Imamat 4:13

For the Whole Congregation

4:13 “‘If the whole congregation of Israel strays unintentionally ¹  and the matter is not noticed by ²  the assembly, and they violate one of the Lord’s commandments, which must not be violated, ³  so they become guilty,

Imamat 4:27

For the Common Person

4:27 “‘If an ordinary individual ⁴  sins by straying unintentionally ⁵  when he violates one of the Lord’s commandments which must not be violated, ⁶  and he pleads guilty

Imamat 5:17

Unknown trespass

5:17 “If a person sins and violates any of the Lord’s commandments which must not be violated ⁷  (although he did not know it at the time, ⁸  but later realizes he is guilty), then he will bear his punishment for iniquity ⁹ 

[4:13]  ¹ tn Heb “strays”; KJV “sin through ignorance.” The verb “strays” here is the verbal form of the noun in the expression “by straying” (see the note on Lev 4:2 above).

[4:13]  ² tn Heb “is concealed from the eyes of”; NASB, NRSV, NLT “escapes the notice of.”

[4:13]  ³ tn Heb “and they do one from all the commandments of the Lord which must not be done” (cf. v. 2).

[4:27]  ⁴ tn Heb “an individual from the people of the land”; cf. NASB “anyone of the common people” (KJV, ASV both similar); NAB “a private person.”

[4:27]  ⁵ tn Heb “If one person sins by straying, from the people of the land.” See Lev 4:2 for a note on “straying.”

[4:27]  ⁶ tn Heb “by doing it, one from the commandments of the Lord which must not be done.”

[5:17]  ⁷ tn Heb “and does one from all of the commandments of the Lord which must not be done.”

[5:17]  ⁸ tn The words “at the time” are not in the Hebrew text, but are implied.

[5:17]  ⁹ 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.