Numbers 15:13 kjv
All that are born of the country shall do these things after this manner, in offering an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto the LORD.
Numbers 15:13 nkjv
All who are native-born shall do these things in this manner, in presenting an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the LORD.
Numbers 15:13 niv
"?'Everyone who is native-born must do these things in this way when they present a food offering as an aroma pleasing to the LORD.
Numbers 15:13 esv
Every native Israelite shall do these things in this way, in offering a food offering, with a pleasing aroma to the LORD.
Numbers 15:13 nlt
All of you native-born Israelites must follow these instructions when you offer a special gift as a pleasing aroma to the LORD.
Numbers 15 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 8:21 | "The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, and the Lord said in His heart, “I will never again curse the ground... " | God's acceptance of Noah's sacrifice, foreshadowing. |
| Ex 29:18 | "You shall offer up in smoke the whole ram on the altar; it is a burnt offering to the Lord, a soothing aroma, a food offering to the Lord." | A common phrase describing acceptable offerings. |
| Lev 1:9 | "Its inwards and its legs, but he shall wash its inwards and its legs with water; and the priest shall offer all of it up in smoke on the altar as a burnt offering, a food offering, a soothing aroma to the Lord." | Example of a burnt offering being a pleasing aroma. |
| Lev 1:17 | "...the priest shall offer it up in smoke on the altar on the wood... it is a burnt offering, a food offering, a soothing aroma to the Lord." | Applies to bird offerings too. |
| Lev 2:9 | "Then the priest shall take from the grain offering its memorial portion... and offer it up in smoke on the altar, a food offering, a soothing aroma to the Lord." | Applies to grain offerings as well. |
| Lev 3:5 | "...Moses had commanded. The priest shall offer them up in smoke on the altar as a food offering with a soothing aroma." | Applies to fellowship offerings. |
| Lev 4:31 | "...Then the priest shall offer it up in smoke on the altar as a soothing aroma to the Lord." | Applies to sin offerings in certain contexts. |
| Num 9:14 | "And if a stranger resides among you... according to the statute of the Passover and according to its ordinance, so he shall do... " | One law for native-born and stranger. |
| Num 15:15 | "There shall be one statute for you and for the alien who resides with you, a permanent statute throughout your generations; as you are, so shall the alien be before the Lord." | Reinforces the single standard of the law for all. |
| Num 15:29 | "You shall have one law for him who does anything unintentionally, for him who is native-born among the sons of Israel and for the alien who resides among them." | Single law for unintentional sins. |
| Deut 4:2 | "You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, so that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I am commanding you." | Emphasizes strict adherence to God's commands. |
| Deut 12:5-7 | "...seek the Lord at the place which the Lord your God will choose... There you shall bring your burnt offerings... you shall rejoice before the Lord your God..." | Laws concerning the centralization of worship and offerings. |
| 1 Sam 15:22 | "Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to pay attention is better than the fat of rams." | Highlights that obedience of heart precedes ritual sacrifice. |
| Ps 50:14 | "Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving and pay your vows to the Most High;" | Spiritual understanding of offerings as praise. |
| Ps 51:17 | "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise." | God desires genuine repentance more than ritual. |
| Isa 1:11 | "“What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?” Says the Lord. “I have had enough of burnt offerings... " | God's disdain for empty rituals without justice/obedience. |
| Jer 6:20 | "What purpose does frankincense from Sheba serve for Me, Or sweet cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, And your sacrifices are not pleasing to Me.”" | Rejection of outward worship without true heart. |
| Hos 6:6 | "For I delight in loyal love rather than sacrifice, And in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings." | Emphasizes God's priority for mercy and knowledge over ritual. |
| Eph 5:2 | "And walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma." | Christ's sacrifice is the ultimate "pleasing aroma." |
| Phil 4:18 | "But I have received everything and have plenty; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God." | Spiritualizing of offerings to acts of service and generosity. |
| Heb 9:12 | "And not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption." | Christ's perfect, singular sacrifice fulfills all others. |
| Heb 10:14 | "For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified." | The eternal efficacy of Christ's sacrifice. |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | "You also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." | Believers offer spiritual sacrifices. |
| Rom 12:1 | "Therefore I implore you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship." | Believers' lives as a "living sacrifice." |
Numbers 15 verses
Numbers 15 13 Meaning
Numbers 15:13 affirms that all native-born Israelites are obligated to perform the prescribed offerings, such as a food offering, exactly as commanded by God. These sacrifices, when presented according to divine instruction, ascended to the Lord as a "pleasing aroma," signifying His acceptance and satisfaction with the worshipper's act of devotion. This verse highlights the universal requirement for worship and adherence to God's ordinances within the covenant community.
Numbers 15 13 Context
Numbers 15 is presented immediately after the profound crisis of Israel's rebellion at Kadesh-Barnea and the subsequent judgment of wandering in the wilderness for forty years (Num 13-14). In the face of widespread disobedience and divine punishment, God reiterates His covenant faithfulness by giving detailed instructions for their future life in the Promised Land. This chapter focuses on sacrificial laws, particularly burnt offerings, grain offerings, and drink offerings, emphasizing that they apply both to native-born Israelites and to sojourners dwelling among them. Verse 13, therefore, re-establishes the universal obligation of worship and obedience for all who are part of the covenant community, regardless of origin, outlining the proper form and divine acceptance of these offerings, signaling God's enduring plan for His people despite their failures. It serves to provide a framework for renewed fellowship and future generations.
