Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version The priest is to make atonement before the LORD for the one who erred by sinning unintentionally, and when atonement has been made, that person will be forgiven. New Living Translation The priest will sacrifice it to purify the guilty person before the LORD, and that person will be forgiven. English Standard Version And the priest shall make atonement before the LORD for the person who makes a mistake, when he sins unintentionally, to make atonement for him, and he shall be forgiven. Berean Standard Bible And the priest shall make atonement before the LORD on behalf of the person who erred by sinning unintentionally; and when atonement has been made for him, he will be forgiven. King James Bible 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. New King James Version So the priest shall make atonement for the person who sins unintentionally, when he sins unintentionally before the LORD, to make atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him. New American Standard Bible And the priest shall make atonement before the LORD for the person who goes astray by an unintentional sin, making atonement for him so that he may be forgiven. NASB 1995 ‘The priest shall make atonement before the LORD for the person who goes astray when he sins unintentionally, making atonement for him that he may be forgiven. NASB 1977 ‘And the priest shall make atonement before the LORD for the person who goes astray when he sins unintentionally, making atonement for him that he may be forgiven. Legacy Standard Bible And the priest shall make atonement before Yahweh for the person who goes astray when he sins unintentionally, making atonement for him that he may be pardoned. Amplified Bible The priest shall make atonement before the LORD for the person who commits an error when he sins unintentionally, making atonement for him so that he may be forgiven. Christian Standard Bible The priest will then make atonement before the LORD on behalf of the person who acts in error sinning unintentionally, and when he makes atonement for him, he will be forgiven. Holman Christian Standard Bible The priest must then make atonement before the LORD on behalf of the person who acts in error sinning unintentionally, and when he makes atonement for him, he will be forgiven. American Standard Version And the priest shall make atonement for the soul that erreth, when he sinneth unwittingly, before Jehovah, to make atonement for him; and he shall be forgiven. Contemporary English Version The priest will then ask me to forgive you, and your sin will be forgiven. English Revised Version And the priest shall make atonement for the soul that erreth, when he sinneth unwittingly, before the LORD, to make atonement for him; and he shall be forgiven. GOD'S WORD® Translation The priest will offer the sacrifice to make peace with the LORD for that person, and that person will be forgiven. Good News Translation At the altar the priest shall perform the ritual of purification to purify you from your sin, and you will be forgiven. International Standard Version Then, in the LORD's presence, the priest is to make atonement for the person who sinned inadvertently, that is, to make atonement on his behalf so he may be forgiven. NET Bible And the priest must make atonement for the person who sins unintentionally--when he sins unintentionally before the LORD--to make atonement for him, and he will be forgiven. New Heart English Bible The priest shall make atonement for the soul who errs, when he sins unwittingly, before the LORD, to make atonement for him; and he shall be forgiven. Webster's Bible Translation 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. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleAnd the priest shall make atonement before the LORD on behalf of the person who erred by sinning unintentionally; and when atonement has been made for him, he will be forgiven. World English Bible The priest shall make atonement for the soul who errs when he sins unwittingly before Yahweh. He shall make atonement for him; and he shall be forgiven. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand the priest has made atonement for the person who is erring, in his sinning through ignorance before YHWH, by making atonement for him, and it has been forgiven him; Young's Literal Translation and the priest hath made atonement for the person who is erring, in his sinning in ignorance before Jehovah, by making atonement for him, and it hath been forgiven him; Smith's Literal Translation And the priest expiated for the soul erring, in sinning in error before Jehovah, to expiate for him; and it was forgiven to him. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd the priest shall pray for him, because he sinned ignorantly before the Lord: and he shall obtain his pardon, and it shall be forgiven him. Catholic Public Domain Version And the priest shall pray for him, because he sinned unknowingly before the Lord. And he shall obtain pardon for him, and it will be forgiven him. New American Bible And the priest shall make atonement before the LORD for the one who erred, since the sin was inadvertent, making atonement for the person to secure forgiveness. New Revised Standard Version And the priest shall make atonement before the LORD for the one who commits an error, when it is unintentional, to make atonement for the person, who then shall be forgiven. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd the priest shall make atonement for the person who sins, when he sins by an error before the LORD. to make an atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And the Priest shall make atonement for the soul who has sinned in a sin of error before LORD JEHOVAH, and it shall be atoned for him and it shall be forgiven him. