Numbers 15:31 (KJV)

What does Numbers 15:31 mean?

Numbers 15:31 says that anyone who treats the word of the LORD with contempt and deliberately breaks His commandment will be completely cut off from the community, bearing full responsibility for their wrongdoing. This verse emphasizes the seriousness of willfully rejecting God's instructions.

In context, Numbers 15 records God giving Moses laws for the Israelites as they journey through the wilderness. This verse is part of a section explaining the difference between unintentional and intentional sins. Here, God is speaking through Moses to warn the people that defiant disobedience—despising God's word and breaking His commandment on purpose—results in severe consequences, showing that such actions are not taken lightly.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 15:31

• "despised" (בָּזָה, bazah): This word means to treat something as worthless or to hold it in contempt. In this verse, it highlights the attitude of someone who not only disobeys but also scorns God's word.
• "word" (דָּבָר, davar): This term can mean "word," "matter," or "command." Here, it refers to God's spoken or commanded instruction, showing that the offense is against something God has directly communicated.
• "utterly" / "off" (כָּרַת, karat): This verb is repeated for emphasis, meaning "to cut off." It often refers to being separated from the community or covenant, underlining the totality of the consequence for willful rebellion.
• "iniquity" (עָוֹן, avon): This word means guilt or wrongdoing. The verse says the person's guilt remains on them, stressing personal responsibility for intentional sin.

Why Numbers 15:31 matters

• Numbers 15:31 clarifies that there is a distinction between accidental and deliberate sin, with intentional defiance carrying much heavier consequences.
• The verse highlights that the heart attitude—despising God's word—is as serious as the outward act of disobedience, not just the breaking of a rule.
• This warning is part of a larger passage that helps explain the seriousness of maintaining faithfulness within the covenant community, making clear that willful rebellion threatens both the individual and the group's relationship with God.