Hebrew Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The Book of Leviticus, Chapter 5ויקרא 5

Each verse opens with the running Hebrew, an English translation, and a discourse note (its connective, relation, and role in the argument). Below follows the word-by-word breakdown in six tiers: gloss, case/state or parsing, syntax, semantic force, and a lexical note.

Case Nominative Genitive Dative Accusative Vocative Verb (no case) Indeclinable

Discourse notes head each verse: relation · connective · clause-flow. Indentation marks prominence — flush-left = main line of argument; indented = supporting / subordinate material.

Theme

Guilt reaches the unwitting: withheld testimony, contracted impurity, a rash oath — each calls for confession and a חַטָּאת scaled to means, down to a handful of flour for the poorest. Sacrilege against holy things, or a false oath defrauding a neighbor, demands the אָשָׁם: restitution plus a fifth, then a ram, before forgiveness.

Translation & textual notes

The most consequential feature of Leviticus 5 is versification. In the MT the chapter runs to 26 verses, absorbing the material that English Bibles (following the Septuagint and Vulgate division) print as Leviticus 6:1–7; MT 5:20–26 = English 6:1–7, and the displacement carries through the next chapter, so that MT 6 = English 6:8–30. This edition follows the MT throughout. The chapter's central crux is the relation of the אָשָׁם (guilt or reparation offering) to the חַטָּאת: at vv. 6–7 the offering the sinner brings is called his אָשָׁם, yet the rite prescribed is a חַטָּאת — an inconsistency variously explained as אָשָׁם bearing here its general sense of 'penalty, that which is owed for guilt' rather than naming the distinct sacrifice, or as evidence of the chapter's composite growth. מַעַל, the offense of vv. 15 and 21, is sacrilege or breach of faith — the misappropriation of what belongs to God or, in the second case, a false oath that drags the divine name into the defrauding of a neighbor, so that a property crime is treated as a sin against YHWH. The remedy joins cult to restitution: the principal plus a fifth (חֲמִישִׁית), assessed in the shekel of the sanctuary. The graded provision of vv. 7–13 — two birds, or a tenth of an ephah of flour for those who cannot afford them — ensures that atonement is never priced out of a poor Israelite's reach. Versification follows the MT.

1

וְנֶ֣פֶשׁ כִּֽי תֶחֱטָ֗א וְשָֽׁמְעָה֙ ק֣וֹל אָלָ֔ה וְה֣וּא עֵ֔ד א֥וֹ רָאָ֖ה א֣וֹ יָדָ֑ע אִם ל֥וֹא יַגִּ֖יד וְנָשָׂ֥א עֲוֺנֽוֹ

If a person sins in that he hears the voice of an adjuration, and he is a witness — whether he has seen or has come to know — if he does not testify, then he shall bear his iniquity.

Casuistic protasis — first caseוְ
The chapter opens with a classic casuistic formula, נֶפֶשׁ כִּי תֶחֱטָא ('if a person sins'), the protasis introduced by כִּי and its apodosis by the weqatal וְנָשָׂא. The offense is a sin of omission: hearing the public curse-oath summoning witnesses and staying silent. Withholding testimony is not a ritual lapse but a failure of covenant solidarity, and the verse ends by leaving the guilt squarely on the silent man.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
וְנֶ֣פֶשׁand if a personconj וְ + N (c) sg abs · נֶפֶשׁ (H5315)Subject of the casuistic protasis (fronted)נֶפֶשׁ (H5315) 'living being, person, life'; in legal prose it functions as 'anyone, a person' — the individual Israelite viewed as a responsible self.
כִּֽיwhenconj · כִּי (H3588)Conjunction introducing the casuistic protasisכִּי (H3588) 'when, if, that'; in Levitical law כִּי heads the major case and אִם the subordinate sub-case.
תֶחֱטָ֗אsinsQal impf 3fs · חָטָא (H2398)Predicate verb of the protasis→ Yiqtol: hypothetical/modal — 'should he sin'חָטָא (H2398) 'to miss the mark, sin'; feminine because the subject נֶפֶשׁ is grammatically feminine, though the person may be male.
וְשָֽׁמְעָה֙and hearsconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3fs · שָׁמַע (H8085)Coordinate verb continuing the protasis→ Weqatal: continues the hypothetical case — 'and has heard'שָׁמַע (H8085) 'to hear, listen, obey'; here of hearing the public adjuration that legally obliges a witness to speak.
ק֣וֹלthe voice ofN m sg constr · קוֹל (H6963)Direct object (construct chain with אָלָה)קוֹל (H6963) 'voice, sound'; קוֹל אָלָה is the publicly proclaimed curse-oath summoning anyone with knowledge to testify.
אָלָ֔הan adjurationN f sg abs · אָלָה (H423)Genitive of the construct chain (nomen rectum)אָלָה (H423) 'oath, curse, imprecation'; the solemn conditional curse laid on the community to compel testimony (cf. Judg 17:2; Prov 29:24).
וְה֣וּאand he isconj וְ + pron 3ms · הוּא (H1931)Subject of a verbless circumstantial clauseהוּא (H1931) 3ms independent pronoun; here it fronts a circumstantial clause ('he being a witness') that establishes the man's legal capacity.
עֵ֔דa witnessN m sg abs · עֵד (H5707)Predicate nominative of the verbless clauseעֵד (H5707) 'witness', from עוּד 'to testify, repeat'; one competent to give evidence in court.
א֥וֹeitherconj · אוֹ (H176)Disjunctive conjunctionאוֹ (H176) 'or'; the disjunctive that structures the whole chapter's catalogue of cases.
רָאָ֖הhe has seenQal perf 3ms · רָאָה (H7200)Predicate verb of the disjunctive clause→ Perfective: the knowledge is already possessedרָאָה (H7200) 'to see'; here of eyewitness knowledge that makes silence culpable.
א֣וֹorconj · אוֹ (H176)Disjunctive conjunctionאוֹ (H176) 'or'; pairs seeing and knowing as two routes to the same obligation.
יָדָ֑עhe has come to knowQal perf 3ms · יָדַע (H3045)Predicate verb of the disjunctive clause→ Perfective: settled knowledge, however acquiredיָדַע (H3045) 'to know'; knowledge gained otherwise than by sight (report, circumstance) is equally binding on the witness.
אִםifconj · אִם (H518)Conjunction introducing the conditional sub-caseאִם (H518) 'if'; subordinate condition within the larger כִּי case.
ל֥וֹאnotneg particle · לֹא (H3808)Negation of the verbלֹא (H3808) absolute negative; with the imperfect it states an unfulfilled duty — he simply does not speak.
יַגִּ֖ידhe testifiesHiphil impf 3ms · נָגַד (H5046)Predicate verb of the conditional clause→ Yiqtol: contingent — 'if he will not declare it'נָגַד (H5046), only in Hiphil/Hophal, 'to declare, make known, report'; here the technical act of giving evidence.
וְנָשָׂ֥אthen he shall bearconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · נָשָׂא (H5375)Predicate verb of the apodosis→ Weqatal: apodosis — the legal consequence followsנָשָׂא (H5375) 'to lift, carry, bear'; the idiom נָשָׂא עָוֺן means to carry the liability for one's guilt (and so to suffer its penalty).
עֲוֺנֽוֹhis iniquityN (c) sg constr + 3ms suff · עָוֺן (H5771)Direct object of וְנָשָׂאעָוֺן (H5771) 'iniquity, guilt, punishment for guilt' (root עוה 'to bend, twist'); the noun spans the crooked deed, the liability it creates, and the penalty it draws.
2

א֣וֹ נֶ֗פֶשׁ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּגַּע֮ בְּכָל דָּבָ֣ר טָמֵא֒ אוֹ֩ בְנִבְלַ֨ת חַיָּ֜ה טְמֵאָ֗ה א֤וֹ בְּנִבְלַת֙ בְּהֵמָ֣ה טְמֵאָ֔ה א֕וֹ בְּנִבְלַ֖ת שֶׁ֣רֶץ טָמֵ֑א וְנֶעְלַ֣ם מִמֶּ֔נּוּ וְה֥וּא טָמֵ֖א וְאָשֵֽׁם

Or if a person touches anything unclean — whether the carcass of an unclean wild animal, or the carcass of unclean livestock, or the carcass of an unclean swarming creature — and it is hidden from him, so that he is unclean, then he is guilty.

Second case, coordinated by disjunctionאוֹ
The disjunctive אוֹ links a second protasis to the first. The offense is contact with a corpse-impurity, and the crucial clause is וְנֶעְלַם מִמֶּנּוּ — 'and it was hidden from him': the man contracted defilement without noticing. Inadvertence does not cancel the guilt (וְאָשֵׁם); it only determines the remedy.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
א֣וֹorconj · אוֹ (H176)Disjunctive conjunction linking a new caseאוֹ (H176) 'or'; here it opens the second casuistic protasis of the series.
נֶ֗פֶשׁa personN (c) sg abs · נֶפֶשׁ (H5315)Subject of the protasisנֶפֶשׁ (H5315) 'person, living being'; the legal 'anyone' whose case is now defined by the relative clause that follows.
אֲשֶׁ֣רwhorelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle introducing the defining clauseאֲשֶׁר (H834), the all-purpose relative; here it substitutes for כִּי in framing the case ('a person who touches…').
תִּגַּע֮touchesQal impf 3fs · נָגַע (H5060)Predicate verb of the relative clause→ Yiqtol: hypothetical — 'should he touch'נָגַע (H5060) 'to touch, reach'; with בְּ it is the technical verb for contracting ritual impurity by contact.
בְּכָלanyprep בְּ + N m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Prepositional object of תִּגַּע (construct with דָּבָר)כֹּל (H3605) 'all, every, any'; in construct before an indefinite noun it generalizes — 'any unclean thing whatever'.
דָּבָ֣רthingN m sg abs · דָּבָר (H1697)Genitive after כָּלדָּבָר (H1697) 'word, matter, thing'; here in its concrete sense, any object at all.
טָמֵא֒uncleanadj m sg abs · טָמֵא (H2931)Attributive adjective modifying דָּבָרטָמֵא (H2931) 'unclean, impure'; the cultic opposite of טָהוֹר, denoting a state that bars a person from the sanctuary.
אוֹ֩orconj · אוֹ (H176)Disjunctive conjunction (specifying sub-case)אוֹ (H176) 'or'; introduces the first of three specimen impurities.
בְנִבְלַ֨תthe carcass ofprep בְּ + N f sg constr · נְבֵלָה (H5038)Prepositional object (construct chain)נְבֵלָה (H5038) 'carcass, corpse' (root נבל 'to wither, fall'); an animal that died of itself rather than being slaughtered — a prime source of impurity.
חַיָּ֜הa wild animalN f sg abs · חַיָּה (H2416)Genitive after נִבְלַתחַיָּה (H2416) 'living thing, beast'; in this triad it denotes wild game, as opposed to domestic בְּהֵמָה.
טְמֵאָ֗הuncleanadj f sg abs · טָמֵא (H2931)Attributive adjective modifying חַיָּהטָמֵא (H2931) 'unclean'; the species itself is unclean (Lev 11), so its carcass defiles doubly.
א֤וֹorconj · אוֹ (H176)Disjunctive conjunctionאוֹ (H176) 'or'; moves from wild animals to domestic ones.
בְּנִבְלַת֙the carcass ofprep בְּ + N f sg constr · נְבֵלָה (H5038)Prepositional object (construct chain)נְבֵלָה (H5038) 'carcass'; the repetition of the construct marks each new class of defiling corpse.
בְּהֵמָ֣הlivestockN f sg abs · בְּהֵמָה (H929)Genitive after נִבְלַתבְּהֵמָה (H929) 'beast, cattle, domestic animal'; the counterpart to חַיָּה, covering herd and flock.
טְמֵאָ֔הuncleanadj f sg abs · טָמֵא (H2931)Attributive adjective modifying בְּהֵמָהטָמֵא (H2931) 'unclean'; e.g. the camel, rock badger, hare, and pig of Lev 11:4-8.
א֕וֹorconj · אוֹ (H176)Disjunctive conjunctionאוֹ (H176) 'or'; the third and lowest class of defiling corpse.
בְּנִבְלַ֖תthe carcass ofprep בְּ + N f sg constr · נְבֵלָה (H5038)Prepositional object (construct chain)נְבֵלָה (H5038) 'carcass'; even the tiniest dead creature transmits impurity by contact.
שֶׁ֣רֶץa swarming creatureN m sg abs · שֶׁרֶץ (H8318)Genitive after נִבְלַתשֶׁרֶץ (H8318) 'swarming/teeming thing' (root שרץ 'to swarm'); the small creeping creatures of Lev 11:29-31 whose carcasses defile.
טָמֵ֑אuncleanadj m sg abs · טָמֵא (H2931)Attributive adjective modifying שֶׁרֶץטָמֵא (H2931) 'unclean'; the fourfold repetition of the adjective in this verse hammers the point that the defilement is objective, whatever the man knew.
וְנֶעְלַ֣םand it is hiddenconj וְ + Niphal weqatal 3ms · עָלַם (H5956)Predicate verb of the circumstantial clause→ Weqatal (Niphal): passive — the fact escaped his noticeעָלַם (H5956) 'to conceal'; Niphal 'be hidden'. וְנֶעְלַם מִמֶּנּוּ is the chapter's technical marker of inadvertence — the defilement was real but unregistered.
מִמֶּ֔נּוּfrom himprep + 3ms suff · מִן (H4480)Prepositional phrase (source/separation)מִן (H4480) 'from'; with the suffix, 'hidden from him' — the knowledge is withheld from the offender himself, not from God.
וְה֥וּאand he isconj וְ + pron 3ms · הוּא (H1931)Subject of a verbless circumstantial clauseהוּא (H1931) 3ms pronoun; fronted to assert the objective fact — 'and he, all the while, is unclean'.
טָמֵ֖אuncleanadj m sg abs · טָמֵא (H2931)Predicate adjective of the verbless clauseטָמֵא (H2931) 'unclean'; predicated of the man himself — the impurity has transferred from the carcass to the person.
וְאָשֵֽׁםthen he is guiltyconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · אָשֵׁם (H816)Predicate verb of the apodosis→ Weqatal: the resulting legal verdict — 'he incurs guilt'אָשֵׁם (H816) 'to be guilty, to incur liability'; the cognate of אָשָׁם. It denotes not merely feeling guilty but standing objectively liable before God.
3

א֣וֹ כִ֤י יִגַּע֙ בְּטֻמְאַ֣ת אָדָ֔ם לְכֹל֙ טֻמְאָת֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִטְמָ֖א בָּ֑הּ וְנֶעְלַ֣ם מִמֶּ֔נּוּ וְה֥וּא יָדַ֖ע וְאָשֵֽׁם

Or if he touches human uncleanness — any uncleanness of his by which he becomes unclean — and it is hidden from him, and then he comes to know it, he is guilty.