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And the priest shall make atonement for the soul that erreth, when he sinneth through error, before the LORD, to make atonement for him; and he shall be forgiven, Brenton Septuagint Translation And the priest shall make atonement for the soul that committed the trespass unwillingly, and that sinned unwillingly before the Lord, to make atonement for him. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Offerings for Unintentional Sins…27Also, if one person sins unintentionally, he is to present a year-old female goat as a sin offering. 28And the priest shall make atonement before the LORD on behalf of the person who erred by sinning unintentionally; and when atonement has been made for him, he will be forgiven. 29You shall have the same law for the one who acts in error, whether he is a native-born Israelite or a foreigner residing among you.… Cross References Leviticus 4:20 He shall offer this bull just as he did the bull for the sin offering; in this way the priest will make atonement on their behalf, and they will be forgiven. Leviticus 4:26 He must burn all its fat on the altar, like the fat of the peace offerings; thus the priest will make atonement for that man’s sin, and he will be forgiven. Leviticus 4:31 Then he is to remove all the fat, just as it is removed from the peace offering, and the priest is to burn it on the altar as a pleasing aroma to the LORD. In this way the priest will make atonement for him, and he will be forgiven. Leviticus 4:35 And he shall remove all the fat, just as the fat of the lamb is removed from the peace offerings, and he shall burn it on the altar along with the food offerings to the LORD. In this way the priest will make atonement for him for the sin he has committed, and he will be forgiven. Leviticus 5:10 And the priest must prepare the second bird as a burnt offering according to the ordinance. In this way the priest will make atonement for him for the sin he has committed, and he will be forgiven. Leviticus 5:13 In 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.” Leviticus 6:7 In this way the priest will make atonement for him before the LORD, and he will be forgiven for anything he may have done to incur guilt.” Hebrews 9:22 According to the law, in fact, nearly everything must be purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Hebrews 10:4 because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Hebrews 10:10 And by that will, we have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Hebrews 10:12 But when this Priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God. Hebrews 10:14 because by a single offering He has made perfect for all time those who are being sanctified. 1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 2:1-2 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. / He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. Treasury of Scripture And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sins ignorantly, when he sins by ignorance before the LORD, to make an atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him. Leviticus 4:35 And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat of the lamb is taken away from the sacrifice of the peace offerings; and the priest shall burn them upon the altar, according to the offerings made by fire unto the LORD: and the priest shall make an atonement for his sin that he hath committed, and it shall be forgiven him. Jump to Previous Astray Atonement Commits Erred Erreth Erring Error Errs Ignorance Ignorantly Inadvertently Sin Sinneth Sinning Sins Soul Unconsciously Unintentionally Unwittingly WrongJump to Next Astray Atonement Commits Erred Erreth Erring Error Errs Ignorance Ignorantly Inadvertently Sin Sinneth Sinning Sins Soul Unconsciously Unintentionally Unwittingly WrongNumbers 15 1. The law of the meat offering, and the drink offering14. The stranger is under the same law 17. The law of the first of the dough 22. The sacrifice for sins of ignorance 30. The punishment of presumption 32. He who violated the Sabbath is stoned 37. The law of tassels And the priest shall make atonement before the LORD In the Old Testament, the role of the priest was central to the spiritual life of Israel. The priest acted as a mediator between God and the people, performing sacrifices and rituals to atone for sins. The concept of atonement involves reconciliation with God, often through a sacrificial offering. This reflects the holiness of God and the seriousness of sin, which separates humanity from Him. The priest's role foreshadows the ultimate High Priest, Jesus Christ, who makes atonement for humanity once and for all (Hebrews 9:11-12). on behalf of the person who erred by sinning unintentionally; and when atonement has been made for him, he will be forgiven. Persons / Places / Events 1. The PriestIn the context of Numbers, the priest serves as a mediator between God and the people, performing rituals and sacrifices to atone for sins. 2. The LORD Refers to Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel, who establishes laws and provides means for atonement and forgiveness. 3. The Person Who Erred This refers to an individual who has sinned unintentionally, highlighting the human propensity to err and the need for divine grace. 4. Atonement A key concept in the Old Testament, involving rituals and sacrifices to reconcile the sinner with God. 5. Forgiveness The divine act of pardoning sin, restoring the sinner to a right relationship with God. Teaching Points The Role of the PriestThe priest acts as an intercessor, pointing to the ultimate intercessor, Jesus Christ, who mediates on our behalf. Understanding Unintentional Sin Recognize that sin can occur unintentionally, and we must remain vigilant and humble, seeking God's guidance and forgiveness. The Necessity of Atonement Atonement is essential for reconciliation with God, reminding us of the seriousness of sin and the need for a savior. God's Provision for Forgiveness God provides a means for forgiveness, demonstrating His mercy and desire for a restored relationship with His people. Living in Grace As recipients of God's forgiveness, we are called to extend grace to others, living in a way that reflects God's love and mercy. