Bible/Leviticus/5

Leviticus 5:2

5:1 And if a soul sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and is a witness, whether he hath seen or known of it; if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity.
Or if a soul touch any unclean thing, whether it be a carcase of an unclean beast, or a carcase of unclean cattle, or the carcase of unclean creeping things, and if it be hidden from him; he also shall be unclean, and guilty.

KJV

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“‘Or if anyone touches any unclean thing, whether it is the carcass of an unclean animal, or the carcass of unclean livestock, or the carcass of unclean creeping things, and it is hidden from him, and he is unclean, then he shall be guilty.

Or if a soul touch any unclean thing, whether it be a carcase of an unclean beast, or a carcase of unclean cattle, or the carcase of unclean creeping things, and if it be hidden from him; he also shall be unclean, and guilty.

Or if a soul touch any unclean thing, whether it be a carcass of an unclean beast, or a carcass of unclean cattle, or the carcass of unclean creeping things, and if it be hidden from him; he also shall be unclean, and guilty.

5:3 Or if he touch the uncleanness of man, whatsoever uncleanness it be that a man shall be defiled withal, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty.

What does Leviticus 5:2 mean?

Leviticus 5:2 is a verse in the book of Leviticus, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh), נָגַע (nâgaʻ), טָמֵא (ṭâmêʼ). It connects to 15 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

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Or
if
a
soulנֶפֶשׁnephesh/neh'-fesh/H5315properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental)
touchנָגַעnâgaʻ/naw-gah'/H5060properly, to touch, i.e. lay the hand upon (for any purpose; euphemistically, to lie with a woman); by implication, to reach (figuratively, to arrive, acquire); violently, to strike (punish, defeat, destroy, etc.)
any
uncleanטָמֵאṭâmêʼ/taw-may'/H2931foul in a religious sense
thing,דָּבָרdâbâr/daw-baw'/H1697a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
whether
it
be
a
carcaseנְבֵלָהnᵉbêlâh/neb-ay-law'/H5038a flabby thing, i.e. a carcase or carrion (human or bestial, often collectively); figuratively, an idol
of
an
uncleanטָמֵאṭâmêʼ/taw-may'/H2931foul in a religious sense
beast,חַיchay/khah'-ee/H2416alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether literally or figuratively
or
a
carcaseנְבֵלָהnᵉbêlâh/neb-ay-law'/H5038a flabby thing, i.e. a carcase or carrion (human or bestial, often collectively); figuratively, an idol
of
uncleanטָמֵאṭâmêʼ/taw-may'/H2931foul in a religious sense
cattle,בְּהֵמָהbᵉhêmâh/be-hay-maw'/H929properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective)
or
the
carcaseנְבֵלָהnᵉbêlâh/neb-ay-law'/H5038a flabby thing, i.e. a carcase or carrion (human or bestial, often collectively); figuratively, an idol
of
uncleanטָמֵאṭâmêʼ/taw-may'/H2931foul in a religious sense
creeping
things,שֶׁרֶץsherets/sheh'-rets/H8318a swarm, i.e. active mass of minute animals
and
if
it
be
hiddenעָלַםʻâlam/aw-lam'/H5956to veil from sight, i.e. conceal (literally or figuratively)
from
him;
he
also
shall
be
unclean,טָמֵאṭâmêʼ/taw-may'/H2931foul in a religious sense
and
guilty.אָשַׁםʼâsham/aw-sham'/H816to be guilty; by implication to be punished or perish

Commentary on Leviticus 5:2

HENRY_FULL · Leviticus 5:2
gen2278" This chapter, and part of the next, concern the trespass-offering. The difference between this and the sin-offering lay not so much in the sacrifices themselves, and the management of them, as in the occasions of the offering of them. They were both intended to make atonement for sin; but the former was more general, this applied to some particular instances. Observe what is here said, I. Concerning the trespass. If a man sin, 1. In concealing his knowledge, when he is adjured, ver. 1 . 2. In touching an unclean thing, ver. 2, 3 . 3. In swearing, ver. 4 . 4. In embezzling the holy things, ver. 14-16 . 5. In any sin of infirmity, ver. 17-19 . Some other cases there are, in which these offerings were to be offered, ch. vi. 2-4 ; xiv. 12 ; xix. 21 ; Num. vi. 12 . II. Concerning the trespass-offerings, 1. Of the flock, ver. 5, 6 . 2. Of fowls, ver. 7-10 . 3. Of flour, ver. 11-13 ; but chiefly a ram without blemish, ver. 15 , &c.

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Leviticus 4:13

And if the whole congregation of Israel sin through ignorance, and the thing be hid from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which should not be done, and are guilty;

Leviticus 5:4

Or if a soul swear, pronouncing with his lips to do evil, or to do good, whatsoever it be that a man shall pronounce with an oath, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty in one of these.

Leviticus 5:17

And if a soul sin, and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the LORD; though he wist it not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity.

Leviticus 7:21

Moreover the soul that shall touch any unclean thing, as the uncleanness of man, or any unclean beast, or any abominable unclean thing, and eat of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which pertain unto the LORD, even that soul shall be cut off from his people.

Leviticus 11:24

And for these ye shall be unclean: whosoever toucheth the carcase of them shall be unclean until the even.

Leviticus 11:28

And he that beareth the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: they are unclean unto you.

Leviticus 11:31

These are unclean to you among all that creep: whosoever doth touch them, when they be dead, shall be unclean until the even.

Leviticus 11:39

And if any beast, of which ye may eat, die; he that toucheth the carcase thereof shall be unclean until the even.

Numbers 19:11

He that toucheth the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days. man: Heb. soul of man

Deuteronomy 14:8

And the swine, because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it is unclean unto you: ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcase.

Psalms 19:12

Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.

Isaiah 52:11

Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.

Haggai 2:13

Then said Haggai, If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean.

Luke 11:44

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them.

2 Corinthians 6:17

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

Topics

SanitationTrespass OfferingUncleanness

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Leviticus 5:2.

Leviticus 11:27

And whatsoever goeth upon his paws, among all manner of beasts that go on all four, those are unclean unto you: whoso toucheth their carcase shall be unclean until the even.

Leviticus 7:21

Moreover the soul that shall touch any unclean thing, as the uncleanness of man, or any unclean beast, or any abominable unclean thing, and eat of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which pertain unto the LORD, even that soul shall be cut off from his people.

Leviticus 11:31

These are unclean to you among all that creep: whosoever doth touch them, when they be dead, shall be unclean until the even.

Leviticus 11:8

Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you.

Exodus 19:13

There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount. trumpet: or, cornet

Genesis 1:20

And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. moving: or, creeping life: Heb. soul fowl: Heb. let fowl fly open: Heb. face of the firmament of heaven

Genesis 1:24

And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.

Genesis 1:25

And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

Frequently asked questions

What does Leviticus 5:2 say?

Leviticus 5:2 (King James Version) reads: "Or if a soul touch any unclean thing, whether it be a carcase of an unclean beast, or a carcase of unclean cattle, or the carcase of unclean creeping things, and if it be hidden from him; he also shall be unclean, and guilty."

Is Leviticus 5:2 in the Old or New Testament?

Leviticus 5:2 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Leviticus.

Reflect

As you read Leviticus 5:2, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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