וְאִם־נֶ֧פֶשׁ אַחַ֛ת תֶּחֱטָ֥א בִשְׁגָגָ֖ה מֵעַ֣ם הָאָ֑רֶץ בַּ֠עֲשֹׂתָהּ אַחַ֨ת מִמִּצְוֺ֧ת יְהוָ֛ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־תֵעָשֶׂ֖ינָה וְאָשֵֽׁם׃

The Torah describes the fourth type of sin offering, the sin offering of the common person: If one person from the common people sins unwittingly, in his performance of any of the commandments of the Lord that may not be performed, and is guilty, he shall bring a sin offering. Although one cannot be prosecuted criminally for an unwitting transgression, there is nevertheless a certain level of guilt even for transgressions that were committed due to forgetfulness or because one is not paying attention to his actions. One is held responsible not only for his conscious actions and for his conscious thoughts, but also for actions that he performs subconsciously and for information that has receded into the subconscious realm of his mind.

א֚וֹ הוֹדַ֣ע אֵלָ֔יו חַטָּאת֖וֹ אֲשֶׁ֣ר חָטָ֑א וְהֵבִ֨יא קָרְבָּנ֜וֹ שְׂעִירַ֤ת עִזִּים֙ תְּמִימָ֣ה נְקֵבָ֔ה עַל־חַטָּאת֖וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר חָטָֽא׃

Or if his sin that he sinned becomes known to him because he is informed of it by others (see verse 23), he shall bring his offering, an unblemished female goat for his sin that he sinned. Whereas the ruler brings a male goat, the common person brings a female goat.

וְסָמַךְ֙ אֶת־יָד֔וֹ עַ֖ל רֹ֣אשׁ הַֽחַטָּ֑את וְשָׁחַט֙ אֶת־הַ֣חַטָּ֔את בִּמְק֖וֹם הָעֹלָֽה׃

He shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slaughter the sin offering in the place of the burnt offering.

וְלָקַ֨ח הַכֹּהֵ֤ן מִדָּמָהּ֙ בְּאֶצְבָּע֔וֹ וְנָתַ֕ן עַל־קַרְנֹ֖ת מִזְבַּ֣ח הָעֹלָ֑ה וְאֶת־כָּל־דָּמָ֣הּ יִשְׁפֹּ֔ךְ אֶל־יְס֖וֹד הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃

The priest shall take from its blood with his finger, and place it on the horns of the altar of the burnt offering, and all of the remainder of its blood he shall pour at the base of the altar.

וְאֶת־כָּל־חֶלְבָּ֣הּ יָסִ֗יר כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר הוּסַ֣ר חֵלֶב֮ מֵעַ֣ל זֶ֣בַח הַשְּׁלָמִים֒ וְהִקְטִ֤יר הַכֹּהֵן֙ הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חָה לְרֵ֥יחַ נִיחֹ֖חַ לַיהוָ֑ה וְכִפֶּ֥ר עָלָ֛יו הַכֹּהֵ֖ן וְנִסְלַ֥ח לֽוֹ׃ (פ)

All its fat he shall remove, as the fat was removed from the peace offering; and the priest shall burn it upon the altar for a pleasing aroma to the Lord; and the priest shall atone for him, and it shall be forgiven for him.

וְאִם־כֶּ֛בֶשׂ יָבִ֥יא קָרְבָּנ֖וֹ לְחַטָּ֑את נְקֵבָ֥ה תְמִימָ֖ה יְבִיאֶֽנָּה׃

And if he brings a lamb, rather than a goat, as his offering for a sin offering, an unblemished female he shall bring it.

וְסָמַךְ֙ אֶת־יָד֔וֹ עַ֖ל רֹ֣אשׁ הַֽחַטָּ֑את וְשָׁחַ֤ט אֹתָהּ֙ לְחַטָּ֔את בִּמְק֕וֹם אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִשְׁחַ֖ט אֶת־הָעֹלָֽה׃

He shall lay his hand on the head of the sin offering, and slaughter it as a sin offering in the place where he shall slaughter the burnt offering.

וְלָקַ֨ח הַכֹּהֵ֜ן מִדַּ֤ם הַֽחַטָּאת֙ בְּאֶצְבָּע֔וֹ וְנָתַ֕ן עַל־קַרְנֹ֖ת מִזְבַּ֣ח הָעֹלָ֑ה וְאֶת־כָּל־דָּמָ֣הּ יִשְׁפֹּ֔ךְ אֶל־יְס֖וֹד הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃

The priest shall take from the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and place it on the horns of the altar of the burnt offering, and all the remainder of its blood he shall pour at the base of the altar.

