And the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering before the LORD for his sin which he hath done: and the sin which he hath done shall be forgiven him.

LEVITICUS 19:22KJV
Know the Bible

Leviticus 19:22 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 19:22 mean?

Leviticus 19:22 describes how a priest is to make atonement for someone who has sinned by offering a ram as a trespass offering before the LORD, so that the person’s sin will be forgiven. The verse emphasizes that forgiveness comes through this specific ritual and offering, as prescribed in the law.

In this passage, God is giving instructions to Moses for the Israelites about what to do when someone has committed a particular kind of sin. The priest acts as a mediator, using a ram (a male sheep) as the required offering to address the wrongdoing. The focus is on the process of atonement—making things right with God—so that the person can be forgiven and restored to the community.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 19:22

  • "Priest" (כֹּהֵן, kohen): This word refers to the official religious leader who performs the ritual. Only the priest could carry out this atonement, highlighting the structured approach to forgiveness in ancient Israel.
  • "Atonement" (כָּפַר, kaphar): This word means to cover, purge, or reconcile. In this context, it means the priest is acting to remove the guilt of the sin so the person can be forgiven.
  • "Ram" (אַיִל, ayil): The ram was a specific animal required for this type of offering, not just any animal. This detail shows the seriousness and cost of making things right.
  • "Offering" (אָשָׁם, asham): This is often called a "guilt offering" or "trespass offering," meant for specific sins that required restitution. It’s not a general sacrifice, but one tied to particular wrongs.
  • "Forgiven" (סָלַח, salach): This word means to pardon or forgive. The verse makes clear that forgiveness is the result of following this process, not automatic or assumed.

Why Leviticus 19:22 matters

  • Leviticus 19:22 clarifies that forgiveness in ancient Israel was not automatic; it required a specific process involving the priest and a particular offering, showing the seriousness with which sin was treated.
  • The verse highlights the role of the priest as a mediator between the people and God, which helps explain the structure of Israelite worship and community life.
  • This instruction fits into a larger section about holiness and right living, showing that even when people failed, there was a way to be restored through obedience to God’s instructions.

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.

“forgiven” Hebrew H5545 · used in 45 verses

  • Exodus 34:9 And he said, If now I have found grace in thy sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray thee, go among us; for it is a stiffnecked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for thine inheritance.
  • Numbers 15:28 And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sinneth ignorantly, when he sinneth by ignorance before the LORD, to make an atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him.
  • 2 Chronicles 6:30 Then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart thou knowest;(for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men:)

“atonement” Hebrew H3722 · used in 94 verses

  • Genesis 6:14 Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.
  • Leviticus 14:21 And if he be poor, and cannot get so much; then he shall take one lamb for a trespass offering to be waved, to make an atonement for him, and one tenth deal of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering, and a log of oil;
  • Numbers 28:22 And one goat for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you.