“If anyone sins in that he hears a public adjuration to testify, and though he is a witness, whether he has seen or come to know the matter, yet does not speak, he shall bear his iniquity;
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage highlights that sin isn't just about doing wrong things, but also about failing to do right things, specifically remaining silent when called to bear witness. It's a powerful reminder that truth has a sacred obligation, and withholding it when it could bring justice or clarity incurs guilt.
“If anyone sins in that he hears a public adjuration to testify, and though he is a witness, whether he has seen or come to know the matter, yet does not speak, he shall bear his iniquity;
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage introduces the specific instances requiring a trespass offering, distinct from the unintentional sins in the previous chapter. The first scenario addresses a witness who, after hearing a public adjuration, remains silent despite knowing crucial information about a crime or matter being investigated. This deliberate concealment, akin to complicity, is presented as a sin for which atonement must be made.
Imagine standing in a courtroom, the judge's voice ringing out, calling on you to speak the truth. What happens when silence is chosen over speaking?
This passage highlights a specific type of sin: the failure to speak when called upon by a solemn oath, or 'adjuration.' This wasn't just any oath; it was a formal appeal, often made in a judicial setting, requiring witnesses to reveal what they knew. Think of it like a divine subpoena. To hear this call and remain silent was to sin, because it meant withholding truth that could bring justice or clear the innocent. The scholars point out that this is distinct from merely hearing someone else swear falsely. It's about your inaction when you are directly addressed and compelled by an oath to testify.
This solemnity is echoed in the New Testament when the high priest adjures Jesus. Jesus, understanding the gravity of being put under oath, responds. This Levitical law emphasizes that silence in the face of such a sacred call carries significant spiritual weight.
The verse states, 'he shall bear his iniquity.' What does it truly mean to 'bear iniquity' in God's sight?
To 'bear one's iniquity' means to carry the guilt and the consequences of sin. In this case, the sin isn't just the original wrongdoing that the witness saw or knew about, but the additional sin of complicity through silence. By withholding testimony, the witness becomes spiritually entangled with the offense. They are not merely passive observers; their inaction makes them accountable.
This concept is crucial because it shows that sin isn't always an outward action. Sometimes, the most significant sins are sins of omission – the good we failed to do, the truth we failed to speak. The requirement for a sin offering or trespass offering for this specific failure underscores that this silence was viewed as a serious offense, requiring atonement to restore the relationship with God.
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Understand the original words
chata' · Hebrew Verb
The act of transgression against God's law or missing the mark of His moral standard; it represents a failure to conform to the holiness of God.
alah · Hebrew Noun
A formal, solemn charge or command given under oath, often accompanied by a curse, requiring a person to provide testimony regarding a specific matter.
avon · Hebrew Noun
The perversion, depravity, or moral fault incurred through sin; it refers to the burden of accountability and the consequences resulting from unrighteous actions.
This passage shows Jesus responding to the High Priest's adjuration, highlighting the solemnity of such appeals and the expectation of a truthful response, much like the scenario in Leviticus where silence after adjuration carries consequences.
Proverbs 29:24This verse speaks of someone who hears an oath or adjuration and remains silent, directly paralleling the sin described in Leviticus 5:1, showing this is a timeless human failing.
James 4:17This verse states that 'whoever knows the good doer and does not do it is a sin to him,' which resonates with the concept in Leviticus 5:1 where knowing the truth but failing to speak it incurs iniquity.
1 Samuel 12:23Samuel's concern about ceasing to pray for Israel after they sinned shows a priestly burden to intercede for those who fall into sin, a responsibility that extends to bearing witness to truth.
cambridgeLeviticus 5:1: "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."
Leviticus 5:1-13 [47]. Three cases in which a Sin-Offering must be brought[47] For the reasons which have led critics to assign Leviticus 5:1-6 to a source other than that of 4. see App. 1 ( a ). 1 . The first case . A man who has either seen a crime perpetrated (e.g. one stealing another’s property), or heard somethin…
clarkeLeviticus 5:1: "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."
If a soul sin - It is generally supposed that the case referred to here is that of a person who, being demanded by the civil magistrate to answer upon oath, refuses to tell what he knows concerning the subject; such a one shall bear his iniquity - shall be considered as guilty in the sight of God, of the transgression…
This passage highlights that sin isn't just about doing wrong things, but also about failing to do right things, specifically remaining silent when called to bear witness. It's a powerful reminder that truth has a sacred obligation, and withholding it when it could bring justice or clarity incurs guilt.
This passage introduces the specific instances requiring a trespass offering, distinct from the unintentional sins in the previous chapter. The first scenario addresses a witness who, after hearing a public adjuration, remains silent despite knowing crucial information about a crime or matter being investigated. This deliberate concealment, akin to complicity, is presented as a sin for which atonement must be made.
This passage introduces the specific instances requiring a trespass offering, distinct from the unintentional sins in the previous chapter. The first scenario addresses a witness who, after hearing a public adjuration, remains silent despite knowing crucial information about a crime or matter being investigated. This deliberate concealment, akin to complicity, is presented as a sin for which atonement must be made.
"“If anyone sins in that he hears a public adjuration to testify, and though he is a witness, whether he has seen or come to know the matter, yet does not speak, he shall bear his iniquity;" — This passage highlights that sin isn't just about doing wrong things, but also about failing to do right things, specifically remaining silent when called to bear witness. It's a powerful reminder…
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Last reviewed October 2026