Now if you stray unintentionally and do not obey all these commandments that the LORD has spoken to Moses—
Parallel translations
- WEB “‘When you err, and don’t observe all these commandments, which Yahweh has spoken to Moses,
- KJV And if ye have erred, and not observed all these commandments, which the LORD hath spoken unto Moses,
- NKJV ‘If you sin unintentionally, and do not observe all these commandments which the Lord has spoken to Moses—
- NASB ‘But when you unintentionally do wrong and fail to comply with all these commandments which the Lord has spoken to Moses,
- NLT “But suppose you unintentionally fail to carry out all these commands that the Lord has given you through Moses.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God addresses sins committed in error, when the people fail to keep his commandments unintentionally. Even unintended disobedience matters to a holy God.
Overview
This opens the law concerning unwitting corporate sin, distinct from defiant rebellion. It shows God's seriousness about all violations of his word while providing mercy for those done in ignorance. The provision of atonement here points toward Christ, whose sacrifice covers even the sins we do not fully recognize (Hebrews 9:7, 1 John 1:7).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Lev 4:2“Tell the Israelites to do as follows with one who sins unintentionally against any of the LORD’s commandments and does what is forbidden by them:
- Luke 12:48But the one who unknowingly does things worthy of punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from him who has been entrusted with much, even more will be demanded.
- Lev 4:22When a leader sins unintentionally and does what is prohibited by any of the commandments of the LORD his God, he incurs guilt.
- Lev 4:27And if one of the common people sins unintentionally and does what is prohibited by any of the LORD’s commandments, he incurs guilt.
- Lev 5:15–17“If someone acts unfaithfully and sins unintentionally against any of the LORD’s holy things, he must bring his guilt offering to the LORD: an unblemished ram from the flock, of proper value in silver shekels according to the sanctuary shekel; it is a guilt offering.
- Lev 4:13–14Now if the whole congregation of Israel strays unintentionally and the matter escapes the notice of the assembly so that they violate any of the LORD’s commandments and incur guilt by doing what is forbidden,
- Lev 5:13In this way the priest will make atonement for him for any of these sins he has committed, and he will be forgiven. The remainder will belong to the priest, like the grain offering.”
- Ps 19:12Who can discern his own errors? Cleanse me from my hidden faults.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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Christ at the center
In the wilderness Christ is the water from the rock, the bronze serpent lifted up that the dying might look and live (John 3:14), and the star and scepter that Balaam saw rising out of Jacob.
How Numbers 15:22 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.