John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 5:4
Or if a soul swear ,.... A rash or vain oath: pronouncing with his lips ; not in his heart, as Jarchi notes; not saying within himself that he would do this, or that, or the other thing, but expressing his oath plainly and distinctly, with an audible voice: to do good, or to do evil ; which was either impossible or unlawful for him to do; whether the good or evil he swears to do is to himself or to another; whether he swears to do good to himself, and evil to another, or, good to... read more
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