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Contemporary English Version

Leviticus 5:1

The Lord said: If you refuse to testify in court about something you saw or know has happened, you have sinned and can be punished.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Evidence;   Witness;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Atonement, under the Law;   Courts of Justice;   Trespass Offering;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Oath;   Trespass;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Witness;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Clean, Unclean;   Conscience;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Witness;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Adjuration;   Atonement;   Oath;   Sacrifice;   Witnesses;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Crimes and Punishments;   Guilt;   Lamb of God;   Leviticus;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Confession;   Guilt;   Leviticus;   Oil;   Priests and Levites;   Propitiation;   Sacrifice and Offering;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Trial-At-Law;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Oath;   Offerings, the;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Adjure;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Measures;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Witness;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Tabernacle, the;   Worship, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Adjuration;   Heifer, Red;   Leviticus;   Oath;   Salvation;   Talmud;   Witness;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Asmodeus;   Caution;   Commandments, the 613;   Contempt of Court;   Eleazar B. Mattai (Matthias);   Evidence;   Ḳinnim;   Ḳodashim;   Mishnah;   Oath;   Ordeal;   Perjury;   Repentance;   Sacrifice;   Shebu'ot;   Sin-Offering;   Subpœna;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
"'If anyone sins, in that he hears the voice of adjuration, he being a witness, whether he has seen or known, if he doesn't report it, then he shall bear his iniquity.
King James Version
And if a soul sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and is a witness, whether he hath seen or known of it; if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity.
Lexham English Bible
"‘When a person sins in that he hears the utterance of a curse and he is a witness or he sees or he knows, if he does not make it known, then he shall bear his guilt.
New Century Version
"‘If a person is ordered to tell in court what he has seen or what he knows and he does not tell the court, he is guilty of sin.
New English Translation
"‘When a person sins in that he hears a public curse against one who fails to testify and he is a witness (he either saw or knew what had happened) and he does not make it known, then he will bear his punishment for iniquity.
Amplified Bible
'If anyone sins after he hears a public adjuration (solemn command to testify) when he is a witness, whether he has seen or [otherwise] known [something]—if he fails to report it, then he will bear his guilt and be held responsible.
New American Standard Bible
'Now if a person sins after he hears a public order to testify when he is a witness, whether he has seen or otherwise known, if he does not tell it, then he will bear his punishment.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Also if any haue sinned, that is, If he haue heard the voyce of an othe, and hee can be a witnes, whether he hath seene or knowen of it, if hee doe not vtter it, he shall beare his iniquitie:
Legacy Standard Bible
‘Now if a person sins after he hears a public oath to testify when he is a witness, whether he has seen or otherwise known, if he does not tell it, then he will bear his guilt.
Complete Jewish Bible
"‘If a person who is a witness, sworn to testify, sins by refusing to tell what he has seen or heard about the matter, he must bear the consequences.
Darby Translation
And if any one sin, and hear the voice of adjuration, and he is a witness whether he hath seen or known [it], if he do not give information, then he shall bear his iniquity.
Easy-to-Read Version
"You might be called as a witness and take an oath to tell the truth. If you saw something or knew something but did not tell it, you are guilty of doing wrong and must bear the responsibility for your guilt.
English Standard Version
"If anyone sins in that he hears a public adjuration to testify, and though he is a witness, whether he has seen or come to know the matter, yet does not speak, he shall bear his iniquity;
George Lamsa Translation
WHEN a person sins and hears the voice of swearing and is a witness, whether he has seen or known of it, if he do not tell it, then he shall suffer for his iniquity.
Good News Translation
Sin offerings are required in the following cases. If you are officially summoned to give evidence in court and do not give information about something you have seen or heard, you must suffer the consequences.
Christian Standard Bible®
“When someone sins in any of these ways:
Literal Translation
And when a person sins, and hears the voice of swearing, and he is a witness, or has seen, or has known, if he does not reveal it, then he shall bear his iniquity.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Whan a soule synneth, yt he heare a cursynge, and is wytnesse therof, or hath sene it, or knowne it, & telleth it not, he is giltie of a trespace.
American Standard Version
And if any one sin, in that he heareth the voice of adjuration, he being a witness, whether he hath seen or known, if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity.
Bible in Basic English
And if anyone does wrong by saying nothing when he is put under oath as a witness of something he has seen or had knowledge of, then he will be responsible:
Bishop's Bible (1568)
If a soule sinne, and heare the voyce of swearing, and is a witnesse, whether he hath seene or knowen of it, if he do not vtter it, he shall beare his sinne.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And if any one sin, in that he heareth the voice of adjuration, he being a witness, whether he hath seen or known, if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity;
King James Version (1611)
And if a soule sinne, and heare the voyce of swearing, and is a witnesse, whether he hath seene or knowen of it, if he doe not vtter it, then he shall beare his iniquity.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And if a soul sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and he is a witness or has seen or been conscious, if he do not report it, he shall bear his iniquity.
English Revised Version
And if any one sin, in that he heareth the voice of adjuration, he being a witness, whether he hath seen or known, if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity:
Berean Standard Bible
If someone sins by failing to testify when he hears a public charge about something he has witnessed, whether he has seen it or learned of it, he shall bear the iniquity.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
If a soule synneth, and hereth the vois of a swerere, and is witnesse, `for ether he siy, ether `is witynge, if he schewith not, he schal bere his synne.
Young's Literal Translation
`And when a person doth sin, and hath heard the voice of an oath, and he [is] witness, or hath seen, or hath known -- if he declare not, then he hath borne his iniquity:
Update Bible Version
And if any one sins, in that he hears the voice of adjuration, he being a witness, whether he has seen or known, if he does not utter [it], then he shall bear his iniquity.
Webster's Bible Translation
And if a soul shall sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and be a witness, whether he hath seen or known [of it]; if he doth not utter [it], then he shall bear his iniquity.
World English Bible
"'If anyone sins, in that he hears the voice of adjuration, he being a witness, whether he has seen or known, if he doesn't report it, then he shall bear his iniquity.
New King James Version
"If a person sins in hearing the utterance of an oath, and is a witness, whether he has seen or known of the matter--if he does not tell it, he bears guilt.
New Living Translation
"If you are called to testify about something you have seen or that you know about, it is sinful to refuse to testify, and you will be punished for your sin.
New Life Bible
‘If a person sins by saying nothing when he is told in court to tell what he knows or what he has seen, he will become guilty.
New Revised Standard
When any of you sin in that you have heard a public adjuration to testify and—though able to testify as one who has seen or learned of the matter—do not speak up, you are subject to punishment.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Any person, moreover, whensoever he shall sin in that, when he heareth a voice of swearing, he himself, being a witness either seeing or knowing, - if he do not tell and so hath to bear his iniquity: -
Douay-Rheims Bible
If any one sin, and hear the voice of one swearing, and is a witness either because he himself hath seen, or is privy to it: if he do not utter it, he shall bear his iniquity.
Revised Standard Version
"If any one sins in that he hears a public adjuration to testify and though he is a witness, whether he has seen or come to know the matter, yet does not speak, he shall bear his iniquity.
THE MESSAGE
"If you sin by not stepping up and offering yourself as a witness to something you've heard or seen in cases of wrongdoing, you'll be held responsible.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
'Now if a person sins after he hears a public adjuration to testify when he is a witness, whether he has seen or otherwise known, if he does not tell it, then he will bear his guilt.

