Leviticus 6:5
or anything about which he has sworn falsely, he shall restore it in full and shall add a fifth to it, and give it to him to whom it belongs on the day he realizes his guilt.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The text highlights a crucial element often missed: the offender must restore the full amount and add a fifth part on the very day he realizes his guilt. This emphasizes that genuine repentance involves immediate action and making amends to the wronged person before, or at the same time as, approaching God.
This passage shifts from general sin offerings to specific instructions for dealing with guilt related to dishonesty and false oaths. It outlines the required restitution and penalties for those who have wronged their neighbors through deceit or perjury, before they can fully make amends with God through a trespass offering. The focus is on the practical steps of making things right with the person wronged before the religious act of atonement.
Swearing falsely wasn't just a minor slip-up in ancient Israel. It was a serious offense that deeply offended God. But what made it so grave?
A Double Offense
When someone swore falsely, they committed a sin on two levels:
This 'double iniquity' meant that the consequences were more severe than a simple dishonest act.
The law demanded more than just returning what was stolen. There was an added penalty. Why was this extra step so crucial?
Restoring More Than What Was Lost
When a person realized their guilt of false swearing and subsequent sin, they had to make amends:
This process, known as restitution, was a vital part of demonstrating genuine repentance before God.
This passage describes penalties for theft and deception, highlighting a similar emphasis on restitution, though with a different multiplier for restitution depending on the circumstances.
Numbers 5:7This text speaks about confessing sins and making restitution, including adding a fifth part, directly paralleling the concept of restoring what was wrongly taken and an added penalty.
Proverbs 6:30-31This proverb speaks to the severity of theft, noting that even if a thief steals to satisfy hunger, they must repay sevenfold, underscoring the principle of significant restitution for wrongdoing.
Luke 19:8The story of Zacchaeus shows a voluntary and generous act of restitution, where he not only restores what he wrongly took but gives double, reflecting the spirit of making amends fully.
2 Corinthians 7:10This verse distinguishes between worldly sorrow and godly sorrow, where godly sorrow leads to repentance that brings salvation, connecting the internal realization of guilt to outward acts of making things right.
calvinLeviticus 6:1-7: "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,"
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;
Anima quum peccaverit, et praevaricata fuerit praevaricationem contra Jehovam, mentiens nempe fuerit proximo suo in deposito, ant in depositione manus, aut raptum, ant vim fecerit proximo suo.
Or have found that which w…
gillLeviticus 6:5: "Or all that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering."
Or all that about which he hath sworn falsely,.... In all and each of the above cases, in which he had committed a trespass and denied it, and to the denial adds a false oath, and yet after all acknowledges it: he shall even restore it in the principal; whatsoever h…
The text highlights a crucial element often missed: the offender must restore the full amount and add a fifth part on the very day he realizes his guilt. This emphasizes that genuine repentance involves immediate action and making amends to the wronged person before, or at the same time as, approaching God.
This passage shifts from general sin offerings to specific instructions for dealing with guilt related to dishonesty and false oaths. It outlines the required restitution and penalties for those who have wronged their neighbors through deceit or perjury, before they can fully make amends with God through a trespass offering. The focus is on the practical steps of making things right with the person wronged before the religious act of atonement.
This passage shifts from general sin offerings to specific instructions for dealing with guilt related to dishonesty and false oaths. It outlines the required restitution and penalties for those who have wronged their neighbors through deceit or perjury, before they can fully make amends with God through a trespass offering. The focus is on the practical steps of making things right with the person wronged before the religious act of atonement.
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The timing of restitution was linked to bringing a sacrifice. What does this connection tell us about true repentance?
The Day of the Trespass Offering
Leviticus 6:5 states that restitution was to be made 'in the day of his trespass offering.' This wasn't just a legal requirement; it was deeply theological:
"or anything about which he has sworn falsely, he shall restore it in full and shall add a fifth to it, and give it to him to whom it belongs on the day he realizes his guilt." — The text highlights a crucial element often missed: the offender must restore the full amount and add a fifth part on the very day he realizes his guilt. This emphasizes that genuine repentance i…