וְאֶת־כָּל־חֶלְבָּ֣ה יָסִ֗יר כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר יוּסַ֥ר חֵֽלֶב־הַכֶּשֶׂב֮ מִזֶּ֣בַח הַשְּׁלָמִים֒ וְהִקְטִ֨יר הַכֹּהֵ֤ן אֹתָם֙ הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חָה עַ֖ל אִשֵּׁ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וְכִפֶּ֨ר עָלָ֧יו הַכֹּהֵ֛ן עַל־חַטָּאת֥וֹ אֲשֶׁר־חָטָ֖א וְנִסְלַ֥ח לֽוֹ׃ (פ)

He shall remove all its fat, as the fat of the lamb is removed from the peace offering, including the sheep’s fatty tail. The priest shall burn them on the altar, on the fire offerings of the Lord; and the priest shall atone for his sin that he sinned, and it shall be forgiven for him. 1 Alternatively, some interpret the verse as stating that the priest shall burn them on the altar, on the fires of the Lord, rather than on the fire offerings of the Lord.

וְנֶ֣פֶשׁ כִּֽי־תֶחֱטָ֗א וְשָֽׁמְעָה֙ ק֣וֹל אָלָ֔ה וְה֣וּא עֵ֔ד א֥וֹ רָאָ֖ה א֣וֹ יָדָ֑ע אִם־ל֥וֹא יַגִּ֖יד וְנָשָׂ֥א עֲוֺנֽוֹ׃

In contrast to the sin offerings mentioned above, the offerings discussed below pertain to a number of specific transgressions that do not carry a punishment of excision from the World to Come when they are performed intentionally. Additionally, whereas the regular sin offering is fixed, the offerings discussed below are known as sliding-scale offerings, as their value depends on the sinner’s financial ability. Some commentaries explain that in the case of the three transgressions mentioned below, the sinner does not usually derive any benefit from the transgression. This is in contrast to the cases where one is liable to bring a fixed sin offering, in which the sin generally involves pleasure or personal benefit. If a person sins, in that he hears the voice of an oath directed at him, and he is a witness, who either saw a certain occurrence or knew of a certain matter, if he does not tell whatever he knows, he shall bear his iniquity and receive his punishment. The case described here is where a plaintiff claims that another individual has information supporting his case. The individual refuses to testify, denying under oath that he has information about the case. Since he lied, either intentionally or unwittingly, after an oath was administered to him requiring him to testify, he must bring an offering to atone for his sin.

א֣וֹ נֶ֗פֶשׁ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּגַּע֮ בְּכָל־דָּבָ֣ר טָמֵא֒ אוֹ֩ בְנִבְלַ֨ת חַיָּ֜ה טְמֵאָ֗ה א֤וֹ בְּנִבְלַת֙ בְּהֵמָ֣ה טְמֵאָ֔ה א֕וֹ בְּנִבְלַ֖ת שֶׁ֣רֶץ טָמֵ֑א וְנֶעְלַ֣ם מִמֶּ֔נּוּ וְה֥וּא טָמֵ֖א וְאָשֵֽׁם׃

Or a person who touches any impure thing: The carcass of a non-pure beast, the carcass of a non-pure animal, or the carcass of an impure swarming animal, and it is hidden from him, that is, he forgot that he is impure, and he is impure, and he is guilty. In such a case one must also bring a sin offering. Similar to most sin offerings, this sin offering is brought to atone for an unwitting transgression. The guilt referred to here is not because of the person’s ritual impurity in itself, as there is no sin involved in being ritually impure, and although it is preferable to become ritually pure, one is not required to do so. The person’s guilt is because he acted in the manner of a ritually pure individual, either entering the Temple or partaking of sacrificial food, and in doing so he defiled the Temple or sacred items.

א֣וֹ כִ֤י יִגַּע֙ בְּטֻמְאַ֣ת אָדָ֔ם לְכֹל֙ טֻמְאָת֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִטְמָ֖א בָּ֑הּ וְנֶעְלַ֣ם מִמֶּ֔נּוּ וְה֥וּא יָדַ֖ע וְאָשֵֽׁם׃

Or if he touches human impurity, in any impurity with which he will become impure, and it is hidden from him; and he knew, and he is guilty. This law does not pertain to one who never knew that he was rendered impure, e.g., if one touched an impure object in the dark without realizing it; it applies only to one who knew that he had become impure and subsequently forgot.

א֣וֹ נֶ֡פֶשׁ כִּ֣י תִשָּׁבַע֩ לְבַטֵּ֨א בִשְׂפָתַ֜יִם לְהָרַ֣ע ׀ א֣וֹ לְהֵיטִ֗יב לְ֠כֹל אֲשֶׁ֨ר יְבַטֵּ֧א הָאָדָ֛ם בִּשְׁבֻעָ֖ה וְנֶעְלַ֣ם מִמֶּ֑נּוּ וְהוּא־יָדַ֥ע וְאָשֵׁ֖ם לְאַחַ֥ת מֵאֵֽלֶּה׃

Or, lastly, a sin offering must be brought by a person who takes an oath, to express with lips an undertaking to do harm to himself by abstaining from a certain matter or to do good to himself by performing a certain matter, for everything that a person shall express in an oath, and it was subsequently hidden from him, as he forgot his oath. He violated his oath, and he subsequently knew and he is guilty of violating one of these oaths. While in the case of an oath of testimony (see verse 1) the oath was administered by another, in this case one took an oath at his own initiative and subsequently forgot his oath and unwittingly violated it, either actively or by failing to perform his undertaking. This type of oath is known as an oath on an utterance.

