Leviticus 5:1

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Leviticus 5:1-6

I. The offences here supposed are, 1. A man's concealing the truth when he was sworn as a witness to speak the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Judges among the Jews had power to adjure not only the witnesses, as with us, but the person suspected (contrary to a rule of our law, that no man is bound to accuse himself), as appears by the high priest adjuring our Saviour, who thereupon answered, though before he stood silent, Matt. 26:63, 64. Now (Lev. 5:1), If a soul sin (that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 5:1

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... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 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 endeavored 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... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Leviticus 5:1

Verse 1 1.And if a soul sin. The three kinds of offense, to which Moses refers in the beginning of the chapter, seem to differ much from each other; for the first, when a person concealed a matter which he knew, could not arise from error, yet I include this concealment of which he treats under the head of error, by supposing it to have been when a person should be induced by shame or fear to connive at any crime or offense respecting which he might be interrogated, and so, without any design... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 5:1

The case of a witness on oath. If a man hear the voice of swearing , that is, if he was one of a number of persons adjured to speak according to the manner in which oaths were administered in Jewish courts of justice (see Matthew 26:63 ; 2 Chronicles 18:15 ), and he did not give evidence of what he had seen or heard, he had to bear his iniquity , that is, he was regarded as guilty; and as this was an offense which could be atoned for by a sacrifice, he was to offer as a sin offering a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 5:1

Fidelity in bearing witness. The sinfulness of withholding evidence in a court of law is here formally and solemnly incorporated in the divine statutes. We may remind ourselves— I. THAT WE SPEND OUR LIFE IN THE SIGHT OF MAN AS WELL AS UNDER THE EYE OF GOD . That we do everything in God's view is a truth the fullness and the greatness of which we cannot exaggerate. "Thou God seest me" should be as a frontlet for every man to wear between the eyes of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 5:1-13

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 5:1-13

Guilt removed. The Psalmist cried out, "Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults." To dwell upon the manner in which sin may be committed, and to try to deepen our sense of its flagrancy, is not a pleasant employment, but it is highly necessary. And, blessed be God! a rainbow of cheerful hope spans the dark cloud of transgression; the same page that speaks of sin tells also of forgiveness. I. This chapter reminds the Israelites of several ways in which, without... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 5:1-13

The trespass offering. This was very much of the nature of the sin offering. Julius Bate translates the word ( אשם , asham ) "guilt offering." Possibly the "sin offering" and the "burnt offering" may be here comprehended under the general expression, "trespass offering" (see Leviticus 5:7 ). We have here brought under our notice— I. EXAMPLES OF the TRESPASS . Leviticus 5:1-4 , Taken in order these are: 1 . Concealing the truth when adjured. 2 . Touching an... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 5:1-13

Cases of concealment of knowledge and ceremonial uncleanness. They are in some sense trespasses, although not properly under the head of trespass offerings. The ground of guilt is covenant relation violated. We may take this in its twofold aspect— I. As revealing THE POSITIVE VALUE OF THAT COVENANT RELATION . 1 . It separated from the unclean, and therefore enforced holiness. 2 . It maintained society. Man's duty to his fellows was exalted. He must speak the... read more

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