Numbers 15:26 kjv
And it shall be forgiven all the congregation of the children of Israel, and the stranger that sojourneth among them; seeing all the people were in ignorance.
Numbers 15:26 nkjv
It shall be forgiven the whole congregation of the children of Israel and the stranger who dwells among them, because all the people did it unintentionally.
Numbers 15:26 niv
The whole Israelite community and the foreigners residing among them will be forgiven, because all the people were involved in the unintentional wrong.
Numbers 15:26 esv
And all the congregation of the people of Israel shall be forgiven, and the stranger who sojourns among them, because the whole population was involved in the mistake.
Numbers 15:26 nlt
The whole community of Israel will be forgiven, including the foreigners living among you, for all the people were involved in the sin.
Numbers 15 26 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 4:2 | "If anyone sins unintentionally in any of the LORD’s commandments..." | Law for individual unintentional sin |
| Lev 4:13 | "If the whole congregation of Israel errs unintentionally..." | Corporate unintentional sin, similar context |
| Lev 5:15 | "...commits a trespass by errancy and deals corruptly with the holy things of the LORD..." | Unintentional sin concerning holy things |
| Lev 19:33-34 | "When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong... you shall love him as yourself..." | Treatment of sojourners, like oneself |
| Num 15:22-29 | "...If you sin unintentionally... If one person sins unintentionally..." | Immediate context: sin offerings |
| Num 15:30-31 | "But the person who does anything defiantly, whether he is native or a stranger... that person shall be cut off..." | Contrast with high-handed (presumptuous) sin |
| Deut 21:8 | "O LORD, forgive your people Israel, whom you have redeemed..." | Corporate forgiveness prayer |
| Josh 20:3 | "that the slayer who kills any person unintentionally, and without intent, may flee there..." | Provision for unintentional homicide |
| 1 Sam 7:6 | "We have sinned against the LORD." And Samuel judged the people of Israel at Mizpah." | Corporate confession and forgiveness |
| Psa 19:12 | "Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults." | Recognition of unconscious sin |
| Psa 25:11 | "For your name’s sake, O LORD, pardon my iniquity, for it is great." | Seeking divine forgiveness for sin |
| Psa 86:5 | "For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love..." | God's character: forgiving and merciful |
| Psa 103:3 | "who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases..." | God as the ultimate forgiver |
| Isa 56:6-7 | "And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD... for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples." | Inclusion of foreigners in God's covenant |
| Ezek 45:20 | "And so you shall do on the seventh day of the month for anyone who has sinned through error or through ignorance..." | Future atonement for errors/ignorance |
| Joel 2:13 | "...for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents from punishing." | God's willingness to forgive |
| Acts 13:39 | "...and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses." | Christ's forgiveness transcends law for sin |
| Rom 3:25 | "...to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins previously committed;" | Forgiveness of past sins by God's forbearance |
| Rom 11:17 | "...some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among them..." | Gentiles (strangers) grafted into covenant |
| 1 Tim 1:13 | "...though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief..." | Forgiveness for sin done in ignorance |
| Heb 9:7 | "...but only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people." | High Priest's atonement for unintentional sins |
| Heb 10:26 | "For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins," | Contrast: deliberate vs. unintentional sin |
| Jas 4:17 | "So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin." | Responsibility when knowledge is present |
Numbers 15 verses
Numbers 15 26 Meaning
Numbers 15:26 provides for divine forgiveness for unintentional sins committed by the entire Israelite community, including native-born Israelites and resident aliens dwelling among them. This forgiveness is granted because the sin was committed unknowingly or out of inadvertence, highlighting God's mercy for errors rather than willful defiance.
Numbers 15 26 Context
Numbers Chapter 15 provides a set of laws concerning various offerings and rituals, primarily designed for Israel's future life in the Promised Land. The preceding verses (1-21) describe the associated sacrifices for grain, drink, and peace offerings, emphasizing their consistency for both native Israelites and resident aliens. Numbers 15:22-29 then addresses the vital distinction between intentional and unintentional sins. Specifically, verse 26 concludes the section on unintentional sins committed by the entire congregation. This provision ensured a path for atonement and cleansing for the community's inadvertent failures, maintaining their covenant relationship with God. It contrasts sharply with the severe consequences for presumptuous or high-handed sin detailed immediately after, in Numbers 15:30-31, where no forgiveness is offered, and the individual is "cut off" from the people. Historically, this law would guide Israel in collective moral responsibility and ritual purity as they prepared to live as a holy nation under God's governance.
