Leviticus 5:13
In this way the priest will make atonement for him for any of these sins he has committed, and he will be forgiven. The remainder will belong to the priest, like the grain offering."
In this way
This phrase indicates a specific procedure or method that is to be followed. In the context of Leviticus, it refers to the detailed instructions given by God to Moses regarding the sacrificial system. The Hebrew word used here is "כָּזֹאת" (kazot), which emphasizes the importance of following God's commands precisely. This reflects the broader biblical theme of obedience to God's law as a means of maintaining a right relationship with Him.

the priest
The priest, or "כֹּהֵן" (kohen) in Hebrew, serves as a mediator between God and the people. In ancient Israel, priests were responsible for performing sacrifices and rituals that facilitated atonement and reconciliation with God. This role underscores the necessity of a divinely appointed intermediary in the process of atonement, prefiguring the ultimate High Priest, Jesus Christ, in the New Testament.

will make atonement
The concept of atonement, from the Hebrew "כִּפֶּר" (kipper), involves covering or cleansing sin to restore the relationship between the sinner and God. Atonement is central to the sacrificial system, highlighting God's provision for dealing with sin. It points to the ultimate atonement made by Christ on the cross, which fully reconciles humanity to God.

for him
This phrase personalizes the atonement process, indicating that it is an individual matter. Each person is responsible for their own sin and must seek atonement. This personal responsibility is a recurring theme in Scripture, emphasizing the need for individual repentance and faith.

regarding the sin he has committed
Sin, or "חַטָּאת" (chatta'ah) in Hebrew, refers to any act that transgresses God's law. The sacrificial system provided a means for dealing with sin, acknowledging human fallibility and God's holiness. The specificity of "the sin he has committed" underscores the need for confession and recognition of one's specific transgressions.

in any of these matters
This phrase suggests a comprehensive scope, covering various types of sins and offenses. It reflects the detailed nature of the Levitical laws, which address numerous aspects of life and conduct. This comprehensive approach underscores the pervasive nature of sin and the need for a thorough means of atonement.

and he will be forgiven
Forgiveness, from the Hebrew "סָלַח" (salach), is a divine act of grace, releasing the sinner from the guilt and penalty of sin. This promise of forgiveness is a central tenet of the faith, offering hope and restoration. It foreshadows the complete forgiveness available through Christ's sacrifice.

The rest of the offering
This refers to the portion of the sacrifice that remains after the atonement process. In the Levitical system, certain parts of the offerings were designated for the priests, providing for their sustenance. This practice highlights the principle of provision for those who serve in ministry.

will belong to the priest
The allocation of the offering to the priest, or "כֹּהֵן" (kohen), underscores the priest's role and the community's responsibility to support those who minister on their behalf. It reflects the broader biblical principle of honoring and providing for spiritual leaders.

like the grain offering
The grain offering, or "מִנְחָה" (minchah), was a type of sacrifice that involved offering flour, oil, and incense. It was an expression of gratitude and dedication to God. By comparing the rest of the offering to the grain offering, the text emphasizes the sacredness and purpose of the sacrificial system, which is to honor God and maintain fellowship with Him.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Priest
The priest acts as a mediator between the people and God, performing the rituals necessary for atonement and forgiveness.

2. Atonement
A key concept in Leviticus, referring to the reconciliation between God and humanity through sacrificial offerings.

3. Sin Offering
A specific type of offering made to atone for unintentional sins, highlighting the seriousness of sin and the need for purification.

4. Forgiveness
The divine act of pardoning sin, restoring the sinner to a right relationship with God.

5. Grain Offering
A type of offering that was often given alongside other sacrifices, part of which was consumed by the priests.
Teaching Points
The Role of the Priest
The priest's role in making atonement underscores the need for a mediator between God and humanity, fulfilled ultimately in Jesus Christ, our High Priest.

Understanding Atonement
Atonement is central to our relationship with God, reminding us of the seriousness of sin and the grace available through Christ's sacrifice.

The Gift of Forgiveness
Forgiveness is a divine gift that restores us to fellowship with God, encouraging us to live in gratitude and obedience.

The Significance of Offerings
The offerings in Leviticus point to the need for a heart of worship and surrender, fulfilled in our lives through spiritual sacrifices of praise and service.

The Priest's Portion
The portion given to the priest signifies God's provision for those who serve Him, reminding us of the importance of supporting ministry work today.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the role of the priest in Leviticus 5:13 foreshadow the work of Jesus Christ as our High Priest?

2. In what ways does the concept of atonement in Leviticus help us understand the significance of Christ's sacrifice on the cross?

3. How can we apply the principle of forgiveness in Leviticus 5:13 to our relationships with others?

4. What does the grain offering and the priest's portion teach us about supporting those in ministry today?

5. How do the themes of sin, atonement, and forgiveness in Leviticus 5:13 connect with the teachings found in 1 John 1:9?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Hebrews 9:22
This verse emphasizes the necessity of blood for the forgiveness of sins, connecting the Old Testament sacrificial system to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

1 John 1:9
Highlights the promise of forgiveness and cleansing from sin when we confess, showing the continuity of God's grace from the Old to the New Testament.