Third case, coordinated by disjunctionאוֹ
The same structure as v. 2, but the impurity is now human rather than animal. The decisive detail is the sequence: first it is hidden from him (וְנֶעְלַם מִמֶּנּוּ), then he comes to know (וְהוּא יָדַע). It is the arrival of knowledge that activates the obligation — guilt was already incurred, but the offering becomes due when he realizes it.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
א֣וֹorconj · אוֹ (H176)Disjunctive conjunction linking a new caseאוֹ (H176) 'or'; the third protasis in the series.
כִ֤יifconj · כִּי (H3588)Conjunction introducing the protasisכִּי (H3588) 'when, if'; אוֹ כִי is a standard formula for adding a further legal case.
יִגַּע֙he touchesQal impf 3ms · נָגַע (H5060)Predicate verb of the protasis→ Yiqtol: hypothetical — 'should he touch'נָגַע (H5060) 'to touch'; with בְּ, the technical idiom for contracting impurity by contact.
בְּטֻמְאַ֣תthe uncleanness ofprep בְּ + N f sg constr · טֻמְאָה (H2932)Prepositional object of יִגַּע (construct chain)טֻמְאָה (H2932) 'uncleanness, impurity', abstract noun from טָמֵא; here the impure condition attaching to a human being (discharge, corpse, skin disease).
אָדָ֔םa human beingN m sg abs · אָדָם (H120)Genitive after טֻמְאַתאָדָם (H120) 'man, humankind'; specifies that the impurity is human in origin, distinguishing this case from the animal carcasses of v. 2.
לְכֹל֙of anyprep לְ + N m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Prepositional phrase of specification ('with respect to any')כֹּל (H3605) 'all, any'; with לְ it broadens the ruling to cover every species of human impurity without exception.
טֻמְאָת֔וֹhis uncleannessN f sg constr + 3ms suff · טֻמְאָה (H2932)Genitive after לְכֹלטֻמְאָה (H2932) 'uncleanness'; the suffix refers to the defiled person whose condition is transmitted by contact.
אֲשֶׁ֥רby whichrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle (resumed by בָּהּ)אֲשֶׁר (H834) relative particle; resumed by the pronominal suffix on בָּהּ, giving 'by which he becomes unclean'.
יִטְמָ֖אhe becomes uncleanQal impf 3ms · טָמֵא (H2930)Predicate verb of the relative clause→ Yiqtol: generalizing — 'by which one may become unclean'טָמֵא (H2930, verb) 'to be/become unclean'; the stative counterpart to the adjective טָמֵא (H2931).
בָּ֑הּby itprep בְּ + 3fs suffResumptive prepositional phrase (instrument)בְּ 'in, by, through'; the 3fs suffix resumes טֻמְאָה, the impurity that is the means of defilement.
וְנֶעְלַ֣םand it is hiddenconj וְ + Niphal weqatal 3ms · עָלַם (H5956)Coordinate verb (circumstance of inadvertence)→ Weqatal (Niphal): the fact escaped his noticeעָלַם (H5956) Niphal 'to be hidden'; the recurring formula that classifies the offense as שְׁגָגָה, inadvertent rather than defiant.
מִמֶּ֔נּוּfrom himprep + 3ms suff · מִן (H4480)Prepositional phrase (source/separation)מִן (H4480) 'from'; the impurity was concealed from the man's own awareness.
וְה֥וּאand heconj וְ + pron 3ms · הוּא (H1931)Subject of the following clause (fronted)הוּא (H1931) 3ms pronoun; the fronting marks the turn in the case — the man himself now becomes aware.
יָדַ֖עcomes to know itQal perf 3ms · יָדַע (H3045)Predicate verb of the clause of realization→ Perfective: the moment awareness dawnsיָדַע (H3045) 'to know'; the discovery of the defilement is what triggers the duty to bring the offering.
וְאָשֵֽׁםthen he is guiltyconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · אָשֵׁם (H816)Predicate verb of the apodosis→ Weqatal: the legal verdict of the caseאָשֵׁם (H816) 'to incur guilt'; the fixed refrain that closes each protasis of vv. 2-4.
4

א֣וֹ נֶ֡פֶשׁ כִּ֣י תִשָּׁבַע֩ לְבַטֵּ֨א בִשְׂפָתַ֜יִם לְהָרַ֣ע א֣וֹ לְהֵיטִ֗יב לְ֠כֹל אֲשֶׁ֨ר יְבַטֵּ֧א הָאָדָ֛ם בִּשְׁבֻעָ֖ה וְנֶעְלַ֣ם מִמֶּ֑נּוּ וְהוּא יָדַ֥ע וְאָשֵׁ֖ם לְאַחַ֥ת מֵאֵֽלֶּה

Or if a person swears, blurting out with his lips to do harm or to do good — whatever a man may blurt out in an oath — and it is hidden from him, and then he comes to know it, he is guilty in one of these.

Fourth case, coordinated by disjunctionאוֹ
The last of the four cases: the rash oath. בָּטָא pictures speech that bursts out unconsidered, and the merism 'to do harm or to do good' covers any content whatever. The sin is not perjury but a vow one forgets or cannot keep. The closing לְאַחַת מֵאֵלֶּה, 'in one of these', gathers vv. 1-4 into a single class ready for the remedy in vv. 5-6.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
א֣וֹorconj · אוֹ (H176)Disjunctive conjunction linking a new caseאוֹ (H176) 'or'; the fourth and final protasis of the series.
נֶ֡פֶשׁa personN (c) sg abs · נֶפֶשׁ (H5315)Subject of the protasisנֶפֶשׁ (H5315) 'person'; the legal subject of every case in vv. 1-4.
כִּ֣יifconj · כִּי (H3588)Conjunction introducing the protasisכִּי (H3588) 'when, if'; heads the conditional clause of the fourth case.
תִשָּׁבַע֩swearsNiphal impf 3fs · שָׁבַע (H7650)Predicate verb of the protasis→ Yiqtol (Niphal): hypothetical — 'should he swear'שָׁבַע (H7650), used in the Niphal for taking an oath (denominative from שֶׁבַע 'seven', the sacred number of oath-taking).
לְבַטֵּ֨אto blurt outprep לְ + Piel inf constr · בָּטָא (H981)Infinitive of manner/purpose complementing תִשָּׁבַע→ Infinitival: defines the manner of the swearingבָּטָא (H981) 'to speak rashly, blurt out'; the same root describes Moses at Meribah, who 'spoke rashly with his lips' (Ps 106:33).
בִשְׂפָתַ֜יִםwith the lipsprep בְּ + N f dual abs · שָׂפָה (H8193)Prepositional phrase of instrumentשָׂפָה (H8193) 'lip, speech, edge'; the dual for the pair of lips. The phrase locates the sin entirely in careless speech.
לְהָרַ֣עto do harmprep לְ + Hiphil inf constr · רָעַע (H7489)Infinitive of purpose (first half of a merism)→ Infinitival: the intended content of the oathרָעַע (H7489) 'to be evil'; Hiphil 'to do evil, act injuriously'. Paired with יָטַב it forms a merism for any conceivable undertaking.
א֣וֹorconj · אוֹ (H176)Disjunctive conjunction joining the merismאוֹ (H176) 'or'; joins the two poles 'harm'/'good' to make the ruling exhaustive.
לְהֵיטִ֗יבor to do goodprep לְ + Hiphil inf constr · יָטַב (H3190)Infinitive of purpose (second half of the merism)→ Infinitival: the alternative content of the oathיָטַב (H3190) 'to be good'; Hiphil 'to do good, act well'. Even a well-intentioned rash vow, once forgotten, incurs guilt.
לְ֠כֹלwith respect to anythingprep לְ + N m sg abs · כֹּל (H3605)Prepositional phrase of specificationכֹּל (H3605) 'all, anything'; introduces the sweeping relative clause that closes every loophole.
אֲשֶׁ֨רthatrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle introducing the generalizing clauseאֲשֶׁר (H834) relative particle; 'whatever a man may blurt out' — the ruling covers all content indiscriminately.
יְבַטֵּ֧אmay blurt outPiel impf 3ms · בָּטָא (H981)Predicate verb of the relative clause→ Yiqtol: generalizing/potential — 'whatever he might utter'בָּטָא (H981) Piel 'to speak thoughtlessly'; the repetition of the root from לְבַטֵּא binds the definition tight.
הָאָדָ֛םa manart + N m sg abs · אָדָם (H120)Subject of יְבַטֵּאאָדָם (H120) 'human being'; with the generic article, 'anyone at all'.
בִּשְׁבֻעָ֖הin an oathprep בְּ + N f sg abs · שְׁבוּעָה (H7621)Prepositional phrase of accompanying circumstanceשְׁבוּעָה (H7621) 'oath, sworn undertaking', from שָׁבַע; what makes the careless word binding is that God's name has been invoked over it.
וְנֶעְלַ֣םand it is hiddenconj וְ + Niphal weqatal 3ms · עָלַם (H5956)Coordinate verb (circumstance of inadvertence)→ Weqatal (Niphal): the oath slipped his mindעָלַם (H5956) Niphal 'to be hidden'; here of forgetting the oath one has sworn — the third occurrence of the formula in three verses.
מִמֶּ֑נּוּfrom himprep + 3ms suff · מִן (H4480)Prepositional phrase (source/separation)מִן (H4480) 'from'; the oath passed out of his awareness.
וְהוּאand heconj וְ + pron 3ms · הוּא (H1931)Subject of the following clause (fronted)הוּא (H1931) 3ms pronoun; marks the turn from ignorance to recognition.
יָדַ֥עcomes to know itQal perf 3ms · יָדַע (H3045)Predicate verb of the clause of realization→ Perfective: the moment of recollectionיָדַע (H3045) 'to know'; realization, not the deed itself, is what puts the offering in motion.
וְאָשֵׁ֖םthen he is guiltyconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · אָשֵׁם (H816)Predicate verb of the apodosis→ Weqatal: the legal verdict of the caseאָשֵׁם (H816) 'to incur guilt'; the third identical verdict, welding the four cases into one category.
לְאַחַ֥תin oneprep לְ + numeral f sg abs · אֶחָד (H259)Prepositional phrase of respect ('as to one of these')אֶחָד (H259) 'one'; feminine אַחַת agreeing with the implied cases. 'One of these' suffices — a single lapse from the list brings guilt.
מֵאֵֽלֶּהof theseprep מִן + demonstr pron c pl · אֵלֶּה (H428)Partitive prepositional phraseאֵלֶּה (H428) 'these'; the demonstrative gathers the four cases of vv. 1-4 into a single closed list.
5

וְהָיָ֥ה כִֽי יֶאְשַׁ֖ם לְאַחַ֣ת מֵאֵ֑לֶּה וְהִ֨תְוַדָּ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר חָטָ֖א עָלֶֽיהָ

And it shall be, when he becomes guilty in one of these, that he shall confess the sin he has committed in it.

Transition from cases to remedyוְהָיָה
וְהָיָה כִּי is the hinge: the four protases of vv. 1-4 now receive one common apodosis. Before any animal is brought, the man must speak — וְהִתְוַדָּה, 'he shall confess'. This is the only place in the sacrificial legislation of Lev 1-5 where verbal confession is required of a lay offerer, and it is what distinguishes an inadvertent sin owned up to from one concealed.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
וְהָיָ֥הand it shall beconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · הָיָה (H1961)Predicate verb introducing the apodosis-frame→ Weqatal: legal 'and it shall come about' — pivots to the rulingהָיָה (H1961) 'to be, become, come to pass'; וְהָיָה כִּי is stock legal syntax marking the transition from case to prescription.
כִֽיwhenconj · כִּי (H3588)Conjunction introducing the temporal/conditional clauseכִּי (H3588) 'when'; with וְהָיָה it looks forward to the moment guilt is established.
יֶאְשַׁ֖םhe becomes guiltyQal impf 3ms · אָשֵׁם (H816)Predicate verb of the temporal clause→ Yiqtol: contingent — 'whenever he incurs guilt'אָשֵׁם (H816) 'to be guilty, incur liability'; the verb that has closed each case now becomes the condition for the remedy.
לְאַחַ֣תin oneprep לְ + numeral f sg abs · אֶחָד (H259)Prepositional phrase of respectאֶחָד (H259) 'one'; the phrase לְאַחַת מֵאֵלֶּה echoes v. 4 verbatim, binding remedy to case.
מֵאֵ֑לֶּהof theseprep מִן + demonstr pron c pl · אֵלֶּה (H428)Partitive prepositional phraseאֵלֶּה (H428) 'these'; refers back to the four cases of vv. 1-4 as a fixed set.
וְהִ֨תְוַדָּ֔הthen he shall confessconj וְ + Hitpael weqatal 3ms · יָדָה (H3034)Predicate verb of the apodosis→ Weqatal: prescriptive — the required first actיָדָה (H3034) 'to throw, cast'; Hitpael הִתְוַדָּה 'to confess, acknowledge (one's sin)'. The same stem also yields 'give thanks' — confession and praise are two ways of telling the truth about God.
אֲשֶׁ֥רthat in whichrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle (object of the confession)אֲשֶׁר (H834) relative particle; the confession must name the specific offense, not guilt in general.
חָטָ֖אhe has sinnedQal perf 3ms · חָטָא (H2398)Predicate verb of the relative clause→ Perfective: the accomplished offense now confessedחָטָא (H2398) 'to sin, miss the mark'; the sin is a fact of the past that the confession brings into the open.
עָלֶֽיהָin itprep + 3fs suff · עַל (H5921)Resumptive prepositional phraseעַל (H5921) 'on, concerning'; the 3fs suffix points back to the particular case (אַחַת) in which he sinned.
6

וְהֵבִ֣יא אֶת אֲשָׁמ֣וֹ לַיהוָ֡ה עַ֣ל חַטָּאתוֹ֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר חָטָ֜א נְקֵבָ֨ה מִן הַצֹּ֥אן כִּשְׂבָּ֛ה אֽוֹ שְׂעִירַ֥ת עִזִּ֖ים לְחַטָּ֑את וְכִפֶּ֥ר עָלָ֛יו הַכֹּהֵ֖ן מֵחַטָּאתֽוֹ

And he shall bring his reparation to the LORD for the sin he has committed — a female from the flock, a ewe-lamb or a she-goat — as a purification offering; and the priest shall make atonement for him on account of his sin.

Prescription — the offering and its atonementוְ
The apodosis continues with a chain of weqatals: he brings, the priest atones. אֲשָׁמוֹ here means the penalty owed rather than the technical אָשָׁם ram of vv. 14ff., since the animal prescribed is the female חַטָּאת. The verse fixes the pattern that governs the rest of the chapter: offering brought by the sinner, atonement effected by the priest.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
וְהֵבִ֣יאand he shall bringconj וְ + Hiphil weqatal 3ms · בּוֹא (H935)Predicate verb of the prescription→ Weqatal: prescriptive — the required action follows confessionבּוֹא (H935) 'to come, go'; Hiphil 'to bring in'. The standard verb for presenting an offering at the sanctuary.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (definite object)אֵת (H853), nota accusativi marking a definite direct object; untranslated in English.
אֲשָׁמ֣וֹhis reparationN m sg constr + 3ms suff · אָשָׁם (H817)Direct object of וְהֵבִיאאָשָׁם (H817) 'guilt, guilt-penalty, reparation offering'; in v. 6 it carries the broader sense of 'what he owes for his guilt' — here paid with a חַטָּאת animal, not the ram of vv. 15-18.
לַיהוָ֡הto the LORDprep לְ + proper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Prepositional phrase (indirect object/recipient)יְהוָה (H3068), the covenant name; the offering is rendered to God himself, even when the sin was against a neighbor.
עַ֣לforprep · עַל (H5921)Preposition of cause ('on account of')עַל (H5921) 'on, upon, on account of'; in cultic contexts it names the sin that occasions the offering.
חַטָּאתוֹ֩his sinN f sg constr + 3ms suff · חַטָּאת (H2403)Object of the preposition עַלחַטָּאת (H2403) 'sin' and, by metonymy, 'sin/purification offering'; the same noun names both the offense and its cure.
אֲשֶׁ֨רwhichrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle modifying חַטָּאתוֹאֲשֶׁר (H834) relative particle; ties the offering to the concrete offense committed.
חָטָ֜אhe has committedQal perf 3ms · חָטָא (H2398)Predicate verb of the relative clause→ Perfective: the completed offenseחָטָא (H2398) 'to sin'; a cognate accusative construction with חַטָּאת — 'the sin he has sinned'.
נְקֵבָ֨הa femaleN f sg abs · נְקֵבָה (H5347)Appositional specification of אֲשָׁמוֹנְקֵבָה (H5347) 'female'; the חַטָּאת of a commoner is female — a cheaper animal than the male required for the burnt offering, matching the graded logic of the chapter.
מִןfromprep · מִן (H4480)Partitive prepositionמִן (H4480) 'from, out of'; partitive — one animal taken from the flock.
הַצֹּ֥אןthe flockart + N (c) sg abs · צֹאן (H6629)Object of מִן (partitive)צֹאן (H6629) 'flock, small cattle'; a collective covering both sheep and goats, as the following two options show.
כִּשְׂבָּ֛הa ewe-lambN f sg abs · כִּשְׂבָּה (H3776)Apposition to נְקֵבָה (first option)כִּשְׂבָּה (H3776) 'young female sheep, ewe-lamb'; a metathesized byform of כֶּבֶשׂ.
אֽוֹorconj · אוֹ (H176)Disjunctive conjunction (alternative offering)אוֹ (H176) 'or'; the first of the chapter's many concessions to the offerer's circumstances.
שְׂעִירַ֥תa she-goat ofN f sg constr · שְׂעִירָה (H8166)Apposition to נְקֵבָה (second option; construct)שְׂעִירָה (H8166) 'she-goat', feminine of שָׂעִיר 'hairy one'; the goat is the cheaper alternative to the lamb.
עִזִּ֖יםgoatsN f pl abs · עֵז (H5795)Genitive after שְׂעִירַת (genitive of class)עֵז (H5795) 'she-goat, goat'; the plural in construct denotes the species — 'a female of the goats'.
לְחַטָּ֑אתas a purification offeringprep לְ + N f sg abs · חַטָּאת (H2403)Prepositional phrase of purpose/product ('as a sin offering')חַטָּאת (H2403) here the sacrifice itself; לְ of product — the animal 'becomes' the purification offering, purging what the sin defiled.
וְכִפֶּ֥רand shall make atonementconj וְ + Piel weqatal 3ms · כָּפַר (H3722)Predicate verb (priestly action)→ Weqatal: prescriptive — the priestly act that completes the remedyכָּפַר (H3722) Piel 'to make atonement, cover, wipe clean, ransom'; the pivotal cultic verb. The priest, not the offerer, performs it.
עָלָ֛יוfor himprep + 3ms suff · עַל (H5921)Prepositional phrase (beneficiary of atonement)עַל (H5921) 'on behalf of'; כִּפֶּר עַל is the fixed idiom 'make atonement for (a person)'.
הַכֹּהֵ֖ןthe priestart + N m sg abs · כֹּהֵן (H3548)Subject of וְכִפֶּרכֹּהֵן (H3548) 'priest'; the mediator without whom no atonement is made in this chapter.
מֵחַטָּאתֽוֹfrom his sinprep מִן + N f sg constr + 3ms suff · חַטָּאת (H2403)Prepositional phrase (that from which he is cleansed)חַטָּאת (H2403) 'sin'; the מִן is separative — atonement removes him from his sin, as one is cleansed from a stain.
7

