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.

וְאִם־לֹא֩ תַשִּׂ֨יג יָד֜וֹ לִשְׁתֵּ֣י תֹרִ֗ים אוֹ֮ לִשְׁנֵ֣י בְנֵי־יוֹנָה֒ וְהֵבִ֨יא אֶת־קָרְבָּנ֜וֹ אֲשֶׁ֣ר חָטָ֗א עֲשִׂירִ֧ת הָאֵפָ֛ה סֹ֖לֶת לְחַטָּ֑את לֹא־יָשִׂ֨ים עָלֶ֜יהָ שֶׁ֗מֶן וְלֹא־יִתֵּ֤ן עָלֶ֙יהָ֙ לְבֹנָ֔ה כִּ֥י חַטָּ֖את הִֽיא׃

If he is so poor that his means do not suffice even for two turtledoves or two young pigeons, he shall bring his offering for that which he sinned, one-tenth of an ephah of high-quality flour as a sin offering. However, he shall not place oil on it, nor shall he place frankincense on it, as it is a sin offering. Whereas the gift meal offering is mixed with oil and brought together with frankincense, it is fitting for the meal offering of a sinner to be plain and modest.

וֶהֱבִיאָהּ֮ אֶל־הַכֹּהֵן֒ וְקָמַ֣ץ הַכֹּהֵ֣ן ׀ מִ֠מֶּנָּה מְל֨וֹא קֻמְצ֜וֹ אֶת־אַזְכָּרָתָה֙ וְהִקְטִ֣יר הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חָה עַ֖ל אִשֵּׁ֣י יְהוָ֑ה חַטָּ֖את הִֽוא׃

He shall bring it to the priest, and the priest shall take his handful from it, his full handful , its memorial portion, and he shall burn it on the altar, on the fire offerings of the Lord; it is a sin offering.

וְכִפֶּר֩ עָלָ֨יו הַכֹּהֵ֜ן עַל־חַטָּאת֧וֹ אֲשֶׁר־חָטָ֛א מֵֽאַחַ֥ת מֵאֵ֖לֶּה וְנִסְלַ֣ח ל֑וֹ וְהָיְתָ֥ה לַכֹּהֵ֖ן כַּמִּנְחָֽה׃ (ס)

The priest shall atone for his sin that he sinned for one of these, and it shall be forgiven for him; and it, the remainder of the meal offering of the sinner that is not burned, shall be for the priest like the meal offering, and he is commanded to eat it.

וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying:

נֶ֚פֶשׁ כִּֽי־תִמְעֹ֣ל מַ֔עַל וְחָֽטְאָה֙ בִּשְׁגָגָ֔ה מִקָּדְשֵׁ֖י יְהוָ֑ה וְהֵבִיא֩ אֶת־אֲשָׁמ֨וֹ לַֽיהוָ֜ה אַ֧יִל תָּמִ֣ים מִן־הַצֹּ֗אן בְּעֶרְכְּךָ֛ כֶּֽסֶף־שְׁקָלִ֥ים בְּשֶֽׁקֶל־הַקֹּ֖דֶשׁ לְאָשָֽׁם׃

A person who commits a trespass, and sins unwittingly with regard to the sacred items of the Lord, he shall bring his restitution, his offering, to the Lord. If one unwittingly derives personal benefit from consecrated property that belongs to the Temple treasury, or eats sacred food, and subsequently discovers that he derived benefit from these sacred items, he is required to make restitution. He shall bring an

וְאֵ֣ת אֲשֶׁר֩ חָטָ֨א מִן־הַקֹּ֜דֶשׁ יְשַׁלֵּ֗ם וְאֶת־חֲמִֽישִׁתוֹ֙ יוֹסֵ֣ף עָלָ֔יו וְנָתַ֥ן אֹת֖וֹ לַכֹּהֵ֑ן וְהַכֹּהֵ֗ן יְכַפֵּ֥ר עָלָ֛יו בְּאֵ֥יל הָאָשָׁ֖ם וְנִסְלַ֥ח לֽוֹ׃ (פ)

In addition to bringing a guilt offering, that which he sinned by taking or benefiting from the sacred property he shall pay, and one-fifth of it he shall add to it as a penalty, and he shall give it to the priest; the priest shall atone for him with the ram of the guilt offering, and it shall be forgiven for him. This offering is known as a guilt offering brought for misuse of consecrated property.

וְאִם־נֶ֙פֶשׁ֙ כִּ֣י תֶֽחֱטָ֔א וְעָֽשְׂתָ֗ה אַחַת֙ מִכָּל־מִצְוֺ֣ת יְהוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר לֹ֣א תֵעָשֶׂ֑ינָה וְלֹֽא־יָדַ֥ע וְאָשֵׁ֖ם וְנָשָׂ֥א עֲוֺנֽוֹ׃

The Torah discusses a second type of guilt offering: And if a person sins and performs one of all the commandments of the Lord that shall not be performed, and he did not know whether or not he committed a sin, and he is guilty, and he shall bear his iniquity, and receive his punishment.

