Numbers 15 31

Numbers 15:31 kjv

Because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him.

Numbers 15:31 nkjv

Because he has despised the word of the LORD, and has broken His commandment, that person shall be completely cut off; his guilt shall be upon him.' "

Numbers 15:31 niv

Because they have despised the LORD's word and broken his commands, they must surely be cut off; their guilt remains on them.'?"

Numbers 15:31 esv

Because he has despised the word of the LORD and has broken his commandment, that person shall be utterly cut off; his iniquity shall be on him."

Numbers 15:31 nlt

Since they have treated the LORD's word with contempt and deliberately disobeyed his command, they must be completely cut off and suffer the punishment for their guilt."

Numbers 15 verses

Numbers 15 31 Meaning

Numbers 15:31 conveys the severe consequence for individuals who deliberately and defiantly disregard God's revealed word and command. It emphasizes that such high-handed contempt for divine authority is a serious offense that warrants an irreversible penalty. The "soul" or individual who commits such an act, demonstrating open rebellion and scorn, is declared to be "utterly cut off" from the community of Israel and from God's favor. Furthermore, their guilt and the consequence of their sin will irrevocably remain upon them, signifying that no atonement is available under the Mosaic system for such a transgression, leaving them to bear the full weight of their judgment.

Numbers 15 31 Context

Numbers chapter 15 delineates various laws and ordinances given by God through Moses, particularly focusing on offerings. The chapter begins by detailing laws for freewill offerings and unintentional sins (verses 1-29). Specifically, verses 22-29 describe the provision for atonement for sins committed "through ignorance" (unintentional sins) by the community or an individual. This includes specific sacrifices that could bring forgiveness.

Verse 30 dramatically shifts focus by introducing the concept of the "high hand" (presumptuous, defiant) sinner, explicitly contrasted with the unintentional sinner. Verse 31 directly expands on the fate of this high-handed individual. The subsequent narrative, verses 32-36, illustrates this principle with the specific example of a man caught gathering sticks on the Sabbath, who is executed as a result of his deliberate defiance of God's commandment. This immediate context underscores the gravity of intentional rebellion against God's direct word and command, highlighting that while forgiveness is provided for unintentional faults, there is no sacrifice or leniency for deliberate, contemptuous sin within the covenant community, leading to severe separation and divine judgment. Historically, these laws were critical for maintaining the sanctity and purity of the Israelite community, established under the Mosaic Covenant, in anticipation of entering the Promised Land.

Numbers 15 31 Word analysis

• Because he hath despised: The Hebrew word for "despised" is bazah (בָּזָה), meaning to treat with contempt, to scorn, to hold in utter disregard as worthless. It implies not just an accidental neglect but a conscious, intentional rejection and devaluation of something. This indicates a posture of the heart and mind against God's authority.
• the word of the LORD: In Hebrew, devar YHWH (דְּבַר-יְהוָה). Devar means word, utterance, message. YHWH is the sacred covenant name of God, emphasizing His revealed will and authority as the sovereign covenant-making and covenant-keeping God. It refers to God's commandments, statutes, and all forms of His divine revelation. Despising devar YHWH is to scorn His very authority and covenant.
• and hath broken: The Hebrew verb is parar (פָּרַר), meaning to break, frustrate, make void, annul. It suggests rendering something null or ineffective, actively disannulling or rejecting. This isn't just failing to uphold a command but actively working against it or denying its validity.
• his commandment: In Hebrew, mitzvato (מִצְוָתוֹ), from mitzvah, meaning command, precept, ordinance. It refers to a specific, definite divine instruction or statute. The possessive suffix 'his' emphasizes that it is God's own, personal injunction being violated.
• that soul: The Hebrew phrase is ha'nephesh (הַנֶּפֶשׁ), meaning the person, the living being, the individual. This term often emphasizes the individual's inner being and responsibility, highlighting that the judgment is directed specifically at the one who committed the high-handed sin, not just an anonymous entity.
• shall utterly be cut off: This is a powerful, intensive Hebrew idiom: hikkaret tikkaret (הִכָּרֵת תִּכָּרֵת). It uses an infinitive absolute of the verb karat (כָּרַת - to cut off, destroy, make a covenant), followed by the finite verb form. This construction expresses absolute certainty, severity, and completeness. "Being cut off" signifies exclusion from the covenant community, expulsion from fellowship with God and His people, and often implied premature death at God's hand or irreversible spiritual death, without the possibility of a normal human funeral within the community.
• his iniquity: The Hebrew word avon (עָוֹן), meaning perversity, guilt, punishment for iniquity, moral evil. It suggests a twisting or crookedness, signifying deep moral culpability and the resulting consequence.
• shall be upon him: Bo (בוֹ) means "in him" or "upon him." This phrase emphasizes that the guilt, the consequence, and the divine judgment for that specific sin will be directly and solely borne by the individual who committed it. There is no transfer of guilt or any provision for atonement for this sin; it rests entirely on the sinner, indicating an unforgivable state under the old covenant terms for such defiance.

