The Meaning of Leviticus 5:15 Explained

Leviticus 5:15

KJV: 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:

YLT: When a person committeth a trespass, and hath sinned through ignorance against the holy things of Jehovah, then he hath brought in his guilt-offering to Jehovah, a ram, a perfect one, out of the flock, at thy valuation in silver -- shekels by the shekel of the sanctuary -- for a guilt-offering.

Darby: If any one act unfaithfully and sin through inadvertence in the holy things of Jehovah, then he shall bring his trespass-offering to Jehovah, a ram without blemish out of the small cattle, according to thy valuation by shekels of silver, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass-offering.

ASV: If any one commit a trespass, and sin unwittingly, in the holy things of Jehovah; then he shall bring his trespass-offering unto Jehovah, a ram without blemish out of the flock, according to thy estimation in silver by shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass-offering:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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: 

What does Leviticus 5:15 Mean?

Context Summary

Leviticus 5:14-19 - Trespass-Offerings And Restitution
The root idea of the Hebrew word for trespass is "failure of duty through negligence." In addition to the sin itself, which is against God, as the august Custodian of the law and order of the universe, the injury, which such negligence inflicts upon one's neighbor, must be met by a compensation and fine. Any sum which another has lost through us should, of course, be repaid, and a fifth part added, if required. But probably, the main lesson of the trespass-offering is that we cannot injure any fellow-creature without offending against God. Our offence penetrates beyond the thin veil of humanity and the visible universe into the unseen Holy.
In dealing with all failures in regard to our fellows, there are three points, therefore, always to bear in mind: First, we must confess the sin to God; second, we must seek out our brother and confess to him, and ask his forgiveness, that we may win him, as our Lord said, Matthew 18:15; and, third, we must make restitution, with an addition. This was the teaching under the Law. Should it be less under the Gospel of love? [source]

Chapter Summary: Leviticus 5

1  He who sins in concealing his knowledge
2  in touching an unclean thing
4  or in making an oath
6  His trespass offering, of the flock
7  of fowls
11  or of flour
14  The trespass offering in sacrilege
17  and in sins of ignorance

What do the individual words in Leviticus 5:15 mean?

a person if commits a trespass and sins unintentionally in regard to the holy things of Yahweh then he shall bring - as his trespass offering to Yahweh a ram without blemish from the flocks with your valuation silver in shekels of according to the shekel of the sanctuary as a trespass offering
נֶ֚פֶשׁ כִּֽי־ תִמְעֹ֣ל מַ֔עַל וְחָֽטְאָה֙ בִּשְׁגָגָ֔ה מִקָּדְשֵׁ֖י יְהוָ֑ה וְהֵבִיא֩ אֶת־ אֲשָׁמ֨וֹ לַֽיהוָ֜ה אַ֧יִל תָּמִ֣ים מִן־ הַצֹּ֗אן בְּעֶרְכְּךָ֛ כֶּֽסֶף־ שְׁקָלִ֥ים בְּשֶֽׁקֶל־ הַקֹּ֖דֶשׁ לְאָשָֽׁם

נֶ֚פֶשׁ  a  person 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: נֶפֶשׁ  
Sense: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.
תִמְעֹ֣ל  commits 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: מָעַל  
Sense: to act unfaithfully, act treacherously, transgress, commit a trespass.
מַ֔עַל  a  trespass 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מַעַל  
Sense: unfaithful or treacherous act, trespass.
וְחָֽטְאָה֙  and  sins 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: חָטָא 
Sense: to sin, miss, miss the way, go wrong, incur guilt, forfeit, purify from uncleanness.
בִּשְׁגָגָ֔ה  unintentionally 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular
Root: שְׁגָגָה  
Sense: sin, sin of error or inadvertence, inadvertent sin.
מִקָּדְשֵׁ֖י  in  regard  to  the  holy  things 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: קֹדֶשׁ  
Sense: apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness.
יְהוָ֑ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
וְהֵבִיא֩  then  he  shall  bring 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
אֲשָׁמ֨וֹ  as  his  trespass  offering 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָשָׁם  
Sense: guilt, offense, guiltiness.
לַֽיהוָ֜ה  to  Yahweh 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אַ֧יִל  a  ram 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַיִל 
Sense: ram.
תָּמִ֣ים  without  blemish 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: תָּמִים  
Sense: complete, whole, entire, sound.
הַצֹּ֗אן  the  flocks 
Parse: Article, Noun, common singular
Root: צֹאן  
Sense: small cattle, sheep, sheep and goats, flock, flocks.
בְּעֶרְכְּךָ֛  with  your  valuation 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: עֵרֶךְ  
Sense: order, row, estimate, things that are set in order, layer, pile.
כֶּֽסֶף־  silver 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֶּסֶף  
Sense: silver, money.
שְׁקָלִ֥ים  in  shekels 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: שֶׁקֶל  
Sense: shekel.
בְּשֶֽׁקֶל־  of  according  to  the  shekel 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שֶׁקֶל  
Sense: shekel.
הַקֹּ֖דֶשׁ  of  the  sanctuary 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: קֹדֶשׁ  
Sense: apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness.
לְאָשָֽׁם  as  a  trespass  offering 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָשָׁם  
Sense: guilt, offense, guiltiness.