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Kiddushin 32b:

יכול יעצים עיניו כמי שלא ראהו ת"ל תקום ויראת דבר המסור ללב נאמר בו (ויקרא יט, יד) ויראת מאלהיך

I might have thought he can close his eyes like one who did not see [the elder]; the Passuk teaches, “You will get up and fear [your G-d]” (Vayikra 19:14); anything given to the heart, it is said by it, “And you will fear your G-d.”

Anything? What about Hashavas Aveidah, where the same argument can be made: I might have thought I can hide my eyes as if I didn’t see the lost object and thereby exempt myself from having to return it; yet the passuk never says “fear your G-d” by returning a lost object, neither in Shemos 23:4 nor in Devarim 22:1-4. Why? Likewise aiding a struggling animal (Shemos 23:5), nor helping to load an animal (Devarim 22:5), nor Shiluach HaKan (Devarim 22:6-7), nor countless other mitzvos by which one who does not see the object is exempt - none of them say “you will fear your G-d” as a warning that you shouldn’t pretend like you didn’t see it.

I suppose this question can be asked in two ways: how can the Gemara say that “you will fear your G-d” is said by anything given to the heart, when we see it’s not? Alternatively, what is unique about standing for an elder which warrants this phrase to be used in this manner?

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  • Shiluach HaKan is a bad example, you don't do it if you don't need the eggs/chicks.
    – Alaychem goes to Codidact
    Commented Sep 9, 2019 at 6:17
  • If you choose to pick the second alternative, the answer might be here judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/106814/…
    – Alaychem goes to Codidact
    Commented Sep 9, 2019 at 6:20
  • I think the word anything isn't a necessary translation
    – robev
    Commented Sep 9, 2019 at 13:18
  • You don't always need the same phrase to convey the same principle. For example, "לא תוכל להתעלם" regarding hashavas aveida suggests that you "may not close your eyes as if you don't see it" (Rashi, D'varim 22:3). Likewise with the p'rika ut'ina examples you gave, "והתעלמת מהם" and "וחדלת מעזב לו" imply the same (and the ki sir'eh/ lo sir'eh wording is used by Chazal to expound the proximity at which you have to help). | Also, as mentioned above, the shiluach hakan example doesn't necessarily fit with your point.
    – Fred
    Commented Sep 9, 2019 at 17:21

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