And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD for his sin which he hath sinned, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats, for a sin offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his sin.

LEVITICUS 5:6KJV
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Leviticus 5:6 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 5:6 mean?

Leviticus 5:6 tells an Israelite who has become guilty in one of the cases described nearby how to address that guilt. The person brings an animal offering to the LORD, and a priest performs the required act so the person’s sin can be dealt with.

After the person admits the wrong in verse 5, verse 6 gives the next step. The animal must be a female from the flock: either a lamb or a young goat. The person brings the animal, while the priest has a distinct role in the offering.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 5:6

  • “trespass offering” — אָשָׁם (asham): This word can refer to guilt or an offering connected with guilt. Here the KJV uses it for the offering brought because of the person’s wrong.
  • “sin offering” — חַטָּאת (chatat): This word can mean either “sin” or an offering for sin. The same Hebrew word stands behind both “sin” and “sin offering” in this verse.
  • “make an atonement” — כָּפַר (kaphar): In this setting, the word describes the priest’s act of dealing with the person’s sin through the prescribed offering. Verse 6 assigns that act to the priest.

Why Leviticus 5:6 matters

  • The offering follows an admission of the particular wrong. Verse 5 says the person must confess “that he hath sinned in that thing.”
  • The verse does not require the same animal in every circumstance. Verses 7 and 11 give other options for a person who cannot afford the specified animal.
  • The priest’s action has a stated result. Verse 10 says, concerning the offering described there, that the person “shall be forgiven.”

Where else these words appear

“kid” Hebrew H8166 · used in 2 verses

  • Leviticus 4:28 Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge: then he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he hath sinned.

“female” Hebrew H5347 · used in 22 verses

  • Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
  • Leviticus 3:6 And if his offering for a sacrifice of peace offering unto the LORD be of the flock; male or female, he shall offer it without blemish.
  • Leviticus 27:5 And if it be from five years old even unto twenty years old, then thy estimation shall be of the male twenty shekels, and for the female ten shekels.

“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.

“goats” Hebrew H5795 · used in 74 verses

  • Genesis 15:9 And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.
  • Leviticus 16:5 And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.
  • Numbers 29:5 And one kid of the goats for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you: