Leviticus 6: Laws for the Priests
Restitution to a wronged neighbor, a fire kept burning day and night, and instructions for the priests who tend the offerings.
Leviticus 6 (WEB)
1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
2 “If anyone sins, and commits a trespass against Yahweh, and deals falsely with his neighbor in a matter of deposit, or of bargain, or of robbery, or has oppressed his neighbor,
3 or has found that which was lost, and dealt falsely therein, and swearing to a lie; in any of all these things that a man does, sinning therein;
4 then it shall be, if he has sinned, and is guilty, he shall restore that which he took by robbery, or the thing which he has gotten by oppression, or the deposit which was committed to him, or the lost thing which he found,
5 or any thing about which he has sworn falsely; he shall restore it even in full, and shall add a fifth part more to it. To him to whom it belongs he shall give it, in the day of his being found guilty.
6 He shall bring his trespass offering to Yahweh, a ram without defect from the flock, according to your estimation, for a trespass offering, to the priest.
7 The priest shall make atonement for him before Yahweh, and he will be forgiven concerning whatever he does to become guilty.”
8 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
9 “Command Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the law of the burnt offering: the burnt offering shall be on the hearth on the altar all night until the morning; and the fire of the altar shall be kept burning on it.
10 The priest shall put on his linen garment, and he shall put on his linen breeches upon his body; and he shall remove the ashes from where the fire has consumed the burnt offering on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar.
11 He shall take off his garments, and put on other garments, and carry the ashes outside the camp to a clean place.
12 The fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it, it shall not go out; and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning: and he shall lay the burnt offering in order upon it, and shall burn on it the fat of the peace offerings.
13 Fire shall be kept burning on the altar continually; it shall not go out.
14 “‘This is the law of the meal offering: the sons of Aaron shall offer it before Yahweh, before the altar.
15 He shall take from there his handful of the fine flour of the meal offering, and of its oil, and all the frankincense which is on the meal offering, and shall burn it on the altar for a pleasant aroma, as its memorial, to Yahweh.
16 That which is left of it Aaron and his sons shall eat. It shall be eaten without yeast in a holy place. They shall eat it in the court of the Tent of Meeting.
17 It shall not be baked with yeast. I have given it as their portion of my offerings made by fire. It is most holy, as the sin offering, and as the trespass offering.
18 Every male among the children of Aaron shall eat of it, as their portion forever throughout your generations, from the offerings of Yahweh made by fire. Whoever touches them shall be holy.’”
19 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
20 “This is the offering of Aaron and of his sons, which they shall offer to Yahweh in the day when he is anointed: the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a meal offering perpetually, half of it in the morning, and half of it in the evening.
21 It shall be made with oil in a griddle. When it is soaked, you shall bring it in. You shall offer the meal offering in baked pieces for a pleasant aroma to Yahweh.
22 The anointed priest that will be in his place from among his sons shall offer it. By a statute forever, it shall be wholly burnt to Yahweh.
23 Every meal offering of a priest shall be wholly burned. It shall not be eaten.”
24 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
25 “Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, ‘This is the law of the sin offering: in the place where the burnt offering is killed, the sin offering shall be killed before Yahweh. It is most holy.
26 The priest who offers it for sin shall eat it. It shall be eaten in a holy place, in the court of the Tent of Meeting.
27 Whatever shall touch its flesh shall be holy. When there is any of its blood sprinkled on a garment, you shall wash that on which it was sprinkled in a holy place.
28 But the earthen vessel in which it is boiled shall be broken; and if it is boiled in a bronze vessel, it shall be scoured, and rinsed in water.
29 Every male among the priests shall eat of it: it is most holy.
30 No sin offering, of which any of the blood is brought into the Tent of Meeting to make atonement in the Holy Place, shall be eaten: it shall be burned with fire.
Leviticus 6 (KJV)
1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
2 If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the Lord, and lie unto his neighbour in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbour;
3 Or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it, and sweareth falsely; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein:
4 Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found,
5 Or all that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering.
6 And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the Lord, a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest:
7 And the priest shall make an atonement for him before the Lord: and it shall be forgiven him for any thing of all that he hath done in trespassing therein.
8 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
9 Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt offering: It is the burnt offering, because of the burning upon the altar all night unto the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be burning in it.
10 And the priest shall put on his linen garment, and his linen breeches shall he put upon his flesh, and take up the ashes which the fire hath consumed with the burnt offering on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar.
11 And he shall put off his garments, and put on other garments, and carry forth the ashes without the camp unto a clean place.
