guilt offering

One of the more familiar Old Testament messianic prophecies of the Old Testament appears in the Book of Isaiah 53:10 (USCCB): “If he gives his life as an offering for sin, he shall see his descendants in a long life, and the will of the LORD shall be accomplished through him.” This is a fascinating passage on many levels, and the translation tends to miss a very important connection.

The word translated as “offering for sin” is the word used to describe a particular type of offering in Israelite religious practice—which also is known as a guilt offering, a reparation offering, or a trespass offering. These offerings are described several times in the fifth through seventh chapters of the book of Leviticus (NABRE). A few common themes stand out. The offerings involved make individual reparations or payback for any damage caused by sin—not only paying an equal amount but a fifth more along with the offering of an unblemished ram. Moreover, the book of Leviticus 7:1 (NABRE) describes such offerings as “most holy.”

Consider this verse from the Book of Isaiah again as a description of such an offering. What part does the person being described in this passage play? What’s still missing? What role do you think we might have in the making reparation for our own sins?

related topic: offering

you also may like our two-part study of the psalms
Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church provides an in-depth look at all 150 psalms based on The Abbey Psalms and Canticles, a translation prepared by the Benedictine monks of Conception Abbey and endorsed by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). This translation is being included in new Liturgy of the Hours books. Volume I currently is available only in a digital format. Click on these links to view a sample first lesson from Volume I and another from Volume II.

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