וְאִם לֹ֨א תַגִּ֣יע יָדוֹ֮ דֵּ֣י שֶׂה֒ וְהֵבִ֨יא אֶת אֲשָׁמ֜וֹ אֲשֶׁ֣ר חָטָ֗א שְׁתֵּ֥י תֹרִ֛ים אֽוֹ שְׁנֵ֥י בְנֵֽי יוֹנָ֖ה לַֽיהוָ֑ה אֶחָ֥ד לְחַטָּ֖את וְאֶחָ֥ד לְעֹלָֽה

But if his hand cannot reach to the cost of a sheep, then he shall bring, as his reparation for the sin he has committed, two turtledoves or two young pigeons to the LORD — one for a purification offering and one for a burnt offering.

Concessive sub-case — the graded offeringוְאִם
אִם introduces the first economic concession. The idiom 'his hand does not reach' (לֹא תַגִּיעַ יָדוֹ) is the Hebrew way of saying 'he cannot afford it'. Note that the poor man still brings two birds, not one: atonement is scaled down in cost but not in structure — a purification offering and a burnt offering are both still required.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
וְאִםbut ifconj וְ + conj · אִם (H518)Conjunction introducing the concessive sub-caseאִם (H518) 'if'; here it opens the graded provision for those of lesser means.
לֹ֨אnotneg particle · לֹא (H3808)Negation of תַגִּיעַלֹא (H3808) absolute negative; negates the ability, not the willingness, of the offerer.
תַגִּ֣יעreachesHiphil impf 3fs · נָגַע (H5060)Predicate verb of the conditional clause→ Yiqtol: contingent — 'if it should not reach'נָגַע (H5060) Hiphil 'to reach, extend to'; the same root that meant defiling 'touch' in vv. 2-3 is here used of economic reach — an idiom for affording.
יָדוֹ֮his handN (c) sg constr + 3ms suff · יָד (H3027)Subject of תַגִּיעַיָד (H3027) 'hand'; by metonymy 'means, resources'. 'His hand does not reach' = he cannot afford it.
דֵּ֣יthe sufficiency ofN m sg constr · דַּי (H1767)Adverbial accusative of measure (construct)דַּי (H1767) 'enough, sufficiency'; דֵּי שֶׂה = 'enough for a sheep', i.e. the price of one.
שֶׂה֒a sheepN (c) sg abs · שֶׂה (H7716)Genitive after דֵּישֶׂה (H7716) 'a head of the flock, sheep or goat'; the animal prescribed in v. 6, now beyond this offerer's reach.
וְהֵבִ֨יאthen he shall bringconj וְ + Hiphil weqatal 3ms · בּוֹא (H935)Predicate verb of the apodosis→ Weqatal: prescriptive apodosis of the concessive caseבּוֹא (H935) Hiphil 'to bring'; the same verb as v. 6 — the act is unchanged, only the offering is scaled down.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (definite object)
אֲשָׁמ֜וֹhis reparationN m sg constr + 3ms suff · אָשָׁם (H817)Direct object of וְהֵבִיאאָשָׁם (H817) 'guilt-penalty, reparation'; again the general sense — what he owes for his guilt, here paid in birds.
אֲשֶׁ֣רfor whichrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle modifying אֲשָׁמוֹאֲשֶׁר (H834) relative particle; 'the sin which he has committed' remains the reference point of the whole transaction.
חָטָ֗אhe has sinnedQal perf 3ms · חָטָא (H2398)Predicate verb of the relative clause→ Perfective: the completed offenseחָטָא (H2398) 'to sin'; the offense, not the offerer's wealth, defines the case.
שְׁתֵּ֥יtwonumeral f dual constr · שְׁנַיִם (H8147)Numeral in construct with תֹרִים (direct object)שְׁנַיִם (H8147) 'two'; the feminine form שְׁתֵּי agrees with the feminine תֹּר.
תֹרִ֛יםturtledovesN (c) pl abs · תּוֹר (H8449)Direct object of וְהֵבִיא (in apposition to אֲשָׁמוֹ)תּוֹר (H8449) 'turtledove'; the offering of the poor (cf. Lev 12:8; Luke 2:24, where Mary and Joseph bring exactly this).
אֽוֹorconj · אוֹ (H176)Disjunctive conjunction (alternative offering)אוֹ (H176) 'or'; whichever bird is available to him.
שְׁנֵ֥יtwonumeral m dual constr · שְׁנַיִם (H8147)Numeral in construct with בְנֵי (direct object)שְׁנַיִם (H8147) 'two'; masculine שְׁנֵי agreeing with בְּנֵי יוֹנָה.
בְנֵֽיyoung ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Construct chain with יוֹנָהבֵּן (H1121) 'son'; in construct with an animal name it means 'young of' — בְּנֵי יוֹנָה, 'pigeon fledglings'.
יוֹנָ֖הa pigeonN f sg abs · יוֹנָה (H3123)Genitive after בְנֵייוֹנָה (H3123) 'dove, pigeon'; readily caught and thus the cheapest sacrificial creature.
לַֽיהוָ֑הto the LORDprep לְ + proper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Prepositional phrase (recipient of the offering)יְהוָה (H3068), the covenant name; the poor man's birds are brought to precisely the same LORD as the rich man's lamb.
אֶחָ֥דonenumeral m sg abs · אֶחָד (H259)Subject of an elliptical clause (distributive apposition)אֶחָד (H259) 'one'; distributive — 'the one … the other', dividing the pair between the two sacrifices.
לְחַטָּ֖אתfor a purification offeringprep לְ + N f sg abs · חַטָּאת (H2403)Prepositional phrase of purposeחַטָּאת (H2403) 'purification/sin offering'; the bird whose blood purges the sanctuary of the defilement the sin caused.
וְאֶחָ֥דand oneconj וְ + numeral m sg abs · אֶחָד (H259)Subject of the second elliptical clauseאֶחָד (H259) 'one'; the second member of the distributive pair.
לְעֹלָֽהfor a burnt offeringprep לְ + N f sg abs · עֹלָה (H5930)Prepositional phrase of purposeעֹלָה (H5930) 'burnt offering', literally 'that which goes up' (root עלה); wholly consumed on the altar, it accompanies the חַטָּאת as an act of self-giving worship.
8

וְהֵבִ֤יא אֹתָם֙ אֶל הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וְהִקְרִ֛יב אֶת אֲשֶׁ֥ר לַחַטָּ֖את רִאשׁוֹנָ֑ה וּמָלַ֧ק אֶת רֹאשׁ֛וֹ מִמּ֥וּל עָרְפּ֖וֹ וְלֹ֥א יַבְדִּֽיל

He shall bring them to the priest, who shall present first the one that is for the purification offering: he shall wring off its head at the nape, but shall not sever it.

Procedure — the ritual of the birdsוְ
The weqatal chain moves into ritual detail. Two points of order are fixed: the purification offering comes first (רִאשׁוֹנָה), because defilement must be purged before worship can be offered; and the head is wrung but not severed — the bird is killed without being divided, so that it remains a whole offering.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
וְהֵבִ֤יאand he shall bringconj וְ + Hiphil weqatal 3ms · בּוֹא (H935)Predicate verb of the procedure→ Weqatal: prescriptive sequence — the next required stepבּוֹא (H935) Hiphil 'to bring'; the offerer's part ends at the priest's hands.
אֹתָם֙themobj marker + 3mp suff · אֵת (H853)Direct object (the two birds)אֵת (H853) with pronominal suffix serves as the accusative pronoun 'them'.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Preposition of directionאֶל (H413) 'to, toward'; motion terminating at the priest.
הַכֹּהֵ֔ןthe priestart + N m sg abs · כֹּהֵן (H3548)Object of the preposition אֶלכֹּהֵן (H3548) 'priest'; from here on the priest is the subject of every verb in the procedure.
וְהִקְרִ֛יבand he shall presentconj וְ + Hiphil weqatal 3ms · קָרַב (H7126)Predicate verb (priest as subject)→ Weqatal: prescriptive — the priest's first actקָרַב (H7126) 'to draw near'; Hiphil 'to bring near, present (an offering)'. Its noun קָרְבָּן, 'offering', appears in v. 11.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (definite object)
אֲשֶׁ֥רthe one that isrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Substantival relative ('the one which is for…')אֲשֶׁר (H834) relative particle used substantivally — 'that which is designated for the purification offering'.
לַחַטָּ֖אתfor the purification offeringprep לְ + art + N f sg abs · חַטָּאת (H2403)Prepositional phrase of purposeחַטָּאת (H2403) 'purification offering'; the article marks it as the one already designated in v. 7.
רִאשׁוֹנָ֑הfirstadj f sg abs · רִאשׁוֹן (H7223)Adverbial accusative of orderרִאשׁוֹן (H7223) 'first, former' (from רֹאשׁ 'head'); used adverbially. The sequence is theological: purgation precedes ascent-offering.
וּמָלַ֧קand he shall wring offconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · מָלַק (H4454)Predicate verb (priestly action)→ Weqatal: prescriptive — the killing of the birdמָלַק (H4454) 'to nip/wring off (the head)'; a rare verb used only of birds in the cult (Lev 1:15; 5:8) — the priest's thumbnail replaces the slaughtering knife.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (definite object)
רֹאשׁ֛וֹits headN m sg constr + 3ms suff · רֹאשׁ (H7218)Direct object of וּמָלַקרֹאשׁ (H7218) 'head'; the seat of the animal's life, severed at the neck to release the blood.
מִמּ֥וּלat the front ofprep מִן + prep · מוּל (H4136)Compound preposition of locationמוּל (H4136) 'front, opposite'; מִמּוּל עָרְפּוֹ locates the incision just at the nape, so the head hangs but is not detached.
עָרְפּ֖וֹits neckN m sg constr + 3ms suff · עֹרֶף (H6203)Object of the compound prepositionעֹרֶף (H6203) 'back of the neck, nape'; the same word underlies the idiom 'stiff-necked' (קְשֵׁה־עֹרֶף).
וְלֹ֥אbut notconj וְ + neg particle · לֹא (H3808)Adversative conjunction + negationלֹא (H3808) absolute negative; the prohibition safeguards the bird's wholeness as an offering.
יַבְדִּֽילshall he sever itHiphil impf 3ms · בָּדַל (H914)Predicate verb of the prohibition→ Yiqtol with לֹא: categorical prohibitionבָּדַל (H914) Hiphil 'to divide, separate'; the great verb of Gen 1 and of holiness (Lev 20:24-26) — here, remarkably, forbidden: this offering must not be divided.
9

וְהִזָּ֞ה מִדַּ֤ם הַחַטָּאת֙ עַל קִ֣יר הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ וְהַנִּשְׁאָ֣ר בַּדָּ֔ם יִמָּצֵ֖ה אֶל יְס֣וֹד הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַ חַטָּ֖את הֽוּא

And he shall sprinkle some of the blood of the purification offering on the side of the altar, and the rest of the blood shall be drained out at the base of the altar; it is a purification offering.

Procedure — the blood riteוְ
The blood rite is the heart of the חַטָּאת: some blood is sprinkled against the altar wall, the remainder drained at its base. A bird yields too little blood to be dashed as a larger animal's is, so the manner is adapted — but nothing essential is dropped. The declaratory formula חַטָּאת הוּא, 'it is a purification offering', certifies that this inexpensive rite is the genuine article.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
וְהִזָּ֞הand he shall sprinkleconj וְ + Hiphil weqatal 3ms · נָזָה (H5137)Predicate verb (priestly action)→ Weqatal: prescriptive — the blood riteנָזָה (H5137) 'to spatter'; Hiphil 'to sprinkle'. The verb of the great blood rites, including the Day of Atonement (Lev 16:14).
מִדַּ֤םsome of the blood ofprep מִן + N m sg constr · דָּם (H1818)Partitive prepositional phrase (construct chain)דָּם (H1818) 'blood'; the partitive מִן is deliberate — only some of the blood is sprinkled, the rest is drained out.
הַחַטָּאת֙the purification offeringart + N f sg abs · חַטָּאת (H2403)Genitive after מִדַּםחַטָּאת (H2403) 'purification offering'; its blood is the detergent of the sanctuary.
עַלonprep · עַל (H5921)Preposition of locationעַל (H5921) 'upon, against'; the blood is applied to the altar's surface, not poured into a vessel.
קִ֣ירthe side ofN m sg constr · קִיר (H7023)Object of עַל (construct chain)קִיר (H7023) 'wall, side'; the vertical face of the bronze altar, where the sprinkled blood would be visible.
הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַthe altarart + N m sg abs · מִזְבֵּחַ (H4196)Genitive after קִירמִזְבֵּחַ (H4196) 'altar', from זָבַח 'to slaughter, sacrifice'; the place of slaughter is also the place of cleansing.
וְהַנִּשְׁאָ֣רand the remainderconj וְ + art + Niphal ptc m sg abs · שָׁאַר (H7604)Substantival participle — subject of יִמָּצֵה→ Participial: a standing state — 'that which is left over'שָׁאַר (H7604) 'to remain'; Niphal participle 'the remnant, what is left'. The same root yields שְׁאָר / שְׁאֵרִית, the prophetic 'remnant'.
בַּדָּ֔םof the bloodprep בְּ + art + N m sg abs · דָּם (H1818)Prepositional phrase specifying the remainderדָּם (H1818) 'blood'; הַנִּשְׁאָר בַּדָּם, 'what is left over in respect of the blood' — an idiomatic partitive.
יִמָּצֵ֖הshall be drained outNiphal impf 3ms · מָצָה (H4680)Predicate verb (passive, main clause)→ Yiqtol (Niphal): prescriptive passive — it is to be squeezed outמָצָה (H4680) 'to drain, squeeze out'; used of wringing out the last drops (cf. Judg 6:38; Ps 75:8, where the wicked drain the cup of wrath).
אֶלatprep · אֶל (H413)Preposition of direction/locationאֶל (H413) 'to, at'; the blood runs down to the altar's base.
יְס֣וֹדthe base ofN m sg constr · יְסוֹד (H3247)Object of אֶל (construct chain)יְסוֹד (H3247) 'foundation, base' (root יסד 'to found'); the ledge at the altar's foot where the blood collected.
הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַthe altarart + N m sg abs · מִזְבֵּחַ (H4196)Genitive after יְסוֹדמִזְבֵּחַ (H4196) 'altar'; every drop of the blood belongs to it — none may be spilled elsewhere.
חַטָּ֖אתa purification offeringN f sg abs · חַטָּאת (H2403)Predicate nominative of the declaratory formulaחַטָּאת (H2403); the declaratory formula חַטָּאת הוּא certifies the offering's category and so its efficacy.
הֽוּאit ispron 3ms · הוּא (H1931)Subject of the verbless declaratory clauseהוּא (H1931) 3ms pronoun functioning as copula in the verbless clause 'it is a purification offering'.
10

וְאֶת הַשֵּׁנִ֛י יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה עֹלָ֖ה כַּמִּשְׁפָּ֑ט וְכִפֶּ֨ר עָלָ֧יו הַכֹּהֵ֛ן מֵחַטָּאת֥וֹ אֲשֶׁר חָטָ֖א וְנִסְלַ֥ח לֽוֹ

And the second he shall offer as a burnt offering, according to the regulation. So the priest shall make atonement for him for the sin he has committed, and he shall be forgiven.

