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THE MESSAGE

Leviticus 5:3

"Or if you touch human uncleanness, any sort of ritually contaminating uncleanness, and you're not aware of it at the time, but later you realize it and you're guilty;

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Defilement;   Sanitation;   Uncleanness;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Atonement, under the Law;   Defilement;   Trespass Offering;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Trespass;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Clean, Unclean;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Guilt;   Lamb of God;   Leviticus;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Confession;   Leviticus;   Priests and Levites;   Propitiation;   Sacrifice and Offering;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Confession (of Sin);   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Offerings, the;   Uncleanness;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Measures;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Priest;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Tabernacle, the;   Worship, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Defile;   Filth;   Guilt;   Heifer, Red;   Leviticus;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Color;   Commandments, the 613;   Repentance;   Sin-Offering;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
"'Or if he touches the uncleanness of man, whatever his uncleanness is with which he is unclean, and it is hidden from him; when he knows of it, then he shall be guilty.
King James Version
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.
Lexham English Bible
Or when he touches human uncleanness, namely any uncleanness of his by which he might become unclean, but he is unaware of it, and he himself finds out, then he will be guilty.
New Century Version
"‘Someone might touch human uncleanness—anything that makes someone unclean—and not know it. But when he learns about it, he will be guilty.
New English Translation
or when he touches human uncleanness with regard to anything by which he can become unclean, even if he did not realize it, but he himself has later come to know it and is guilty;
Amplified Bible
'Or if he touches human uncleanness—whatever kind it may be—and he becomes unclean, but he is unaware of it, when he recognizes it, he will be guilty.
New American Standard Bible
'Or if he touches human uncleanness, of whatever sort his uncleanness may be with which he becomes unclean, and it is hidden from him, and then he comes to know it, he will be guilty.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Eyther if hee touche any vncleannesse of man (whatsoeuer vncleannes it be, that hee is defiled with) and is not ware of it, and after commeth to the knowledge of it, he hath sinned:
Legacy Standard Bible
Or if he touches human uncleanness, of whatever sort his uncleanness may be with which he becomes unclean, and it is hidden from him, and then he comes to know it, he will be guilty.
Contemporary English Version
You are guilty if you find out that you have accidentally touched any waste that comes from a human body.
Complete Jewish Bible
If he touches some human uncleanness, no matter what the source of his uncleanness is, and is unaware of it, then, when he learns of it, he is guilty.
Darby Translation
or if he touch the uncleanness of man, any uncleanness of him by which he is defiled, and it be hid from him, when he knoweth [it], then he is guilty.
Easy-to-Read Version
"You might touch any of the many things that can make a person unclean. You might touch something unclean, but not know about it. When you learn that you have touched something unclean, you must pay a fine.
English Standard Version
or if he touches human uncleanness, of whatever sort the uncleanness may be with which one becomes unclean, and it is hidden from him, when he comes to know it, and realizes his guilt;
George Lamsa Translation
Or if he touches the uncleanness of man, whatever uncleanness it be that a man shall be defiled with, and disregards it, and he knows that he has sinned;
Good News Translation
If you unintentionally touch anything of human origin that is unclean, whatever it may be, you are guilty as soon as you realize what you have done.
Christian Standard Bible®
Or if he touches human uncleanness—any uncleanness by which one can become defiled—without being aware of it, but later recognizes it, he incurs guilt.
Literal Translation
