Skip to content
Logo Devotion Header

Leviticus 6 The Laws of Restitution

1 The Lord said to Moses:

2 “If anyone sins and is unfaithful to the Lord by deceiving his neighbor about something entrusted to him or left in his care or stolen, or if he cheats him,

3 or if he finds lost property and lies about it, or if he swears falsely, or if he commits any such sin that people may do—

4 when he thus sins and becomes guilty, he must return what he has stolen or taken by extortion, or what was entrusted to him, or the lost property he found,

5 or whatever it was he swore falsely about. He must make restitution in full, add a fifth of the value to it and give it all to the owner on the day he presents his guilt offering.

6 And as a penalty he must bring to the priest, that is, to the Lord, his guilt offering, a ram from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value.

7 In this way the priest will make atonement for him before the Lord, and he will be forgiven for any of these things he did that made him guilty.”

8 The Burnt Offering
The Lord said to Moses:

9 “Give Aaron and his sons this command: ‘These are the regulations for the burnt offering: The burnt offering is to remain on the altar hearth throughout the night, till morning, and the fire must be kept burning on the altar.

10 The priest shall then put on his linen clothes, with linen undergarments next to his body, and shall remove the ashes of the burnt offering that the fire has consumed on the altar and place them beside the altar.

11 Then he is to take off these clothes and put on others, and carry the ashes outside the camp to a place that is ceremonially clean.

12 The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out. Every morning the priest is to add firewood and arrange the burnt offering on the fire and burn the fat of the fellowship offerings on it.

13 The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out.

14 The Grain Offering
“‘These are the regulations for the grain offering: Aaron’s sons are to bring it before the Lord, in front of the altar.

15 The priest is to take a handful of fine flour and oil, together with all the incense on the grain offering, and burn the memorial portion on the altar as an aroma pleasing to the Lord.

16 Aaron and his sons shall eat the rest of it, but it is to be eaten without yeast in a holy place; they are to eat it in the courtyard of the Tent of Meeting.

17 It must not be baked with yeast; I have given it as their share of the offerings made to me by fire. Like the sin offering and the guilt offering, it is most holy.

18 Any male descendant of Aaron may eat it. It is his regular share of the offerings made to the Lord by fire for the generations to come. Whatever touches them will become holy.’”

19 The Lord also said to Moses,

20 “This is the offering Aaron and his sons are to bring to the Lord on the day he is anointed: a tenth of an ephah of fine flour as a regular grain offering, half of it in the morning and half in the evening.

21 Prepare it with oil on a griddle; bring it well-mixed and present the grain offering broken in pieces as an aroma pleasing to the Lord.

22 The son who is to succeed him as anointed priest shall prepare it. It is the Lord’s regular share and is to be burned completely.

23 Every grain offering of a priest shall be burned completely; it must not be eaten.”

24 The Sin Offering
The Lord said to Moses,

25 “Say to Aaron and his sons: ‘These are the regulations for the sin offering: The sin offering is to be slaughtered before the Lord in the place the burnt offering is slaughtered; it is most holy.

26 The priest who offers it shall eat it; it is to be eaten in a holy place, in the courtyard of the Tent of Meeting.

27 Whatever touches any of the flesh will become holy, and if any of the blood is spattered on a garment, you must wash it in a holy place.

28 The clay pot the meat is cooked in must be broken; but if it is cooked in a bronze pot, the pot is to be scoured and rinsed with water.

29 Any male in a priest’s family may eat it; it is most holy.

30 But any sin offering whose blood is brought into the Tent of Meeting to make atonement in the Holy Place must not be eaten; it must be burned.

Previous Chapter Leviticus 5 Next Chapter Leviticus 7

Analysis of Leviticus Chapter 6

The Book of Leviticus is a detailed text that offers instructions and commandments regarding rituals, morals, and legalities meant to guide the Israelites in their covenant relationship with God. Chapter 6 of Leviticus is a continuation of the laws concerning offerings, focusing predominantly on the guilt offering, as well as providing supplementary instructions for sacrifices that were introduced in previous chapters.

Guilt Offering and Restitution (Leviticus 6:1-7)

This section begins with God speaking to Moses, providing specific guidelines for the guilt offering—a type of sacrifice made to atone for sins that have caused harm or loss to another person. It is important to note that the Hebrew word for guilt offering, ‘asham, implies both an action and the condition resulting from it, reflecting the comprehensive nature of this sacrificial system.

“If anyone sins and is unfaithful to the Lord by deceiving a neighbor about something entrusted to them or left in their care or about something stolen, or if they cheat their neighbor, or if they find lost property and lie about it, or if they swear falsely about any such sin that people may commit” (Leviticus 6:2-3, NIV).

This passage delineates specific sins which breach trust and cause direct harm to fellow community members. It underscores the principle that sin is not just an offense against an individual but also an act of unfaithfulness to God. The examples provided—deception, theft, false oaths—highlight the type of ethical violations that disrupt community harmony and divine relationship.

