And the priest shall make an atonement for all the congregation of the children of Israel, and it shall be forgiven them; for it is ignorance: and they shall bring their offering, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD, and their sin offering before the LORD, for their ignorance:

NUMBERS 15:25KJV
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Numbers 15:25 (KJV)

What does Numbers 15:25 mean?

Numbers 15:25 explains that when the priest makes atonement for the entire community of Israel, their unintentional sins will be forgiven, because the wrongdoing was done out of ignorance. The people must bring specific offerings—one burned and one for sin—before the LORD to receive this forgiveness.

In this verse, God is speaking to Moses, giving instructions for what the Israelites should do if the whole community accidentally breaks one of God's commands. The focus is on sins committed unknowingly, not deliberate disobedience. The priest acts as a mediator, and the required offerings show that forgiveness involves both confession and a ritual response.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 15:25

  • "Atonement" (כָּפַר, kaphar): This word means to cover or make reconciliation. Here, it highlights the priest's role in restoring the relationship between the people and God after an unintentional sin.
  • "Ignorance" (שְׁגָגָה, shegagah): This term refers specifically to mistakes or sins committed unintentionally, not out of rebellion. It clarifies that the forgiveness described is for errors, not willful acts.
  • "Congregation" (עֵדָה, edah): This word means the whole assembly or community, showing that these instructions are for collective, not just individual, situations.

Why Numbers 15:25 matters

  • Numbers 15:25 clarifies that God distinguishes between intentional and unintentional sins, offering a path to forgiveness for mistakes made without knowledge.
  • The verse emphasizes the importance of the priest's mediating role and the necessity of specific offerings, which helps explain the structure of Israelite worship and community responsibility.
  • This instruction fits into a larger section about how the Israelites should handle sin, showing God's concern for both justice and mercy in the life of the community.

Where else these words appear

“ignorance” Hebrew H7684 · used in 18 verses

  • Leviticus 4:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them:
  • Leviticus 22:14 And if a man eat of the holy thing unwittingly, then he shall put the fifth part thereof unto it, and shall give it unto the priest with the holy thing.
  • Numbers 35:11 Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares.

“forgiven” Hebrew H5545 · used in 45 verses

  • Exodus 34:9 And he said, If now I have found grace in thy sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray thee, go among us; for it is a stiffnecked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for thine inheritance.
  • Numbers 15:28 And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sinneth ignorantly, when he sinneth by ignorance before the LORD, to make an atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him.
  • 2 Chronicles 6:30 Then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart thou knowest;(for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men:)

“fire” Hebrew H801 · used in 64 verses

  • Exodus 29:18 And thou shalt burn the whole ram upon the altar: it is a burnt offering unto the LORD: it is a sweet savour, an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
  • Leviticus 6:17 It shall not be baken with leaven. I have given it unto them for their portion of my offerings made by fire; it is most holy, as is the sin offering, and as the trespass offering.
  • Leviticus 23:37 These are the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD, a burnt offering, and a meat offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, every thing upon his day:

“offering” Hebrew H7133 · used in 78 verses

  • Leviticus 1:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock.
  • Leviticus 7:16 But if the sacrifice of his offering be a vow, or a voluntary offering, it shall be eaten the same day that he offereth his sacrifice: and on the morrow also the remainder of it shall be eaten:
  • Numbers 7:37 His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: