Numbers 15:22 (KJV)

What does Numbers 15:22 mean?

Numbers 15:22 addresses what should happen if the Israelites unintentionally fail to keep all the commands that the LORD gave to Moses. The verse introduces the idea that mistakes or oversights in following God's instructions are possible and acknowledges them directly.

In this verse, God is speaking to Moses, who is then to relay these instructions to the people of Israel. The context is about unintentional sins—specifically, times when the community as a whole fails to observe all the commandments given through Moses. This sets up the following verses, which explain what to do when such errors are discovered, showing that God makes provision for human error.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 15:22

• "erred" (שָׁגָה, shagah): This word means to go astray or make a mistake, often unintentionally. Its use here highlights that the verse is about errors that are not deliberate acts of rebellion.
• "observed" (עָשָׂה, asah): This verb means to do, make, or carry out. In this context, it refers to performing or keeping the commandments, emphasizing active obedience.
• "commandments" (מִצְוָה, mitsvah): This word refers to specific instructions or orders from God. The plural here underlines that the concern is with all the commands given, not just one or two.
• "LORD" (יְהוָה, YHWH): This is the personal name of God, used here to remind the reader that these are not just general rules, but commands from the covenant God of Israel.
• "spoken" (דָּבַר, dabar): This verb means to speak or declare. It stresses that these commandments were not invented by Moses but were directly communicated by God.
• "Moses" (מֹשֶׁה, Mosheh): Naming Moses here grounds the commands in the historical relationship between God, Moses, and Israel.

Why Numbers 15:22 matters

• Numbers 15:22 clarifies that God distinguishes between deliberate disobedience and honest mistakes, showing a practical awareness of human imperfection.
• By addressing the whole community, the verse emphasizes collective responsibility in following God's instructions, not just individual actions.
• This verse sets the stage for the following instructions about atonement, highlighting that God provides a way to deal with unintentional failures, which is a key theme in the wider passage.