Numbers 15:14 kjv
And if a stranger sojourn with you, or whosoever be among you in your generations, and will offer an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto the LORD; as ye do, so he shall do.
Numbers 15:14 nkjv
And if a stranger dwells with you, or whoever is among you throughout your generations, and would present an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the LORD, just as you do, so shall he do.
Numbers 15:14 niv
For the generations to come, whenever a foreigner or anyone else living among you presents a food offering as an aroma pleasing to the LORD, they must do exactly as you do.
Numbers 15:14 esv
And if a stranger is sojourning with you, or anyone is living permanently among you, and he wishes to offer a food offering, with a pleasing aroma to the LORD, he shall do as you do.
Numbers 15:14 nlt
And if any foreigners visit you or live among you and want to present a special gift as a pleasing aroma to the LORD, they must follow these same procedures.
Numbers 15 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 9:14 | "If a sojourner... he shall keep it according to all its statutes... One statute shall be for you..." | Law applies to native and sojourner. |
| Lev 19:33-34 | "When a stranger sojourns with you... you shall love him as yourself..." | Command to love and treat sojourners fairly. |
| Lev 24:22 | "You shall have the same rule for the sojourner and for the native." | Equal application of justice and law. |
| Num 15:29-30 | "You shall have one law for him who does anything unintentionally, for him who is native-born... and for the stranger..." | Unified law for sin offerings. |
| Deut 10:18-19 | "He loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. Love the sojourner therefore, for you were sojourners..." | God's care for aliens and Israel's past. |
| Deut 23:7-8 | "You shall not abhor an Edomite, for he is your brother; you shall not abhor an Egyptian..." | Certain nations permitted to enter assembly. |
| Exo 22:21 | "You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt." | Command to protect the sojourner. |
| Gen 8:21 | "And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, 'I will never again curse...'" | First mention of "pleasing aroma" with Noah's offering. |
| Lev 1:9 | "...The priest shall burn all on the altar as a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord." | Common phrase for acceptable sacrifice. |
| Psa 146:9 | "The Lord watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless..." | God's protective care for vulnerable groups. |
| Isa 56:6-7 | "And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord... these I will bring to my holy mountain and make them joyful..." | Prophecy of future Gentile inclusion in worship. |
| Zec 8:22-23 | "Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem... will take hold of the cloak of a Jew..." | Future Gentile desire to join God's people. |
| Eze 47:22-23 | "You shall allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the sojourners... as native-born among the sons of Israel..." | Prophecy of equal inheritance for sojourners. |
| Acts 10:34-35 | "God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable..." | Peter's revelation of Gentile acceptance in God. |
| Rom 2:11 | "For God shows no partiality." | Reinforces God's impartiality. |
| Rom 10:12 | "For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all..." | Equality for salvation in Christ. |
| Gal 3:28 | "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." | Unity and equality in Christ. |
| Eph 2:19-20 | "So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God..." | Gentile believers united with Israel in Christ. |
| Php 4:18 | "I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God." | "Pleasing aroma" for spiritual sacrifices (giving). |
| Eph 5:2 | "And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." | Christ's sacrifice as the ultimate "fragrant offering." |
| Col 3:11 | "Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all." | All distinctions erased in Christ. |
| Heb 10:1-10 | "For since the law has but a shadow... Christ has appeared... We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." | Fulfillment of the sacrificial system in Christ. |
| Rev 7:9 | "After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne..." | Multitudes from all nations worshiping God. |
Numbers 15 verses
Numbers 15 14 Meaning
This verse outlines the divine command for inclusivity within Israel's worship. It mandates that any stranger, or resident alien, who lives among the Israelites through their generations, must be allowed and is expected to offer sacrifices to the Lord in the exact same manner as the native-born Israelites. This offering, when properly performed, would be accepted by God as a "pleasing aroma," signifying divine acceptance and favor. The core message emphasizes spiritual equality and uniformity in the sacred rites for all who commit to worshipping the Lord, irrespective of their ethnic origin.
Numbers 15 14 Context
Numbers chapter 15 follows Israel's disheartening rebellion at Kadesh Barnea, resulting in the declaration that the generation would perish in the wilderness. Amidst this judgment and the ensuing 38 years of wilderness wandering, God provides detailed instructions for future generations, especially concerning life in the promised land. Chapter 15 specifically deals with various laws regarding offerings, unintentional sins, and willful defiance. Verse 14 is part of a series of regulations (verses 1-16) concerning sacrifices and offerings, emphasizing that certain foundational laws of worship apply uniformly to both the native-born Israelite and the resident alien (ger) living among them. This provision ensured continuity of acceptable worship practices when they settled in Canaan and underscored the principle of non-partiality in matters of covenant observance, particularly concerning offerings made to the Lord. It establishes that while some laws differentiate, foundational worship to the Lord, especially sacrificial acts, demands uniformity from all participating.