Isaiah 53:5
Describes the suffering servant, whose sacrifice brings peace and healing, prefiguring Christ's atoning work.
Cases of Concealment of Knowledge and Ceremonial UncleannessR.A. Redford Leviticus 5:1-13
Guilt RemovedS.R. Aldridge Leviticus 5:1-13
The Trespass OfferingJ.A. Macdonald Leviticus 5:1-13
Pardon Possible to AllW. Clarkson Leviticus 5:5-13
People
Ephah, Moses
Places
Teman
Topics
Atonement, Belong, Case, Cereal, Committed, Forgiven, Forgiveness, Grain, Meal, Meal-offering, Meat, Meat-offering, Oblation, Offering, Present, Priest, Priest's, Remainder, Remnant, Rest, Sin, Sinned, Sins, Thus, Touching
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Leviticus 5:1-13

     7444   sin offering

Leviticus 5:11-13

     7394   memorial

Leviticus 5:12-13

     7422   ritual

Library
An Unalterable Law
EVERYWHERE under the old figurative dispensation, blood was sure to greet your eyes. It was the one most prominent thing under the Jewish economy, scarcely a ceremony was observed without it. You could not enter into any part of the tabernacle, but you saw traces of the blood-sprinkling. Sometimes there were bowls of blood cast at the foot of the altar. The place looked so like a shambles, that to visit it must have been far from attractive to the natural taste, and to delight in it, a man had need
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 60: 1914

List of Abbreviations Used in Reference to Rabbinic Writings Quoted in this Work.
THE Mishnah is always quoted according to Tractate, Chapter (Pereq) and Paragraph (Mishnah), the Chapter being marked in Roman, the paragraph in ordinary Numerals. Thus Ber. ii. 4 means the Mishnic Tractate Berakhoth, second Chapter, fourth Paragraph. The Jerusalem Talmud is distinguished by the abbreviation Jer. before the name of the Tractate. Thus, Jer. Ber. is the Jer. Gemara, or Talmud, of the Tractate Berakhoth. The edition, from which quotations are made, is that commonly used, Krotoschin,
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Sanctification.
VI. Objections answered. I will consider those passages of scripture which are by some supposed to contradict the doctrine we have been considering. 1 Kings viii. 46: "If they sin against thee, (for there is no man that sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captives unto the land of the enemy, far or near," etc. On this passage, I remark:-- 1. That this sentiment in nearly the same language, is repeated in 2 Chron. vi. 26, and in Eccl.
Charles Grandison Finney—Systematic Theology

Entire Sanctification
By Dr. Adam Clarke The word "sanctify" has two meanings. 1. It signifies to consecrate, to separate from earth and common use, and to devote or dedicate to God and his service. 2. It signifies to make holy or pure. Many talk much, and indeed well, of what Christ has done for us: but how little is spoken of what he is to do in us! and yet all that he has done for us is in reference to what he is to do in us. He was incarnated, suffered, died, and rose again from the dead; ascended to heaven, and there
Adam Clarke—Entire Sanctification

Christ a Complete Saviour:
OR, THE INTERCESSION OF CHRIST, AND WHO ARE PRIVILEGED IN IT. BY JOHN BUNYAN Advertisement by the Editor. However strange it may appear, it is a solemn fact, that the heart of man, unless prepared by a sense of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, rejects Christ as a complete Saviour. The pride of human nature will not suffer it to fall, as helpless and utterly undone, into the arms of Divine mercy. Man prefers a partial Saviour; one who had done so much, that, with the sinner's aid, the work might be
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Second Stage of Jewish Trial. Jesus Condemned by Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin.
(Palace of Caiaphas. Friday.) ^A Matt. XXVI. 57, 59-68; ^B Mark XIV. 53, 55-65; ^C Luke XXII. 54, 63-65; ^D John XVIII. 24. ^d 24 Annas therefore sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest. [Foiled in his attempted examination of Jesus, Annas sends him to trial.] ^b and there come together with him all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes. ^a 57 And they that had taken Jesus led him away to the house of Caiaphas the high priest, ^c and brought him into the high priest's house. ^a where
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Earliest Christian Preaching
1. THUS far we have confined ourselves to the words of Jesus. The divine necessity of His death, indicated in the Old Testament and forming the basis of all His teaching regarding it, is the primary truth; the nature of that necessity begins to be revealed as the death is set in relation to the ransoming of many, and to the institution of a new covenant -- that is, a new religion, having as its fundamental blessing the forgiveness of sins. I do not think this view of our Lord's mind as to His own
James Denney—The Death of Christ

Leviticus
The emphasis which modern criticism has very properly laid on the prophetic books and the prophetic element generally in the Old Testament, has had the effect of somewhat diverting popular attention from the priestly contributions to the literature and religion of Israel. From this neglect Leviticus has suffered most. Yet for many reasons it is worthy of close attention; it is the deliberate expression of the priestly mind of Israel at its best, and it thus forms a welcome foil to the unattractive
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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