Leviticus 6:4

once he has sinned and becomes guilty, he must return what he has stolen or taken by extortion, or the deposit entrusted to him, or the lost property he found,

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Moses relays divine instructions to the priests and Israel regarding the procedural response to specific sins. The directive activates immediately after an individual recognizes guilt for theft, extortion, misappropriation of a deposit, or concealment of found property.

The words — וְ/הֵשִׁ֨יב (ve./he.Shiv) denotes the mandatory act of restoration, while הַ/גְּזֵלָ֜ה (ha./ge.ze.Lah) specifies the stolen item itself. These terms anchor the verse’s demand for concrete return rather than symbolic apology.

The thread — The text’s focus on wrongful taking appears in Genesis 21:25, which records Abraham confronting Abimelech over seized wells. Leviticus 4:13 and 5:3 similarly frame Israel’s straying and uncleanness as triggers for guilt, without detailing restitution mechanics.

Why it lands — The passage requires immediate, full restoration of any property obtained through sin. It demands tangible accountability before any ritual or financial penalty can proceed.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

King James Version

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,

Cross-references

Genesis 21:25 But when Abraham complained to Abimelech about a well that Abimelech’s servants had seized,
Leviticus 4:13 Now if the whole congregation of Israel strays unintentionally and the matter escapes the notice of the assembly so that they violate any of the LORD’s commandments and incur guilt by doing what is forbidden,
Leviticus 5:3 Or if he touches human uncleanness—anything by which one becomes unclean—even if he is unaware of it, when he realizes it, he is guilty.
Job 20:19 For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor; he has seized houses he did not build.
Job 24:2 Men move boundary stones; they pasture stolen flocks.
Isaiah 59:6 Their cobwebs cannot be made into clothing, and they cannot cover themselves with their works. Their deeds are sinful deeds, and acts of violence are in their hands.
Ezekiel 18:7 He does not oppress another, but restores the pledge to the debtor. He does not commit robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing.
Ezekiel 18:12 He oppresses the poor and needy; he commits robbery and does not restore a pledge. He lifts his eyes to idols; he commits abominations.
Ezekiel 18:18 As for his father, he will die for his own iniquity, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother, and did what was wrong among his people.
Amos 3:10 “For they know not how to do right,” declares the LORD. “They store up violence and destruction in their citadels.”