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Numbers 15:28?2. How does Numbers 15:28 emphasize the role of the priest in atonement? 3. What does "atonement for the person who sins unintentionally" teach about God's mercy? 4. How can we apply the concept of unintentional sin in our daily lives? 5. How does Numbers 15:28 connect with Jesus' role as our High Priest? 6. What steps can we take to seek forgiveness for unintentional sins today? 7. How does Numbers 15:28 address unintentional sin and its forgiveness? 8. What does Numbers 15:28 reveal about God's nature regarding sin and repentance? 9. How does the priest's role in Numbers 15:28 relate to Jesus' role in the New Testament? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Numbers 15? 11. 1 Samuel 2:25 suggests the Lord intended to kill Eli's sons--how does this reconcile with the concept of a merciful, forgiving deity? 12. Why does Numbers 18:15-19 differ in certain details from parallel instructions in Deuteronomy regarding firstborn offerings, and how can these discrepancies be reconciled? 13. Did David's elaborate worship in 1 Chronicles 16:37-42 actually occur, or is it an idealized account with no historical basis? 14. How do priests and Levites differ in their roles? What Does Numbers 15:28 Mean And the priest shall make atonementThis opening phrase highlights God’s appointed mediator. • In Israel, the priest acted as a bridge between a holy God and sinful people (Leviticus 4:20; Hebrews 5:1). • Atonement required a blood sacrifice (Leviticus 17:11), pointing ahead to the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ, our great High Priest (Hebrews 9:12). • The verse reminds us that we cannot atone for ourselves; God provides and accepts the sacrifice through His chosen representative (Isaiah 53:5–6). before the LORD Everything about atonement happens in God’s presence. • Sin is ultimately an offense against the LORD (Psalm 51:4). • The priest does not merely perform a ritual; he appears where God dwells (Exodus 25:22). • Christ’s fulfillment of this picture is seen in His entry “into heaven itself, now to appear in God’s presence for us” (Hebrews 9:24). on behalf of the person who erred by sinning unintentionally The focus is on inadvertent sin rather than defiant rebellion. • God distinguishes between unintentional mistakes and deliberate high-handed sin (Numbers 15:30–31; Hebrews 10:26). • Even unintentional sin requires cleansing; ignorance is no excuse before a holy God (Leviticus 5:17). • The provision underscores God’s mercy—He makes a way even when we stumble unknowingly (1 John 1:9). and when atonement has been made for him The result is tied to the completed sacrificial act. • The priest’s work is effective; once the offering is presented, the barrier is removed (Leviticus 16:30). • This anticipates Christ’s cry, “It is finished” (John 19:30)—the decisive moment when the ultimate atonement was accomplished (Hebrews 10:14). • Assurance flows from God’s promise, not from our feelings; the completed sacrifice secures acceptance (Romans 5:11). he will be forgiven The closing promise is full and final. • Forgiveness is God’s gracious declaration of restored relationship (Psalm 32:1–2). • It is a legal release—sin no longer counted against the person (Romans 8:1). • The pattern foreshadows the gospel: “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:28). • The verse assures every repentant believer that God delights to forgive (Micah 7:18–19). summary Numbers 15:28 presents a concise picture of God’s redemptive plan: a divinely appointed priest offers a sacrifice in God’s presence to cover even unintended sins, and the sinner walks away forgiven. The verse magnifies God’s holiness, underscores human need, and foreshadows the perfect, once-for-all atonement accomplished by Jesus Christ. Hebrew And the priestהַכֹּהֵ֗ן (hak·kō·hên) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3548: Priest shall make atonement וְכִפֶּ֣ר (wə·ḵip·per) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 3722: To cover, to expiate, condone, to placate, cancel before לִפְנֵ֣י (lip̄·nê) Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct Strong's 6440: The face the LORD יְהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel on behalf of עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against the person הַנֶּ֧פֶשׁ (han·ne·p̄eš) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion who erred בִשְׁגָגָ֖ה (ḇiš·ḡā·ḡāh) Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 7683: To go astray, commit sin or error by sinning unintentionally; הַשֹּׁגֶ֛גֶת (haš·šō·ḡe·ḡeṯ) Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular Strong's 7684: A mistake, inadvertent transgression and when atonement has been made לְכַפֵּ֥ר (lə·ḵap·pêr) Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct Strong's 3722: To cover, to expiate, condone, to placate, cancel for him, עָלָ֖יו (‘ā·lāw) Preposition | third person masculine singular Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against he will be forgiven. וְנִסְלַ֥ח (wə·nis·laḥ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 5545: To forgive, pardon Links Numbers 15:28 NIVNumbers 15:28 NLT Numbers 15:28 ESV Numbers 15:28 NASB Numbers 15:28 KJV Numbers 15:28 BibleApps.com Numbers 15:28 Biblia Paralela Numbers 15:28 Chinese Bible Numbers 15:28 French Bible Numbers 15:28 Catholic Bible OT Law: Numbers 15:28 The priest shall make atonement (Nu Num.) |
    |