1. Leviticus 22:14 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

What if someone eats the holy food unintentionally?

Leviticus 22:14 (ESV)

14 And if anyone eats of a holy thing unintentionally, he shall add the fifth of its value to it and give the holy thing to the priest.

Leviticus 22:10 and Leviticus 22:13 highlight the point that no lay person may eat the holy food. If, however, an unauthorized person eats the food, he must replace the food and add 20% to it. This law is apparently based on the guilt offering, in which the same penalty is imposed (Leviticus 5:14–16).