Leviticus 5:6

5:6 and he must bring his penalty for guilt ¹  to the Lord for his sin that he has committed, a female from the flock, whether a female sheep or a female goat, for a sin offering. So the priest will make atonement ²  on his behalf for ³  his sin.

Leviticus 5:8

5:8 He must bring them to the priest and present first the one that is for a sin offering. The priest ⁴  must pinch ⁵  its head at the nape of its neck, but must not sever the head from the body. ⁶ 

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¹ tn In this context the word for “guilt” (אָשָׁם, ’asham) refers to the “penalty” for incurring guilt, the so-called consequential אָשָׁם (J. Milgrom, Leviticus [AB], 1:303; cf. the note on Lev 5:1).

² sn The focus of sin offering “atonement” was purging impurities from the tabernacle (see the note on Lev 1:4).

³ tn See the note on 4:26 regarding the use of מִן (min).

⁴ tn Heb “he.” The subject (“he”) refers to the priest here, not the offerer who presented the birds to the priest (cf. v. 8a).

⁵ sn The action seems to involve both a twisting action, breaking the neck of the bird and severing its vertebrae, as well as pinching or nipping the skin, but in this case not severing the head from the main body (note the rest of this verse).

⁶ tn Heb “he shall not divide [it]” (see J. Milgrom, Leviticus [AB], 1:305).