SEV Biblia, Chapter 5:1
¶ Y cuando alguna persona pecare, por haber sido llamado a testificar, y él fuere testigo que vio, o supo, si no lo denunciare, él llevará su pecado.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Leviticus 5:1
Verse 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.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 1. And if a soul sin , etc.] 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 call the oath of testimony or witness, and which they say 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 f114 , 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 f115 , 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.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-13 - The offences here noticed are, 1. A man's concealing the truth, when he was sworn as a witness to speak the truth, the whole truth, and nothin but the truth. If, in such a case, for fear of offending one that ha been his friend, or may be his enemy, a man refuses to give evidence or gives it but in part, he shall bear his iniquity. And that is heavy burden, which, if some course be not taken to get it removed will sink a man to hell. Let all that are called at any time to be witnesses, think of this law, and be free and open in their evidence and take heed of prevaricating. An oath of the Lord is a sacred thing not to be trifled with. 2. A man's touching any thing that wa ceremonially unclean. Though his touching the unclean thing only mad him ceremonially defiled, yet neglecting to wash himself according to the law, was either carelessness or contempt, and contracted mora guilt. As soon as God, by his Spirit, convinces our consciences of an sin or duty, we must follow the conviction, as not ashamed to own ou former mistake. 3. Rash swearing, that a man will do or not do such thing. As if the performance of his oath afterward prove unlawful, or what cannot be done. Wisdom and watchfulness beforehand would preven these difficulties. In these cases the offender must confess his sin and bring his offering; but the offering was not accepted, unles accompanied with confession and humble prayer for pardon. The confession must be particular; that he hath sinned in that thing Deceit lies in generals; many will own they have sinned, for that all must own; but their sins in any one particular they are unwilling to allow. The way to be assured of pardon, and armed against sin for the future, is to confess the exact truth. If any were very poor, the might bring some flour, and that should be accepted. Thus the expens of the sin-offering was brought lower than any other, to teach that n man's poverty shall ever bar the way of his pardon. If the sinne brought two doves, one was to be offered for a sin-offering, and the other for a burnt-offering. We must first see that our peace be mad with God, and then we may expect that our services for his glory wil be accepted by him. To show the loathsomeness of sin, the flour, when offered, must not be made grateful to the taste by oil, or to the smel by frankincense. God, by these sacrifices, spoke comfort to those wh had offended, that they might not despair, nor pine away in their sins Likewise caution not to offend any more, remembering how expensive an troublesome it was to make atonement.
Original Hebrew
ונפשׁ 5315 כי 3588 תחטא 2398 ושׁמעה 8085 קול 6963 אלה 423 והוא 1931 עד 5707 או 176 ראה 7200 או 176 ידע 3045 אם 518 לוא 3808 יגיד 5046 ונשׂא 5375 עונו׃ 5771
