The Meaning of Leviticus 6:2 Explained

Leviticus 6:2

KJV: If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the LORD, and lie unto his neighbour in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbour;

YLT: 'When any person doth sin, and hath committed a trespass against Jehovah, and hath lied to his fellow concerning a deposit, or concerning fellowship, or concerning violent robbery, or hath oppressed his fellow;

Darby: If any one sin and act unfaithfully against Jehovah, and lie to his neighbour as to an entrusted thing or a deposit or that in which he hath robbed or wronged his neighbour,

ASV: If any one sin, and commit a trespass against Jehovah, and deal falsely with his neighbor in a matter of deposit, or of bargain, or of robbery, or have oppressed his neighbor,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

If a soul  sin,  and commit  a trespass  against the LORD,  and lie  unto his neighbour  in that which was delivered  him to keep, or in fellowship,  or in a thing taken away by violence,  or hath deceived  his neighbour; 

What does Leviticus 6:2 Mean?

Context Summary

Leviticus 6:1-7 - Trespass-Offerings And Restitution
The root idea of the Hebrew word for trespass is "failure of duty through negligence." In addition to the sin itself, which is against God, as the august Custodian of the law and order of the universe, the injury, which such negligence inflicts upon one's neighbor, must be met by a compensation and fine. Any sum which another has lost through us should, of course, be repaid, and a fifth part added, if required. But probably, the main lesson of the trespass-offering is that we cannot injure any fellow-creature without offending against God. Our offence penetrates beyond the thin veil of humanity and the visible universe into the unseen Holy.
In dealing with all failures in regard to our fellows, there are three points, therefore, always to bear in mind: First, we must confess the sin to God; second, we must seek out our brother and confess to him, and ask his forgiveness, that we may win him, as our Lord said, Matthew 18:15; and, third, we must make restitution, with an addition. This was the teaching under the Law. Should it be less under the Gospel of love? [source]

Chapter Summary: Leviticus 6

1  The trespass offering for sins done wittingly
8  The law of the burnt offering
14  and of the meat offering
19  The offering at the consecration of a priest
24  The law of the sin offering

What do the individual words in Leviticus 6:2 mean?

a person if sins and commits a trespass against Yahweh and by lying to his neighbor about what was delivered to him for safekeeping or about a pledge or about a robbery or if he has extorted - from his neighbor
נֶ֚פֶשׁ כִּ֣י תֶחֱטָ֔א וּמָעֲלָ֥ה מַ֖עַל בַּיהוָ֑ה וְכִחֵ֨שׁ בַּעֲמִית֜וֹ בְּפִקָּד֗וֹן אֽוֹ־ בִתְשׂ֤וּמֶת יָד֙ א֣וֹ בְגָזֵ֔ל א֖וֹ עָשַׁ֥ק אֶת־ עֲמִיתֽוֹ

נֶ֚פֶשׁ  a  person 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: נֶפֶשׁ  
Sense: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.
תֶחֱטָ֔א  sins 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: חָטָא 
Sense: to sin, miss, miss the way, go wrong, incur guilt, forfeit, purify from uncleanness.
וּמָעֲלָ֥ה  and  commits 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: מָעַל  
Sense: to act unfaithfully, act treacherously, transgress, commit a trespass.
מַ֖עַל  a  trespass 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מַעַל  
Sense: unfaithful or treacherous act, trespass.
בַּיהוָ֑ה  against  Yahweh 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
וְכִחֵ֨שׁ  and  by  lying 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: כָּחַשׁ  
Sense: to deceive, lie, fail, grow lean, be disappointing, be untrue, be insufficient, be found liars, belie, deny, dissemble, deal falsely.
בַּעֲמִית֜וֹ  to  his  neighbor 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: עָמִית  
Sense: relation, neighbour, associate, fellow.
בְּפִקָּד֗וֹן  about  what  was  delivered  to  him  for  safekeeping 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: פִּקָּדֹון  
Sense: deposit, store, supply.
בִתְשׂ֤וּמֶת  about 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: תְּשׂוּמָה  
Sense: pledge, security, deposit.
יָד֙  a  pledge 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
בְגָזֵ֔ל  about  a  robbery 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: גָּזֵל  
Sense: robbery, something plundered.
א֖וֹ  or  if 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: אֹו 
Sense: or, rather.
עָשַׁ֥ק  he  has  extorted 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָשַׁק  
Sense: to press upon, oppress, violate, defraud, do violence, get deceitfully, wrong, extort.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
עֲמִיתֽוֹ  from  his  neighbor 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: עָמִית  
Sense: relation, neighbour, associate, fellow.