Keraia
Leviticus 5

Leviticus 5:11

Sins Requiring a Sin Offering · Leviticus 5:1–13
Read Leviticus 5

Translations

Modern
But if he cannot afford two turtledoves or two young pigeons, he may bring a tenth of an ephah of fine flour as a sin offering. He must not put olive oil or frankincense on it, because it is a sin offering.
Traditional
But if he be not able to bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, then he that sinned shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering; he shall put no oil upon it, neither shall he put any frankincense thereon: for it is a sin offering.
Literal
And if his hand does not reach to two turtledoves or to two sons of a pigeon, then he shall bring near for his offering that he has sinned a tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering. He shall not put oil on it, and he shall not put frankincense on it, for it is a sin offering.
Latin
Quod si non quiverit manus ejus duos offerre turtures, aut duos pullos columbarum, offeret pro peccato suo similæ partem ephi decimam: non mittet in eam oleum, nec thuris aliquid imponet, quia pro peccato est.

Original

Hebrew
English
But if he cannot afford two turtledoves or two young pigeons, he may bring a tenth of an ephah of fine flour as a sin offering. He must not put olive oil or frankincense on it, because it is a sin offering.

Notes

Leviticus 5:11

The sin offering was not to include olive oil or frankincense on it. These were necessary for the grain offering, which was a person's gift to the Lord to show worship (see Leviticus 2:1). The sin offering, however, was different. It was meant to make atonement and bring forgiveness, so it had to be offered without anything added.

Leviticus 5:7–13

Poor people also needed to receive atonement and be restored to God. For those who could not afford a lamb, the law allowed them to bring birds instead (Leviticus 5:7; compare 1:14–17). Normally, atonement required the blood of an animal (17:11). But in his grace, God permitted even an offering of flour when a person was too poor to afford two birds (5:11).

Leviticus 4:1–5:13

The sin offering is called khatta’t in Hebrew, from the root khata’. It means "to lack, fall short, miss, fail." The people made this offering when they unintentionally violated specific commands of God (see also Numbers 15:22–29). The purpose of this offering was to repair a loss or fix a failure (for example, Leviticus 5:1–4).

Although all Christians sin, God will forgive us if we confess them (Galatians 6:1; 1 John 1:8–9). Yet, the Scripture warns against sinning "defiantly" or "deliberately" (Numbers 15:30–31; Hebrews 10:26–29; 6:4–6).

Measurements

  • an ephah of fine flour: About 2 qt (2.2 l)

Parallels

Leviticus 4:1–35 Leviticus 6:24–30

Glossary

Biblical Concept of Law Deuteronomy, Book of Frankincense History of Israel Law of Moses Leviticus, Book of Moses Offerings and Sacrifices Oil Water that Brings a Curse, Water of Bitterness, Water of Jealousy Worship

Topics

Atonement by Meat offerings Defilement: Caused by Touching Carcass of an Unclean Thing Frankincense: Prohibited, in Sin offerings when They Consist of Turtledoves or Pigeons Ignorance: Sins of Measure: An Ephah, Equal to Three Seah, and in Liquid, to a Bath, Containing About a Bushel and a Half Measures of Liquids and Solids: Omer or Tenth-Deal (The Tenth of an Ephah) Meat-Offerings: Offered by the Poor for a Trespass offering Offerings: Meat: Ordinances Concerning Sin: Forgiveness of Trespass offering: Consisted of a Meat offering by the Very Poor Vows: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To