or if he touches the uncleanness of man, any of his uncleanness by which he is unclean, and it is hidden from him, and he knows, then he is guilty.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Or whan he toucheth an vncleane man (what vnclennesse so euer a man is defyled withall) & was not awarre of it, & afterwarde cometh to ye knowlege therof, ye same hath offended.
American Standard Version
Or if he touch the uncleanness of man, whatsoever his uncleanness be wherewith he is unclean, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty.
Bible in Basic English
Or if he becomes unclean through touching unconsciously any unclean thing of man, whatever it may be, when it is made clear to him he will be responsible:
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Either if he touche any vncleannesse of man, whatsoeuer vncleannesse it be that a man is wont to be defiled withall, and is not ware of it, and commeth to ye knowledge of it, he hath trespassed.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
or if he touch the uncleanness of man, whatsoever his uncleanness be wherewith he is unclean, and it be hid from him; and, when he knoweth of it, be guilty;
King James Version (1611)
Or if he touch the vncleannesse of man, whatsoeuer vncleannesse it be that a man shalbe defiled withall, and it be hid from him, when he knoweth of it, then he shalbe guilty.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
or should touch the uncleanness of a man, or whatever kind, which he may touch and be defiled by, and it should have escaped him, but afterwards he should know, —then he shall have transgressed.
English Revised Version
or if he touch the uncleanness of man, whatsoever his uncleanness be wherewith he is unclean, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty:
Berean Standard Bible
Or if he touches human uncleanness-anything by which one becomes unclean-even if he is unaware of it, when he realizes it, he is guilty.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And if he touchith ony thing of the vnclennesse of man, bi al the vnclennesse bi which he is wont to be defoulid, and he foryetith, and knowith afterward, he schal be suget to trespas.
Young's Literal Translation
`Or when he cometh against uncleanness of man, even any of his uncleanness whereby he is unclean, and it hath been hidden from him, and he hath known, and hath been guilty:
Update Bible Version
Or if he touches the uncleanness of man, whatever his uncleanness is with which he is unclean, and it is hid from him; when he knows of it, then he shall be guilty.
Webster's Bible Translation
Or if he shall touch the uncleanness of man, whatever uncleanness [it may be] that a man shall be defiled with, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth [of it], then he shall be guilty.
World English Bible
"'Or if he touches the uncleanness of man, whatever his uncleanness is with which he is unclean, and it is hidden from him; when he knows of it, then he shall be guilty.
New King James Version
Or if he touches human uncleanness--whatever uncleanness with which a man may be defiled, and he is unaware of it--when he realizes it, then he shall be guilty.
New Living Translation
"Or suppose you unknowingly touch something that makes a person unclean. When you realize what you have done, you must admit your guilt.
New Life Bible
Or if he touches a human who is unclean for whatever reason, without knowing it, when he learns about it, he will be guilty.
New Revised Standard
Or when you touch human uncleanness—any uncleanness by which one can become unclean—and are unaware of it, when you come to know it, you shall be guilty.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Or whensoever one shall touch the uncleanness of man, as regardeth any uncleanness of his, wherewith one may become unclean, - and it be hidden from him, and then he himself, getting to know it becometh aware of his guilt: -
Douay-Rheims Bible
And if he touch any thing of the uncleanness of man, according to any uncleanness wherewith he is wont to be defiled: and having forgotten it, come afterwards to know it, he shall be guilty of an offence.
Revised Standard Version
Or if he touches human uncleanness, of whatever sort the uncleanness may be with which one becomes unclean, and it is hidden from him, when he comes to know it he shall be guilty.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
'Or if he touches human uncleanness, of whatever sort his uncleanness may be with which he becomes unclean, and it is hidden from him, and then he comes to know it, he will be guilty.