Words-Group Analysis:

• Because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken his commandment: This phrase identifies the specific nature of the transgression: it's not merely breaking a rule, but showing deep contempt for God's authority, revelation, and specific instructions. It speaks to the attitude (despising) and the action (breaking), both being intentional and defiant. The "word of the LORD" and "his commandment" reinforce that the object of contempt is divine law, stemming directly from God Himself.
• that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him: This phrase details the two-fold, certain, and severe consequences. "Utterly cut off" emphasizes exclusion from the life-giving covenant community and presence of God. "His iniquity shall be upon him" means complete, unatonable personal responsibility for the sin, implying a state of unredeemable guilt and a direct reckoning with God's justice. There is no communal or sacrificial remedy.

Numbers 15 31 Bonus section

The concept of being "cut off" (Hebrew: kareth) is one of the most severe punishments in the Pentateuch, found in contexts ranging from not circumcising (Gen 17:14), violating the Sabbath (Exo 31:14), eating forbidden foods (Lev 7:27), to high-handed rebellion against God. Scholars suggest kareth carried multiple implications: immediate death at God's hand, premature death (dying before one's time), childlessness (ending the family line), and ultimate spiritual ostracism from the people and God. This wasn't necessarily a death administered by human judges but a direct divine judgment, often perceived as more fearsome than human execution because it implied being outside God's covenant grace. The unforgivability of the high-handed sin under the Mosaic law for which kareth was applied underscores the infinite cost and necessity of Christ's sacrifice. Only through faith in Christ can forgiveness for sins, even those of intentional rebellion (after conversion, through repentance), be found, illustrating the limitations of the old covenant sacrificial system for such offenses.

Numbers 15 31 Commentary

Numbers 15:31 stands as a stark declaration contrasting with the preceding provisions for unintentional sins. While God graciously provided means of atonement for errors committed through ignorance or weakness, He showed no such mercy for sin committed "with a high hand" – that is, in defiant, contemptuous rebellion against His explicit word and command. This type of sin is characterized not by weakness or oversight, but by deliberate scorn for God's authority and a willful annulment of His law.

The penalty, to be "utterly cut off," implies a profound separation: from the community of Israel, from the covenant relationship with YHWH, and often resulted in premature physical death, though its primary meaning is spiritual excommunication. For such defiant acts, no sacrifice could atone, signifying that the individual bore their "iniquity upon him." This meant personal, unmitigated responsibility and the certainty of judgment without relief. The Sabbath-breaker in the immediate subsequent verses (Num 15:32-36) exemplifies this high-handed rebellion and its consequence, providing a concrete illustration of what it means to despise God's word. This principle underlines God's demand for reverence and obedience within His covenant and served to maintain the holiness of the Israelite camp. It also foreshadows a concept of "unforgivable sin" or apostasy found in the New Testament (e.g., Heb 10:26-27), emphasizing the absolute necessity of responding to God's revelation with reverence and submission.