Leviticus 5 19

Leviticus 5:19 kjv

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

Leviticus 5:19 nkjv

It is a trespass offering; he has certainly trespassed against the LORD."

Leviticus 5:19 niv

It is a guilt offering; they have been guilty of wrongdoing against the LORD."

Leviticus 5:19 esv

It is a guilt offering; he has indeed incurred guilt before the LORD."

Leviticus 5:19 nlt

This is a guilt offering, for you have been guilty of an offense against the LORD."

Leviticus 5 verses

Leviticus 5 19 Meaning

Leviticus 5:19 states the conclusive verdict that an individual who has unknowingly violated any of the LORD's commands is, upon realizing their transgression, definitively considered guilty before God. This verse underscores the objective reality of sin and culpability in the divine economy, meaning that a violation of God's holy standard incurs guilt regardless of initial intention or awareness. It emphasizes the need for a specific guilt offering to atone for such a breach and restore one's standing with the Almighty.

Leviticus 5 19 Context

Leviticus 5 forms a crucial part of the detailed instructions concerning different types of offerings required for atonement. Specifically, it expands on cases of unintentional sin, transitioning from the broader category of sin offerings (chatta't) in verses 1-13 to the more specific trespass or guilt offerings (asham) in verses 14-19. Verses 17-19, where Leviticus 5:19 is located, addresses the particular scenario where someone acts in violation of one of the LORD's commands but is unaware of the sin at the time of its commission. Upon later realization of the trespass, whether it involved sacred things or general divine ordinances, this section mandates a guilt offering. This context highlights God's absolute holiness and the objective nature of His law, where any breach, even an unknown one, incurred genuine guilt that needed explicit atonement to restore proper relationship and ritual purity within the community. Historically, it provided a pathway for reconciliation for inadvertent violations in a society governed by divine law, preventing perpetual uncleanness or judgment.

Leviticus 5 19 Word analysis

• "It is": (הוא, hu). This serves as a simple identifying statement, directly linking the requirement back to the preceding description of the asham sacrifice.
• "a guilt offering": (אשם הוא, asham hu). The Hebrew term אָשָׁם (asham) specifically denotes the "guilt offering" or "trespass offering." It refers to a distinct category of sacrifice designed to atone for specific transgressions, often those involving misuse of holy things, property, or explicit commands where restitution or compensation was an aspect of reconciliation. It distinguishes itself from the general "sin offering" (chatta't), highlighting its unique focus on specific acts that incur quantifiable guilt or demand restorative action beyond mere purification.
• "he has certainly become guilty": (אָשׁוֹם אָשַׁם, ashom asham). This highly emphatic Hebrew construction employs an infinitive absolute (ashom) preceding a finite verb of the same root (asham). This grammatical feature dramatically intensifies the declaration, translating to "guilty he has certainly become," "he is indeed guilty," or "he has without fail incurred guilt." It emphasizes the undeniable and objective reality of the person's culpable state before God, regardless of their prior subjective awareness or intention. The act itself establishes guilt.
• "before the LORD": (לַיהוָה, la-YHWH). This phrase is crucial, indicating that the sin, even if against another person or property (as described in some other asham contexts in Lev 6:1-7), is ultimately a violation against God's holy standard and authority. It signifies that one's accountability and reconciliation are primarily with Yahweh Himself, underscoring His sovereignty and the sacredness of His commands.

Leviticus 5 19 Bonus section

The Levitical emphasis on an objective state of guilt (as seen in "certainly become guilty") profoundly shapes our understanding of sin in Scripture. It implies that guilt is not merely a psychological feeling but a forensic status before a righteous God, stemming from the breaking of His law, even in ignorance. This legal and covenantal framework is vital to grasp the profound significance of Christ's atoning work, as He addressed a factual, objective indictment against humanity, not just subjective human feelings. The requirement for a physical sacrifice to deal with this objective guilt further highlights the real cost of sin and God's merciful provision through a designated substitute. This Old Testament framework sets the stage for appreciating the depth of forgiveness and justification provided solely through Christ's shed blood.

Leviticus 5 19 Commentary

Leviticus 5:19 serves as a concise yet profound summary statement for the specific case of an unintentional transgression requiring a guilt offering. The declaration that one "has certainly become guilty" stresses the objective reality of sin: an act is guilty not merely because it feels wrong or is consciously intended as wrong, but because it breaches God's holy, absolute standard. This divine judgment of guilt stands firm whether the sinner knew they were sinning or discovered it later. The prescriptive nature of the asham offering demonstrates God's provision for restoration, even when humanity falls short in ignorance, ensuring that divine holiness is honored and the path to atonement remains open. This complex sacrificial system ultimately pointed forward to the single, perfect, and ultimate Guilt Offering—Jesus Christ. He became our substitute (Isa 53:10), bearing our sins and the guilt we had before God (2 Cor 5:21), thus fulfilling all requirements for divine justice and reconciliation, enabling all who trust in Him to be truly and permanently acquitted from their guilt.