Leviticus 5:17-18

Unknown trespass

5:17 “If a person sins and violates any of the Lord’s commandments which must not be violated 1  (although he did not know it at the time, 2  but later realizes he is guilty), then he will bear his punishment for iniquity 3  5:18 and must bring a flawless ram from the flock, convertible into silver shekels, 4  for a guilt offering to the priest. So the priest will make atonement 5  on his behalf for his error which he committed 6  (although he himself had not known it) and he will be forgiven. 7 

Leviticus 19:20

Lying with a Slave Woman

19:20 “‘When a man has sexual intercourse with a woman, 8  although she is a slave woman designated for another man and she has not yet been ransomed, or freedom has not been granted to her, there will be an obligation to pay compensation. 9  They must not be put to death, because she was not free.

1 tn Heb “and does one from all of the commandments of the Lord which must not be done.”

2 tn The words “at the time” are not in the Hebrew text, but are implied.

3 tn Heb “and he did not know, and he shall be guilty and he shall bear his iniquity” (for the rendering “bear his punishment [for iniquity]”) see the note on Lev 5:1.) This portion of v. 17 is especially difficult. The translation offered here suggests (as in many other English versions) that the offender did not originally know that he had violated the Lord’s commandments, but then came to know it and dealt with it accordingly (cf. the corresponding sin offering section in Lev 5:1-4). Another possibility is that it refers to a situation where a person suspects that he violated something although he does not recollect it. Thus, he brings a guilt offering for his suspected violation (J. Milgrom, Leviticus [AB], 1:331-34, 361-63). See also R. E. Averbeck, NIDOTTE 1:561-62.

4 tn The statement here is condensed. See the full expression in 5:15 and the note there.

5 sn Regarding “make atonement” see the note on Lev 1:4.

6 tn Heb “on his straying which he strayed.” See the note on Lev 4:2.

7 tn Heb “there shall be forgiveness to him” or “it shall be forgiven to him” (KJV and NASB both similar).

8 tn Heb “And a man when he lies with a woman the lying of seed.”

9 sn That is, the woman had previously been assigned for marriage to another man but the marriage deal had not yet been consummated. In the meantime, the woman has lost her virginity and has, therefore, lost part of her value to the master in the sale to the man for whom she had been designated. Compensation was, therefore, required (see the explanation in B. A. Levine, Leviticus [JPSTC], 130-31).