And he shall slay the lamb in the place where he shall kill the sin offering and the burnt offering, in the holy place: for as the sin offering is the priest's, so is the trespass offering: it is most holy:

LEVITICUS 14:13KJV
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Leviticus 14:13 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 14:13 mean?

Leviticus 14:13 explains that the priest is to kill the lamb for the trespass offering in the same holy place where other offerings, like the sin offering and burnt offering, are slaughtered. The verse emphasizes that the trespass offering, like the sin offering, is especially holy and belongs to the priest.

In this part of Leviticus, God is giving Moses instructions for the ritual cleansing of someone healed from a skin disease. The priest acts on behalf of the person being cleansed, following detailed sacrificial procedures. The verse highlights that certain offerings are set apart as “most holy,” reserved for the priest, and must be handled in a sacred space within the tabernacle.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 14:13

  • “Holy” (קֹדֶשׁ, qodesh): This word appears twice, once for the “holy place” (where the sacrifice happens) and again as “most holy,” stressing that the offering is set apart in a special way for God and for priestly use.
  • “Trespass offering” (אָשָׁם, asham): This is a specific type of sacrifice for certain offenses, different from the “sin offering” (חַטָּאת, chatat), but here the verse points out that both are treated with the same level of holiness.
  • “Priest’s” (כֹּהֵן, kohen): The verse notes that the offering is “the priest’s,” meaning the meat from this sacrifice is for the priest to eat, showing the priest’s special role in the ritual.

Why Leviticus 14:13 matters

  • Leviticus 14:13 clarifies that the trespass offering is not just a routine sacrifice but is considered “most holy,” underscoring its importance in the ritual system.
  • The verse connects the cleansing of a healed person to the broader sacrificial practices, showing that restoration to the community involves the same level of sacredness as atonement for sin.
  • By specifying that the offering is for the priest and must be handled in a holy place, the verse highlights the careful boundaries and roles within Israel’s worship life.

Where else these words appear

“offering” Hebrew H817 · used in 41 verses

  • Genesis 26:10 And Abimelech said, What is this thou hast done unto us? one of the people might lightly have lien with thy wife, and thou shouldest have brought guiltiness upon us.
  • Leviticus 7:37 This is the law of the burnt offering, of the meat offering, and of the sin offering, and of the trespass offering, and of the consecrations, and of the sacrifice of the peace offerings;
  • Numbers 18:9 This shall be thine of the most holy things, reserved from the fire: every oblation of theirs, every meat offering of theirs, and every sin offering of theirs, and every trespass offering of theirs, which they shall render unto me, shall be most holy for thee and for thy sons.

“slay” Hebrew H7819 · used in 70 verses

  • Genesis 22:10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.
  • Leviticus 9:8 Aaron therefore went unto the altar, and slew the calf of the sin offering, which was for himself.
  • 2 Kings 10:14 And he said, Take them alive. And they took them alive, and slew them at the pit of the shearing house, even two and forty men; neither left he any of them.

“lamb” Hebrew H3532 · used in 100 verses

  • Exodus 12:5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:
  • Numbers 7:57 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
  • Numbers 29:18 And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner: