Leviticus 5:10 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 5:10 mean?

Leviticus 5:10 explains that after a person brings a second bird as a burnt offering, following the required procedure, the priest will make atonement for the person's sin, and the person will be forgiven. This verse shows that forgiveness is granted through the proper offering and the priest’s actions.

In this part of Leviticus, God is giving Moses instructions for the Israelites about what to do when someone sins unintentionally. The verse describes a specific step in the process: after bringing two birds (one for a sin offering and one for a burnt offering), the priest performs the ritual so that the person’s wrongdoing is covered and they are restored to the community.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 5:10

• "Atonement" (כָּפַר, kaphar): This word means to cover or make reconciliation. Here, it means the priest’s ritual action covers the sin, making things right between the person and God.
• "Sin" (חַטָּאָה, chatta’ah) and "sinned" (חָטָא, chata’): These words refer to both the act of wrongdoing and the condition of having missed the mark. The verse highlights that the offering addresses both the act and its consequences.
• "Forgiven" (סָלַח, salach): This word means to be pardoned or released from guilt. The verse assures that the ritual actually results in forgiveness, not just a symbolic act.

Why Leviticus 5:10 matters

• Leviticus 5:10 clarifies that forgiveness in ancient Israel was not automatic; it required a specific process involving both an offering and the priest’s mediation.
• The verse emphasizes that even those who could only afford birds (rather than larger animals) could still receive full forgiveness, showing the law’s accommodation for different economic situations.
• This verse connects to the broader theme in Leviticus of restoring relationships—between people and God, and within the community—after wrongdoing.