiven, without a sacrifice, or without atonement made by sacrifice: or, "he shall offer a trespass offering to the Lord", or before the Lord, as Onkelos; or before the Word of the Lord, as Jonathan; and Maimonides out of Siphri g observes, that whereas it is said, a trespass or trespass offering to the Lord, it was not lawful for the priests to eat of it.

expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes: Lev 5:16 Heb “there shall be forgiveness to him” or “it shall be forgiven to him” (KJV similar).

NET Notes: Lev 5:17 Heb “and he did not know, and he shall be guilty and he shall bear his iniquity” (for the rendering “bear his punishment [for iniqui...

NET Notes: Lev 5:18 Heb “there shall be forgiveness to him” or “it shall be forgiven to him” (KJV and NASB both similar).
Geneva Bible: Lev 5:17 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 g...

Geneva Bible: Lev 5:18 And 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...

expand allCommentary -- Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis -> Lev 5:1-19
TSK Synopsis: Lev 5:1-19 - --1 He that sins in concealing his knowledge;2 in touching an unclean thing;4 or in making an oath.6 His trespass offering, of the flock;7 of fowls;11 o...
MHCC -> Lev 5:14-19
MHCC: Lev 5:14-19 - --Here are offerings to atone for trespasses against a neighbour. If a man put to his own use unwittingly, any thing dedicated to God, he was to bring t...
Matthew Henry -> Lev 5:14-19
Matthew Henry: Lev 5:14-19 - -- Hitherto in this chapter orders were given concerning those sacrifices that were both sin-offerings and trespass-offerings, for they go by both name...
Keil-Delitzsch -> Lev 5:14-19
Keil-Delitzsch: Lev 5:14-19 - --
(Ch. 5:14-6:7)
(Note: In the original the division of verses in the Hebrew text is followed; but we have thought it better to keep to the arrangeme...
Constable: Lev 1:1--16:34 - --I. The public worship of the Israelites chs. 1--16
Leviticus continues revelation concerning the second of three...

Constable: Lev 1:1--7:38 - --A. The laws of sacrifice chs. 1-7
God designed the offerings to teach the Israelites as well as to enabl...