Numbers 15 14 Word analysis
And if a stranger sojourns with you, or whoever is among you throughout your generations,
- stranger: Hebrew: גֵּר (pronounced: ger). This term specifically refers to a "resident alien" or "sojourner," someone of non-Israelite origin who has chosen to dwell within the Israelite community, often permanently. It implies a degree of assimilation and adherence to the laws of the land, rather than a fleeting visitor. The law frequently protected and regulated the ger, highlighting their unique status within Israelite society.
- sojourns: Hebrew: יָגוּר (pronounced: yagur). Derived from the verb gur, meaning "to dwell," "to reside," or "to live as an alien." It signifies settling down in a foreign land rather than merely passing through. This commitment to living within the community forms the basis for their inclusion in its religious rites.
- throughout your generations: This phrase emphasizes the permanence and long-term nature of this legal principle. It's not a temporary concession but an enduring statute for future generations in the Promised Land. It ensures that the inclusion of the ger in worship is a foundational aspect of Israelite identity, passed down perpetually.
- "a stranger sojourns... or whoever is among you throughout your generations": This phrase encompasses both a newly arrived sojourner and someone whose family has lived among Israelites for generations, ensuring that all resident non-Israelites who identify with the community are included in this provision for worship.
and would present a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the Lord,
- food offering: Hebrew: קָרְבָּן (pronounced: qorban). A general term for "offering" or "sacrifice" to God, from the root meaning "to draw near." Here it refers to a particular type of sacrifice (often associated with burnt offerings, grain offerings, or drink offerings that accompanied them), emphasizing the act of coming close to God through presenting something. It denotes the formal, prescribed ritual for drawing near to God in worship.
- pleasing aroma: Hebrew: רֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ (pronounced: reiyach nihoach). Literally, "a soothing odor" or "a restful fragrance." This idiomatic expression denotes divine acceptance and satisfaction with the offering. It's not about God literally smelling a scent but rather His divine pleasure and favorable disposition towards the act of worship and the heart behind it. This signifies the offering is acceptable and fully recognized by God.
he shall do just as you do.
- he shall do just as you do: This is the core of the inclusivity and equality. It mandates identical ritual performance, meaning the ger is not subject to different, lesser, or more burdensome sacrificial procedures. They follow the exact same statutes, regulations, and rites as the native Israelite. This implies an expectation that the ger understands and adheres to the Mosaic law concerning offerings, acknowledging Yahweh as their God for that act of worship. This unity in worship profoundly counters any potential ethnocentric exclusivity.
Numbers 15 14 Bonus section
This verse subtly showcases the progressive revelation of God's heart for all peoples. While Israel was chosen to be a distinct people, their mission was never purely inward-looking. The allowance for the ger to participate equally in sacrificial worship implies an open door for non-Israelites to join in the covenant community, even before the New Covenant's full manifestation. This served as an early framework for missional outreach and a demonstration of God's universal sovereignty and grace, extending beyond one particular nation. It underlines that genuine worship transcends mere lineage, prioritizing the proper disposition and obedience to God's revealed will in coming before Him. The consistency of this law across generations underscores its importance as a foundational principle of the Mosaic covenant for Israel in their settled land.
Numbers 15 14 Commentary
Numbers 15:14 is a profound declaration of God's inclusive nature, even within the highly defined and exclusive framework of the Old Covenant. It breaks down ethnic barriers in sacred worship, stipulating that a resident alien who desires to draw near to God through sacrifice must be allowed to do so according to the very same meticulous procedures as a native-born Israelite. The phrase "pleasing aroma" confirms divine acceptance of such offerings when done according to divine instruction, signifying that God’s pleasure is not contingent on ethnicity but on obedience and sincere worship. This command serves as a prefigurement of the New Covenant's radical inclusivity, where distinctions of Jew and Gentile are nullified in Christ, and all believers become part of one body, offering spiritual sacrifices to God. It highlights God's character as One who is not partial, and who desires all who genuinely seek Him to worship Him truly and acceptably.