Procedure completed — atonement and forgivenessוְ
The second bird becomes the burnt offering, handled 'according to the regulation' (כַּמִּשְׁפָּט) already laid down in Lev 1:14-17 — the law does not repeat itself. The verse closes with the chapter's great refrain, וְנִסְלַח לוֹ, 'and he shall be forgiven': a divine passive, since only God forgives, and the priest merely mediates.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
וְאֶתand [obj]conj וְ + obj marker · אֵת (H853)Conjunction + direct-object marker (fronted object)אֵת (H853) marks the fronted definite object הַשֵּׁנִי, 'the second one', giving it emphasis.
הַשֵּׁנִ֛יthe secondart + ordinal m sg abs · שֵׁנִי (H8145)Direct object (fronted, marked by וְאֶת)שֵׁנִי (H8145) 'second', from שְׁנַיִם 'two'; the second bird of the pair, reserved for the burnt offering.
יַעֲשֶׂ֥הhe shall offerQal impf 3ms · עָשָׂה (H6213)Predicate verb (main clause)→ Yiqtol: prescriptive — the priest is to perform itעָשָׂה (H6213) 'to do, make'; with a sacrifice as object it means 'to offer, perform (the rite)'.
עֹלָ֖הas a burnt offeringN f sg abs · עֹלָה (H5930)Adverbial accusative of product ('as a burnt offering')עֹלָה (H5930) 'burnt offering', 'that which ascends'; wholly burned, it expresses total self-surrender once the sin has been purged.
כַּמִּשְׁפָּ֑טaccording to the regulationprep כְּ + art + N m sg abs · מִשְׁפָּט (H4941)Prepositional phrase of norm/standardמִשְׁפָּט (H4941) 'judgment, ordinance, prescribed manner' (root שׁפט 'to judge'); here 'the prescribed procedure' of Lev 1:14-17, assumed rather than repeated.
וְכִפֶּ֨רand shall make atonementconj וְ + Piel weqatal 3ms · כָּפַר (H3722)Predicate verb (priestly action)→ Weqatal: the culminating priestly actכָּפַר (H3722) Piel 'to make atonement, purge, ransom'; the verb that converts ritual into reconciliation.
עָלָ֧יוfor himprep + 3ms suff · עַל (H5921)Prepositional phrase (beneficiary of atonement)עַל (H5921) 'on behalf of'; part of the fixed idiom כִּפֶּר עַל.
הַכֹּהֵ֛ןthe priestart + N m sg abs · כֹּהֵן (H3548)Subject of וְכִפֶּרכֹּהֵן (H3548) 'priest'; the appointed mediator of the atonement.
מֵחַטָּאת֥וֹfrom his sinprep מִן + N f sg constr + 3ms suff · חַטָּאת (H2403)Prepositional phrase (that from which he is cleansed)חַטָּאת (H2403) 'sin'; the separative מִן pictures atonement as removal — the man is put at a distance from his sin.
אֲשֶׁרwhichrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle modifying חַטָּאתוֹאֲשֶׁר (H834) relative particle; keeps the concrete offense in view to the very end of the ruling.
חָטָ֖אhe has committedQal perf 3ms · חָטָא (H2398)Predicate verb of the relative clause→ Perfective: the completed offenseחָטָא (H2398) 'to sin'; cognate with חַטָּאת — the sin and its offering share one root.
וְנִסְלַ֥חand he shall be forgivenconj וְ + Niphal weqatal 3ms · סָלַח (H5545)Predicate verb (passive) of the concluding clause→ Weqatal (Niphal): divine passive — the assured resultסָלַח (H5545) 'to forgive, pardon'; in the Hebrew Bible God alone is ever its subject. The Niphal וְנִסְלַח keeps him decorously out of sight while making him the only possible agent.
לֽוֹhimprep לְ + 3ms suffPrepositional phrase (dative of the person forgiven)לְ 'to, for'; וְנִסְלַח לוֹ, 'and it shall be forgiven him' — the impersonal passive with a dative, the standard Levitical absolution formula.
11

וְאִם לֹא֩ תַשִּׂ֨יג יָד֜וֹ לִשְׁתֵּ֣י תֹרִ֗ים אוֹ֮ לִשְׁנֵ֣י בְנֵי יוֹנָה֒ וְהֵבִ֨יא אֶת קָרְבָּנ֜וֹ אֲשֶׁ֣ר חָטָ֗א עֲשִׂירִ֧ת הָאֵפָ֛ה סֹ֖לֶת לְחַטָּ֑את לֹא יָשִׂ֨ים עָלֶ֜יהָ שֶׁ֗מֶן וְלֹא יִתֵּ֤ן עָלֶ֨יהָ֙ לְבֹנָ֔ה כִּ֥י חַטָּ֖את הִֽיא

But if his means cannot reach to two turtledoves or two young pigeons, then he shall bring as his offering for the sin he has committed a tenth of an ephah of fine flour as a purification offering. He shall put no oil on it and shall lay no frankincense on it, for it is a purification offering.

Second concession — the cereal substituteוְאִם
The scale descends a second step, from birds to grain — the only place in the Torah where a bloodless offering purges sin. Two deliberate omissions mark it out: no oil, no frankincense. Those are the marks of the מִנְחָה, the gift of homage (Lev 2:1-2); their absence keeps this flour from being mistaken for a celebration. It is a sin offering, and it must look like one.
Word-by-word analysis· 30 words
וְאִםbut ifconj וְ + conj · אִם (H518)Conjunction introducing the second concessive sub-caseאִם (H518) 'if'; the descent of the graded scale continues one rung lower.
לֹא֩notneg particle · לֹא (H3808)Negation of תַשִּׂיגלֹא (H3808) absolute negative; again the negation is of capacity, not of will.
תַשִּׂ֨יגcan attainHiphil impf 3fs · נָשַׂג (H5381)Predicate verb of the conditional clause→ Yiqtol: contingent — 'if it should not attain'נָשַׂג (H5381) Hiphil 'to overtake, reach, be able to afford'; with יָד as subject it is the technical idiom for financial capacity (cf. Lev 14:21; 25:26).
יָד֜וֹhis handN (c) sg constr + 3ms suff · יָד (H3027)Subject of תַשִּׂיגיָד (H3027) 'hand', here 'means, resources'; the poverty is assumed without reproach.
לִשְׁתֵּ֣יto twoprep לְ + numeral f dual constr · שְׁנַיִם (H8147)Prepositional phrase (goal of תַשִּׂיג)שְׁנַיִם (H8147) 'two'; the feminine construct agreeing with תֹּרִים.
תֹרִ֗יםturtledovesN (c) pl abs · תּוֹר (H8449)Genitive after לִשְׁתֵּיתּוֹר (H8449) 'turtledove'; even this modest offering can be out of reach.
אוֹ֮orconj · אוֹ (H176)Disjunctive conjunctionאוֹ (H176) 'or'; repeats the pair of options from v. 7 in order to exclude both.
לִשְׁנֵ֣יto twoprep לְ + numeral m dual constr · שְׁנַיִם (H8147)Prepositional phrase (second goal of תַשִּׂיג)שְׁנַיִם (H8147) 'two'; masculine construct agreeing with בְּנֵי יוֹנָה.
בְנֵיyoung ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Construct chain with יוֹנָהבֵּן (H1121) 'son'; with an animal name, 'young of'.
יוֹנָה֒a pigeonN f sg abs · יוֹנָה (H3123)Genitive after בְנֵייוֹנָה (H3123) 'dove, pigeon'; the cheapest of sacrificial animals, yet still beyond some Israelites.
וְהֵבִ֨יאthen he shall bringconj וְ + Hiphil weqatal 3ms · בּוֹא (H935)Predicate verb of the apodosis→ Weqatal: prescriptive apodosisבּוֹא (H935) Hiphil 'to bring'; the poorest man still comes to the sanctuary with something in his hands.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (definite object)
קָרְבָּנ֜וֹhis offeringN m sg constr + 3ms suff · קָרְבָּן (H7133)Direct object of וְהֵבִיאקָרְבָּן (H7133) 'offering, that which is brought near', from קָרַב. Notably the text says קָרְבָּנוֹ here rather than אֲשָׁמוֹ — flour cannot be called a 'guilt-payment', but it is still a genuine approach to God.
אֲשֶׁ֣רfor whichrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle modifying קָרְבָּנוֹאֲשֶׁר (H834) relative particle; 'for the sin which he has committed'.
חָטָ֗אhe has sinnedQal perf 3ms · חָטָא (H2398)Predicate verb of the relative clause→ Perfective: the completed offenseחָטָא (H2398) 'to sin'; poverty changes the price of the remedy but not the fact of the sin.
עֲשִׂירִ֧תa tenth ofordinal f sg constr · עֲשִׂירִי (H6224)Apposition to קָרְבָּנוֹ (construct chain)עֲשִׂירִי (H6224) 'tenth', from עֶשֶׂר 'ten'; a tenth of an ephah (an omer, roughly two litres) — one day's ration of flour, the same measure as the daily manna (Exod 16:36).
הָאֵפָ֛הan ephahart + N f sg abs · אֵיפָה (H374)Genitive after עֲשִׂירִתאֵיפָה (H374) 'ephah', the standard dry measure (about 22 litres); an Egyptian loanword.
סֹ֖לֶתof fine flourN f sg abs · סֹלֶת (H5560)Accusative of material (apposition)סֹלֶת (H5560) 'fine flour, semolina'; the sifted best of the wheat. Even in the cheapest offering, the quality is not compromised — only the quantity.
לְחַטָּ֑אתas a purification offeringprep לְ + N f sg abs · חַטָּאת (H2403)Prepositional phrase of purpose/productחַטָּאת (H2403); the astonishing claim of this verse is that flour, without blood, can serve as חַטָּאת — mercy bends the ritual to fit the poor.
לֹאnotneg particle · לֹא (H3808)Negation of יָשִׂים (prohibition)לֹא (H3808) absolute negative; with the imperfect it forms a permanent prohibition.
יָשִׂ֨יםshall he putQal impf 3ms · שִׂים (H7760)Predicate verb of the prohibition→ Yiqtol with לֹא: categorical prohibitionשִׂים (H7760) 'to put, place, set'; a colourless verb of placing, here forbidden with respect to oil.
עָלֶ֜יהָon itprep + 3fs suff · עַל (H5921)Prepositional phrase of locationעַל (H5921) 'upon'; the 3fs suffix refers to the סֹלֶת, the flour.
שֶׁ֗מֶןoilN m sg abs · שֶׁמֶן (H8081)Direct object of יָשִׂיםשֶׁמֶן (H8081) 'oil'; a standard ingredient of the grain offering (Lev 2:1) and a symbol of gladness — hence excluded from a sin offering.
וְלֹאand notconj וְ + neg particle · לֹא (H3808)Conjunction + negation (second prohibition)לֹא (H3808) absolute negative; the second of the paired prohibitions.
יִתֵּ֤ןshall he placeQal impf 3ms · נָתַן (H5414)Predicate verb of the second prohibition→ Yiqtol with לֹא: categorical prohibitionנָתַן (H5414) 'to give, put, place'; one of the most common Hebrew verbs, here of laying frankincense on the flour.
עָלֶ֨יהָ֙on itprep + 3fs suff · עַל (H5921)Prepositional phrase of locationעַל (H5921) 'upon'; again referring to the flour.
לְבֹנָ֔הfrankincenseN f sg abs · לְבֹנָה (H3828)Direct object of יִתֵּןלְבֹנָה (H3828) 'frankincense' (from לָבָן 'white'); the costly aromatic that turned a grain gift into a 'pleasing aroma'. Its absence marks this flour as penitential, not festal.
כִּ֥יforconj · כִּי (H3588)Causal conjunction (grounds for the prohibitions)כִּי (H3588) 'because, for'; it gives the reason for stripping the offering of oil and incense.
חַטָּ֖אתa purification offeringN f sg abs · חַטָּאת (H2403)Predicate nominative of the causal clauseחַטָּאת (H2403); the category determines the ritual — because it is a sin offering, it must not be dressed up like a gift.
הִֽיאit ispron 3fs · הִיא (H1931)Subject of the verbless clauseהִיא (H1931) 3fs pronoun, agreeing with the feminine חַטָּאת; serves as copula in the verbless clause.
12

וֶהֱבִיאָהּ֮ אֶל הַכֹּהֵן֒ וְקָמַ֣ץ הַכֹּהֵ֣ן מִ֠מֶּנָּה מְל֨וֹא קֻמְצ֜וֹ אֶת אַזְכָּרָתָה֙ וְהִקְטִ֣יר הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חָה עַ֖ל אִשֵּׁ֣י יְהוָ֑ה חַטָּ֖את הִֽוא

He shall bring it to the priest, and the priest shall scoop out from it his handful as its memorial portion and burn it on the altar, upon the offerings by fire to the LORD; it is a purification offering.