Numbers 15 13 Word analysis
כָּל־הָאֶזְרָ֣ח (kol-hā’ezrāḥ): All who are native-born
- Word-level: "Kol" (כָּל) means "all" or "every." "Ezrāḥ" (אֶזְרָח) denotes a native, an Israelite born in the land or within the community.
- Significance: This emphasizes the primary audience and core recipients of these commands – the people of Israel who belong by birthright to the covenant nation. It establishes a fundamental baseline expectation for those within the immediate household of faith.
יַעֲשֶׂה־כֵּן֙ אֶת־אֵ֔לֶּה (ya‘aseh-kēn ’et-’ēlleh): shall do these things in this way
- Word-level: "Ya‘aseh" (יַעֲשֶׂה) is the Qal imperfect, 3rd person masculine singular of "עָשָׂה" (asah), meaning "he shall do" or "he shall make." "Kēn" (כֵּן) means "thus" or "in this way." "’Ēlleh" (אֵ֔לֶּה) means "these things."
- Significance: The imperative nature underscores the requirement for exact adherence. "These things" refers specifically to the preceding laws concerning offerings and accompanying libations (Num 15:1-12), implying meticulous observation of the rituals. "In this way" reiterates the precise method and order of worship God requires.
בְּהַקְרִ֣יב אִשֶּׁ֗ה (bəhaqrīv ’ishsheh): in presenting a food offering
- Word-level: "Bəhaqrīv" (בְּהַקְרִ֣יב) is from the Hiphil infinitive construct of "קָרַב" (qarab), meaning "to cause to come near" or "to bring close," thus "to present" or "to offer." "Ishsheh" (אִשֶּׁ֗ה) translates as "food offering," "fire offering," or "offering made by fire."
- Significance: The term "ishsheh" highlights that these were offerings consumed by fire on the altar, symbolically ascending to God. It underscores the active role of the worshipper in "bringing near" their offering to the divine presence. It reflects the prescribed means of atonement and communion.
רֵ֣יחַ נִיח֔וֹחַ (rēaḥ nīḥoaḥ): a pleasing aroma
- Word-level: "Rēaḥ" (רֵ֣יחַ) means "smell" or "aroma." "Nīḥoaḥ" (נִיח֔וֹחַ) is from the root "נוּחַ" (nuakh), meaning "to rest" or "to soothe," hence "soothing," "restful," or "pleasing."
- Significance: This is a metaphor for divine acceptance. It doesn't mean God literally smells the burning flesh, but rather that the offering, performed correctly and with the right heart, is fully acceptable and satisfying to Him. It signifies His delight, contentment, and the establishment of peace between Him and the offerer. This phrase is used throughout the Pentateuch to describe sacrifices acceptable to God, signifying a renewed or maintained relationship.
לַֽיהוָה (laYHWH): to the Lord
- Word-level: "La" (לַֽ) is the preposition "to" or "for." "YHWH" (יהוה) is the unpronounceable divine name, commonly rendered as "the Lord" or "Yahweh."
- Significance: This designates the exclusive recipient and ultimate purpose of all true worship and sacrifice. It reiterates monotheism and the singular focus of Israelite devotion, differentiating their worship from pagan practices directed toward multiple deities. It emphasizes the direct relationship between the worshipper and the sovereign God of Israel.
Words-group Analysis:
- "All who are native-born shall do these things in this way": This phrase underlines the inclusive yet particular nature of God's covenant with Israel. Every Israelite, simply by virtue of being part of the nation, bore the responsibility to obey these specific liturgical laws. It's about participation and obligation within the community.
- "in presenting a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the Lord": This clause connects the human act of offering to the divine response of acceptance. The type of offering specified ("ishsheh") points to offerings made by fire. The result, a "pleasing aroma," indicates that God finds satisfaction in and honors worship rendered according to His precise will, thus maintaining the covenant relationship and cleansing the defilements of the people. It defines the successful outcome of proper worship.
Numbers 15 13 Bonus section
This verse subtly foreshadows the necessity of precise obedience for acceptable worship, a principle that echoes throughout Scripture and culminates in Christ. Just as Old Testament sacrifices had to be presented "in this way" to be a "pleasing aroma" to the Lord, the New Testament emphasizes that worship and service pleasing to God must be in accordance with His will, often spiritualized through Christ's perfect sacrifice and the transformed lives of believers (Rom 12:1). The emphasis on "native-born" (an initial limited focus) sets the stage for the broader revelation that under the New Covenant, all who believe, regardless of background, become spiritual "native-born" sons and daughters through adoption in Christ, thereby gaining access to spiritual sacrifices and acceptable worship (Gal 3:28-29; 1 Pet 2:5, 9). This continuity shows that God has always desired and honored genuine, obedient devotion from those within His covenant family.
Numbers 15 13 Commentary
Numbers 15:13 succinctly captures the essence of required worship and its divine acceptance under the Mosaic Covenant. After the trauma of Kadesh-Barnea, God re-establishes fundamental laws to underscore His ongoing covenant relationship and His expectations for His people as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. The phrase "all who are native-born shall do these things in this way" highlights the universal and non-negotiable obligation for every Israelite to observe God's commands regarding offerings. These are not optional customs but integral acts of devotion. The description of the offering as an "ishsheh" (fire offering) leading to a "pleasing aroma" signifies God's delight and approval of worship that is correctly performed and sincerely presented. This divine acceptance brought about communion and maintained the holy relationship between God and His people, mitigating their sin and ensuring His presence among them. The ultimate recipient being "the Lord" reinforces the exclusive and sovereign nature of Israel's worship, distinct from the polytheistic practices of surrounding nations.