Leviticus 7:5 - and the priest shall burn them on the altar for an offering made by fire to Yahweh: it is a trespass offering.

Generated Verse: Leviticus 7:5

What does "Leviticus 7:5" mean?


This verse from Leviticus 7:5 describes a key part of the ritual for the trespass offering (also sometimes translated as guilt offering) in ancient Israel. Let's break it down:

"and the priest shall burn them on the altar..." This refers to specific portions of the sacrificed animal that were designated for burning on the altar of burnt offering. These portions usually included the fat covering the internal organs, the kidneys, and the lobe of the liver (Leviticus 7:3-4). Burning these portions was symbolic of offering the best parts to God. The specific portions burned are significant because fat was considered the richest and most desirable part of the animal.

"...for an offering made by fire to Yahweh..." This emphasizes that the burning of the animal parts was a sacrificial offering specifically directed to God (Yahweh). The fire acted as a means of transferring the offering to God. This was a common method of sacrifice in the Old Testament, and signified dedication and atonement.

"...it is a trespass offering." This identifies the type of offering being performed. The trespass offering (or guilt offering) was specifically intended to atone for unintentional sins, particularly those that involved violating the holy things of God or defrauding one's neighbor in matters of property or trust (Leviticus 5:14-6:7). It was also used to make restitution for the wrong committed, in addition to the sacrificial offering itself.

In summary, this verse describes the priestly duty of burning specific parts of an animal sacrifice on the altar as part of the ritual for a trespass offering. This offering was intended to atone for unintentional sins against God or one's neighbor and required both a sacrifice and restitution where applicable.

Key aspects of the trespass offering context:

Atonement: The purpose of the offering was to atone for the sin, to make amends and restore the broken relationship with God or the injured party.
Restitution: Unlike other offerings that solely focused on atonement, the trespass offering often required restitution. This meant that the offender had to repay what was taken or damaged, plus an additional percentage (usually 20%). This highlighted the importance of making right the wrongs committed.
Unintentional Sins: It's important to remember this offering was typically for unintentional sins. Deliberate, malicious sins usually required different forms of atonement (and sometimes carried the death penalty).
Blood Ritual: The blood of the animal was also crucial in the ritual. It was sprinkled around the altar by the priest, signifying purification and atonement.
Priestly Consumption: Parts of the sacrificial animal were also given to the priests to eat, allowing them to partake in the offering.

Therefore, this verse is a small but important piece of a larger system designed to maintain the covenant relationship between God and the Israelites, addressing issues of unintentional sin and the restoration of justice and holiness within the community.