Contextual Overview

1 The Lord said: If you refuse to testify in court about something you saw or know has happened, you have sinned and can be punished. 2 You are guilty and unfit to worship me, if you accidentally touch the dead body of any kind of unclean animal. 3 You are guilty if you find out that you have accidentally touched any waste that comes from a human body. 4 You are guilty the moment you realize that you have made a hasty promise to do something good or bad. 5 As soon as you discover that you have committed any of these sins, you must confess what you have done. 6 Then you must bring a female sheep or goat to me as the price for your sin. A priest will sacrifice the animal, and you will be forgiven.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

a soul: Leviticus 5:15, Leviticus 5:17, Leviticus 4:2, Ezekiel 18:4, Ezekiel 18:20

hear: Exodus 22:11, Judges 17:2, 1 Kings 8:31, 1 Kings 22:16, 2 Chronicles 18:15, Proverbs 29:24, Proverbs 30:9, Matthew 26:63

the voice of swearing: Kol alah, rather, "the voice of adjuration," צשםחם ןסךיףלןץ, as the LXX render; for this does not relate to the duty of informing against a common swearer, but to the case of a person who, being adjured by the civil magistrate to answer upon oath, refuses to declare what he knows upon the subject - such an one shall bear his iniquity - shall be considered as guilty in the sight of God of the transgression which he has endeavoured to conceal, and must expect to be punished for hiding the iniquity with which he was acquainted.

bear: Leviticus 5:17, Leviticus 7:18, Leviticus 17:16, Leviticus 19:8, Leviticus 20:17, Numbers 9:13, Psalms 38:4, Isaiah 53:11, 1 Peter 2:24

Reciprocal: Exodus 28:43 - bear not iniquity Leviticus 6:20 - the tenth Leviticus 7:37 - trespass Leviticus 14:19 - General Leviticus 19:21 - General Leviticus 24:15 - bear his sin Numbers 5:6 - When Numbers 15:31 - his iniquity Numbers 18:9 - every trespass Numbers 30:15 - he shall bear 2 Chronicles 6:22 - and an oath

