Bible Commentaries

soul = a person. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.

sin. Hebrew. chata. App-44.

and hear = because he heard.

swearing = adjuration. is = "he [is]".

iniquity = perverseness. Hebrew. "avail. App-44. Put here by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause) for the punishment due to it. App-6.

be hidden: i.e. if he forget his uncleanness. This clause "and if", &c, is omitted in the Septuagint and included in Leviticus 5:3.

man. Hebrew. "adam. See App-14.

pronouncing with his lips = speaking heedlessly.

evil. Hebrew. ra"a". App-44.

evil . . . good. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Whole), to include all human actions. Compare Genesis 24:50; Genesis 31:29. Numbers 24:13.

sinned. Hebrew. chata. App-44.

his trespass offering = as his trespass offering. Hebrew. "asham.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.

sin. Hebrew. chata. App-44.

make an atonement. See note on Exodus 26:33.

trespass. Hebrew. "asham. App-44.

manner. See note on Leviticus 1:14, &c.

offering. Hebrew. korban. App-43. For the poor only a little flour. Compare Leviticus 4:23; Leviticus 4:28. All equally forgiven. Compare Leviticus 4:26, Leviticus 4:31 and Leviticus 5:13.

sin offering: and not a minchah, Leviticus 2:11.

a memorial thereof = a memorial portion.

burn = burn as incense. Hebrew. katar. App-43.

according to = upon.

offerings made by fire. Hebrew. ishsheh. App-43.

one of these. Specified in verses: Leviticus 5:1-4 above. Compare Leviticus 5:5.

and the remnant: better "and it shall belong to the priest".

spake. This formula denotes another communication made at a different time, and gives a further development of the laws of the trespass offering. Note that in this book Jehovah "spake" at thirty-five "sundry times", and in ten "divers manners" (see App-10):

(1) To Moses alone (Leviticus 5:14; Leviticus 6:1, Leviticus 6:19; Leviticus 8:1; Leviticus 14:1; Leviticus 22:26; Leviticus 23:26).
(2) To Moses, to speak to Aaron alone (Leviticus 16:1).
(3) To Moses, to speak to "Aaron and his sons" (Leviticus 6:8, Leviticus 6:24; Leviticus 22:1).
(4) To Moses, to speak to "the priests, the sons of Aaron" (Leviticus 21:1).
(5) To Moses, to speak to "Aaron and his sons, and in all the children of Israel" (Leviticus 17:1; Leviticus 21:16 (Compare Leviticus 5:24); Leviticus 22:17).
(6) To Moses, to speak to "the children of Israel" (Leviticus 1:1; Leviticus 4:1; Leviticus 7:22, Leviticus 7:28;
Leviticus 12:1; Leviticus 18:1; Leviticus 20:1; Leviticus 23:1, Leviticus 23:9, Leviticus 23:23; Leviticus 24:1, Leviticus 24:13; Leviticus 25:1; Leviticus 27:1).
(7) To Moses, to speak "to all the congregation of the children of Israel" (Leviticus 19:1).
(8) To Moses and Aaron conjointly (Leviticus 13:1; Leviticus 14:33).
(9) To Moses and Aaron, to speak to "the children of Israel" (Leviticus 11:1; Leviticus 15:1).
(10) To Aaron alone (Leviticus 10:8).

The reasons for these distinctions will be seen from the respective contexts.

trespass. Hebrew. ma"al, to act covertly; to be faithless, especially in covenant matters, either with God (Leviticus 26:40. Numbers 31:16. Deuteronomy 32:51, &c.) or between husband and wife (Numbers 5:12, Numbers 5:27). Not the same word as in verses: Leviticus 5:6, Leviticus 5:7, Leviticus 5:15, Leviticus 6:16, and below in this verse.

holy things, &c., such as firstfruits, firstborn, &c. Exodus 28:38. See note on Exodus 3:5.

estimation = valuation. Made here by Moses, transferred by him to the priests. See Leviticus 27:8, Leviticus 27:12. Numbers 18:16.

harm that he hath done. Hebrew. chat"a. App-44.

add. In trespass in holy things sacrifice comes first (Leviticus 5:15) and addition afterwards. In human affairs the addition comes first (Leviticus 6:5) and sacrifice follows (Leviticus 6:7).

any = any one of these things specified in Leviticus 5:15.

wist it not = knew it not. This effectually disposes of the fallacy that it is only sincerity that matters. Note the repetition of the words in verses: Leviticus 5:17-19 to emphasize this.

iniquity. Hebrew. "avah. App-44.

erred. Hebrew. shagag. App-44.

trespassed. Hebrew. "asham. App-44. Compare Leviticus 5:17.