The Meaning of Leviticus 6:5 Explained

Leviticus 6:5

KJV: 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.

YLT: or all that concerning which he sweareth falsely, he hath even repaid it in its principal, and its fifth he is adding to it; to him whose it is he giveth it in the day of his guilt-offering.

Darby: or all that about which he hath sworn falsely; and he shall restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto; to him to whom it belongeth shall he give it, on the day of his trespass-offering.

ASV: or any thing about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in full, and shall add the fifth part more thereto: unto him to whom it appertaineth shall he give it, in the day of his being found guilty.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Leviticus 6:5 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 6:5 mean?

or all that about which he has sworn he has sworn falsely and He shall restore - its full value and a fifth add [more] to it to whomever it belongs [and] give it on the day of his trespass offering
א֠וֹ מִכֹּ֞ל אֲשֶׁר־ יִשָּׁבַ֣ע עָלָיו֮ לַשֶּׁקֶר֒ וְשִׁלַּ֤ם אֹתוֹ֙ בְּרֹאשׁ֔וֹ וַחֲמִשִׁתָ֖יו יֹסֵ֣ף עָלָ֑יו לַאֲשֶׁ֨ר ה֥וּא ל֛וֹ יִתְּנֶ֖נּוּ בְּי֥וֹם אַשְׁמָתֽוֹ

אֲשֶׁר־  that  about  which 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
יִשָּׁבַ֣ע  he  has  sworn 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁבַע  
Sense: to swear, adjure.
עָלָיו֮  he  has  sworn 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
לַשֶּׁקֶר֒  falsely 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֶׁקֶר  
Sense: lie, deception, disappointment, falsehood.
וְשִׁלַּ֤ם  and  He  shall  restore 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁלֵם  
Sense: .
אֹתוֹ֙  - 
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.
בְּרֹאשׁ֔וֹ  its  full  value 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: רֹאשׁ 
Sense: head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning.
וַחֲמִשִׁתָ֖יו  and  a  fifth 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Number, ordinal feminine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: חֲמִישִׁי  
Sense: ordinal number, 5th.
יֹסֵ֣ף  add 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect Jussive, third person masculine singular
Root: יָסַף 
Sense: to add, increase, do again.
עָלָ֑יו  [more]  to  it 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
לַאֲשֶׁ֨ר  to  whomever 
Parse: Preposition-l, Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
ל֛וֹ  belongs 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
יִתְּנֶ֖נּוּ  [and]  give  it 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
בְּי֥וֹם  on  the  day 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
אַשְׁמָתֽוֹ  of  his  trespass  offering 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אַשְׁמָה  
Sense: guiltiness, guilt, offense, sin, wrong-doing.