What is the meaning of Leviticus 6:3?

Or finds lost property

“or finds lost property” (Leviticus 6:3) points to the moment someone discovers something that clearly belongs to someone else.

• God assumes the finder recognizes the true owner (cf. Deuteronomy 22:1–3; Exodus 23:4).

• The moral duty is active: seek the owner, return the item, preserve community trust.

• Failing to do so is treated the same as outright theft (Leviticus 6:4–5).

• Jesus highlighted the same heart of care when He taught neighbor-love in the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29-37).

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And lies about it

“and lies about it” exposes the second layer of sin: covering the wrong with deception.

• A lie compounds the offense (Exodus 20:16; Proverbs 12:22).

• God’s people are called to walk in truth because He is truth (John 14:6).

• Ananias and Sapphira illustrate how lying about possessions invites divine judgment (Acts 5:3-4).

• Honesty restores fellowship; deceit fractures it (Ephesians 4:25).

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And swears falsely

“and swears falsely” adds a third, even graver layer: invoking God’s name to back the lie.

• Swearing an oath while lying profanes the Lord (Leviticus 19:12).

• Jesus warned against casual oath-taking entirely (Matthew 5:33-37), and James echoed the caution (James 5:12).

• The sin now touches worship; the offender drags God’s character into his deception.

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Or commits any such sin that a man might commit

The closing phrase widens the net beyond lost property to “any such sin.”

• God is covering every form of fraud or misappropriation (Leviticus 6:2; Micah 2:1-2).

• All sin is ultimately against the Lord (Psalm 51:4), yet restitution toward people is required (Leviticus 6:4-5; Luke 19:8).

• Every person is capable of these acts—“all have sinned” (Romans 3:23).

• The sacrificial system that follows (Leviticus 6:6-7) anticipates the ultimate, once-for-all atonement in Christ (Hebrews 10:10).

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summary

Leviticus 6:3 unwraps sin in layers: withholding lost property, lying to cover it, and invoking God to shield the lie. Each step intensifies the offense, yet God provides a path of restitution and atonement. The verse reminds believers to prize honesty, safeguard what belongs to others, and honor God’s name in every word and deed.