Numbers 15 25

Numbers 15:25 kjv

And the priest shall make an atonement for all the congregation of the children of Israel, and it shall be forgiven them; for it is ignorance: and they shall bring their offering, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD, and their sin offering before the LORD, for their ignorance:

Numbers 15:25 nkjv

So the priest shall make atonement for the whole congregation of the children of Israel, and it shall be forgiven them, for it was unintentional; they shall bring their offering, an offering made by fire to the LORD, and their sin offering before the LORD, for their unintended sin.

Numbers 15:25 niv

The priest is to make atonement for the whole Israelite community, and they will be forgiven, for it was not intentional and they have presented to the LORD for their wrong a food offering and a sin offering.

Numbers 15:25 esv

And the priest shall make atonement for all the congregation of the people of Israel, and they shall be forgiven, because it was a mistake, and they have brought their offering, a food offering to the LORD, and their sin offering before the LORD for their mistake.

Numbers 15:25 nlt

With it the priest will purify the whole community of Israel, making them right with the LORD, and they will be forgiven. For it was an unintentional sin, and they have corrected it with their offerings to the LORD ? the special gift and the sin offering.

Numbers 15 verses

Numbers 15 25 Meaning

This verse outlines the divinely ordained process for the atonement and forgiveness of unintentional sin committed by the entire congregation of Israel. When the community unwittingly errs in violating a command, the high priest mediates a specific ritual involving designated burnt and sin offerings before the LORD. This ritual act by the priest secures their forgiveness, acknowledging God's grace in pardoning inadvertent transgressions under the Mosaic Covenant.

Numbers 15 25 Context

Numbers chapter 15 presents various laws concerning offerings and their procedures, emphasizing the spiritual importance of proper worship and obedience to God’s commands once Israel entered the promised land. Following the significant setback of Kadesh Barnea and the declaration that the older generation would die in the wilderness, these laws serve to reinforce God’s holiness and the necessary steps for a people to remain in covenant relationship with Him. The chapter details regular offerings, vows, and especially distinguishes between unintentional sin (which can be atoned for, Num 15:22-29) and deliberate, high-handed sin (which brings severe consequences, Num 15:30-31). Verse 25 specifically addresses the process for atonement and forgiveness when the entire congregation unknowingly violates one of God's commandments, a sin of communal error, not individual defiance. This context underscores the collective responsibility and the indispensable role of the Levitical priesthood in mediating God's forgiveness through prescribed sacrificial rituals.

Numbers 15 25 Word analysis

• And the priest: The high priest is designated to perform the ritual (כֹּהֵן kohen), as distinct from ordinary priests. His unique role as mediator before God for the entire community highlights the gravity of communal sin and the divine order for its expiation. This anticipates the ultimate High Priest, Christ.
• shall make atonement: The Hebrew term כִּפֶּר (kipper) means "to cover," "to purge," "to make reconciliation," or "to atone." It signifies the act by which defilement of sin is covered, removed, or purged from God's sight, pacifying His righteous anger and restoring relationship. It implies a divine covering of sin, not merely a human act of regret.
• for all the congregation: Refers to the עֵדָה (edah), the entire assembled community of Israel. This underscores communal responsibility for sin and collective need for purification. A sin by omission or commission affecting the whole body politic required a collective remedy.
• of the children of Israel: Emphasizes the specific covenant people, the descendants of Jacob, for whom these laws and this process of atonement are exclusively instituted under the Old Covenant.
• and it shall be forgiven them: וְנִסְלַח לָהֶם (venislakh lahem). The verb נִסְלַח (nislakh) means "it shall be pardoned/forgiven." This is a passive verb, implying that forgiveness is God's action, a divine declaration, consequent upon the human priestly ritual. It's not a mere absence of punishment but a positive act of grace.
• for it is an error: The Hebrew שְׁגָגָה (shegaghah) means "error," "mistake," "unintentional sin," or "inadvertence." This distinguishes the sin from presumptuous or defiant transgressions, which carried no prescribed offering and often resulted in "being cut off" (Num 15:30). It underscores God's mercy in providing a path to restoration for those who err unknowingly.
• and they shall bring their offering: "They" refers to the congregation. It indicates their participation in the atonement process by providing the required sacrificial animals and implicitly by confessing or acknowledging the error.
• a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD: This specifies אִשֶּׁה (ishsheh), a generic term for any offering consumed by fire on the altar, signifying its ascent to God and acceptance. In this context, it would typically refer to a burnt offering (עוֹלָה, olah) which signifies complete dedication and propitiation.
• and their sin offering: וְחַטָּאתָם (vechattatam). The חַטָּאת (chattat) or sin offering was primarily a purification offering. Its purpose was to cleanse from impurity caused by sin and to make atonement for inadvertent offenses, restoring purity and allowing the community to dwell in God's presence.
• before the LORD: לִפְנֵי יְהוָה (lifnei Yahweh). This denotes the location of the offering and the priest's act—in the sacred space, at the tabernacle/temple, where God's presence dwelt, signifying the direct addressing of the sin and petition to the Divine.
• for their error: Repetition of שְׁגָגָה (shegaghah) for emphasis, reaffirming the specific nature of the sin being addressed—unintentional, not deliberate rebellion.

