Numbers 15:40 kjv
That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God.
Numbers 15:40 nkjv
and that you may remember and do all My commandments, and be holy for your God.
Numbers 15:40 niv
Then you will remember to obey all my commands and will be consecrated to your God.
Numbers 15:40 esv
So you shall remember and do all my commandments, and be holy to your God.
Numbers 15:40 nlt
The tassels will help you remember that you must obey all my commands and be holy to your God.
Numbers 15 40 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 15:39 | "...that you may remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them... " | Immediate context of tzitzit as a reminder to obey. |
| Lev 11:44 | "For I am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy." | Direct command to be holy because God is holy. |
| Lev 19:2 | "Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, ‘You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.’" | Repetition of the call to holiness. |
| Deut 4:6 | "Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding..." | Obedience to commands brings wisdom. |
| Deut 6:6-9 | "And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart... Bind them as a sign on your hand..." | Emphasis on internalizing and externalizing God's word. |
| Deut 11:18 | "You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul..." | God's word to be internalized for obedience. |
| Josh 1:8 | "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it." | Meditation and adherence to the law for success. |
| Ps 1:2-3 | "but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night." | Delight in God's law leads to fruitfulness. |
| Ps 119:4-5 | "You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes!" | Desire for diligent obedience. |
| Ps 119:10-11 | "With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!... that I might not sin against you." | Wholehearted seeking and obedience to avoid sin. |
| Prov 3:1-2 | "My son, do not forget my teaching... for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you." | Benefits of remembering and keeping teaching. |
| Isa 43:21 | "the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise." | God's purpose for His people. |
| Jer 31:33 | "For this is the covenant that I will make... I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their heart." | Law written internally in the New Covenant. |
| Eze 36:26-27 | "And I will give you a new heart... and I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes..." | God empowers obedience through the Spirit. |
| Matt 5:19 | "Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven..." | Importance of keeping and teaching God's commands. |
| Matt 7:21 | "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father..." | Emphasizes doing God's will for entry into kingdom. |
| John 14:15 | "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." | Love for God demonstrated through obedience. |
| John 14:26 | "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance..." | Holy Spirit empowers remembrance and understanding. |
| Jas 1:22 | "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." | Practical call to action, not just passive listening. |
| 1 Pet 1:15-16 | "but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”" | New Testament reaffirmation of God's call to holiness. |
| 1 Jn 2:3 | "And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments." | Keeping commands as evidence of knowing God. |
| 1 Jn 3:24 | "Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him." | Reciprocal relationship through obedience. |
| Rev 14:12 | "Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus." | Enduring saints are characterized by keeping commands. |
Numbers 15 verses
Numbers 15 40 Meaning
This verse states the ultimate purpose of the commandment regarding the tassels (tzitzit) and the blue cord: to serve as a constant, tangible reminder for the Israelites. The goal is that by remembering God's instructions, they will diligently put all His commandments into practice. This obedience, stemming from active remembrance, will then lead to a consecrated life, resulting in them being holy and set apart specifically for God.
Numbers 15 40 Context
Numbers chapter 15 provides various laws, often in response to the recent rebellion and judgment (Numbers 13-14). It transitions from instructions on sacrifices to unintentional sins, then high-handed sin, and finally, the command regarding the fringes (tzitzit). This command in verses 37-41 is specifically given to counteract the Israelite tendency to "prostitute themselves" by following "their own heart and their own eyes" (v.39). Verse 40, therefore, summarizes the profound spiritual purpose behind this external, visible reminder: to consistently bring God's whole body of commandments to mind, so that His people will actively obey them and live consecrated lives for Him, thereby distinguishing themselves from the nations around them and honoring their covenant God. This practice was to preserve their unique identity as a holy nation, separate from pagan influences and their corrupt practices.
Numbers 15 40 Word analysis
so that (לְמַעַן - lemaʻan): This is a conjunction meaning "in order that," or "for the sake of." It explicitly states the purpose or goal of the preceding instruction about the tassels. It indicates intentional divine design behind the command.
you may remember (תִּזְכְּרוּ - tizkəru): From the Hebrew root zakhar (זכר), which is more profound than a simple mental recall. It implies active engagement, bringing to mind, dwelling on, taking to heart, and actively recognizing God's commands. It signifies not just remembering something that was learned, but a constant awareness and a responsive disposition toward it. It involves cognitive activity leading to intentional action.
and do (וַעֲשִׂיתֶם - vaʻasitem): From the Hebrew root ʻasah (עשה), meaning to make, do, perform, accomplish. This directly connects remembrance to action. The command is not merely about retaining knowledge but about putting it into practice. There is an expectation of active, diligent obedience that flows directly from proper remembrance. It counters passive intellectual acknowledgment without corresponding behavior.
