Leviticus 5:1-6

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 5:2

Or if a soul touch any unclean thing ,.... Meaning an Israelite, for only such were bound by this law, which pronounced a person unclean that touched anything that was so in a ceremonial sense; this is the general, including whatsoever by the law was unclean; the particulars follow: whether it be a carcass of an unclean beast , as the camel, the coney, the hare, and the swine, Leviticus 11:2 . or a carcass of unclean cattle ; as the horse, and the ass, which were unclean for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 5:3

Or if he touch the uncleanness of man ,.... The dead body of a man, or the bone of a dead body, or a grave, or any profluvious or menstruous person: whatsoever uncleanness it be that a man shall be defiled withal : not morally, but ceremonially: and it be hid from him ; he is not sensible that he has touched any thing ceremonially unclean: when he knoweth of it , then he shall be guilty : acknowledge his guilt, and offer a sacrifice for it, as after directed. read more

John Gill

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

John Gill

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

And it shall be, when he shall be guilty in one of these things ,.... Before expressed in the preceding verses; the Targum of Jonathan is,"in one of the four things,'which Ben Gersom particularly mentions in the oath of witness, or the pollution of the sanctuary, or the pollution of its holy things, or a vain oath: that he shall confess that he hath sinned in that thing ; not make confession of sin in general, but of that particular sin he is guilty of; and this he was to do before he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 5:6

And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the Lord, for the sin which he hath sinned ,.... To make atonement for it; this was typical of the sacrifice of Christ, whose soul was made an offering for sin, אשם , "Asham" a trespass offering, Isaiah 53:10 where the same word is used as here: a female from the flock, a lamb, or kid of the goats, for a sin offering ; it is generally thought there was a difference between a trespass offering and a sin offering; but it is not easy to say... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Leviticus 5:2

Any unclean thing - Either the dead body of a clean animal, or the living or dead carcass of any unclean creature. All such persons were to wash their clothes and themselves in clean water, and were considered as unclean till the evening, Leviticus 11:24-31 . But if this had been neglected, they were obliged to bring a trespass-offering. What this meant, see in the notes on Leviticus 7 (note). read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Leviticus 5:4

To do evil, or to do good - It is very likely that rash promises are here intended; for if a man vow to do an act that is evil, though it would be criminal to keep such an oath or vow, yet he is guilty because he made it, and therefore must offer the trespass-offering. If he neglect to do the good he has vowed, he is guilty, and must in both cases confess his iniquity, and bring his trespass-offering. read more

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