Procedure — the handful and the memorial portionוְ
The priest takes a fistful (מְלוֹא קֻמְצוֹ) as the אַזְכָּרָה, the 'memorial portion', and burns it; the rest, as v. 13 explains, feeds him. The rite is borrowed wholesale from the grain offering of Lev 2:2, yet the flour is placed 'upon the offerings by fire of the LORD', i.e. on the altar where blood normally goes — the poor man's grain is treated as if it were a victim.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
וֶהֱבִיאָהּ֮and he shall bring itconj וְ + Hiphil weqatal 3ms + 3fs suff · בּוֹא (H935)Predicate verb with pronominal object→ Weqatal: prescriptive — the offerer's actבּוֹא (H935) Hiphil 'to bring'; the 3fs suffix refers to the flour (סֹלֶת), carried in the offerer's own hands to the priest.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Preposition of directionאֶל (H413) 'to, toward'; motion terminating at the priest.
הַכֹּהֵן֒the priestart + N m sg abs · כֹּהֵן (H3548)Object of the preposition אֶלכֹּהֵן (H3548) 'priest'; the offering passes from lay hands into consecrated ones.
וְקָמַ֣ץand shall scoop outconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · קָמַץ (H7061)Predicate verb (priestly action)→ Weqatal: prescriptive — the taking of the token portionקָמַץ (H7061) 'to grasp with the hand, take a fistful'; a rare verb used only of this ritual gesture (Lev 2:2; 5:12; 6:15).
הַכֹּהֵ֣ןthe priestart + N m sg abs · כֹּהֵן (H3548)Subject of וְקָמַץכֹּהֵן (H3548) 'priest'; only he may take the memorial portion.
מִ֠מֶּנָּהfrom itprep + 3fs suff · מִן (H4480)Partitive prepositional phraseמִן (H4480) 'from'; partitive — only a fistful of the flour is burned.
מְל֨וֹאthe fullness ofN m sg constr · מְלֹא (H4393)Direct object of וְקָמַץ (construct chain)מְלֹא (H4393) 'fullness, that which fills' (root מלא 'to be full'); מְלוֹא קֻמְצוֹ = 'his hand's full', a handful.
קֻמְצ֜וֹhis fistN m sg constr + 3ms suff · קֹמֶץ (H7062)Genitive after מְלוֹאקֹמֶץ (H7062) 'closed hand, fistful', from קָמַץ; the measure is the priest's own hand — an unmeasurable measure, generous or sparing as he is.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (apposition to the handful)
אַזְכָּרָתָה֙its memorial portionN f sg constr + 3fs suff · אַזְכָּרָה (H234)Apposition to מְלוֹא קֻמְצוֹ (direct object)אַזְכָּרָה (H234) 'memorial portion', from זָכַר 'to remember'; the burned token that represents the whole and brings the offerer to God's remembrance.
וְהִקְטִ֣ירand shall burn itconj וְ + Hiphil weqatal 3ms · קָטַר (H6999)Predicate verb (priestly action)→ Weqatal: prescriptive — the offering ascends in smokeקָטַר (H6999) Hiphil 'to send up in smoke, turn into smoke'; not mere burning but the transformation of the gift into fragrant smoke that rises to God.
הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חָהon the altarart + N m sg abs + directive הָ · מִזְבֵּחַ (H4196)Adverbial accusative of place (he-directive)מִזְבֵּחַ (H4196) 'altar'; the final הָ is the old locative/directive ending — 'altar-ward, onto the altar'.
עַ֖לuponprep · עַל (H5921)Preposition of locationעַל (H5921) 'upon'; the flour is laid on top of the other fire-offerings already burning.
אִשֵּׁ֣יthe fire offerings ofN m pl constr · אִשֶּׁה (H801)Object of עַל (construct chain)אִשֶּׁה (H801) 'offering made by fire', usually derived from אֵשׁ 'fire'; the general term for whatever is consumed on the altar as the LORD's portion.
יְהוָ֑הthe LORDproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Genitive after אִשֵּׁייְהוָה (H3068), the covenant name; the fire-offerings are his by right.
חַטָּ֖אתa purification offeringN f sg abs · חַטָּאת (H2403)Predicate nominative of the declaratory formulaחַטָּאת (H2403); the formula חַטָּאת הִוא declares the flour to be, in full legal fact, a sin offering.
הִֽואit ispron 3fs · הִוא (H1931)Subject of the verbless declaratory clauseהִוא (H1931) 3fs pronoun; the Pentateuch's characteristic spelling with waw, pointed as feminine — a scribal peculiarity preserved by the Masoretes.
13

וְכִפֶּר֩ עָלָ֨יו הַכֹּהֵ֜ן עַל חַטָּאת֧וֹ אֲשֶׁר חָטָ֛א מֵֽאַחַ֥ת מֵאֵ֖לֶּה וְנִסְלַ֣ח ל֑וֹ וְהָיְתָ֥ה לַכֹּהֵ֖ן כַּמִּנְחָֽה

So the priest shall make atonement for him for the sin he has committed in any one of these, and he shall be forgiven; and the rest shall belong to the priest, like the grain offering.

Conclusion of the graded provisionוְ
The section closes as v. 10 did, with atonement and וְנִסְלַח לוֹ — the identical verdict for the man who brought flour as for the man who brought a lamb. The final clause hands what is left to the priest 'like the grain offering', folding the poorest man's sin offering into the ordinary sustenance of the sanctuary.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
וְכִפֶּר֩and shall make atonementconj וְ + Piel weqatal 3ms · כָּפַר (H3722)Predicate verb (priestly action)→ Weqatal: the culminating priestly actכָּפַר (H3722) Piel 'to make atonement, purge, ransom'; the same verb serves the flour offering as the blood offering — the mechanism differs, the effect does not.
עָלָ֨יוfor himprep + 3ms suff · עַל (H5921)Prepositional phrase (beneficiary of atonement)עַל (H5921) 'on behalf of'; part of the fixed idiom כִּפֶּר עַל.
הַכֹּהֵ֜ןthe priestart + N m sg abs · כֹּהֵן (H3548)Subject of וְכִפֶּרכֹּהֵן (H3548) 'priest'; the mediator of atonement in every tier of the graded scale.
עַלforprep · עַל (H5921)Preposition of causeעַל (H5921) 'on account of'; names the sin that occasioned the offering.
חַטָּאת֧וֹhis sinN f sg constr + 3ms suff · חַטָּאת (H2403)Object of the preposition עַלחַטָּאת (H2403) 'sin'; the offense remains individual and specific even as the remedy is generalized.
אֲשֶׁרwhichrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle modifying חַטָּאתוֹאֲשֶׁר (H834) relative particle; introduces the clause identifying the sin.
חָטָ֛אhe has committedQal perf 3ms · חָטָא (H2398)Predicate verb of the relative clause→ Perfective: the completed offenseחָטָא (H2398) 'to sin'; the deed lies in the past, the forgiveness in the future.
מֵֽאַחַ֥תin any oneprep מִן + numeral f sg abs · אֶחָד (H259)Prepositional phrase of respectאֶחָד (H259) 'one'; מֵאַחַת מֵאֵלֶּה, 'in any single one of these', gathers all four cases of vv. 1-4 under the one remedy.
מֵאֵ֖לֶּהof theseprep מִן + demonstr pron c pl · אֵלֶּה (H428)Partitive prepositional phraseאֵלֶּה (H428) 'these'; the closed list of offenses laid out at the head of the chapter.
וְנִסְלַ֣חand he shall be forgivenconj וְ + Niphal weqatal 3ms · סָלַח (H5545)Predicate verb (passive) of the concluding clause→ Weqatal (Niphal): divine passive — the assured resultסָלַח (H5545) 'to forgive'; God alone is ever its subject. The formula וְנִסְלַח לוֹ is the chapter's refrain of grace.
ל֑וֹhimprep לְ + 3ms suffPrepositional phrase (dative of the person forgiven)לְ 'to, for'; the impersonal passive with dative — 'it shall be forgiven him'.
וְהָיְתָ֥הand it shall belongconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3fs · הָיָה (H1961)Predicate verb of the concluding provision→ Weqatal: prescriptive — the disposal of the remainderהָיָה (H1961) 'to be'; with לְ it means 'to belong to' — the leftover flour becomes the priest's food.
לַכֹּהֵ֖ןto the priestprep לְ + art + N m sg abs · כֹּהֵן (H3548)Prepositional phrase of possessionכֹּהֵן (H3548) 'priest'; the priests had no land, and lived from precisely such portions.
כַּמִּנְחָֽהlike the grain offeringprep כְּ + art + N f sg abs · מִנְחָה (H4503)Prepositional phrase of comparisonמִנְחָה (H4503) 'gift, tribute, grain offering'; the comparison governs the disposal of the remainder (Lev 2:3, 10), not the character of the offering — which remains a חַטָּאת.
14

וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה אֶל מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:

New divine speech — major section breakוַ
The wayyiqtol formula וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹר breaks the chapter in two. Everything before it concerned the חַטָּאת; everything after it concerns the אָשָׁם, the reparation offering. The narrative frame reasserts that these are not priestly conventions but the speech of God.
Word-by-word analysis· 5 words
וַיְדַבֵּ֥רand he spokeconj וַ + Piel wayyiqtol 3ms · דָּבַר (H1696)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence (main clause)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — a new speech beginsדָּבַר (H1696) Piel 'to speak'; the wayyiqtol marks a fresh divine utterance and thus a new section of law.
יְהוָ֖הthe LORDproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Subject of וַיְדַבֵּריְהוָה (H3068), the covenant name revealed at the bush; the lawgiver himself is the speaker.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Preposition of direction (addressee)אֶל (H413) 'to'; marks the recipient of the divine speech.
מֹשֶׁ֥הMosesproper noun · מֹשֶׁה (H4872)Object of the preposition אֶלמֹשֶׁה (H4872) 'Moses'; the sole mediator of the sacrificial legislation, addressed alone here (contrast Lev 1:1-2, where Israel is in view).
לֵּאמֹֽרsayingprep לְ + Qal inf constr · אָמַר (H559)Infinitive introducing direct speech→ Infinitival: quotative — opens the quoted wordsאָמַר (H559) 'to say'; לֵאמֹר functions as a set quotation marker, the Hebrew equivalent of opening quotation marks.
15

נֶ֚פֶשׁ כִּֽי תִמְעֹ֣ל מַ֔עַל וְחָֽטְאָה֙ בִּשְׁגָגָ֔ה מִקָּדְשֵׁ֖י יְהוָ֑ה וְהֵבִיא֩ אֶת אֲשָׁמ֨וֹ לַֽיהוָ֜ה אַ֧יִל תָּמִ֣ים מִן הַצֹּ֗אן בְּעֶרְכְּךָ֛ כֶּֽסֶף שְׁקָלִ֥ים בְּשֶֽׁקֶל הַקֹּ֖דֶשׁ לְאָשָֽׁם

If a person commits a breach of faith and sins inadvertently against any of the holy things of the LORD, then he shall bring to the LORD as his reparation offering a ram without blemish from the flock, by your valuation in shekels of silver, by the shekel of the sanctuary, as a guilt offering.

Casuistic protasis — sacrilege against holy thingsasyndeton
The new category is מַעַל: not mere error but treachery, the misappropriation of what belongs to God (tithes, firstfruits, consecrated things). Yet even מַעַל done בִּשְׁגָגָה, 'inadvertently', is remediable. The offering is fixed and expensive — an unblemished ram assessed in sanctuary shekels — because sacrilege incurs a debt that must be paid, not merely purged.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
נֶ֚פֶשׁif a personN (c) sg abs · נֶפֶשׁ (H5315)Subject of the casuistic protasis (fronted)נֶפֶשׁ (H5315) 'person'; the same legal 'anyone' as vv. 1-4, now facing a graver charge.
כִּֽיwhenconj · כִּי (H3588)Conjunction introducing the casuistic protasisכִּי (H3588) 'when, if'; opens the first case of the אָשָׁם legislation.
תִמְעֹ֣לcommitsQal impf 3fs · מָעַל (H4603)Predicate verb of the protasis→ Yiqtol: hypothetical — 'should he act treacherously'מָעַל (H4603) 'to act treacherously, commit sacrilege'; used of Achan (Josh 7:1), of Uzziah's presumption (2 Chr 26:16), and of marital infidelity (Num 5:12) — a breach of trust, not a slip.
מַ֔עַלa breach of faithN m sg abs · מַעַל (H4604)Cognate accusative of תִמְעֹלמַעַל (H4604) 'unfaithfulness, sacrilege, treachery'; the cognate accusative תִּמְעֹל מַעַל intensifies — 'commits an act of outright treachery'.
וְחָֽטְאָה֙and sinsconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3fs · חָטָא (H2398)Coordinate verb continuing the protasis→ Weqatal: continues the hypothetical caseחָטָא (H2398) 'to sin'; here specified by בִּשְׁגָגָה — the treachery was real but not deliberate.
בִּשְׁגָגָ֔הinadvertentlyprep בְּ + N f sg abs · שְׁגָגָה (H7684)Prepositional phrase of mannerשְׁגָגָה (H7684) 'inadvertence, error' (root שׁגג 'to go astray'); the technical term for unintentional sin, opposed to sinning בְּיָד רָמָה, 'with a high hand' (Num 15:30).
מִקָּדְשֵׁ֖יagainst the holy things ofprep מִן + N m pl constr · קֹדֶשׁ (H6944)Prepositional phrase (that which is misappropriated)קֹדֶשׁ (H6944) 'holiness, holy thing'; in the plural, the sacred donations — tithes, firstfruits, devoted things — which belong to God and may not be used for common purposes.
יְהוָ֑הthe LORDproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Genitive after קָדְשֵׁייְהוָה (H3068); the holy things are his property — which is exactly why misusing them is treachery rather than theft.
וְהֵבִיא֩then he shall bringconj וְ + Hiphil weqatal 3ms · בּוֹא (H935)Predicate verb of the apodosis→ Weqatal: prescriptive apodosisבּוֹא (H935) Hiphil 'to bring'; the standard verb for presenting a sacrifice.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (definite object)
אֲשָׁמ֨וֹhis reparation offeringN m sg constr + 3ms suff · אָשָׁם (H817)Direct object of וְהֵבִיאאָשָׁם (H817) 'guilt offering, reparation offering'; from here on the word carries its full technical sense — a sacrifice that repays a debt as well as removing sin.
לַֽיהוָ֜הto the LORDprep לְ + proper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Prepositional phrase (recipient)יְהוָה (H3068); the reparation is owed to the one whose property was violated.
אַ֧יִלa ramN m sg abs · אַיִל (H352)Apposition to אֲשָׁמוֹ (direct object)אַיִל (H352) 'ram'; a mature male, costlier than the female חַטָּאת animal. The אָשָׁם admits no graded concession — the debt is fixed.
תָּמִ֣יםwithout blemishadj m sg abs · תָּמִים (H8549)Attributive adjective modifying אַיִלתָּמִים (H8549) 'whole, complete, unblemished' (root תמם); of animals, physically flawless; of persons, morally blameless (Gen 6:9).
מִןfromprep · מִן (H4480)Partitive prepositionמִן (H4480) 'from, out of'; the ram is taken from the offerer's own flock, at his own cost.
הַצֹּ֗אןthe flockart + N (c) sg abs · צֹאן (H6629)Object of מִן (partitive)צֹאן (H6629) 'flock'; the collective from which the ram is drawn.
בְּעֶרְכְּךָ֛by your valuationprep בְּ + N m sg constr + 2ms suff · עֵרֶךְ (H6187)Prepositional phrase of standard/measureעֵרֶךְ (H6187) 'arrangement, assessment, valuation' (root ערך 'to arrange, set in order'); the abrupt 2ms suffix addresses Moses — 'at your assessment', i.e. the official priestly valuation of the animal in silver.
כֶּֽסֶףsilver ofN m sg constr · כֶּסֶף (H3701)Accusative of price (construct with שְׁקָלִים)כֶּסֶף (H3701) 'silver, money'; כֶּסֶף שְׁקָלִים, 'silver of shekels', i.e. a value reckoned in weighed silver.
שְׁקָלִ֥יםshekelsN m pl abs · שֶׁקֶל (H8255)Genitive after כֶּסֶףשֶׁקֶל (H8255) 'shekel', from שָׁקַל 'to weigh'; a unit of weight (about 11.5 g), not yet a coin.
בְּשֶֽׁקֶלby the shekel ofprep בְּ + N m sg constr · שֶׁקֶל (H8255)Prepositional phrase of standard (construct chain)שֶׁקֶל (H8255) 'shekel'; the sanctuary shekel was the fixed, unadulterated standard, immune to the shrinking weights of the marketplace (cf. Amos 8:5).
הַקֹּ֖דֶשׁthe sanctuaryart + N m sg abs · קֹדֶשׁ (H6944)Genitive after בְּשֶׁקֶלקֹדֶשׁ (H6944) 'holiness, sanctuary'; the offense was against the holy things, and the reckoning is made by the holy standard.
לְאָשָֽׁםas a guilt offeringprep לְ + N m sg abs · אָשָׁם (H817)Prepositional phrase of purpose/productאָשָׁם (H817) 'guilt/reparation offering'; the לְ of product — the ram 'becomes' the אָשָׁם, closing the verse with the very word that names the whole section.
16

וְאֵ֣ת אֲשֶׁר֩ חָטָ֨א מִן הַקֹּ֜דֶשׁ יְשַׁלֵּ֗ם וְאֶת חֲמִֽישִׁתוֹ֙ יוֹסֵ֣ף עָלָ֔יו וְנָתַ֥ן אֹת֖וֹ לַכֹּהֵ֑ן וְהַכֹּהֵ֗ן יְכַפֵּ֥ר עָלָ֛יו בְּאֵ֥יל הָאָשָׁ֖ם וְנִסְלַ֥ח לֽוֹ

And he shall make restitution for what he has misused of the holy thing, and shall add to it a fifth of its value, and give it to the priest. And the priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the guilt offering, and he shall be forgiven.

