The information in this Q & A is almost exclusively taken from:

Rooker, M. F. (2000). Leviticus: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture. Nashville, Tenn: Holman Reference.

Q: What is the function of the burnt offering?

A: Thankfulness (Gen. 8:20), Crisis (Judg. 20:26) — purpose: honor God and attract His attention.  It is the most important of the offerings, because:

  • most prominent in festivals (Num 28-29)
  • Prominent position in prescriptive lists (Lev. 1-7)
  • Completely burned, except skin (priest didn’t eat any part)
  • On all fast days (with exception of Day of Atonement), burnt offering is most important sacrifice
  • Lev. 9:7; 14:20; 16:24 – it is principal atoning sacrifice

It is the most frequent offering (see Num. 28 – 2x/day)

“Burnt offering” in Heb. means ascend; describes smoke ascending to God (Judg. 13:20).  “Holocaust” literally means “burnt offering”.

Heb. 10:1-4,10 – fulfilled in Christ

Q: Why is “confession” inserted in Lev. 5:5?

A: Confession is emphasized in 5:5 because the violations of 5:1-4 are deliberate.  Thus, confession signaled that, though it was deliberate, the sinner only now is aware of it, or is now ready to deal with it, and so it shows new repentance/awareness of sin, thereby making those “deliberate” sins become inadvertent.  Confession also shows they weren’t just going through the motions of the sacrifice and doing what amounts to “magic” to say they were atoned (p. 119).

Q: Why does Lev. 5:6 use “trespass offering”?

A: Trespass Offering is a disputable translation and is not translated in NIV, ESV, and other translations.  From context, it appears that the elements of a trespass offering are missing from this sacrifice (i.e. the payment of 120% for reparations, and the presenting of a ram for atonement), and so Lev. 5:6 should not be translated as “trespass offering” but as something similar to “compensation” (ESV).

Q: Why in Lev. 5:7 is burnt offering added to sin offering?

A: See pages 119-120.

Q: Why does “sin offering” come before “burnt offering” in Lev. 5:7?

A: Sin offering is needed to restore worshiper to God, and then they can have communion with God (burnt offering).  Note that Rom. 1-5 deals with sins atoned for, and then Rom. 6-8 deals with our crucifixion and union with Christ.

Q: What is the difference between the sin offering and guilt/trespass offering?

A: Compensation (of 120%) is involved in trespass offering, but not in sin offering.  This is because the trespass offering applied to situations where a special debt was created, i.e. someone was denied their rightful due.  Said in another way: another party suffered deprivation.  For example, a leper has to offer a trespass offering because God was deprived of work they could have done for Him had they not been leprous.

Trespass offering was applied to: (1) mistreatment of fellow people, (2) improper treatment of God’s holy things.

The guilt offering was a specialized sin offering (cf. Lev. 5:7)