Leviticus 5:2

1 “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.

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.

4 Or if someone swears thoughtlessly with his lips to do anything good or evil—in whatever matter a man may rashly pronounce an oath—even if he is unaware of it, when he realizes it, he is guilty in the matter.

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
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.
KJV
Or if a soul touch any unclean thing, whether it be a carcase of an unclean beast, or a carcase of unclean cattle, or the carcase of unclean creeping things, and if it be hidden from him; he also shall be unclean, and guilty.
WEB
“‘Or if anyone touches any unclean thing, whether it is the carcass of an unclean animal, or the carcass of unclean livestock, or the carcass of unclean creeping things, and it is hidden from him, and he is unclean, then he shall be guilty.
ASV
Or if any one touch any unclean thing, whether it be the carcass of an unclean beast, or the carcass of unclean cattle, or the carcass of unclean creeping things, and it be hidden from him, and he be unclean, then he shall be guilty.
DARBY
Or if any one touch any unclean thing, whether it be the carcase of an unclean beast, or the carcase of unclean cattle, or the carcase of an unclean crawling thing, and it be hid from him, he also is unclean and guilty;
BLB
Or if a soul touches any unclean thing, whether the carcass of an unclean beast or the carcass of unclean livestock or the carcass of an unclean swarming thing, and it is hidden from him, then he [is] unclean and guilty.
ÅB
eller når noen uten å vite det rører ved noe urent, enten det er åtselet av et urent vilt dyr eller åtselet av et urent tamt dyr eller åtselet av et urent kryp, og han slik er blitt uren og har ført skyld over seg,
OTB
Eller hvis en person blir klar over sin skyld etter uforvarende å ha berørt noe som er seremonielt urent—enten det er skrotten av et urent dyr, enten vilt eller tamt, eller noe urent kryp som beveger seg på bakken—og de innser sin urenhet;
B1930
eller når nogen uten å vite det rører ved noget urent, enten det er åtselet av et urent vilt dyr eller åtselet av et urent tamt dyr eller åtselet av et urent kryp, og han således er blitt uren og har ført skyld over sig,

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
  • Deuteronomy 14:8

    as well as the pig; though it has a divided hoof, it does not chew the cud. It is unclean for you. You must not eat its meat or touch its carcass.

    Read in context
  • Leviticus 11:11

    They shall be an abomination to you; you must not eat their meat, and you must detest their carcasses.

    Read in context
  • Leviticus 11:24–40

    These creatures will make you unclean. Whoever touches their carcasses will be unclean until evening,

    Read in context
  • Haggai 2:13

    So Haggai asked, “If one who is defiled by contact with a corpse touches any of these, does it become defiled?” “Yes, it becomes defiled,” the priests answered.

    Read in context
  • Numbers 19:11–16

    Whoever touches any dead body will be unclean for seven days.

    Read in context
  • Leviticus 5:4

    Or if someone swears thoughtlessly with his lips to do anything good or evil—in whatever matter a man may rashly pronounce an oath—even if he is unaware of it, when he realizes it, he is guilty in the matter.

    Read in context
  • Luke 11:44

    Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, which men walk over without even noticing.”

    Read in context