וְ֠הֵבִיא אַ֣יִל תָּמִ֧ים מִן־הַצֹּ֛אן בְּעֶרְכְּךָ֥ לְאָשָׁ֖ם אֶל־הַכֹּהֵ֑ן וְכִפֶּר֩ עָלָ֨יו הַכֹּהֵ֜ן עַ֣ל שִׁגְגָת֧וֹ אֲשֶׁר־שָׁגָ֛ג וְה֥וּא לֹֽא־יָדַ֖ע וְנִסְלַ֥ח לֽוֹ׃

He shall bring an unblemished ram from the flock, according to the valuation of at least two silver shekels (see verse 15), as a guilt offering to the priest. The priest shall atone for him for the unwitting sin that he performed unwittingly, and he did not know at the time that he presented the offering whether or not he had committed a sin, and it shall be forgiven for him.

אָשָׁ֖ם ה֑וּא אָשֹׁ֥ם אָשַׁ֖ם לַיהוָֽה׃ (פ)

It is a guilt offering. Lest one think that he need not be overly concerned about uncertain transgression, the verse emphasizes that he is guilty to the Lord .

וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying:

נֶ֚פֶשׁ כִּ֣י תֶחֱטָ֔א וּמָעֲלָ֥ה מַ֖עַל בַּיהוָ֑ה וְכִחֵ֨שׁ בַּעֲמִית֜וֹ בְּפִקָּד֗וֹן אֽוֹ־בִתְשׂ֤וּמֶת יָד֙ א֣וֹ בְגָזֵ֔ל א֖וֹ עָשַׁ֥ק אֶת־עֲמִיתֽוֹ׃

The Torah introduces the third type of guilt offering: A person who sins and commits a trespass against the Lord, and lies to his counterpart with regard to a deposit, by using the other person’s deposit for his own benefit and subsequently denying his actions; or with regard to money received as a loan, and he does not return the money; or with regard to open robbery that he denies having perpetrated; or he exploited his counterpart, e.g., by refusing to pay the wages due to him.

אֽוֹ־מָצָ֧א אֲבֵדָ֛ה וְכִ֥חֶשׁ בָּ֖הּ וְנִשְׁבַּ֣ע עַל־שָׁ֑קֶר עַל־אַחַ֗ת מִכֹּ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה הָאָדָ֖ם לַחֲטֹ֥א בָהֵֽנָּה׃

Or the trespass occurs when one finds a lost item, and when the owner demands its return, the finder lies in its regard, claiming that he does not have it. And moreover, the sinner takes a false oath about one of all that a person does to sin with regard to these. In each of these cases the sinner has taken another’s property, denied doing so, and taken a false oath to that effect.

וְהָיָה֮ כִּֽי־יֶחֱטָ֣א וְאָשֵׁם֒ וְהֵשִׁ֨יב אֶת־הַגְּזֵלָ֜ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר גָּזָ֗ל א֤וֹ אֶת־הָעֹ֙שֶׁק֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׁ֔ק א֚וֹ אֶת־הַפִּקָּד֔וֹן אֲשֶׁ֥ר הָפְקַ֖ד אִתּ֑וֹ א֥וֹ אֶת־הָאֲבֵדָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר מָצָֽא׃

It shall be when he sins and is guilty, he shall restore to its owner the robbed item that he robbed, or the proceeds of the exploitation that he exploited, or the deposit that was deposited with him, or the lost item that he found, whether it was money or other items.

א֠וֹ מִכֹּ֞ל אֲשֶׁר־יִשָּׁבַ֣ע עָלָיו֮ לַשֶּׁקֶר֒ וְשִׁלַּ֤ם אֹתוֹ֙ בְּרֹאשׁ֔וֹ וַחֲמִשִׁתָ֖יו יֹסֵ֣ף עָלָ֑יו לַאֲשֶׁ֨ר ה֥וּא ל֛וֹ יִתְּנֶ֖נּוּ בְּי֥וֹם אַשְׁמָתֽוֹ׃

Or in any similar case concerning an item with regard to which he has taken a false oath, he shall repay its principal, the value of whatever he stole or withheld, and one-fifth of it he shall add to it as a penalty. To him to whom it belongs, he shall give it, the total sum, on the day on which he recognizes the fact of his guilt, regrets his deed, and confesses.

וְאֶת־אֲשָׁמ֥וֹ יָבִ֖יא לַיהוָ֑ה אַ֣יִל תָּמִ֧ים מִן־הַצֹּ֛אן בְּעֶרְכְּךָ֥ לְאָשָׁ֖ם אֶל־הַכֹּהֵֽן׃

After he returns the money, his restitution, his offering, he shall bring to the Lord , an unblemished ram from the flock, according to the valuation of at least two silver shekels (see verse 15), as a guilt offering, to the priest. This offering is known as the guilt offering for robbery.

וְכִפֶּ֨ר עָלָ֧יו הַכֹּהֵ֛ן לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָ֖ה וְנִסְלַ֣ח ל֑וֹ עַל־אַחַ֛ת מִכֹּ֥ל אֲשֶֽׁר־יַעֲשֶׂ֖ה לְאַשְׁמָ֥ה בָֽהּ׃ (פ)

The priest shall atone for him before the Lord, performing the rites of the guilt offering as described below (7:1–5). And it shall be forgiven for him, for one of all that he may perform to incur guilt.