Leviticus 6:3

3 or if they find lost property and lie about it, or if they swear falsely about any such sin that people may commit—

Leviticus 6:3 in Other Translations

3 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:

3 or has found something lost and lied about it, swearing falsely--in any of all the things that people do and sin thereby--

3 or you find lost property and lie about it, or you lie while swearing to tell the truth, or you commit any other such sin.

3 or if he has found something lost and lies about it and swears falsely regarding any of these sins that people commonly commit -

3 or finds something lost and lies about it; or swears falsely about any of the sinful things a person may do-

Leviticus 6:3 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 6:3

Or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it,
&c.] Who having found anything lost, at once concludes it his own, and converts it to his own use, never inquiring after the proprietor of it, or taking any method to get knowledge of him, and restore it to him; but so far from that, being suspected of finding it, and charged with it denies it: Maimonides ^F11 gives a reason why a lost thing should be restored, not only because so to do is a virtue in itself praiseworthy, but because it has a reciprocal utility; for if you do not restore another's lost things, neither will your own be restored to you:

and sweareth falsely;
which is to be understood, not of the last case only, but of all the rest, or of anyone of them, as it follows:

in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein;
by unfaithfulness in a trust, cheating, defrauding, lying, and false swearing.

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FOOTNOTES:

F11 Moreh Nevochim, par. 3. c. 40.

Leviticus 6:3 In-Context

1 The LORD said to Moses:

2 “If anyone sins and is unfaithful to the LORD by deceiving a neighbor about something entrusted to them or left in their care or about something stolen, or if they cheat their neighbor,

3 or if they find lost property and lie about it, or if they swear falsely about any such sin that people may commit—

4 when they sin in any of these ways and realize their guilt, they must return what they have stolen or taken by extortion, or what was entrusted to them, or the lost property they found,

5 or whatever it was they swore falsely about. They must make restitution in full, add a fifth of the value to it and give it all to the owner on the day they present their guilt offering.

Cross References

• 1. S Exodus 23:4; Deuteronomy 22:1-3
• 2. S Exodus 22:11