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.
The section (1-13) is a continuation of the law regarding sin offerings in the case of a common Israelite, and specifies three examples of sin, arising from precipitation and neglect, which, though of a lighter character than those previously alluded to, required expiation in the person who committed them.
If a soul ... hear the voice of swearing - or rather, of adjuration х qowl (H6963) 'aalaah (H423); Septuagint, fooneen horkismou]. The reference is either to one who, having heard another testify on oath to what was false, and neglected to give information of the perjury; or to one who had not gone before a court to give the evidence which he possessed. A proclamation was issued, calling any one who could give information to come before the court and bear testimony to the guilt of a criminal; and the manner in which witnesses were interrogated in the Jewish courts of justice was not by swearing them directly, but adjuring them by reading the words of an oath - "the voice of swearing." The offence, then, for the expiation of which this law provides, was that of a person who neglected or avoided the opportunity of lodging the information which it was in his power to communicate.
He shall bear his iniquity, х wªnaasaa' (H5375) `ªwonow (H5771); Septuagint, lepsetai teen hamartian] - he shall bear the guilt and consequences of his sin. (See the note at Lev. 28:43 .)