The Meaning of Numbers 15:28 Explained

Numbers 15:28

KJV: 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.

YLT: 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;

Darby: And the priest shall make atonement for the soul that hath done inadvertently, when he sinneth by inadvertence before Jehovah, to make atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him.

ASV: 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.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Numbers 15:28 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 15:27-41 - Exemplary Punishment For Sabbath-Breaking
This chapter resembles a sweet flute-like melody inserted between two fierce strains. It reminds us that in the middle of wrath God remembers mercy. The stranger-whether pilgrim, emigrant or slave-was to be included in burned-offerings and sacrifices; a prevision of the time when all holy souls shall be reckoned in the household of God, Ephesians 2:19.
Sins of ignorance may be forgiven, Numbers 15:22-29. They are sins. Debts of shortcoming need pardon equally as do trespasses. But, as Paul teaches us, we may confidently count on forgiveness for evil things done unwittingly. See 1 Timothy 1:12-14; Hebrews 5:2. It is quite otherwise with sins of presumption, Numbers 15:30-36. If persisted in, these induce death. See 1 John 5:16.
We have something better than the memorial fringe, in the ministry of the Holy Spirit, John 14:26. [source]

Chapter Summary: Numbers 15

1  The law of the meat offering, and the drink offering
14  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

What do the individual words in Numbers 15:28 mean?

So shall make atonement the priest for the person who sins unintentionally when he sins unintentionally before Yahweh to make atonement for him and it shall be forgiven him
וְכִפֶּ֣ר הַכֹּהֵ֗ן עַל־ הַנֶּ֧פֶשׁ הַשֹּׁגֶ֛גֶת בְּחֶטְאָ֥ה בִשְׁגָגָ֖ה לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה לְכַפֵּ֥ר עָלָ֖יו וְנִסְלַ֥ח לֽוֹ

וְכִפֶּ֣ר  So  shall  make  atonement 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: כָּפַר 
Sense: to cover, purge, make an atonement, make reconciliation, cover over with pitch.
הַכֹּהֵ֗ן  the  priest 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֹּהֵן  
Sense: priest, principal officer or chief ruler.
הַנֶּ֧פֶשׁ  the  person 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: נֶפֶשׁ  
Sense: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.
הַשֹּׁגֶ֛גֶת  who  sins  unintentionally 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, feminine singular
Root: שְׁגָגָה  
Sense: sin, sin of error or inadvertence, inadvertent sin.
בְּחֶטְאָ֥ה  when  he  sins 
Parse: Preposition-b, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, third person feminine singular
Root: חָטָא 
Sense: to sin, miss, miss the way, go wrong, incur guilt, forfeit, purify from uncleanness.
בִשְׁגָגָ֖ה  unintentionally 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular
Root: בְּשַׁגַּם 
Sense: to go astray, err, commit sin or error.
לִפְנֵ֣י  before 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
יְהוָ֑ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
לְכַפֵּ֥ר  to  make  atonement 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct
Root: כָּפַר 
Sense: to cover, purge, make an atonement, make reconciliation, cover over with pitch.
עָלָ֖יו  for  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
וְנִסְלַ֥ח  and  it  shall  be  forgiven 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: סָלַח  
Sense: to forgive, pardon.

What are the major concepts related to Numbers 15:28?

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