all (כָּל - kol): Denotes comprehensiveness and totality. It emphasizes that obedience is not selective or partial but encompasses every aspect of God's commands. This precludes pick-and-choose religion or obedience driven by convenience.
my commandments (מִצְוֹתַי - mitsvotai): From the Hebrew noun mitsvah (מצוה), referring to divine instructions, precepts, and laws. The suffix "-tai" indicates "My," signifying that these commands originate from God Himself, establishing His authority and right to prescribe how His people should live. They are not arbitrary human rules but divine revelations of His will.
and be holy (וִהְיִיתֶם קְדֹשִׁים - vihyitem qədoshiym):
- vihyitem: "and you will be," from hayah (היה), to be or become. It implies a state or condition resulting from the preceding actions.
- qədoshiym: The plural of qadosh (קדוש), meaning holy, sacred, set apart. It refers to a state of separation from the common, profane, or impure, and dedication or consecration to God for His purposes. It's not just ethical conduct, but a distinct identity and purpose aligned with God. This holiness is both a gift and a responsibility, achieved through adherence to God’s commands.
to your God (לֵאלהֵיכֶם - lēlōhêkhem): lē (to/for) + ʾĕlōhîm (אלוהים, God) with the suffix "khem" (your plural). This phrase clarifies that the holiness commanded is not an abstract state but a relational one. They are to be holy for or to Yahweh, the God who brought them out of Egypt and established a covenant with them. It grounds their identity and purpose firmly within their covenant relationship with the LORD, implying ownership, allegiance, and intimate communion.
Words-Group Analysis:
"so that you may remember and do": This highlights the crucial sequence and dependency: remembrance (internal cognitive act) leads directly to doing (external practical obedience). The purpose of the tzitzit was to facilitate this link, countering forgetfulness which inevitably leads to disobedience. It reveals God's desire for an active, engaged obedience from His people.
"all my commandments": This phrase underlines the totality and divine authority of God's law. It's a call for comprehensive fidelity, ensuring that the Israelites would not pick and choose which laws to follow based on convenience or preference, but would respect the entire body of God's revealed will.
"and be holy to your God": This represents the ultimate outcome and spiritual transformation desired. The consequence of remembering and doing all of God's commandments is to be set apart, consecrated, and dedicated specifically for His divine purposes. This emphasizes the intrinsic link between ethical obedience and true holiness in their relationship with the Lord. Holiness is not mystical or unattainable but cultivated through concrete acts of obedience that align one's life with the divine standard, bringing honor to God to whom they belong.
Numbers 15 40 Bonus section
- Contrast with Self-Rule: This verse, and indeed the entire command of tzitzit, stands in stark contrast to the preceding phrase in Numbers 15:39 about the Israelites "going after your own heart and your own eyes." This "harlotry" represents self-directed desires and following one's own impulses. Verse 40 provides the antidote: instead of self-will, they are to remember and do God's will, which leads to true purity and separation for Him.
- External Symbol, Internal Transformation: While the tzitzit was an external, visual cue, its purpose was deeply internal – to transform the heart and mind to actively pursue holiness. The physical object was a pedagogical aid to facilitate spiritual commitment.
- Messianic Fulfillment: While the specific command for tzitzit is part of the Mosaic Law, the underlying principles of remembering God's word, active obedience, and living a holy life are universal and find their ultimate fulfillment in Christ. Believers in the New Covenant are not bound by the physical symbol, but the Holy Spirit within them now serves as the constant "reminder" and empowerer of God's Word (Jn 14:26), leading to a transformed life of holiness unto God (1 Pet 1:15-16).
Numbers 15 40 Commentary
Numbers 15:40 provides the theological anchor for the seemingly simple command of wearing tassels (tzitzit). It elevates the practice from mere ritual to a profound spiritual exercise. The purpose is fundamentally didactic: to serve as a constant, tangible reminder (literally, "so that you may remember") of God's comprehensive directives ("all my commandments"). This remembrance is not passive recollection but an active, mindful engagement intended to instigate action ("and do"). God desires obedience that stems from conscious memory of His will. The ultimate result of this cycle of remembrance and doing is transformation: His people will "be holy to your God." Holiness here is not simply an abstract theological concept but a lived reality – a separation from the world's values and a dedication of one's entire being, thought, and conduct to the Lord who called them. This sets them apart, defining their identity and purpose in opposition to the world's tendency to follow "their own heart and their own eyes" (v.39). It underscores that true sanctity is cultivated through diligent obedience to divine instruction.