The Meaning of Leviticus 6:3 Explained

Leviticus 6:3

KJV: Or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it, and sweareth falsely; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein:

YLT: or hath found a lost thing, and hath lied concerning it, and hath sworn to a falsehood, concerning one of all these which man doth, sinning in them:

Darby: or have found what was lost, and denieth it, and sweareth falsely in anything of all that man doeth, sinning therein;

ASV: or have found that which was lost, and deal falsely therein, and swear to a lie; in any of all these things that a man doeth, sinning therein;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Or have found  that which was lost,  and lieth  concerning it, and sweareth  falsely;  in any  of all these that a man  doeth,  sinning  therein: 

What does Leviticus 6:3 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 6:3 mean?

or if he has found a lost thing and lies concerning it and swears in regard falsely in one of any [thing] that may do a man he sins in them
אֽוֹ־ מָצָ֧א אֲבֵדָ֛ה וְכִ֥חֶשׁ בָּ֖הּ וְנִשְׁבַּ֣ע עַל־ שָׁ֑קֶר עַל־ אַחַ֗ת מִכֹּ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־ יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה הָאָדָ֖ם לַחֲטֹ֥א בָהֵֽנָּה

אֽוֹ־  or  if 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: אֹו 
Sense: or, rather.
מָצָ֧א  he  has  found 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מָצָא  
Sense: to find, attain to.
אֲבֵדָ֛ה  a  lost  thing 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֲבֵדָה  
Sense: a lost thing, something lost.
וְכִ֥חֶשׁ  and  lies 
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.
בָּ֖הּ  concerning  it 
Parse: Preposition, third person feminine singular
וְנִשְׁבַּ֣ע  and  swears 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁבַע  
Sense: to swear, adjure.
עַל־  in  regard 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
שָׁ֑קֶר  falsely 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֶׁקֶר  
Sense: lie, deception, disappointment, falsehood.
אַחַ֗ת  one 
Parse: Number, feminine singular
Root: אֶחָד  
Sense: one (number).
מִכֹּ֛ל  of  any  [thing] 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
אֲשֶׁר־  that 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה  may  do 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
הָאָדָ֖ם  a  man 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: man, mankind.
לַחֲטֹ֥א  he  sins 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: חָטָא 
Sense: to sin, miss, miss the way, go wrong, incur guilt, forfeit, purify from uncleanness.
בָהֵֽנָּה  in  them 
Parse: Preposition-b, Pronoun, third person feminine plural
Root: הֵנָּה  
Sense: they, these, the same, who.