12 And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings.
13 The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out.
14 And this is the law of the meat offering: the sons of Aaron shall offer it before the Lord, before the altar.
15 And he shall take of it his handful, of the flour of the meat offering, and of the oil thereof, and all the frankincense which is upon the meat offering, and shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savour, even the memorial of it, unto the Lord.
16 And the remainder thereof shall Aaron and his sons eat: with unleavened bread shall it be eaten in the holy place; in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation they shall eat it.
17 It shall not be baken with leaven. I have given it unto them for their portion of my offerings made by fire; it is most holy, as is the sin offering, and as the trespass offering.
18 All the males among the children of Aaron shall eat of it. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations concerning the offerings of the Lord made by fire: every one that toucheth them shall be holy.
19 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
20 This is the offering of Aaron and of his sons, which they shall offer unto the Lord in the day when he is anointed; the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a meat offering perpetual, half of it in the morning, and half thereof at night.
21 In a pan it shall be made with oil; and when it is baken, thou shalt bring it in: and the baken pieces of the meat offering shalt thou offer for a sweet savour unto the Lord.
22 And the priest of his sons that is anointed in his stead shall offer it: it is a statute for ever unto the Lord; it shall be wholly burnt.
23 For every meat offering for the priest shall be wholly burnt: it shall not be eaten.
24 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
25 Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, saying, This is the law of the sin offering: In the place where the burnt offering is killed shall the sin offering be killed before the Lord: it is most holy.
26 The priest that offereth it for sin shall eat it: in the holy place shall it be eaten, in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation.
27 Whatsoever shall touch the flesh thereof shall be holy: and when there is sprinkled of the blood thereof upon any garment, thou shalt wash that whereon it was sprinkled in the holy place.
28 But the earthen vessel wherein it is sodden shall be broken: and if it be sodden in a brasen pot, it shall be both scoured, and rinsed in water.
29 All the males among the priests shall eat thereof: it is most holy.
30 And no sin offering, whereof any of the blood is brought into the tabernacle of the congregation to reconcile withal in the holy place, shall be eaten: it shall be burnt in the fire.
Leviticus 6 (ASV)
1 And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,
2 If any one sin, and commit a trespass against Jehovah, and deal falsely with his neighbor in a matter of deposit, or of bargain, or of robbery, or have oppressed his neighbor,
3 or have found that which was lost, and deal falsely therein, and swear to a lie; in any of all these things that a man doeth, sinning therein;
4 then it shall be, if he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took by robbery, or the thing which he hath gotten by oppression, or the deposit which was committed to him, or the lost thing which he found,
5 or any thing about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in full, and shall add the fifth part more thereto: unto him to whom it appertaineth shall he give it, in the day of his being found guilty.
6 And he shall bring his trespass-offering unto Jehovah, a ram without blemish out of the flock, according to thy estimation, for a trespass-offering, unto the priest:
7 and the priest shall make atonement for him before Jehovah; and he shall be forgiven concerning whatsoever he doeth so as to be guilty thereby.
8 And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,
9 Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt-offering: the burnt-offering shall be on the hearth upon the altar all night unto the morning; and the fire of the altar shall be kept burning thereon.
10 And the priest shall put on his linen garment, and his linen breeches shall he put upon his flesh; and he shall take up the ashes whereto the fire hath consumed the burnt-offering on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar.
11 And he shall put off his garments, and put on other garments, and carry forth the ashes without the camp unto a clean place.
12 And the fire upon the altar shall be kept burning thereon, it shall not go out; and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning: and he shall lay the burnt-offering in order upon it, and shall burn thereon the fat of the peace-offerings.
13 Fire shall be kept burning upon the altar continually; it shall not go out.
14 And this is the law of the meal-offering: the sons of Aaron shall offer it before Jehovah, before the altar.
15 And he shall take up therefrom his handful, of the fine flour of the meal-offering, and of the oil thereof, and all the frankincense which is upon the meal-offering, and shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savor, as the memorial thereof, unto Jehovah.
16 And that which is left thereof shall Aaron and his sons eat: it shall be eaten without leaven in a holy place; in the court of the tent of meeting they shall eat it.
17 It shall not be baken with leaven. I have given it as their portion of my offerings made by fire; it is most holy, as the sin-offering, and as the trespass-offering.
18 Every male among the children of Aaron shall eat of it, as his portion for ever throughout your generations, from the offerings of Jehovah made by fire: whosoever toucheth them shall be holy.
19 And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,
20 This is the oblation of Aaron and of his sons, which they shall offer unto Jehovah in the day when he is anointed: the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a meal-offering perpetually, half of it in the morning, and half thereof in the evening.