Numbers 15 26 Word analysis
- And it shall be forgiven: Hebrew: וְנִסְלַח (v'nisalakh). The verb is in the Niphal stem (passive voice), meaning "it will be forgiven" or "forgiveness will be granted." This passive construction emphasizes that forgiveness is an act originating from God, not something earned or achieved by human effort alone, but enabled by His grace through the prescribed offering. The root סָלַח (salakh) exclusively denotes divine forgiveness.
- all the congregation: Hebrew: כָּל־הָעֵדָה (kol-ha'edah). "Kol" means "all" or "whole," signifying comprehensiveness. "Ha'edah" refers to the assembly, congregation, or community of Israel. This highlights corporate responsibility and corporate forgiveness. A sin by some within the community can impact the entire collective, requiring a collective remedy.
- of the children of Israel: Identifies the primary recipients of the covenant laws. "Children of Israel" emphasizes their lineage and identity as God's chosen people, formed into a nation.
- and the stranger: Hebrew: וְהַגֵּר (v'ha-ger). "Ger" refers to a resident alien or sojourner, someone not ethnically Israelite but living permanently among them and usually adhering to the Mosaic Law. This demonstrates the inclusive nature of God's law and His provisions for forgiveness, extending mercy and covenant privileges beyond native birthright.
- that sojourneth among them: Hebrew: אֲשֶׁר־הוּא גָר בְּתוֹכָם (asher-hu gar b'tokam). "Gar" is a form of the verb "to sojourn" or "to dwell." It specifies the position of the "ger" – living within the community and under its laws, not merely passing through. This inclusion underlines that the Torah's moral and ritual requirements, and accompanying provisions for atonement, applied universally to all who belonged to the Israelite societal structure.
- for all the people: Hebrew: כִּי לְכָל־הָעָם (ki l'khol-ha'am). "Ki" means "because" or "for," introducing the reason for forgiveness. "Am" generally refers to "people," often in a broader sense than 'edah. It reiterates the collective scope.
- were in ignorance: Hebrew: בִּשְׁגָגָה (bish'gaghah). "Bi-" means "in" or "by." "Shgaggah" means error, unintentional fault, inadvertent sin. This is the crucial qualification. It differentiates between an accidental lapse (requiring atonement) and deliberate defiance (bringing severe judgment). The lack of intent, not the absence of sin, is the basis for divine provision for forgiveness in this context.
Numbers 15 26 Bonus section
The forgiveness stipulated in Num 15:26 for collective, unintentional sin demonstrates the corporate nature of Israel's relationship with God. A sin committed even inadvertently by a leader or part of the community could affect the whole, thus requiring a communal sacrifice and communal atonement process, like the sin offerings detailed in Lev 4. This system highlighted God's meticulous concern for holiness within the camp, even over unforeseen transgressions. The provision also underscores the concept of imputed guilt for the congregation's corporate failures, which needed to be addressed ritually to maintain covenant standing. Furthermore, it foreshadows the comprehensive cleansing from all sin—known and unknown—achieved through the ultimate, perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ, whose blood atones for every human sin, fulfilling these Mosaic types.
Numbers 15 26 Commentary
Numbers 15:26 beautifully encapsulates key theological truths: God's holiness demands atonement even for sins of ignorance, yet His profound mercy provides a means for that atonement. This verse is part of a legislative passage differentiating accidental infractions from deliberate rebellion. The specific mention of "the stranger that sojourneth among them" underscores the universal reach of God's covenant requirements and redemptive provisions within the Israelite community, dismantling any notion that only ethnic Israelites were bound by or beneficiaries of the Law concerning forgiveness. The distinction between 'unintentional' sin (שְׁגָגָה - sh'gaggah) and 'high-handed' sin (בְּיָד רָמָה - b'yad ramah - Num 15:30) is foundational: God pardons genuine error but severely judges contempt for His law. This illustrates divine justice balanced with divine compassion, requiring both responsibility for sin and faith in God's provided way of reconciliation. It anticipates a fuller forgiveness offered through Christ for sins both known and unknown, bridging Old Testament shadows with New Testament realities.