Restitution is a critical component of atonement in these verses:

“When they sin in any of these ways and realize their guilt, they must return what they have stolen or taken by extortion, or what was entrusted to them, or the lost property they found, or whatever it was they swore falsely about. They must make restitution in full, add a fifth of the value to it and give it all to the owner on the day they present their guilt offering” (Leviticus 6:4-5, NIV).

The offender is required to restore the wronged party by giving back what was wrongfully taken, plus an additional 20%, serving as a tangible acknowledgment of their wrongdoing. This emphasizes God’s requirement for justice and fairness among His people, integrating the moral and ethical implications of sin into the religious practice.

Following restitution, the sinner must then make a sacrificial guilt offering:

“And as a penalty they must bring to the priest, that is, to the Lord, their guilt offering, a ram from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value. In this way the priest will make atonement for them before the Lord, and they will be forgiven for any of the things they did that made them guilty” (Leviticus 6:6-7, NIV).

This act of sacrifice not only underscores the gravity of sin but also provides an element of divine forgiveness, mediated through the priest. It underscores the mercy inherent in God’s laws, allowing atonement and reconciliation.

Further Instructions for Offerings (Leviticus 6:8-30)

The following verses shift focus to further instructions for offerings previously discussed in preceding chapters, particularly the burnt offering, grain offering, and sin offering. These continued instructions provide clarity and amplify the importance of these rituals within the worship practices of the Israelites.

The Burnt Offering (Leviticus 6:8-13)

The burnt offering is detailed again with specific instructions regarding its perpetual nature:

“The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out. Every morning the priest is to add firewood and arrange the burnt offering on the fire and burn the fat of the fellowship offerings on it. The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out” (Leviticus 6:12-13, NIV).

This continual burning symbolizes an ongoing devotion to God. It emphasizes constancy and dedication in spiritual service. The perpetual fire can be seen as a representation of God’s eternal presence and His ceaseless worship by His people. This symbolism invites worshipers to maintain a fervent, continuous relationship with God.

The Grain Offering (Leviticus 6:14-23)

The text then delves into the specifics of the grain offering, which involves a portion being burnt as an offering to God while the remaining grain is given to the priests:

“The priest is to take a handful of the finest flour and some olive oil, together with all the incense on the grain offering, and burn the memorial portion on the altar as an aroma pleasing to the Lord. Aaron and his sons shall eat the rest of it, but it is to be eaten without yeast in the sanctuary area; they are to eat it in the courtyard of the tent of meeting” (Leviticus 6:15-16, NIV).

The grain offering denotes thanksgiving and acknowledgment of God’s provision. The requirement to consume it without yeast within the sanctuary area signifies purity and the sanctity of the religious service. The priests sharing in the offerings underscores the communal aspect of worship and sustenance within the priestly duties.

The Sin Offering (Leviticus 6:24-30)

The final section addresses the sin offering, focusing particularly on the handling of its remains:

“The sin offering is to be slaughtered before the Lord in the place the burnt offering is slaughtered; it is most holy” (Leviticus 6:25, NIV).

Its sacred nature is reiterated, distinguishing this offering from others. A sin offering highlights the gravity of sin and the holiness required in atoning for it:

“But any sin offering whose blood is brought into the tent of meeting to make atonement in the Holy Place must not be eaten; it must be burned up” (Leviticus 6:30, NIV).

This commandment signifies the ultimate sanctity and solemnness of the atonement process. Consuming the offering could defile its holy purpose, thus it is wholly dedicated to God by burning.

Theological Significance

Leviticus Chapter 6 provides a profound look into the theological and ritualistic framework of ancient Israelite religion. Several key themes emerge from this analysis:

  • Restitution and Justice: The emphasis on restitution in the guilt offering highlights God’s concern for justice and reconciliation among His people. It underscores that divine forgiveness is not separate from social responsibility.
  • Holiness and Purification: The repeated instructions for priestly conduct and the handling of offerings underscore the holiness required in approaching God. It reflects the idea that worship is to be conducted with utmost purity and reverence.
  • Divine Forgiveness: The sacrificial system, with its meticulous instructions, ultimately points towards God’s provision for forgiveness. It illustrates a structured, sacred means for atonement and reconciliation with God.
  • Continual Devotion: The perpetual nature of the burnt offering symbolizes an unwavering devotion required from God’s people, representing a continuous relationship with the divine.
  • Communal Worship: The involvement of the priests and the sharing of certain offerings signify the communal aspect of worship and service, reflecting a collective dedication to God.

By integrating these rituals and their theological principles into daily life, the Israelites were reminded of their unique relationship with God and their distinct calling to be a holy people. The sacrificial system described in Leviticus Chapter 6 thus serves not merely as a set of ancient religious practices but as a profound theological construct designed to shape a covenant community centered around holiness, justice, and divine communion.