The Meaning of Leviticus 6:4 Explained

Leviticus 6:4

KJV: Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found,

YLT: 'Then it hath been, when he sinneth, and hath been guilty, that he hath returned the plunder which he hath taken violently away, or the thing which he hath got by oppression, or the deposit which hath been deposited with him, or the lost thing which he hath found;

Darby: then it shall be, if he hath sinned and transgressed, that he shall restore what he robbed or that in which he hath defrauded, or the deposit, or the lost thing which he found,

ASV: then it shall be, if he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took by robbery, or the thing which he hath gotten by oppression, or the deposit which was committed to him, or the lost thing which he found,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then it shall be, because he hath sinned,  and is guilty,  that he shall restore  that  which he took violently away,  or the thing  which he hath deceitfully gotten,  or that which was delivered  him to keep,  or the lost thing  which he found, 

What does Leviticus 6:4 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 6:4 mean?

then it shall be because he has sinned and is guilty that he shall restore - took what he has stolen or the thing which he has extorted - for safekeeping was delivered to him the lost thing he found
וְהָיָה֮ כִּֽי־ יֶחֱטָ֣א וְאָשֵׁם֒ וְהֵשִׁ֨יב אֶת־ הַגְּזֵלָ֜ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר גָּזָ֗ל א֤וֹ הָעֹ֙שֶׁק֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׁ֔ק הַפִּקָּד֔וֹן הָפְקַ֖ד אִתּ֑וֹ הָאֲבֵדָ֖ה מָצָֽא

וְהָיָה֮  then  it  shall  be 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
כִּֽי־  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
יֶחֱטָ֣א  he  has  sinned 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָטָא 
Sense: to sin, miss, miss the way, go wrong, incur guilt, forfeit, purify from uncleanness.
וְאָשֵׁם֒  and  is  guilty 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָשַׁם  
Sense: to offend, be guilty, trespass.
וְהֵשִׁ֨יב  that  he  shall  restore 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַגְּזֵלָ֜ה  took 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: גָּזַל  
Sense: to tear away, seize, plunder, tear off, pull off, rob, take away by force.
גָּזָ֗ל  he  has  stolen 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: גָּזַל  
Sense: to tear away, seize, plunder, tear off, pull off, rob, take away by force.
הָעֹ֙שֶׁק֙  the  thing 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֹשֶׁק  
Sense: oppression, extortion, injury.
עָשָׁ֔ק  he  has  extorted 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָשַׁק  
Sense: to press upon, oppress, violate, defraud, do violence, get deceitfully, wrong, extort.
הַפִּקָּד֔וֹן  - 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: פִּקָּדֹון  
Sense: deposit, store, supply.
הָפְקַ֖ד  for  safekeeping 
Parse: Verb, Hofal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: פִּקָּדֹון  
Sense: deposit, store, supply.
אִתּ֑וֹ  was  delivered  to  him 
Parse: Direct object marker, third person masculine singular
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הָאֲבֵדָ֖ה  the  lost  thing 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֲבֵדָה  
Sense: a lost thing, something lost.
מָצָֽא  he  found 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מָצָא  
Sense: to find, attain to.