Leviticus 5:2
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Or if a person touches anything unclean—whether the carcass of any unclean wild animal or livestock or crawling creature—even if he is unaware of it, he is unclean and guilty.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
This chapter, and part of the next, concern the trespass-offering. The difference between this and the sin-offering lay not so much in the sacrifices themselves, and the management of them, as in the occasions of the offering of them. They were both intended to make atonement for sin; but the former was more general, this applied to some particular instances. Observe what is here said, I. Concerning the trespass. If a man sin, 1. In concealing his knowledge, when he is adjured (Lev 5:1). 2. In touching an unclean thing (Lev 5:2, Lev 5:3). 3. In swearing (Lev 5:4). 4. In embezzling the holy things (Lev 5:14-16). 5. In any sin of infirmity (Lev 5:17-19). Some other cases there are, in which these offerings were to be offered (Lev 6:2-4; Lev 14:12; Lev 19:21; Num 6:12). II. Concerning the trespass-offerings, 1. Of the flock (Lev 5:5, Lev 5:6). 2. Of fowls (Lev 5:7-10). 3. Of flour (Lev 5:11-13; but chiefly a ram without blemish (Lev 5:15, etc.).
Open source ↗5:2 ceremonially unclean: “Clean” and “unclean” did not pertain to hygiene (see 11:1–15:33) but to suitability for participating in worship or, in the case of animals, suitability for sacrifice or human consumption. A list of clean and unclean animals is found in 11:1-47. The requirement for becoming clean after touching an unclean animal was merely to wash one’s clothes and remain apart from the community until evening (11:25). Most likely, therefore, the requirement of this sin offering indicates that the person had failed to follow the prescription for cleansing (11:27-28).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
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If someone sins and violates any of the LORD’s commandments even though he was unaware, he is guilty and shall bear his punishment.
Although they chew the cud, they do not have a divided hoof. They are unclean for you, as well as the pig; though it has a divided hoof, it does not chew the cud. It is unclean for you. You must not eat its meat or touch its carcass.
They shall be an abomination to you; you must not eat their meat, and you must detest their carcasses.
So Haggai asked, “If one who is defiled by contact with a corpse touches any of these, does it become defiled?” “Yes, it becomes defiled,” the priests answered.
“Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”
Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing; come out from it, purify yourselves, you who carry the vessels of the LORD.
Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, which men walk over without even noticing.”
If one touches anything unclean, whether human uncleanness, an unclean animal, or any unclean, detestable thing, and then eats any of the meat of the peace offering that belongs to the LORD, that person must be cut off from his people.”
Now if the whole congregation of Israel strays unintentionally and the matter escapes the notice of the assembly so that they violate any of the LORD’s commandments and incur guilt by doing what is forbidden,
Or if someone swears thoughtlessly with his lips to do anything good or evil—in whatever matter a man may rashly pronounce an oath—even if he is unaware of it, when he realizes it, he is guilty in the matter.