Apodosis continued — restitution plus a fifthוְ
Two things are required, not one: restitution of the misappropriated holy thing plus a penalty of a fifth (twenty per cent), and then the ram. Sacrifice does not replace repayment; it follows it. Only when the debt is settled does the priest make atonement, and only then does the refrain וְנִסְלַח לוֹ fall.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
וְאֵ֣תand [obj]conj וְ + obj marker · אֵת (H853)Conjunction + direct-object marker (fronted object clause)אֵת (H853) marks the fronted object — 'and that which he has misused' — putting the restitution first in the sentence and first in the sequence.
אֲשֶׁר֩whatrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Substantival relative (object of יְשַׁלֵּם)אֲשֶׁר (H834) relative particle used substantivally: 'that which he sinned away from the holy thing'.
חָטָ֨אhe has misusedQal perf 3ms · חָטָא (H2398)Predicate verb of the relative clause→ Perfective: the completed misappropriationחָטָא (H2398) 'to sin'; with מִן it carries the concrete sense of taking away from something — a sin measurable in goods, and so repayable.
מִןfromprep · מִן (H4480)Preposition of separation/sourceמִן (H4480) 'from'; what he took was taken away from the sacred sphere and must be returned to it.
הַקֹּ֜דֶשׁthe holy thingart + N m sg abs · קֹדֶשׁ (H6944)Object of the preposition מִןקֹדֶשׁ (H6944) 'holy thing'; the sacred donation whose value has been diminished by the offender's use of it.
יְשַׁלֵּ֗םhe shall make restitutionPiel impf 3ms · שָׁלַם (H7999)Predicate verb (main clause)→ Yiqtol: prescriptive obligationשָׁלַם (H7999) Piel 'to repay, make whole, restore'; built on the root of שָׁלוֹם — restitution is literally the restoring of wholeness to what was diminished.
וְאֶתand [obj]conj וְ + obj marker · אֵת (H853)Conjunction + direct-object marker (fronted object)אֵת (H853) marks the fronted 'fifth' as the definite object of יוֹסֵף.
חֲמִֽישִׁתוֹ֙its fifthN f sg constr + 3ms suff · חֲמִישִׁית (H2549)Direct object of יוֹסֵףחֲמִישִׁית (H2549) 'a fifth part', from חָמֵשׁ 'five'; a twenty-per-cent surcharge — the standard penalty for sacrilege and fraud (Lev 5:24; 22:14; 27:13).
יוֹסֵ֣ףhe shall addHiphil impf (jussive form) 3ms · יָסַף (H3254)Predicate verb (main clause)→ Yiqtol/jussive: prescriptive obligationיָסַף (H3254) Hiphil 'to add, increase'; the surcharge ensures the offender ends up poorer than if he had never sinned — restitution alone would leave him whole.
עָלָ֔יוto itprep + 3ms suff · עַל (H5921)Prepositional phrase (that to which the fifth is added)עַל (H5921) 'upon, in addition to'; the fifth is added on top of the principal.
וְנָתַ֥ןand he shall giveconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · נָתַן (H5414)Predicate verb continuing the prescription→ Weqatal: prescriptive sequenceנָתַן (H5414) 'to give'; since the wronged party is God, the restitution is handed to his representative, the priest.
אֹת֖וֹitobj marker + 3ms suff · אֵת (H853)Direct object (the restitution with its fifth)אֵת (H853) with suffix as accusative pronoun 'it'.
לַכֹּהֵ֑ןto the priestprep לְ + art + N m sg abs · כֹּהֵן (H3548)Prepositional phrase (indirect object)כֹּהֵן (H3548) 'priest'; he receives on God's behalf what was stolen from God.
וְהַכֹּהֵ֗ןand the priestconj וְ + art + N m sg abs · כֹּהֵן (H3548)Subject (fronted for emphasis)כֹּהֵן (H3548) 'priest'; the fronting shifts the spotlight from the offender's payment to the priest's mediation.
יְכַפֵּ֥רshall make atonementPiel impf 3ms · כָּפַר (H3722)Predicate verb (main clause)→ Yiqtol: prescriptive — the priest's appointed actכָּפַר (H3722) Piel 'to make atonement'; note the order — payment first, atonement second.
עָלָ֛יוfor himprep + 3ms suff · עַל (H5921)Prepositional phrase (beneficiary of atonement)עַל (H5921) 'on behalf of'; part of the idiom כִּפֶּר עַל.
בְּאֵ֥ילwith the ram ofprep בְּ + N m sg constr · אַיִל (H352)Prepositional phrase of means (construct chain)אַיִל (H352) 'ram'; the בְּ is instrumental — the ram is the means by which atonement is effected.
הָאָשָׁ֖םthe guilt offeringart + N m sg abs · אָשָׁם (H817)Genitive after בְּאֵילאָשָׁם (H817) 'guilt/reparation offering'; the definite article points back to the ram already specified in v. 15.
וְנִסְלַ֥חand he shall be forgivenconj וְ + Niphal weqatal 3ms · סָלַח (H5545)Predicate verb (passive) of the concluding clause→ Weqatal (Niphal): divine passive — the assured resultסָלַח (H5545) 'to forgive'; even sacrilege against the holy things does not fall outside the reach of this word.
לֽוֹhimprep לְ + 3ms suffPrepositional phrase (dative of the person forgiven)לְ 'to, for'; the dative of the Levitical absolution formula וְנִסְלַח לוֹ.
17

וְאִם נֶ֨פֶשׁ֙ כִּ֣י תֶֽחֱטָ֔א וְעָֽשְׂתָ֗ה אַחַת֙ מִכָּל מִצְוֺ֣ת יְהוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר לֹ֣א תֵעָשֶׂ֑ינָה וְלֹֽא יָדַ֥ע וְאָשֵׁ֖ם וְנָשָׂ֥א עֲוֺנֽוֹ

And if a person sins and does any one of the things that the LORD has commanded not to be done — though he did not know it, still he is guilty and shall bear his iniquity.

Extension of the case — guilt without knowledgeוְאִם
The hardest case in the chapter: a man who transgressed a prohibition and never learned which. וְלֹא יָדַע — 'and he did not know' — does not acquit him; the verse insists וְאָשֵׁם, 'he is guilty', and וְנָשָׂא עֲוֺנוֹ, 'he shall bear his iniquity'. Guilt here is objective, a fact about the man's standing before God rather than about his conscience, and it must still be dealt with.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
וְאִםand ifconj וְ + conj · אִם (H518)Conjunction introducing a further caseאִם (H518) 'if'; extends the אָשָׁם legislation to a case of unidentified transgression.
נֶ֨פֶשׁ֙a personN (c) sg abs · נֶפֶשׁ (H5315)Subject of the protasis (fronted)נֶפֶשׁ (H5315) 'person'; the fronting keeps the individual, not the institution, at the centre of the law.
כִּ֣יwhenconj · כִּי (H3588)Conjunction introducing the protasisכִּי (H3588) 'when, if'; paired with the preceding אִם in a doubled conditional.
תֶֽחֱטָ֔אsinsQal impf 3fs · חָטָא (H2398)Predicate verb of the protasis→ Yiqtol: hypothetical — 'should he sin'חָטָא (H2398) 'to sin, miss the mark'; feminine, agreeing with the grammatically feminine נֶפֶשׁ.
וְעָֽשְׂתָ֗הand doesconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3fs · עָשָׂה (H6213)Coordinate verb continuing the protasis→ Weqatal: continues the hypothetical caseעָשָׂה (H6213) 'to do, make'; the sin is an act, not merely a disposition.
אַחַת֙any onenumeral f sg abs · אֶחָד (H259)Direct object of וְעָשְׂתָהאֶחָד (H259) 'one'; a single infringement of a single commandment is enough to incur guilt.
מִכָּלof allprep מִן + N m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Partitive prepositional phrase (construct chain)כֹּל (H3605) 'all'; the partitive מִכָּל sweeps in the whole body of divine prohibitions.
מִצְוֺ֣תthe commandments ofN f pl constr · מִצְוָה (H4687)Genitive after מִכָּל (construct chain)מִצְוָה (H4687) 'commandment' (root צוה 'to command'); here specifically the prohibitions, the 'thou shalt nots'.
יְהוָ֔הthe LORDproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Genitive after מִצְוֺתיְהוָה (H3068); the commandments are his, so their breach is a personal affront and not a technicality.
אֲשֶׁ֖רwhichrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle modifying מִצְוֺת יְהוָהאֲשֶׁר (H834) relative particle; introduces the defining clause 'which are not to be done'.
לֹ֣אnotneg particle · לֹא (H3808)Negation of תֵעָשֶׂינָהלֹא (H3808) absolute negative; 'which are not to be done' is the standard formula for a prohibition.
תֵעָשֶׂ֑ינָהare to be doneNiphal impf 3fp · עָשָׂה (H6213)Predicate verb (passive) of the relative clause→ Yiqtol (Niphal) with לֹא: standing prohibitionעָשָׂה (H6213) Niphal 'to be done'; the impersonal passive states the prohibition without naming any doer — it simply must not happen.
וְלֹֽאand though notconj וְ + neg particle · לֹא (H3808)Concessive conjunction + negationלֹא (H3808) absolute negative; here concessive — 'even though he did not know'.
יָדַ֥עhe knewQal perf 3ms · יָדַע (H3045)Predicate verb of the concessive clause→ Perfective: the knowledge never cameיָדַע (H3045) 'to know'; ignorance mitigates the manner of the sin but not the fact of the guilt.
וְאָשֵׁ֖םyet he is guiltyconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · אָשֵׁם (H816)Predicate verb of the apodosis→ Weqatal: the verdict stands despite the ignoranceאָשֵׁם (H816) 'to incur guilt'; the whole weight of the verse falls on this word — guilt is a status, not a feeling.
וְנָשָׂ֥אand shall bearconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · נָשָׂא (H5375)Predicate verb continuing the apodosis→ Weqatal: the consequence he must carryנָשָׂא (H5375) 'to lift, bear, carry'; נָשָׂא עָוֺן — to shoulder the liability of one's guilt, exactly as in v. 1.
עֲוֺנֽוֹhis iniquityN (c) sg constr + 3ms suff · עָוֺן (H5771)Direct object of וְנָשָׂאעָוֺן (H5771) 'iniquity, guilt, punishment'; the repetition of v. 1's phrase forms an inclusio binding the chapter's two halves together.
18

וְ֠הֵבִיא אַ֣יִל תָּמִ֧ים מִן הַצֹּ֛אן בְּעֶרְכְּךָ֥ לְאָשָׁ֖ם אֶל הַכֹּהֵ֑ן וְכִפֶּר֩ עָלָ֨יו הַכֹּהֵ֜ן עַ֣ל שִׁגְגָת֧וֹ אֲשֶׁר שָׁגָ֛ג וְה֥וּא לֹֽא יָדַ֖ע וְנִסְלַ֥ח לֽוֹ

He shall bring to the priest a ram without blemish from the flock, by your valuation, as a guilt offering. And the priest shall make atonement for him for the error he committed unwittingly, though he did not know it, and he shall be forgiven.

Apodosis — the remedy for unknown guiltוְ
The remedy for the unknown sin is the same ram at the same valuation. There is no restitution clause here, because nothing identifiable was taken; there is only the sacrifice. And the same forgiveness follows: וְנִסְלַח לוֹ. The law thus provides for the conscience that senses guilt without being able to name it.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
וְ֠הֵבִיאand he shall bringconj וְ + Hiphil weqatal 3ms · בּוֹא (H935)Predicate verb of the apodosis→ Weqatal: prescriptive apodosisבּוֹא (H935) Hiphil 'to bring'; the man who cannot name his sin still brings the same costly ram.
אַ֣יִלa ramN m sg abs · אַיִל (H352)Direct object of וְהֵבִיאאַיִל (H352) 'ram'; the fixed animal of the אָשָׁם, admitting no cheaper substitute.
תָּמִ֧יםwithout blemishadj m sg abs · תָּמִים (H8549)Attributive adjective modifying אַיִלתָּמִים (H8549) 'unblemished, whole'; what is offered for a flawed man must itself be flawless.
מִןfromprep · מִן (H4480)Partitive prepositionמִן (H4480) 'from'; the animal comes out of the offerer's own flock.
הַצֹּ֛אןthe flockart + N (c) sg abs · צֹאן (H6629)Object of מִן (partitive)צֹאן (H6629) 'flock'; sheep and goats together.
בְּעֶרְכְּךָ֥by your valuationprep בְּ + N m sg constr + 2ms suff · עֵרֶךְ (H6187)Prepositional phrase of standardעֵרֶךְ (H6187) 'assessment, valuation'; the ram must meet the official minimum worth, so that the offering cannot be quietly downgraded.
לְאָשָׁ֖םas a guilt offeringprep לְ + N m sg abs · אָשָׁם (H817)Prepositional phrase of purpose/productאָשָׁם (H817) 'guilt/reparation offering'; the לְ of product — the ram becomes the אָשָׁם.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Preposition of directionאֶל (H413) 'to'; the offering is delivered into the priest's hands.
הַכֹּהֵ֑ןthe priestart + N m sg abs · כֹּהֵן (H3548)Object of the preposition אֶלכֹּהֵן (H3548) 'priest'; the offering must pass through the appointed mediator.
וְכִפֶּר֩and shall make atonementconj וְ + Piel weqatal 3ms · כָּפַר (H3722)Predicate verb (priestly action)→ Weqatal: the culminating priestly actכָּפַר (H3722) Piel 'to make atonement, purge'; atonement covers even the sin whose name is unknown.
עָלָ֨יוfor himprep + 3ms suff · עַל (H5921)Prepositional phrase (beneficiary of atonement)עַל (H5921) 'on behalf of'; part of the idiom כִּפֶּר עַל.
הַכֹּהֵ֜ןthe priestart + N m sg abs · כֹּהֵן (H3548)Subject of וְכִפֶּרכֹּהֵן (H3548) 'priest'; the subject of every atoning verb in the chapter.
עַ֣לforprep · עַל (H5921)Preposition of causeעַל (H5921) 'on account of'; names the inadvertence that occasioned the offering.
שִׁגְגָת֧וֹhis errorN f sg constr + 3ms suff · שְׁגָגָה (H7684)Object of the preposition עַלשְׁגָגָה (H7684) 'inadvertent error'; the noun and its cognate verb שָׁגַג stand side by side here, a Hebrew way of saying 'the straying with which he strayed'.
אֲשֶׁרwhichrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle modifying שִׁגְגָתוֹאֲשֶׁר (H834) relative particle; introduces the cognate clause 'which he strayed'.
שָׁגָ֛גhe strayedQal perf 3ms · שָׁגַג (H7683)Predicate verb of the relative clause→ Perfective: the completed strayingשָׁגַג (H7683) 'to go astray, err inadvertently'; the picture is of a man wandering off the path without noticing that he has left it.
וְה֥וּאthough heconj וְ + pron 3ms · הוּא (H1931)Subject of the concessive circumstantial clauseהוּא (H1931) 3ms pronoun; the fronted pronoun makes the clause concessive — 'and he, for his part, did not know'.
לֹֽאnotneg particle · לֹא (H3808)Negation of יָדַעלֹא (H3808) absolute negative; his ignorance is genuine, and the law knows it.
יָדַ֖עdid knowQal perf 3ms · יָדַע (H3045)Predicate verb of the concessive clause→ Perfective: the knowledge was never hisיָדַע (H3045) 'to know'; the offering is provided precisely for the guilt a man cannot itemize.
וְנִסְלַ֥חand he shall be forgivenconj וְ + Niphal weqatal 3ms · סָלַח (H5545)Predicate verb (passive) of the concluding clause→ Weqatal (Niphal): divine passive — the assured resultסָלַח (H5545) 'to forgive'; the refrain reaches even the man who cannot say what he did wrong.
לֽוֹhimprep לְ + 3ms suffPrepositional phrase (dative of the person forgiven)לְ 'to, for'; the dative of the absolution formula וְנִסְלַח לוֹ.
19

