Numbers 15 30

Numbers 15:30 kjv

But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.

Numbers 15:30 nkjv

'But the person who does anything presumptuously, whether he is native-born or a stranger, that one brings reproach on the LORD, and he shall be cut off from among his people.

Numbers 15:30 niv

"?'But anyone who sins defiantly, whether native-born or foreigner, blasphemes the LORD and must be cut off from the people of Israel.

Numbers 15:30 esv

But the person who does anything with a high hand, whether he is native or a sojourner, reviles the LORD, and that person shall be cut off from among his people.

Numbers 15:30 nlt

"But those who brazenly violate the LORD's will, whether native-born Israelites or foreigners, have blasphemed the LORD, and they must be cut off from the community.

Numbers 15 verses

Numbers 15 30 Meaning

Numbers 15:30 addresses the severe consequences for a person who commits a sin "with a high hand" or defiantly. Unlike unintentional errors, this is a deliberate and presumptuous act of rebellion against God's direct command or revealed will. Such an act is considered an open insult and blasphemy against the Lord Himself. The severe penalty for this defiant transgression is that the person, whether native-born Israelite or resident foreigner, "shall be cut off from among his people," signifying spiritual and communal exclusion, potentially leading to divine execution or loss of covenant status.

Numbers 15 30 Context

Numbers 15 deals primarily with offerings for unintentional sins committed by individuals and the entire community. Verses 22-29 meticulously detail the purification offerings and burnt offerings required to atone for mistakes made in ignorance or without intent. This creates a stark contrast with verse 30, which introduces the category of defiant, willful, or presumptuous sin ("with a high hand"). The historical context places this within the Mosaic Law, establishing foundational principles for the Israelite covenant community. It emphasizes God's holiness and His absolute demand for obedience and reverence from His people. The inclusion of the "foreigner" (ger) underlines the universality of these laws within the community, ensuring all residents understood and adhered to the divine standard, thus guarding the sanctity of God's presence among them. This law serves as a critical boundary, distinguishing mere human error from outright rebellion against the divine King.

Numbers 15 30 Word analysis

• But the person (וְהַנֶּפֶשׁ - vəhan·ne·phesh):
  • Nephesh refers to the living being, soul, or person.
  • It highlights individual accountability before God.
  • The focus is on the responsible agent.
• who does anything defiantly (בְּיָד רָמָה - bə·yāḏ rā·māh):
  • Literally, "with a high hand" or "with uplifted hand."
  • This is an idiom signifying an arrogant, defiant, presumptuous, or insolent act.
  • It denotes a sin committed willfully, with full knowledge and intent, in open rebellion against God's explicit command or known will. It contrasts sharply with "sins of error" or "unintentional sins" (Numb 15:27).
  • It reflects a challenge to divine authority, not just a breaking of rules.
• whether native-born or foreigner (הָאֶזְרָח אוֹ הַגֵּר - hā’ez·rāḥ ’ōw hag·gēr):
  • Ezrach refers to a native-born Israelite.
  • Ger refers to a resident alien, sojourner, or foreigner living among the Israelites.
  • This emphasizes the impartiality and universal application of God's law within the covenant community; there are no exceptions based on ethnic origin or social status when it comes to deliberate defiance of God.
• that one blasphemes the Lord (יְהוָה הוּא מְגַדֵּף - Yahweh hû mə·ḡad·dēp̄):
  • Gādaph means to revile, reproach, defame, defy, or blaspheme.
  • The emphasis "Yahweh he blasphemes" means such a defiant act is not merely breaking a rule but is an open scorn and contempt against the Person of God Himself, a direct affront to His authority and holiness.
  • This highlights the gravity of the sin, revealing it as an attack on God's character and sovereignty, thereby setting it apart from other sins.
• and that person shall be cut off from among his people (וְנִכְרְתָה הַנֶּפֶשׁ הַהִוא מִקֶּרֶב עַמָּהּ - wə·nikh·rə·ṯāh han·ne·phesh ha·hiw miq·qe·reḇ ‘am·māh):
  • Kāraṯ means to cut off, be cut off, or destroy.
  • This is a severe judicial or divine penalty, frequently implying divine intervention or judgment.
  • It can mean excommunication from the covenant community, implying removal of all communal rights, privileges, and protection, effectively separating the individual from God's special people.
  • Often, it implies physical death as a divine judgment, as seen in subsequent Old Testament contexts for specific capital offenses. The implication is divine removal rather than merely human execution in all cases.
  • This penalty demonstrates that a blatant disregard for God's law severs one's relationship with the covenant people and God Himself.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "does anything defiantly... blasphemes the Lord": This pairing explicitly links the high-handed, arrogant act directly to an attack on God's character and honor. It's not just a breach of law but a declaration of war on God's authority. This phrase strongly contrasts with sins that are a result of weakness or ignorance, defining the sin as willful rebellion. The absence of an atonement sacrifice for such acts in the Mosaic Law underscored their ultimate seriousness.
• "native-born or foreigner": This demonstrates that God's moral law and the consequences for deliberate rebellion apply universally to all who live under the covenant. There is no distinction in justice or punishment for willful sin, reinforcing the equality before God's law. This was likely a polemic against any perception of special privilege or leniency for native Israelites when facing clear divine commands.
• "blasphemes the Lord... cut off from among his people": The consequence ("cut off") directly stems from the offense ("blasphemes"). It signifies that to actively insult or defy God means forfeiting one's place within His chosen community, as membership is predicated on reverence and obedience to Him. This reveals the core essence of the covenant relationship: fidelity to God.

Numbers 15 30 Bonus section

The "high hand" sin of Numbers 15:30 foreshadows concepts found in the New Testament, particularly the unpardonable sin or blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Matt 12:31-32; Heb 10:26-29). While the contexts differ, both speak to a willful, deliberate, and persistent rejection of divine truth, a state where a person actively scorns God and His grace, thereby putting themselves beyond the scope of offered salvation or forgiveness. It demonstrates that while God's mercy is vast, it does not condone deliberate, impenitent rebellion. It emphasizes that certain heart conditions—a settled contempt for God and His ways—place a person outside of the community of faith and outside the possibility of divine restoration under both covenants.

Numbers 15 30 Commentary

Numbers 15:30 highlights a crucial distinction in the Mosaic Law between unintentional sin, which could be atoned for through prescribed sacrifices, and "high-handed" or defiant sin, for which no atonement was provided. The "high hand" implies not a momentary lapse or weakness but an intentional, conscious act of rebellion and contempt for God's revealed will. Such a sin is fundamentally an act of "blasphemy," not necessarily in speech but in deed, representing an open challenge to God's sovereignty and a despising of His authority. The severity of the penalty—being "cut off from his people"—underscores the absolute seriousness of rejecting God's direct command. This could mean exclusion from the covenant community and its privileges, or even divine judgment resulting in death. It reveals that membership in God's people required genuine reverence and a willingness to obey, rather than willful defiance. The Old Testament system provided pathways for forgiveness for mistakes, but it had no provision for defiant, open rebellion, thus highlighting humanity's inherent need for a deeper, more profound redemption found in the New Covenant through Christ, where even such sins can find forgiveness through true repentance and faith.