Leviticus 19 21

Leviticus 19:21 kjv

And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, even a ram for a trespass offering.

Leviticus 19:21 nkjv

And he shall bring his trespass offering to the LORD, to the door of the tabernacle of meeting, a ram as a trespass offering.

Leviticus 19:21 niv

The man, however, must bring a ram to the entrance to the tent of meeting for a guilt offering to the LORD.

Leviticus 19:21 esv

but he shall bring his compensation to the LORD, to the entrance of the tent of meeting, a ram for a guilt offering.

Leviticus 19:21 nlt

The man, however, must bring a ram as a guilt offering and present it to the LORD at the entrance of the Tabernacle.

Leviticus 19 verses

Leviticus 19 21 Meaning

Leviticus 19:21 mandates a specific ritual for a particular transgression: a man who has relations with a slave-girl pledged to another but not yet redeemed or given her freedom. For this offense, he is required to bring a trespass offering (or guilt offering) to the Lord. The offering must be a ram, which he is to present at the entrance of the Tabernacle of the congregation. This sacrifice served as a means of atonement, recognizing the guilt incurred and making amends for a wrong that affected both human relations and ultimately God.

Leviticus 19 21 Context

Leviticus chapter 19 is a cornerstone of the "Holiness Code," which begins with the overarching command in verse 2, "You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy." This chapter outlines a broad array of ethical, moral, and ceremonial directives that govern Israelite life, emphasizing how their daily conduct, relationships, and worship should reflect God's own character. It covers proper treatment of parents, observance of Sabbaths, worship protocols, social justice, sexual purity, and more.

Verses 20-22 specifically address a legal scenario involving a man lying with a female slave who is betrothed to another man but not yet fully redeemed or freed. This situation created a complex legal position; it was not fully adultery (which carried the death penalty for both parties as seen in Deut 22:22, Lev 20:10) nor merely illicit sex with an unattached person. It violated a betrothal, indicating an infringement on another man's future property/right, but because she wasn't fully his wife, the offense was mitigated. Therefore, it required a "trespass offering" (asham) rather than a capital punishment. This section demonstrates the Mosaic Law's nuanced application to specific moral-legal ambiguities, providing a path for reconciliation and atonement for such offenses.

Leviticus 19 21 Word analysis

• And he shall bring (וְהֵבִיא - vehevi): Derived from the root בּוֹא (bo), meaning "to come, to bring." This emphasizes the active responsibility of the offender to personally present the offering, rather than simply paying a fine or having someone else offer it. It denotes intentional participation in the atonement process.
• his trespass offering (אֶת־אֲשָׁמוֹ - et-ashamo):
  • אֲשָׁמוֹ (ashamo) comes from the Hebrew root אָשָׁם (asham), meaning "to be guilty," "to offend," or "to incur guilt."
  • The asham is one of the five major types of sacrifices in the Torah, often translated as "trespass offering" or "guilt offering." It uniquely addressed cases involving defilement of holy things (e.g., inadvertently violating tabernacle sanctity), or committing a wrong against a fellow human that could be quantified (like theft, false witness, deceit in money matters, or sexual transgressions that incurred a monetary or equivalent penalty/restitution). It specifically related to matters that required restitution or compensation, thus linking a breach of holiness with an offense against sacred property or rights, whether belonging to God or to fellow man. It required acknowledgement of specific guilt and sometimes additional compensatory payment beyond the value of the wronged item (e.g., 20% surcharge).
• unto the Lord (לַיהוָה - laYHWH): Designates Yahweh, the God of Israel, as the ultimate recipient of the offering and the offended party. Even though the transgression involved another human being's rights (the master of the slave girl, or her betrothed), the act was fundamentally an offense against God's holy standards and His covenant. This highlights the theological principle that all sin is ultimately against God.
• unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation (אֶל־פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד - el-petach ohel mo'ed):
  • פֶּתַח (petach): "entrance" or "doorway."
  • אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד (ohel mo'ed): "Tent of Meeting" or "Tabernacle of the congregation." This was the central, portable sanctuary where God manifested His presence among Israel during their wilderness wanderings and until the First Temple was built. It was the designated place where sacrifices were made and God's holy dwelling place.
  • This specifies the required physical location for presenting the offering. It ensured the sacrifice was offered according to God's prescribed ordinances, signifying access to God's presence through His ordained means and ritual purity within the community. All major animal sacrifices were brought to this precise location, before the brazen altar.
• even a ram (אֵיל - ayil): A mature male sheep.
  • This specifies the type of animal to be offered. Rams were considered valuable animals and were also used in other significant sacrifices, such as burnt offerings and the ordination of priests (Ex 29; Lev 8).
  • The requirement of a specific animal underscores the precise nature of the Levitical sacrificial system and implies a substantial cost to the offender, signifying the seriousness of the sin and the depth of the required repentance. The ram could symbolize strength and vitality offered back to God.
• for a trespass offering (לְאָשָׁם - le'asham): This reiterates the purpose and type of the offering, confirming its nature as an asham, specifically to address guilt and compensation for the designated trespass. The repetition ensures clarity on the sacrificial ritual.

Leviticus 19 21 Bonus section

• The legal distinction for the slave-girl ("redeemed" or "given her freedom") indicates the meticulous nature of the Law, categorizing transgressions based on the exact status of the individuals involved, and prescribing precise responses.
• While not explicitly stated in this verse, the process of the trespass offering generally involved the offender laying his hand on the animal's head, signifying identification with the sacrifice and transfer of guilt.
• The asham offering for offenses against people often required an additional "fifth part" (20% surcharge) beyond the estimated restitution value, further underscoring the serious nature of the transgression and promoting true compensation, emphasizing divine justice and deterring further transgressions.

Leviticus 19 21 Commentary

Leviticus 19:21 demonstrates God's intricate system of justice and atonement within the Mosaic covenant. The required "trespass offering" (asham) was a specific sacrifice that covered particular categories of guilt, notably those involving monetary restitution or violating holy things. The offense here—sexual intimacy with a slave pledged to another but not yet freed—sat in a complex legal space. While serious, it didn't merit the death penalty like full adultery. The prescribed ram, offered at the Tabernacle's entrance, served multiple purposes: it recognized the wrong committed, the cost incurred by the offended party, and the violation against God's holiness. It highlights that transgressions, even those with social or monetary dimensions, have spiritual ramifications and require divine intervention for purification and restoration. This offering provided a divinely appointed way for the guilty to find forgiveness and re-enter into right standing, both with God and with the community, thereby fostering holiness in Israel's midst.