Contextual Overview

1 "If you sin by not stepping up and offering yourself as a witness to something you've heard or seen in cases of wrongdoing, you'll be held responsible. 2 "Or if you touch anything ritually unclean, like the carcass of an unclean animal, wild or domestic, or a dead reptile, and you weren't aware of it at the time, but you're contaminated and you're guilty; 3 "Or if you touch human uncleanness, any sort of ritually contaminating uncleanness, and you're not aware of it at the time, but later you realize it and you're guilty; 4 "Or if you impulsively swear to do something, whether good or bad—some rash oath that just pops out—and you aren't aware of what you've done at the time, but later you come to realize it and you're guilty in any of these cases; 5"When you are guilty, immediately confess the sin that you've committed and bring as your penalty to God for the sin you have committed a female lamb or goat from the flock for an Absolution-Offering. "In this way, the priest will make atonement for your sin.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the uncleanness: Leviticus 12:1 - Leviticus 13:59, Leviticus 15:1-33, Leviticus 22:4-6, Numbers 19:11-16

Reciprocal: Leviticus 6:4 - because Leviticus 7:21 - the uncleanness Leviticus 14:12 - trespass Numbers 19:13 - purifieth Isaiah 52:11 - touch

Cross-References

Genesis 4:25
Adam slept with his wife again. She had a son whom she named Seth. She said, "God has given me another child in place of Abel whom Cain killed." And then Seth had a son whom he named Enosh. That's when men and women began praying and worshiping in the name of God .
Genesis 5:3
When Adam was 130 years old, he had a son who was just like him, his very spirit and image, and named him Seth. After the birth of Seth, Adam lived another 800 years, having more sons and daughters. Adam lived a total of 930 years. And he died.
Luke 1:35
The angel answered, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, the power of the Highest hover over you; Therefore, the child you bring to birth will be called Holy, Son of God.
Romans 5:12
You know the story of how Adam landed us in the dilemma we're in—first sin, then death, and no one exempt from either sin or death. That sin disturbed relations with God in everything and everyone, but the extent of the disturbance was not clear until God spelled it out in detail to Moses. So death, this huge abyss separating us from God, dominated the landscape from Adam to Moses. Even those who didn't sin precisely as Adam did by disobeying a specific command of God still had to experience this termination of life, this separation from God. But Adam, who got us into this, also points ahead to the One who will get us out of it.
1 Corinthians 15:39
You will notice that the variety of bodies is stunning. Just as there are different kinds of seeds, there are different kinds of bodies—humans, animals, birds, fish—each unprecedented in its form. You get a hint at the diversity of resurrection glory by looking at the diversity of bodies not only on earth but in the skies—sun, moon, stars—all these varieties of beauty and brightness. And we're only looking at pre-resurrection "seeds"—who can imagine what the resurrection "plants" will be like!

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Or if he touch the uncleanness of man,.... The dead body of a man, or the bone of a dead body, or a grave, or any profluvious or menstruous person:

whatsoever uncleanness [it be] that a man shall be defiled withal: not morally, but ceremonially:

and it be hid from him; he is not sensible that he has touched any thing ceremonially unclean:

when he knoweth [of it], then he shall be guilty: acknowledge his guilt, and offer a sacrifice for it, as after directed.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Special occasions are mentioned on which sin-offerings are to be made with a particular confession of the offence for which atonement is sought Leviticus 5:5.

Leviticus 5:1

Swearing - Adjuration. The case appears to be that of one who has been put upon his oath as a witness by a magistrate, and fails to utter all he has seen and heard (compare the marginal references. and Proverbs 29:24; Numbers 5:21).

Leviticus 5:2-3

Hid from him - Either through forgetfulness or indifference, so that purification had been neglected. In such a case there had been a guilty negligence, and a sin-offering was required. On the essential connection between impurity and the sin-offering, see Leviticus 12:1.

Leviticus 5:4

Pronouncing - Idly speaking Psalms 106:33. The reference is to an oath to do something uttered in recklessness or passion and forgotten as soon as uttered.

Leviticus 5:6

His trespass offering - Rather, as his forfeit, that is, whatever is due for his offence. The term “trespass-offering” is out of place here, since it has become the current designation for a distinct kind of sin-offering mentioned in the next section (see Leviticus 5:14 note).

A lamb or a kid of the goats - A sheep Leviticus 4:32 or a shaggy she-goat Leviticus 4:23.

Leviticus 5:7-10

See Leviticus 1:14-16; Leviticus 12:8. In the larger offerings of the ox and the sheep, the fat which was burned upon the altar represented, like the burnt-offering, the dedication of the worshipper; in this case, the same meaning was conveyed by one of the birds being treated as a distinct burnt-offering.

Leviticus 5:7

A lamb - One of the flock, either a sheep or a goat.

For his trespass, which he hath committed - As his forfeit for the sin he hath committed.

Leviticus 5:11

tenth part of an ephah i. e. - “the tenth deal;” probably less than half a gallon. See Leviticus 19:36 note. This sin-offering of meal was distinguished from the ordinary מנחה mı̂nchāh Leviticus 2:1 by the absence of oil and frankincense.


 
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