אָשָׁ֖ם ה֑וּא אָשֹׁ֥ם אָשַׁ֖ם לַיהוָֽה

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

Declaratory summary of the sectionasyndeton
An emphatic closing formula. The infinitive absolute construction אָשֹׁם אָשַׁם — 'he has surely become guilty' — hammers the point that the ignorance of vv. 17-18 does not empty the guilt of reality. The verse also names the offering: אָשָׁם הוּא, sealing the section as it began.
Word-by-word analysis· 5 words
אָשָׁ֖םa guilt offeringN m sg abs · אָשָׁם (H817)Predicate nominative of the declaratory formulaאָשָׁם (H817) 'guilt/reparation offering'; the declaratory אָשָׁם הוּא fixes the sacrifice's legal category.
ה֑וּאit ispron 3ms · הוּא (H1931)Subject of the verbless declaratory clauseהוּא (H1931) 3ms pronoun serving as copula — 'it is a guilt offering'.
אָשֹׁ֥םsurelyQal inf abs · אָשֵׁם (H816)Infinitive absolute intensifying the finite verb→ Emphatic: the infinitive absolute strengthens the assertionאָשֵׁם (H816) 'to incur guilt'; the infinitive absolute placed before its cognate finite verb is Hebrew's way of underlining — 'he is guilty, guilty indeed'.
אָשַׁ֖םhe has incurred guiltQal perf 3ms · אָשֵׁם (H816)Predicate verb (main clause)→ Perfective, intensified: the guilt is an accomplished factאָשֵׁם (H816) 'to be guilty'; the finite verb completes the emphatic construction with אָשֹׁם.
לַיהוָֽהbefore the LORDprep לְ + proper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Prepositional phrase (the one against whom guilt is incurred)יְהוָה (H3068); guilt is finally not a social liability but a personal one — it is incurred toward him.
20

וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה אֶל מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:

New divine speech — major section breakוַ
NOTE ON VERSIFICATION: in the MT, Leviticus 5 runs to twenty-six verses, and this speech formula opens MT 5:20 = English 6:1. English Bibles (following the Vulgate) begin a new chapter here, so that MT 5:20-26 = English 6:1-7. The Hebrew chapter division is the better reading of the argument: the same speech-formula that opened v. 14 opens this section, and the אָשָׁם legislation of vv. 14-19 and vv. 20-26 belongs together as one law with two halves — sacrilege against God's holy things, then sacrilege against God committed through fraud against a neighbor.
Word-by-word analysis· 5 words
וַיְדַבֵּ֥רand he spokeconj וַ + Piel wayyiqtol 3ms · דָּבַר (H1696)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence (main clause)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — a new speech beginsדָּבַר (H1696) Piel 'to speak'; the repeated formula marks the second half of the אָשָׁם law, which English Bibles print as Lev 6:1.
יְהוָ֖הthe LORDproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Subject of וַיְדַבֵּריְהוָה (H3068), the covenant name; that God himself legislates about a stolen deposit is the whole point of what follows.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Preposition of direction (addressee)אֶל (H413) 'to'; marks the recipient of the divine speech.
מֹשֶׁ֥הMosesproper noun · מֹשֶׁה (H4872)Object of the preposition אֶלמֹשֶׁה (H4872) 'Moses'; the mediator through whom even the commercial law of Israel is given.
לֵּאמֹֽרsayingprep לְ + Qal inf constr · אָמַר (H559)Infinitive introducing direct speech→ Infinitival: quotative — opens the quoted wordsאָמַר (H559) 'to say'; לֵאמֹר is the fixed quotation marker of Hebrew narrative.
21

נֶ֚פֶשׁ כִּ֣י תֶחֱטָ֔א וּמָעֲלָ֥ה מַ֖עַל בַּיהוָ֑ה וְכִחֵ֨שׁ בַּעֲמִית֜וֹ בְּפִקָּד֗וֹן אֽוֹ בִתְשׂ֤וּמֶת יָד֙ א֣וֹ בְגָזֵ֔ל א֖וֹ עָשַׁ֥ק אֶת עֲמִיתֽוֹ

If a person sins and commits a breach of faith against the LORD by deceiving his neighbor about a deposit or a pledge, or by robbery, or if he has defrauded his neighbor,

Casuistic protasis — fraud against a neighborasyndeton
The theological hinge of the whole chapter: cheating a neighbor is defined as מַעַל בַּיהוָה, treachery against the LORD. The fraud is horizontal, but because it was sealed with a false oath in God's name (v. 22), it strikes vertically. There is no such thing here as a purely private wrong.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
נֶ֚פֶשׁif a personN (c) sg abs · נֶפֶשׁ (H5315)Subject of the casuistic protasis (fronted)נֶפֶשׁ (H5315) 'person'; the same word that opened the chapter opens its final movement.
כִּ֣יwhenconj · כִּי (H3588)Conjunction introducing the casuistic protasisכִּי (H3588) 'when, if'; opens the final case of the chapter.
תֶחֱטָ֔אsinsQal impf 3fs · חָטָא (H2398)Predicate verb of the protasis→ Yiqtol: hypothetical — 'should he sin'חָטָא (H2398) 'to sin'; the general verb, immediately specified by the far sharper מָעַל.
וּמָעֲלָ֥הand commitsconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3fs · מָעַל (H4603)Coordinate verb continuing the protasis→ Weqatal: continues the hypothetical caseמָעַל (H4603) 'to act treacherously, commit sacrilege'; the verb of v. 15 returns — but now the property misused belongs to a neighbor, and God calls that treachery against himself.
מַ֖עַלa breach of faithN m sg abs · מַעַל (H4604)Cognate accusative of וּמָעֲלָהמַעַל (H4604) 'treachery, sacrilege'; the cognate accusative gives the phrase its full weight — a deliberate act of unfaithfulness.
בַּיהוָ֑הagainst the LORDprep בְּ + proper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Prepositional phrase (the party wronged)יְהוָה (H3068); the astonishing claim of the verse — a swindled neighbor means a betrayed God. Compare Nathan's word to David (2 Sam 12:9) and Peter's to Ananias (Acts 5:4).
וְכִחֵ֨שׁand he deceivesconj וְ + Piel weqatal 3ms · כָּחַשׁ (H3584)Coordinate verb specifying the treachery→ Weqatal: continues the case — the concrete form the treachery takesכָּחַשׁ (H3584) Piel 'to deceive, deny, lie'; the man denies holding what he holds — the lie is the mechanism of the theft.
בַּעֲמִית֜וֹhis neighborprep בְּ + N m sg constr + 3ms suff · עָמִית (H5997)Prepositional object of וְכִחֵשׁעָמִית (H5997) 'associate, fellow, neighbor'; a term of Leviticus (19:11, 15, 17) for the fellow-member of the covenant community — one to whom you are bound.
בְּפִקָּד֗וֹןabout a depositprep בְּ + N m sg abs · פִּקָּדוֹן (H6487)Prepositional phrase of respect (the matter denied)פִּקָּדוֹן (H6487) 'deposit, something entrusted' (root פקד 'to entrust, attend to'); property left with a neighbor for safekeeping — betrayal at its most intimate, since there are no witnesses but the two of them and God.
אֽוֹorconj · אוֹ (H176)Disjunctive conjunctionאוֹ (H176) 'or'; the first of a catalogue of commercial frauds.
בִתְשׂ֤וּמֶתabout a pledge ofprep בְּ + N f sg constr · תְּשׂוּמֶת (H8667)Prepositional phrase (construct chain with יָד)תְּשׂוּמֶת (H8667) 'a putting, deposit' (root שׂים 'to place'); תְּשׂוּמֶת יָד, literally 'a placing of the hand', is a security or pledge handed over in a business arrangement.
יָד֙the handN (c) sg abs · יָד (H3027)Genitive after בִתְשׂוּמֶתיָד (H3027) 'hand'; in this idiom, the hand that receives the pledge — and, in the fraud, refuses to give it back.
א֣וֹorconj · אוֹ (H176)Disjunctive conjunctionאוֹ (H176) 'or'; the catalogue moves from breach of trust to open violence.
בְגָזֵ֔לby robberyprep בְּ + N m sg abs · גָּזֵל (H1498)Prepositional phrase of meansגָּזֵל (H1498) 'robbery, plunder' (root גזל 'to tear away, seize'); theft by force, as against the covert fraud of the deposit.
א֖וֹorconj · אוֹ (H176)Disjunctive conjunctionאוֹ (H176) 'or'; introduces the last item of the list.
עָשַׁ֥קhe has defraudedQal perf 3ms · עָשַׁק (H6231)Predicate verb of the disjunctive clause→ Perfective: the completed act of extortionעָשַׁק (H6231) 'to oppress, extort, defraud'; the prophets' word for the strong squeezing the weak — withheld wages, rigged scales (Deut 24:14; Mic 2:2).
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (definite object)
עֲמִיתֽוֹhis neighborN m sg constr + 3ms suff · עָמִית (H5997)Direct object of עָשַׁקעָמִית (H5997) 'fellow, neighbor'; the repetition frames the list — every one of these frauds is done to a brother.
22

אֽוֹ מָצָ֧א אֲבֵדָ֛ה וְכִ֥חֶשׁ בָּ֖הּ וְנִשְׁבַּ֣ע עַל שָׁ֑קֶר עַל אַחַ֗ת מִכֹּ֛ל אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה הָאָדָ֖ם לַחֲטֹ֥א בָהֵֽנָּה

or has found something lost and lied about it and sworn falsely — in any one of all the things that a man may do and so sin by them:

Continuation of the protasis — the false oathאוֹ
The final item completes the picture and explains the theology of v. 21: the man swears falsely (וְנִשְׁבַּע עַל שָׁקֶר), calling God to witness a lie. That is what turns a property dispute into מַעַל against the LORD. The summary clause 'in any one of all the things a man may do' closes the list against evasion.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
אֽוֹorconj · אוֹ (H176)Disjunctive conjunction continuing the protasisאוֹ (H176) 'or'; adds the final and most telling item to the catalogue.
מָצָ֧אhe has foundQal perf 3ms · מָצָא (H4672)Predicate verb of the disjunctive clause→ Perfective: the finding is a completed factמָצָא (H4672) 'to find'; finding lost property is not itself a sin — keeping it and denying it is (cf. Deut 22:1-3).
אֲבֵדָ֛הa lost thingN f sg abs · אֲבֵדָה (H9)Direct object of מָצָאאֲבֵדָה (H9) 'a lost thing' (root אבד 'to perish, be lost'); the object whose true owner is unknown to everyone but the finder — and God.
וְכִ֥חֶשׁand has liedconj וְ + Piel weqatal 3ms · כָּחַשׁ (H3584)Coordinate verb continuing the clause→ Weqatal: the denial follows the findingכָּחַשׁ (H3584) Piel 'to deny, deceive'; the sin is not in the finding but in the denying.
בָּ֖הּabout itprep בְּ + 3fs suffPrepositional phrase (the matter of the denial)בְּ 'in, about'; the 3fs suffix refers to the אֲבֵדָה, the lost object he denies having.
וְנִשְׁבַּ֣עand has swornconj וְ + Niphal weqatal 3ms · שָׁבַע (H7650)Coordinate verb continuing the clause→ Weqatal: the oath seals the lieשָׁבַע (H7650) Niphal 'to swear'; the false oath drags the divine name into the fraud, and this is precisely what makes it מַעַל בַּיהוָה.
עַלtoprep · עַל (H5921)Preposition introducing the content of the oathעַל (H5921) 'concerning, to'; נִשְׁבַּע עַל שָׁקֶר = 'to swear to a falsehood'.
שָׁ֑קֶרa falsehoodN m sg abs · שֶׁקֶר (H8267)Object of the preposition עַלשֶׁקֶר (H8267) 'falsehood, lie, deception'; the word of the ninth commandment (Exod 20:16) and of the prophets' charge against false witnesses.
עַלinprep · עַל (H5921)Preposition of respect (summarizing phrase)עַל (H5921) 'concerning'; opens the summarizing clause that gathers the whole list.
אַחַ֗תany onenumeral f sg abs · אֶחָד (H259)Object of the preposition עַלאֶחָד (H259) 'one'; a single item from the list is enough to trigger the whole procedure.
מִכֹּ֛לof allprep מִן + N m sg abs · כֹּל (H3605)Partitive prepositional phraseכֹּל (H3605) 'all'; the partitive closes every loophole the list might have left open.
אֲשֶׁרthatrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle introducing the generalizing clauseאֲשֶׁר (H834) relative particle; 'whatever a man may do' — the law refuses to be out-thought by ingenuity.
יַעֲשֶׂ֥הmay doQal impf 3ms · עָשָׂה (H6213)Predicate verb of the relative clause→ Yiqtol: generalizing/potential — 'whatever he might do'עָשָׂה (H6213) 'to do'; the potential force makes the ruling exhaustive rather than merely illustrative.
הָאָדָ֖םa manart + N m sg abs · אָדָם (H120)Subject of יַעֲשֶׂהאָדָם (H120) 'human being'; with the generic article — anyone at all, of any station.
לַחֲטֹ֥אso as to sinprep לְ + Qal inf constr · חָטָא (H2398)Infinitive of result→ Infinitival: result — 'and thereby incur sin'חָטָא (H2398) 'to sin'; the infinitive of result — these acts do not merely accompany sin, they constitute it.
בָהֵֽנָּהby themprep בְּ + pron 3fp · הֵנָּה (H2007)Prepositional phrase (means of the sin)הֵנָּה (H2007) 'they' (fem. pl.); refers back to the catalogue of fraudulent acts as the instruments by which the sin is committed.
23

וְהָיָה֮ כִּֽי יֶחֱטָ֣א וְאָשֵׁם֒ וְהֵשִׁ֨יב אֶת הַגְּזֵלָ֜ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר גָּזָ֗ל א֤וֹ אֶת הָעֹ֨שֶׁק֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׁ֔ק א֚וֹ אֶת הַפִּקָּד֔וֹן אֲשֶׁ֥ר הָפְקַ֖ד אִתּ֑וֹ א֥וֹ אֶת הָאֲבֵדָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר מָצָֽא

then it shall be, when he has sinned and become guilty, that he shall restore what he took by robbery, or what he got by extortion, or the deposit that was entrusted to him, or the lost thing that he found,