21 On a baking-pan it shall be made with oil; when it is soaked, thou shalt bring it in: in baken pieces shalt thou offer the meal-offering for a sweet savor unto Jehovah.
22 And the anointed priest that shall be in his stead from among his sons shall offer it: by a statute for ever it shall be wholly burnt unto Jehovah.
23 And every meal-offering of the priest shall be wholly burnt: it shall not be eaten.
24 And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,
25 Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, saying, This is the law of the sin-offering: in the place where the burnt-offering is killed shall the sin-offering be killed before Jehovah: it is most holy.
26 The priest that offereth it for sin shall eat it: in a holy place shall it be eaten, in the court of the tent of meeting.
27 Whatsoever shall touch the flesh thereof shall be holy; and when there is sprinkled of the blood thereof upon any garment, thou shalt wash that whereon it was sprinkled in a holy place.
28 But the earthen vessel wherein it is boiled shall be broken; and if it be boiled in a brazen vessel, it shall be scoured, and rinsed in water.
29 Every male among the priests shall eat thereof: it is most holy.
30 And no sin-offering, whereof any of the blood is brought into the tent of meeting to make atonement in the holy place, shall be eaten: it shall be burnt with fire.
Summary
This chapter completes the trespass offering by addressing sins against one's neighbor, deceit over a deposit, robbery, oppression, or swearing falsely. The guilty person must restore in full what was wrongly taken, add a fifth, and then bring his trespass offering, so that wrongs against people and against God are both made right. The focus then shifts to the priests and the daily handling of the offerings. The fire on the altar is to be kept burning continually and never allowed to go out; the priest is to remove the ashes each morning and add wood, tending the perpetual flame. Detailed instructions follow for the burnt offering, the grain offering, including the priest's own daily grain offering, and the sin offering, with portions reserved for the priests to eat in a holy place. Holiness pervades these duties, for whatever touches the most holy offerings becomes holy. The continually burning fire and the priests' constant ministry portray a worship that never ceases, anticipating the ever-living High Priest who always lives to make intercession for us.
Key Figures
- Yahweh (the LORD) — The God who requires both restitution to wronged neighbors and faithful priestly care of his altar and offerings.
- Aaron and his sons — The priests charged with tending the perpetual fire, removing the ashes, and eating their appointed portions in a holy place.
- The one who wrongs a neighbor — The person who deals falsely with another and must make full restitution, add a fifth, and bring a trespass offering to be forgiven.
Key Verse
Leviticus 6:13 (WEB)
Fire shall be kept burning on the altar continually; it shall not go out.
Lessons Learned
- Sin against a neighbor is sin against God and calls for genuine restitution.
- Worship and devotion to God are to be continual, like the fire that never goes out.
- Faithful service includes humble, unseen duties like removing the ashes each morning.
- Holiness is contagious in God's economy; what touches the holy offerings becomes holy.
- Wronging people must be made right. The guilty “shall restore it even in full, and shall add a fifth part more to it” (Leviticus 6:5, WEB). Reconciliation with God includes repairing wrongs against others.
- The fire must never go out. “Fire shall be kept burning on the altar continually; it shall not go out” (Leviticus 6:13, WEB). God's people are to maintain unceasing, ready worship.
- Faithfulness lives in small tasks. The priest is to “remove the ashes” and “burn wood on it every morning” (Leviticus 6:10-12, WEB). Holy service includes humble, daily, unseen labor.
- Holiness is set apart and serious. The offering is “most holy” and “whoever touches them shall be holy” (Leviticus 6:17-18, WEB). What belongs to God is consecrated, not common.
- How does this chapter connect sins against a neighbor with the trespass offering to God?
- What is the significance of the altar fire being kept burning continually?
- Why might God include such ordinary tasks as removing ashes among priestly duties?
- What does it mean that the offerings are “most holy” and that what touches them becomes holy?
- What humble, daily act of devotion could you tend faithfully so that your love for God does not grow cold?
- Restitution for robbery, deceit, or oppression must come before or with the trespass offering. God will not separate worship from justice; being right with him means making right our wrongs against people.
- The unquenched fire pictures continual, ready worship and God's abiding presence with his people. It calls believers to a devotion that is steady and ongoing rather than occasional.
- Removing ashes and tending wood are humble, repetitive tasks, yet essential to worship. God dignifies faithful, unseen service, reminding us that holiness is lived out in the ordinary.
- “Most holy” marks these things as set apart for God, so sacred that contact transmits holiness. It teaches reverence and the seriousness of approaching a holy God.
- This is a gentle personal-application question. Invite members to identify a small, sustainable practice, perhaps prayer or Scripture, they can keep daily so their love stays warm. Encourage steadiness over intensity.