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 atonement for him concerning his ignorance wherein he erred and wist it not, and it shall be forgiven him.

LEVITICUS 5:18KJV
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Leviticus 5:18 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 5:18 mean?

Leviticus 5:18 describes the prescribed response when an Israelite has unknowingly broken one of God’s commands. The person brings a sound ram to the priest, who performs the required rite; the verse says the person will then be forgiven.

The verse follows a case in which the person is unaware of the wrongdoing (verse 17). The ram is to come from the flock and be “without blemish,” or free from defects. “With thy estimation” points to the valuation connected with the offering.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 5:18

  • “trespass offering” — אָשָׁם (asham): The word can refer to guilt or to an offering connected with guilt. Here the KJV uses “trespass offering” for the ram brought in response to the person’s wrongdoing.
  • “atonement” — כָּפַר (kaphar): The word here refers to making things right through a prescribed rite. The verse assigns that work to the priest and connects it with forgiveness.

Why Leviticus 5:18 matters

  • A person could bear responsibility without knowing at the time that a command had been broken. Verse 17 describes someone who acts without knowing and is still guilty.
  • The priest has a distinct part in the process. The person brings the ram, but the priest performs the rite “concerning his ignorance.”
  • The verse gives a definite outcome: “it shall be forgiven him.” Forgiveness is stated alongside the required offering and the priest’s work.

Where else these words appear

“erred” Hebrew H7683 · used in 5 verses

  • Genesis 6:3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.
  • 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.
  • Job 12:16 With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his.

“ignorance” Hebrew H7684 · used in 18 verses

  • Leviticus 4:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them:
  • Numbers 15:24 Then it shall be, if ought be committed by ignorance without the knowledge of the congregation, that all the congregation shall offer one young bullock for a burnt offering, for a sweet savour unto the LORD, with his meat offering, and his drink offering, according to the manner, and one kid of the goats for a sin offering.
  • Numbers 35:11 Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares.

“estimation” Hebrew H6187 · used in 29 verses

  • Exodus 40:4 And thou shalt bring in the table, and set in order the things that are to be set in order upon it; and thou shalt bring in the candlestick, and light the lamps thereof.
  • Leviticus 27:7 And if it be from sixty years old and above; if it be a male, then thy estimation shall be fifteen shekels, and for the female ten shekels.
  • Leviticus 27:23 Then the priest shall reckon unto him the worth of thy estimation, even unto the year of the jubile: and he shall give thine estimation in that day, as a holy thing unto the LORD.

“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 14:12 And the priest shall take one he lamb, and offer him for a trespass offering, and the log of oil, and wave them for a wave offering before the LORD:
  • 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.