Cross-References

Genesis 2:4
That's how God created the heavens and the earth. When the Lord God made the heavens and the earth,
Genesis 5:26
Methuselah had more children
Genesis 5:27
and died at the age of nine hundred sixty-nine.
Genesis 6:9
and this is the story about him. Noah was the only person who lived right and obeyed God.
Genesis 10:1
After the flood Shem, Ham, and Japheth had many descendants.
1 Chronicles 1:1
Adam was the father of Seth, and his descendants were Enosh, Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, and Noah, who had three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
Ecclesiastes 7:29
I did learn one thing: We were completely honest when God created us, but now we have twisted minds.
Ecclesiastes 12:1
Keep your Creator in mind while you are young! In years to come, you will be burdened down with troubles and say, "I don't enjoy life anymore."
Matthew 1:1
Jesus Christ came from the family of King David and also from the family of Abraham. And this is a list of his ancestors.
1 Corinthians 11:7
Men were created to be like God and to bring honor to God. This means that a man should not wear anything on his head. Women were created to bring honor to men.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And if a soul sin,.... The soul is put for the person, and is particularly mentioned, as Ben Melech says, because possessed of will and desire:

and hear the voice of swearing; or cursing, or adjuration; not of profane swearing, and taking the name of God in vain, but either of false swearing, or perjury, as when a man hears another swear to a thing which he knows is false; or else of adjuration, either the voice of a magistrate or of a neighbour adjuring another, calling upon him with an oath to bear testimony in such a case; this is what the Jews r call the oath of testimony or witness, and which they say s is binding in whatsoever language it is heard:

and is a witness; is able to bear witness to the thing he is adjured about:

whether he hath seen or known of it; what he has seen with his eyes, or knows by any means: of such a case, the Jews observe t, that there may be seeing without knowing, or knowing without seeing, and in either case a man ought to bear witness:

if he do not utter it; tell the truth, declare what he has seen or known:

then he shall bear his iniquity; he shall be charged with sin, and be obliged to acknowledge his offence, and bring a trespass offering for it: it is said u, that the witnesses are not guilty of the oath of the testimony, but in these ten cases; if they are required; if the testimony is concerning goods; if the goods are movable; if he that requires binds himself to pay for their testimony only, in case they bear witness; if they refuse after required; if they refuse in the sanhedrim; if the adjuration or oath is made there by the name of God, or his titles; if knowledge of the testimony goes before the oath; if he particularizes his witnesses in the time of the oath, or at the time of the requirement; and if the oath is in a language they understood.

r Misn. Sotah, c. 7. 1. s Maimon. & Bartenora in ib. T. Bab. Sotah, fol. 33. 1. t T. Bab. Shebuot, fol. 33. 2. & 34. 1. u Maimon. Hilchot, Shebuot, c. 9. sect. 3.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Special occasions are mentioned on which sin-offerings are to be made with a particular confession of the offence for which atonement is sought Leviticus 5:5.

Leviticus 5:1

Swearing - Adjuration. The case appears to be that of one who has been put upon his oath as a witness by a magistrate, and fails to utter all he has seen and heard (compare the marginal references. and Proverbs 29:24; Numbers 5:21).

Leviticus 5:2-3

Hid from him - Either through forgetfulness or indifference, so that purification had been neglected. In such a case there had been a guilty negligence, and a sin-offering was required. On the essential connection between impurity and the sin-offering, see Leviticus 12:1.

Leviticus 5:4

Pronouncing - Idly speaking Psalms 106:33. The reference is to an oath to do something uttered in recklessness or passion and forgotten as soon as uttered.

Leviticus 5:6

His trespass offering - Rather, as his forfeit, that is, whatever is due for his offence. The term “trespass-offering” is out of place here, since it has become the current designation for a distinct kind of sin-offering mentioned in the next section (see Leviticus 5:14 note).

A lamb or a kid of the goats - A sheep Leviticus 4:32 or a shaggy she-goat Leviticus 4:23.

Leviticus 5:7-10

See Leviticus 1:14-16; Leviticus 12:8. In the larger offerings of the ox and the sheep, the fat which was burned upon the altar represented, like the burnt-offering, the dedication of the worshipper; in this case, the same meaning was conveyed by one of the birds being treated as a distinct burnt-offering.

Leviticus 5:7

A lamb - One of the flock, either a sheep or a goat.

For his trespass, which he hath committed - As his forfeit for the sin he hath committed.

Leviticus 5:11

tenth part of an ephah i. e. - “the tenth deal;” probably less than half a gallon. See Leviticus 19:36 note. This sin-offering of meal was distinguished from the ordinary מנחה mı̂nchāh Leviticus 2:1 by the absence of oil and frankincense.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

CHAPTER V

Concerning witnesses who, being adjured, refuse to tell the

truth, 1.

Of those who contract defilement by touching unclean things

or persons, 2, 3.

Of those who bind themselves by vows or oaths, and do not

fulfil them, 4, 5.

The trespass-offering prescribed in such cases, a lamb or a

kid, 6;

a turtle-dove or two young pigeons, 7-10;

or an ephah of fine flour with oil and frankincense, 11-13.

Other laws relative to trespasses, through ignorance in holy

things, 14-16.

Of trespasses in things unknown, 17-19.

NOTES ON CHAP. V

Verse Leviticus 5:1. If a soul sin — It is generally supposed that the case referred to here is that of a person who, being demanded by the civil magistrate to answer upon oath, refuses to tell what he knows concerning the subject; such a one shall bear his iniquity - shall be considered as guilty in the sight of God, of the transgression which he has endeavoured to conceal, and must expect to be punished by him for hiding the iniquity to which he was privy, or suppressing the truth which, being discovered, would have led to the exculpation of the innocent, and the punishment of the guilty.


 
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