Apodosis — restitution comes firstוְהָיָה
וְהָיָה כִּי pivots from case to remedy, exactly as in v. 5. The first movement of repentance is not toward the altar but toward the victim: וְהֵשִׁיב, 'he shall restore'. Each of the four frauds is answered by returning the very thing taken — the verse lingers item by item, refusing the abstraction that would let a man settle up in general terms.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
וְהָיָה֮and it shall beconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · הָיָה (H1961)Predicate verb introducing the apodosis-frame→ Weqatal: legal 'and it shall come about' — pivots to the rulingהָיָה (H1961) 'to be, come to pass'; וְהָיָה כִּי is the stock formula of transition from case to prescription, as in v. 5.
כִּֽיwhenconj · כִּי (H3588)Conjunction introducing the temporal clauseכִּי (H3588) 'when'; the moment guilt is established is the moment restitution falls due.
יֶחֱטָ֣אhe sinsQal impf 3ms · חָטָא (H2398)Predicate verb of the temporal clause→ Yiqtol: contingent — 'whenever he sins'חָטָא (H2398) 'to sin'; the general term, here concretely embodied in fraud.
וְאָשֵׁם֒and becomes guiltyconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · אָשֵׁם (H816)Coordinate verb continuing the temporal clause→ Weqatal: the resulting liabilityאָשֵׁם (H816) 'to incur guilt'; many read it here as 'realizes his guilt' — the point at which conscience catches up with the deed.
וְהֵשִׁ֨יבthen he shall restoreconj וְ + Hiphil weqatal 3ms · שׁוּב (H7725)Predicate verb of the apodosis→ Weqatal: prescriptive — the first obligation of the guiltyשׁוּב (H7725) 'to turn, return'; Hiphil 'to bring back, restore'. The verb of repentance is also the verb of restitution — in Hebrew, turning back to God and handing back the goods are the same motion.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (definite object)
הַגְּזֵלָ֜הthe stolen propertyart + N f sg abs · גְּזֵלָה (H1500)Direct object of וְהֵשִׁיבגְּזֵלָה (H1500) 'that which is taken by robbery'; the concrete object, not its cash value — Ezekiel makes returning it the mark of the righteous man (Ezek 33:15).
אֲשֶׁ֣רwhichrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle modifying הַגְּזֵלָהאֲשֶׁר (H834) relative particle; each item is pinned to the deed that produced it.
גָּזָ֗לhe robbedQal perf 3ms · גָּזַל (H1497)Predicate verb of the relative clause→ Perfective: the completed robberyגָּזַל (H1497) 'to tear away, seize, rob'; a cognate accusative construction with גְּזֵלָה — 'the robbery he robbed'.
א֤וֹorconj · אוֹ (H176)Disjunctive conjunctionאוֹ (H176) 'or'; the restitution list mirrors the fraud list of vv. 21-22 item for item.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (definite object)
הָעֹ֨שֶׁק֙the extorted thingart + N m sg abs · עֹשֶׁק (H6233)Direct object of וְהֵשִׁיבעֹשֶׁק (H6233) 'extortion, that which is gained by oppression'; the profit squeezed out of a weaker party.
אֲשֶׁ֣רwhichrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle modifying הָעֹשֶׁקאֲשֶׁר (H834) relative particle; again binding the object to the act.
עָשָׁ֔קhe extortedQal perf 3ms · עָשַׁק (H6231)Predicate verb of the relative clause→ Perfective: the completed extortionעָשַׁק (H6231) 'to oppress, defraud'; another cognate accusative — 'the extortion he extorted'.
א֚וֹorconj · אוֹ (H176)Disjunctive conjunctionאוֹ (H176) 'or'; the third item of the restitution list.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (definite object)
הַפִּקָּד֔וֹןthe depositart + N m sg abs · פִּקָּדוֹן (H6487)Direct object of וְהֵשִׁיבפִּקָּדוֹן (H6487) 'deposit, entrusted goods'; property that was never his, only lodged with him.
אֲשֶׁ֥רwhichrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle modifying הַפִּקָּדוֹןאֲשֶׁר (H834) relative particle; introduces the passive clause describing how the deposit came to him.
הָפְקַ֖דwas entrustedHophal perf 3ms · פָּקַד (H6485)Predicate verb (passive) of the relative clause→ Perfective (Hophal): a completed act done to him — the trust was placed in his handsפָּקַד (H6485) 'to attend to, appoint, entrust'; Hophal 'to be deposited, committed'. The rare passive stresses that he did nothing to acquire it — it was simply given into his keeping.
אִתּ֑וֹwith himprep + 3ms suff · אֵת (H854)Prepositional phrase of accompanimentאֵת (H854) 'with'; the goods were placed 'with him' — a phrase that quietly indicts the man who then behaved as their owner.
א֥וֹorconj · אוֹ (H176)Disjunctive conjunctionאוֹ (H176) 'or'; the last item of the restitution list.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (definite object)
הָאֲבֵדָ֖הthe lost thingart + N f sg abs · אֲבֵדָה (H9)Direct object of וְהֵשִׁיבאֲבֵדָה (H9) 'lost property'; the article points back to v. 22 — the very object he swore he had never seen.
אֲשֶׁ֥רwhichrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle modifying הָאֲבֵדָהאֲשֶׁר (H834) relative particle; the fourth and final binding of object to deed.
מָצָֽאhe foundQal perf 3ms · מָצָא (H4672)Predicate verb of the relative clause→ Perfective: the completed findingמָצָא (H4672) 'to find'; what was found by chance must be returned by law.
24

א֠וֹ מִכֹּ֞ל אֲשֶׁר יִשָּׁבַ֣ע עָלָיו֮ לַשֶּׁקֶר֒ וְשִׁלַּ֤ם אֹתוֹ֙ בְּרֹאשׁ֔וֹ וַחֲמִשִׁתָ֖יו יֹסֵ֣ף עָלָ֑יו לַאֲשֶׁ֨ר ה֥וּא ל֛וֹ יִתְּנֶ֖נּוּ בְּי֥וֹם אַשְׁמָתֽוֹ

or anything about which he has sworn falsely — he shall repay it in full, its principal, and add to it a fifth of its value; he shall give it to its owner on the day he is found guilty.

Terms of restitution — principal plus a fifthאוֹ
The arithmetic of repentance: the principal (בְּרֹאשׁוֹ, 'at its head', i.e. the capital sum) plus twenty per cent, paid to the owner — not to the sanctuary — and paid בְּיוֹם אַשְׁמָתוֹ, on the very day guilt is established. There is no interval in which a man may be forgiven while still holding his neighbor's property. Zacchaeus's fourfold restitution (Luke 19:8) is this law's logic carried to generosity.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
א֠וֹorconj · אוֹ (H176)Disjunctive conjunction (summarizing item)אוֹ (H176) 'or'; gathers up any case not explicitly listed.
מִכֹּ֞לof anythingprep מִן + N m sg abs · כֹּל (H3605)Partitive prepositional phraseכֹּל (H3605) 'all, anything'; the catch-all that makes the ruling comprehensive.
אֲשֶׁרabout whichrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle (resumed by עָלָיו)אֲשֶׁר (H834) relative particle; resumed by the suffix on עָלָיו — 'anything concerning which he swore'.
יִשָּׁבַ֣עhe swearsNiphal impf 3ms · שָׁבַע (H7650)Predicate verb of the relative clause→ Yiqtol (Niphal): generalizing — 'whatever he may swear about'שָׁבַע (H7650) Niphal 'to swear'; the false oath is the common thread of every case in this section.
עָלָיו֮concerning itprep + 3ms suff · עַל (H5921)Resumptive prepositional phraseעַל (H5921) 'concerning'; resumes the relative אֲשֶׁר.
לַשֶּׁקֶר֒falselyprep לְ + art + N m sg abs · שֶׁקֶר (H8267)Prepositional phrase of mannerשֶׁקֶר (H8267) 'falsehood'; לַשֶּׁקֶר, 'to the lie' — swearing in the service of a falsehood, the sin of the third commandment (Exod 20:7).
וְשִׁלַּ֤םthen he shall repayconj וְ + Piel weqatal 3ms · שָׁלַם (H7999)Predicate verb of the apodosis→ Weqatal: prescriptive — the debt must be settledשָׁלַם (H7999) Piel 'to repay, make whole'; the root of שָׁלוֹם — peace is restored by making the injured party whole.
אֹתוֹ֙itobj marker + 3ms suff · אֵת (H853)Direct object of וְשִׁלַּםאֵת (H853) with suffix as accusative pronoun 'it' — the thing wrongfully held.
בְּרֹאשׁ֔וֹin its principalprep בְּ + N m sg constr + 3ms suff · רֹאשׁ (H7218)Prepositional phrase of measureרֹאשׁ (H7218) 'head'; here in its commercial sense, the 'capital sum' or principal (compare English 'capital', from Latin caput). The full original value must be repaid, not a negotiated fraction.
וַחֲמִשִׁתָ֖יוand its fifthsconj וְ + ordinal (c) pl constr + 3ms suff · חֲמִישִׁי (H2549)Direct object of יֹסֵף (fronted)חֲמִישִׁי (H2549) 'fifth'; the plural form is idiomatic for the fractional surcharge — a fifth added to the principal, the standard twenty-per-cent penalty.
יֹסֵ֣ףhe shall addHiphil impf (jussive form) 3ms · יָסַף (H3254)Predicate verb (main clause)→ Yiqtol/jussive: prescriptive obligationיָסַף (H3254) Hiphil 'to add'; the penalty ensures that fraud costs the fraudster something, and that the victim is more than made whole.
עָלָ֑יוto itprep + 3ms suff · עַל (H5921)Prepositional phrase (that to which the fifth is added)עַל (H5921) 'upon, in addition to'; the fifth is added on top of the principal.
לַאֲשֶׁ֨רto the one to whomprep לְ + relative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Prepositional relative (indirect object)אֲשֶׁר (H834) relative particle with לְ: 'to him to whom it belongs' — the payment goes to the wronged owner, not to the shrine.
ה֥וּאitpron 3ms · הוּא (H1931)Subject of the verbless possessive clauseהוּא (H1931) 3ms pronoun; 'to whom it is his' is the Hebrew way of saying 'to its rightful owner'.
ל֛וֹbelongsprep לְ + 3ms suffPredicate of the verbless possessive clauseלְ 'to, belonging to'; the lamed of possession — 'it is his'.
יִתְּנֶ֖נּוּhe shall give itQal impf 3ms + 3ms suff · נָתַן (H5414)Predicate verb with pronominal object→ Yiqtol: prescriptive obligationנָתַן (H5414) 'to give'; the energic form with suffix ('he shall give it') — the transaction is direct, from wrongdoer to victim.
בְּי֥וֹםon the day ofprep בְּ + N m sg constr · יוֹם (H3117)Temporal prepositional phrase (construct chain)יוֹם (H3117) 'day'; the phrase fixes the deadline — restitution is made the same day the guilt is acknowledged, with no delay in which to reconsider.
אַשְׁמָתֽוֹhis guiltN f sg constr + 3ms suff · אַשְׁמָה (H819)Genitive after בְּיוֹםאַשְׁמָה (H819) 'guiltiness, guilt-offering' (cognate with אָשָׁם); 'the day of his guilt' is the day his liability is established — by confession or by conviction.
25

וְאֶת אֲשָׁמ֥וֹ יָבִ֖יא לַיהוָ֑ה אַ֣יִל תָּמִ֧ים מִן הַצֹּ֛אן בְּעֶרְכְּךָ֥ לְאָשָׁ֖ם אֶל הַכֹּהֵֽן

And he shall bring his reparation offering to the LORD: a ram without blemish from the flock, by your valuation, as a guilt offering, to the priest.

The sacrifice follows the restitutionוְ
Only now, with the neighbor paid, does the man come to the altar. The offering is word for word that of v. 15 — the same ram, the same valuation — which quietly makes the point that defrauding a neighbor is priced exactly like robbing the sanctuary.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
וְאֶתand [obj]conj וְ + obj marker · אֵת (H853)Conjunction + direct-object marker (fronted object)אֵת (H853) marks the fronted אֲשָׁמוֹ — the offering is put first in the clause, now that the debt is paid.
אֲשָׁמ֥וֹhis reparation offeringN m sg constr + 3ms suff · אָשָׁם (H817)Direct object of יָבִיא (fronted)אָשָׁם (H817) 'guilt/reparation offering'; the technical sacrifice, distinct from the restitution money already handed over in v. 24.
יָבִ֖יאhe shall bringHiphil impf 3ms · בּוֹא (H935)Predicate verb (main clause)→ Yiqtol: prescriptive obligationבּוֹא (H935) Hiphil 'to bring'; the sacrifice is brought only after the neighbor has been repaid.
לַיהוָ֑הto the LORDprep לְ + proper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Prepositional phrase (recipient of the offering)יְהוָה (H3068); the offended party in the fraud was ultimately God, and so the sacrifice is his.
אַ֣יִלa ramN m sg abs · אַיִל (H352)Apposition to אֲשָׁמוֹאַיִל (H352) 'ram'; the fixed animal of the אָשָׁם, identical to v. 15 and v. 18.
תָּמִ֧יםwithout blemishadj m sg abs · תָּמִים (H8549)Attributive adjective modifying אַיִלתָּמִים (H8549) 'unblemished, whole'; the man who cheated on quality may not cheat here.
מִןfromprep · מִן (H4480)Partitive prepositionמִן (H4480) 'from'; the ram comes out of his own flock, at his own cost.
הַצֹּ֛אןthe flockart + N (c) sg abs · צֹאן (H6629)Object of מִן (partitive)צֹאן (H6629) 'flock'; sheep and goats together.
בְּעֶרְכְּךָ֥by your valuationprep בְּ + N m sg constr + 2ms suff · עֵרֶךְ (H6187)Prepositional phrase of standardעֵרֶךְ (H6187) 'assessment, valuation'; the ram must meet the official worth — a defrauder is not allowed to economize on his own atonement.
לְאָשָׁ֖םas a guilt offeringprep לְ + N m sg abs · אָשָׁם (H817)Prepositional phrase of purpose/productאָשָׁם (H817) 'guilt/reparation offering'; the לְ of product — the ram becomes the אָשָׁם.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Preposition of directionאֶל (H413) 'to'; the offering is delivered into the priest's hands.
הַכֹּהֵֽןthe priestart + N m sg abs · כֹּהֵן (H3548)Object of the preposition אֶלכֹּהֵן (H3548) 'priest'; the last human figure in the chain that runs from the wronged neighbor to God.
26

וְכִפֶּ֨ר עָלָ֧יו הַכֹּהֵ֛ן לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָ֖ה וְנִסְלַ֣ח ל֑וֹ עַל אַחַ֛ת מִכֹּ֥ל אֲשֶֽׁר יַעֲשֶׂ֖ה לְאַשְׁמָ֥ה בָֽהּ

And the priest shall make atonement for him before the LORD, and he shall be forgiven for any one of all the things he may have done to incur guilt by it.

Conclusion — atonement and forgivenessוְ
The chapter ends where each of its movements ended: וְנִסְלַח לוֹ. The last word of the law about the swindler is not the fifth he must add, nor the ram he must buy, but the forgiveness he may receive. Restitution and sacrifice together — the neighbor made whole and God approached — issue in a pardon that covers 'any one of all the things' a man may have done.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
וְכִפֶּ֨רand shall make atonementconj וְ + Piel weqatal 3ms · כָּפַר (H3722)Predicate verb (priestly action)→ Weqatal: the culminating priestly act of the chapterכָּפַר (H3722) Piel 'to make atonement, purge, ransom'; the last of the chapter's seven occurrences, and the one that covers the swindler.
עָלָ֧יוfor himprep + 3ms suff · עַל (H5921)Prepositional phrase (beneficiary of atonement)עַל (H5921) 'on behalf of'; part of the fixed idiom כִּפֶּר עַל.
הַכֹּהֵ֛ןthe priestart + N m sg abs · כֹּהֵן (H3548)Subject of וְכִפֶּרכֹּהֵן (H3548) 'priest'; the mediator, whose act stands between the man's repayment and God's pardon.
לִפְנֵ֥יbeforeprep לְ + N (c) pl constr · פָּנִים (H6440)Prepositional phrase of place (construct chain)פָּנִים (H6440) 'face' (always plural); לִפְנֵי, 'before the face of', is the standard idiom for 'in the presence of'. The transaction is transacted in the open, under God's own eyes.
יְהוָ֖הthe LORDproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Genitive after לִפְנֵייְהוָה (H3068); the man who once swore falsely in this name now stands openly before it and is forgiven.
וְנִסְלַ֣חand he shall be forgivenconj וְ + Niphal weqatal 3ms · סָלַח (H5545)Predicate verb (passive) of the concluding clause→ Weqatal (Niphal): divine passive — the last word of the chapter's lawסָלַח (H5545) 'to forgive'; the fifth and final וְנִסְלַח לוֹ of the chapter (vv. 10, 13, 16, 18, 26). Leviticus 5 is a catalogue of guilt that ends, every single time, in pardon.
ל֑וֹhimprep לְ + 3ms suffPrepositional phrase (dative of the person forgiven)לְ 'to, for'; the dative of the absolution formula — the pardon is spoken over this particular man.
עַלforprep · עַל (H5921)Preposition of respectעַל (H5921) 'concerning, for'; names the offenses that the forgiveness covers.
אַחַ֛תany onenumeral f sg abs · אֶחָד (H259)Object of the preposition עַלאֶחָד (H259) 'one'; the same phrase that gathered the sins now gathers the forgiveness.
מִכֹּ֥לof allprep מִן + N m sg abs · כֹּל (H3605)Partitive prepositional phraseכֹּל (H3605) 'all'; the pardon is as comprehensive as the catalogue of crimes was.
אֲשֶֽׁרthatrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle introducing the generalizing clauseאֲשֶׁר (H834) relative particle; 'whatever he may do' — the last generalization of the chapter.
יַעֲשֶׂ֖הhe may doQal impf 3ms · עָשָׂה (H6213)Predicate verb of the relative clause→ Yiqtol: generalizing/potential — 'whatever he might do'עָשָׂה (H6213) 'to do'; the potential force leaves no deed outside the reach of the remedy.
לְאַשְׁמָ֥הso as to incur guiltprep לְ + N f sg abs · אַשְׁמָה (H819)Prepositional phrase of resultאַשְׁמָה (H819) 'guiltiness'; the לְ of result — the deed issues in guilt. The chapter's final noun is guilt, and its final verb is 'forgiven'.
בָֽהּby itprep בְּ + 3fs suffPrepositional phrase (means of incurring guilt)בְּ 'in, by'; the 3fs suffix refers back to the deed done — guilt is incurred 'by it', in the doing of the thing itself.