Leviticus 5:18

He is to bring to the priest an unblemished ram of proper value from the flock as a guilt offering. Then the priest will make atonement on his behalf for the wrong he has committed in ignorance, and he will be forgiven.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The text addresses an Israelite who has violated a commandment without awareness and now recognizes their guilt. It outlines the exact procedure the community must follow when an unintentional transgression is discovered.

The words — אָשָׁם ('a.sham) designates a guilt offering, while אַיִל ('a.yil) specifies the required animal, an unblemished ram. The phrase בְּעֶרְכְּךָ (be.'er.ke.kha) mandates that the ram's value be assessed against the sanctuary standard.

The thread — The priest-mediated atonement pattern repeats in Leviticus 4:20 and Leviticus 5:15 for unintentional sins against God’s commands or holy things. Leviticus 5:19 immediately follows to confirm that this ritual resolves the offender’s guilt before the LORD.

Why it lands — The passage demands a tangible substitute and priestly mediation before forgiveness is granted. It requires the reader to accept that even unaware violations carry a concrete cost and a fixed path to restoration.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Leviticus 5:15 “If someone acts unfaithfully and sins unintentionally against any of the LORD’s holy things, he must bring his guilt offering to the LORD: an unblemished ram from the flock, of proper value in silver shekels according to the sanctuary shekel; it is a guilt offering.
Leviticus 1:4 He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, so it can be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him.
Leviticus 4:20 He shall offer this bull just as he did the bull for the sin offering; in this way the priest will make atonement on their behalf, and they will be forgiven.
Leviticus 6:6 Then he must bring to the priest his guilt offering to the LORD: an unblemished ram of proper value from the flock.
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,