The reader of Leviticus must be careful not to assume that the knowledge of sin makes a person guilty. This passage highlights that the offender is guilty whether he knows it or not. The term “guilt” (‘šm) refers to both the sin and its punishment. Leviticus 5:1–19 underscores that once an inadvertent sin is made known to the person, he then bears the responsibility for it and is liable to present a sin offering.
3 Lorsque, sans y prendre garde, il touchera une souillure humaine quelconque, et qu'il s'en aperçoive plus tard, il en sera coupable.