Numbers 15 25 Bonus section

The laws regarding unintentional sins in Numbers 15 reveal several profound theological truths:

• Grace Amidst Law: Even in the detailed and demanding Mosaic Law, there is an abundant provision for God's grace and forgiveness, especially concerning human weakness and oversight.
• Severity of Sin: No sin, not even unintentional error, is trivial in God's eyes. It still defiles and requires propitiation, demonstrating God's absolute holiness.
• Distinction between Sins: The clear demarcation between shegaghah (unintentional sin) and high-handed rebellion (yad ramah, Num 15:30) reveals God's justice, distinguishing between weakness and willful defiance. While a path to atonement existed for the former, the latter often resulted in being "cut off" from the community.
• Priestly Mediation: The necessity of a priest highlights the truth that sinful humanity cannot directly approach a holy God without a designated mediator. This truth ultimately culminates in Jesus Christ, our great High Priest.
• Corporate Responsibility: The concept of a congregation sinning unintentionally shows that communities can bear collective guilt and need corporate atonement, illustrating the interconnectedness of God's people. This collective responsibility is also evident in instances like Achan's sin (Josh 7).

Numbers 15 25 Commentary

Numbers 15:25 highlights a crucial aspect of God's character and covenant relationship: His provision for cleansing and forgiveness of unintentional sin. This verse distinguishes itself by addressing errors of the entire community, illustrating that collective ignorance or oversight could also defile the holy community. The ritual prescribed is not an automatic magical remedy, but a divinely ordained process, underscoring the necessity of a priestly mediator and a specific offering to achieve reconciliation. The kipper (atonement) made by the priest involves covering or purging the sin, not just overlooking it, thus upholding God's holiness while demonstrating His mercy.

The offerings, especially the sin offering (chattat), point to the seriousness of sin, even if unintentional, as it defiled the covenant relationship and required purification. The burnt offering (olah) signified total dedication and acceptance by God. While these sacrifices provided a means of temporary cleansing and legal forgiveness under the Old Covenant, they served as shadows, constantly reminding Israel that a perfect and final atonement was needed. They foreshadowed Christ's singular, efficacious sacrifice on the cross, which genuinely covers, purges, and secures eternal forgiveness for all sins—intentional and unintentional—for those who believe. Unlike the repeated animal sacrifices for error, Christ's perfect offering, being made once for all, provides true, deep purification of conscience, fulfilling the limited efficacy of these Old Testament provisions (Heb 9:14, 10:4, 10:10). The emphasis on "forgiven them" underscores God's gracious response to His people's adherence to His prescribed way of dealing with sin, even inadvertent corporate failure.