What does it mean to commit a trespass in the holy things of the Lord?

To trespass in the holy things of the Lord is to sin in matters that belong to Him and are set apart for His worship. The passage speaks of doing harm in the holy thing of the Lord, even through ignorance. This wrongdoing is treated as a real trespass against the Lord, and the person must make amends and bring the required offering.

Why does God require a ram and also repayment with an added fifth?

The ram without blemish is brought as a trespass offering so that the priest can make atonement and the person can be forgiven. Along with this, the person must make amends for the harm done in the holy thing, add a fifth part to it, and give it to the priest. The offering deals with guilt before God, and the repayment with the added fifth restores what was harmed and more, showing that sin in holy things has real cost.

What does it mean that someone is guilty even if they did not know?

The passage says that if a person commits what is forbidden by the commandments of the Lord, though they did not know it at the time, they are still guilty and shall bear their iniquity. This means the act is still counted as sin before God. When the person becomes aware, they must bring a ram for a trespass offering, and the priest makes atonement for the ignorance in which they erred, so that it may be forgiven.

How did the trespass offering bring forgiveness in this passage?

The person brings a ram without blemish from the flock as a trespass offering, according to the set valuation in silver. The priest offers this ram before the Lord and makes atonement for the person, either for the harm done in the holy thing or for the ignorance in which they sinned. On this basis God declares, “it shall be forgiven him,” so that the guilt of the trespass is removed.

Why is this passage about sins of ignorance important?

This passage shows that God treats sins of ignorance as real trespasses that need atonement. A person may not have understood at the time that they were breaking God’s commandments or harming what is holy, yet they are still said to be guilty and to bear their iniquity. At the same time, God provides a clear way of forgiveness through the trespass offering and required restitution, so that the person can be restored.

What does this teach about how God views holy things and sacrilege?

The passage teaches that harming the holy things of the Lord is a serious matter. If someone has done harm in the holy thing, they must restore what was harmed, add a fifth part, and bring a ram for a trespass offering. God calls this “a trespass against the Lord,” showing that misuse or damage of what is holy is not a small oversight but a real offense that requires repayment and atonement.

What is the difference between the two situations described in this passage?

In one case, the focus is on a person who has committed a trespass and done harm in the holy thing of the Lord. That person must restore what was harmed, add a fifth, and bring a ram for a trespass offering. In the other case, the focus is broader: a person who has done any of the things forbidden by the commandments of the Lord, though they did not know it at the time. When this comes to light, they must also bring a ram for a trespass offering, and the priest makes atonement for the sin done in ignorance.

How can the idea of adding a fifth part help us think about making things right?

The instruction to add a fifth part to what was harmed in the holy thing shows that making amends involved more than simple replacement. The person did not only restore what had been affected but added extra. This teaches that sin brings loss and that proper restitution goes beyond returning to the exact point before the wrong, recognizing the seriousness of the trespass.

Lev.5.14

Leviticus 5:14

KJV

¶ And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

Laws for Guilt Offerings

¶ And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

If a soul commit a trespass, and sin through ignorance, in the holy things of the Lord; then he shall bring for his trespass unto the Lord a ram without blemish out of the flocks, with thy estimation by shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass offering:

And he shall make amends for the harm that he hath done in the holy thing, and shall add the fifth part thereto, and give it unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering, and it shall be forgiven him.

¶ And if a soul sin, and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the Lord; though he wist it not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity.

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.

It is a trespass offering: he hath certainly trespassed against the Lord.

Cross References

No cross references available for this verse.