וְהָיָ֥ה כִֽי־יֶאְשַׁ֖ם לְאַחַ֣ת מֵאֵ֑לֶּה וְהִ֨תְוַדָּ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר חָטָ֖א עָלֶֽיהָ׃

Three transgressions were mentioned so far: One who refrained from testifying on behalf of another and swore falsely that he does not know of relevant information; one who entered the Temple or partook of sacrificial food while he was ritually impure; and one who took an oath to perform or to abstain from a particular activity and violated his oath. It shall be when he is guilty of one of these transgressions, he shall confess with regard to that which he sinned. It is not sufficient that one is aware of his guilt. He must verbally confess his sin, and only then may he bring a sin offering.

וְהֵבִ֣יא אֶת־אֲשָׁמ֣וֹ לַיהוָ֡ה עַ֣ל חַטָּאתוֹ֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר חָטָ֜א נְקֵבָ֨ה מִן־הַצֹּ֥אן כִּשְׂבָּ֛ה אֽוֹ־שְׂעִירַ֥ת עִזִּ֖ים לְחַטָּ֑את וְכִפֶּ֥ר עָלָ֛יו הַכֹּהֵ֖ן מֵחַטָּאתֽוֹ׃

Once the sinner has confessed, he takes action to achieve atonement. He shall bring his restitution, his offering, to the Lord for his sin that he sinned. Beyond the violation of specific prohibitions, there is an aspect of each of these actions that defines it as particularly improper behavior toward God. The sinner expresses his guilt by bringing a female from the flock, a lamb or a goat, as a sin offering; and the priest shall atone for him for his sin, performing the rites of the sin offering as described above (4:27–35).

וְאִם־לֹ֨א תַגִּ֣יע יָדוֹ֮ דֵּ֣י שֶׂה֒ וְהֵבִ֨יא אֶת־אֲשָׁמ֜וֹ אֲשֶׁ֣ר חָטָ֗א שְׁתֵּ֥י תֹרִ֛ים אֽוֹ־שְׁנֵ֥י בְנֵֽי־יוֹנָ֖ה לַֽיהוָ֑ה אֶחָ֥ד לְחַטָּ֖את וְאֶחָ֥ד לְעֹלָֽה׃

If his means do not suffice for the purchase of a lamb, he shall bring his restitution, his offering, for that which he sinned, two turtledoves or two young pigeons, to the Lord: One as a sin offering and one as a burnt offering. Instead of an animal sin offering, a poor man may bring two birds, which are much cheaper, and only one of them is sacrificed as a sin offering.

וְהֵבִ֤יא אֹתָם֙ אֶל־הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וְהִקְרִ֛יב אֶת־אֲשֶׁ֥ר לַחַטָּ֖את רִאשׁוֹנָ֑ה וּמָלַ֧ק אֶת־רֹאשׁ֛וֹ מִמּ֥וּל עָרְפּ֖וֹ וְלֹ֥א יַבְדִּֽיל׃

He shall bring them to the priest, and the priest shall offer that bird which is intended for the sin offering first. He shall pinch off its head adjacent to its nape with his thumbnail, cutting the back of its neck below the cranium, but the priest shall not separate the head from the body. The Mishna cites a dispute among the Sages with regard to whether the offering is fit in a case where the priest separated the head from the body.

וְהִזָּ֞ה מִדַּ֤ם הַחַטָּאת֙ עַל־קִ֣יר הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ וְהַנִּשְׁאָ֣ר בַּדָּ֔ם יִמָּצֵ֖ה אֶל־יְס֣וֹד הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַ חַטָּ֖את הֽוּא׃

He shall sprinkle from the blood of the sin offering, from the cut in the bird’s neck, on the wall of the altar; and the remainder of the blood shall be squeezed at the base of the altar by pressing the bird against the wall of the altar or by squeezing the bird’s neck with his hand, so that the remainder of the blood flows down to the base of the altar. It is a sin offering.

וְאֶת־הַשֵּׁנִ֛י יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה עֹלָ֖ה כַּמִּשְׁפָּ֑ט וְכִפֶּ֨ר עָלָ֧יו הַכֹּהֵ֛ן מֵחַטָּאת֥וֹ אֲשֶׁר־חָטָ֖א וְנִסְלַ֥ח לֽוֹ׃ (ס)

In contrast to the animal sin offering, there are no sacrificial portions burned on the altar from the bird sin offering. The sinner is therefore required to bring a burnt offering as well: And the second bird he shall prepare as a burnt offering, in accordance with the procedure stated above (1:14–17). The priest pinches off the bird’s head, severing it from the body, squeezes out the blood on the wall of the altar, and burns the bird on the altar in its entirety, after removing its crop. And the priest shall atone for him with the two bird offerings for his sin that he sinned, and it shall be forgiven for him.