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 or if he touches human uncleanness, of whatever sort the uncleanness may be with which one becomes unclean, and it is hidden from him, when he comes to know it, and realizes his guilt;