or finds lost property and lies about it and swears falsely, or if he commits any such sin that a man might commit—
Parallel translations
- WEB or has found that which was lost, and dealt falsely therein, and swearing to a lie; in any of these things that a man does, sinning therein;
- 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:
- NKJV or if he has found what was lost and lies concerning it, and swears falsely—in any one of these things that a man may do in which he sins:
- NASB or has found what was lost and lied about it and sworn falsely, so that he sins regarding any of the things that people do;
- NLT 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.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Keeping lost property and lying under oath about it is sin requiring atonement. Dishonesty in everyday dealings offends God.
Overview
The list continues with retaining found property and swearing falsely to conceal it, ordinary temptations that nonetheless incur real guilt. By naming such common offenses, the law shows that God's holiness reaches into daily commerce and speech. It exposes the heart's bent toward dishonesty and our need for the cleansing only Christ provides.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Exod 23:4If you encounter your enemy’s stray ox or donkey, you must return it to him.
- Lev 19:12You must not swear falsely by My name and so profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.
- Exod 22:9–11In all cases of illegal possession of an ox, a donkey, a sheep, a garment, or any lost item that someone claims, ‘This is mine,’ both parties shall bring their cases before the judges. The one whom the judges find guilty must pay back double to his neighbor.
- Deut 22:1–4If you see your brother’s ox or sheep straying, you must not ignore it; be sure to return it to your brother.
- Jer 7:9Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal, and follow other gods that you have not known,
- Zech 5:4I will send it out, declares the LORD of Hosts, and it will enter the house of the thief and the house of him who swears falsely by My name. It will remain inside his house and destroy it, down to its timbers and stones.”
- Jer 5:2Although they say, ‘As surely as the LORD lives,’ they are swearing falsely.”
- Mal 3:5“Then I will draw near to you for judgment. And I will be a swift witness against sorcerers and adulterers and perjurers, against oppressors of the widowed and fatherless, and against those who defraud laborers of their wages and deny justice to the foreigner but do not fear Me,” says the LORD of Hosts.
- Prov 30:9Otherwise, I may have too much and deny You, saying, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, profaning the name of my God.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Every sacrifice, every priest, and every day of atonement points beyond itself to the one perfect offering and the great High Priest who, by his own blood, makes the unclean holy once for all.
How Leviticus 6:3 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.