Leviticus 5:1

Truth and honesty Sin

“If someone sins by failing to testify when he hears a public charge about something he has witnessed, whether he has seen it or learned of it, he shall bear the iniquity.

² Or if a person touches anything unclean—whether the carcass of any unclean wild animal or livestock or crawling creature—even if he is unaware of it, he is unclean and guilty.

³ Or if he touches human uncleanness—anything by which one becomes unclean—even if he is unaware of it, when he realizes it, he is guilty.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: “If someone sins by failing to testify when he hears a public charge about something he has witnessed, whether he has seen it or learned of it, he shall bear the iniquity.
KJV: And if a soul sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and is a witness, whether he hath seen or known of it; if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity.
WEB: “‘If anyone sins, in that he hears a public adjuration to testify, he being a witness, whether he has seen or known, if he doesn’t report it, then he shall bear his iniquity.
ASV: And if any one sin, in that he heareth the voice of adjuration, he being a witness, whether he hath seen or known, if he do not utter [it], then he shall bear his iniquity.
DARBY: And if any one sin, and hear the voice of adjuration, and he is a witness whether he hath seen or known [it], if he do not give information, then he shall bear his iniquity.
BLB: [“] And if a soul sins and hears the voice of an oath, and he [is] a witness, whether he has seen or he has known, if he does not tell, then he shall bear his iniquity.

ÅB: Når noen synder, idet han hører oppropet til ed og kunne vitne om noe som han enten har sett eller er blitt vitende om, men allikevel ikke gir opplysning derom, og det slik ligger en misgjerning på ham,
OTB: «Hvis en person synder ved å unngå å tale når de hører en offentlig oppfordring til å vitne om noe de har sett eller vet, vil de bli holdt ansvarlig.
B1930: Når nogen synder, idet han hører opropet til ed og kunde vidne om noget som han enten har sett eller er blitt vitende om, men allikevel ikke gir oplysning derom, og det således ligger en misgjerning på ham,

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Leviticus 5:17
If someone sins and violates any of the LORD’s commandments even though he was unaware, he is guilty and shall bear his punishment.
Read in context
Proverbs 29:24
A partner to a thief hates his own soul; he receives the oath, but does not testify.
Read in context
Leviticus 7:18
If any of the meat from his peace offering is eaten on the third day, it will not be accepted. It will not be credited to the one who presented it; it shall be an abomination, and the one who eats of it shall bear his iniquity.
Read in context
Leviticus 19:8
Whoever eats it will bear his iniquity, for he has profaned what is holy to the LORD. That person must be cut off from his people.
Read in context
Matthew 26:63
But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to Him, “I charge You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God.”
Read in context
Leviticus 20:17
If a man marries his sister, whether the daughter of his father or of his mother, and they have sexual relations, it is a disgrace. They must be cut off in the sight of their people. He has uncovered the nakedness of his sister; he shall bear his iniquity.
Read in context
Leviticus 17:16
But if he does not wash his clothes and bathe himself, then he shall bear his iniquity.”
Read in context
Numbers 9:13
But if a man who is ceremonially clean and is not on a journey still fails to observe the Passover, he must be cut off from his people, because he did not present the LORD’s offering at its appointed time. That man will bear the consequences of his sin.
Read in context