Moses receives offering laws for a land he will never enter, creating a poignant tension between legislative authority and personal exclusion from the Promised Land's worship.
Numbers 15
Laws for Offerings in the Promised Land
1The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
2“Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘When you have come into the land of your habitations, which I give to you,
3and will make an offering by fire to the LORD—a burnt offering, or a sacrifice, to accomplish a vow, or as a free will offering, or in your set feasts, to make a pleasant aroma to the LORD, of the herd, or of the flock—
4then he who offers his offering shall offer to the LORD a meal offering of one tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with one fourth of a hin of oil.
5You shall prepare wine for the drink offering, one fourth of a hin, with the burnt offering or for the sacrifice, for each lamb.
6“‘For a ram, you shall prepare for a meal offering two tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with the third part of a hin of oil;
7and for the drink offering you shall offer the third part of a hin of wine, of a pleasant aroma to the LORD.
8When you prepare a bull for a burnt offering or for a sacrifice, to accomplish a vow, or for peace offerings to the LORD,
9then he shall offer with the bull a meal offering of three tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with half a hin of oil;
10and you shall offer for the drink offering half a hin of wine, for an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to the LORD.
11Thus it shall be done for each bull, for each ram, for each of the male lambs, or of the young goats.
12According to the number that you shall prepare, so you shall do to everyone according to their number.
13“‘All who are native-born shall do these things in this way, in offering an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to the LORD.
14If a stranger lives as a foreigner with you, or whoever may be among you throughout your generations, and will offer an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to the LORD, as you do, so he shall do.
15For the assembly, there shall be one statute for you and for the stranger who lives as a foreigner, a statute forever throughout your generations. As you are, so the foreigner shall be before the LORD.
16One law and one ordinance shall be for you and for the stranger who lives as a foreigner with you.’”
17The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
18“Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘When you come into the land where I bring you,
19then it shall be that when you eat of the bread of the land, you shall offer up a wave offering to the LORD.
20Of the first of your dough you shall offer up a cake for a wave offering. As the wave offering of the threshing floor, so you shall heave it.
21Of the first of your dough, you shall give to the LORD a wave offering throughout your generations.
Offerings for Unintentional and Intentional Sins
22“‘When you err, and don’t observe all these commandments which the LORD has spoken to Moses—
23even all that the LORD has commanded you by Moses, from the day that the LORD gave commandment and onward throughout your generations—
24then it shall be, if it was done unwittingly, without the knowledge of the congregation, that all the congregation shall offer one young bull for a burnt offering, for a pleasant aroma to the LORD, with its meal offering and its drink offering, according to the ordinance, and one male goat for a sin offering.
25The priest shall make atonement for all the congregation of the children of Israel, and they shall be forgiven; for it was an error, and they have brought their offering, an offering made by fire to the LORD, and their sin offering before the LORD, for their error.
26All the congregation of the children of Israel shall be forgiven, as well as the stranger who lives as a foreigner among them; for with regard to all the people, it was done unwittingly.
27“‘If a person sins unwittingly, then he shall offer a female goat a year old for a sin offering.
28The priest shall make atonement for the soul who errs when he sins unwittingly before the LORD. He shall make atonement for him; and he shall be forgiven.
29You shall have one law for him who does anything unwittingly, for him who is native-born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger who lives as a foreigner among them.
30“‘But the soul who does anything with a high hand, whether he is native-born or a foreigner, blasphemes the LORD. That soul shall be cut off from among his people.
31Because he has despised the LORD’s word, and has broken his commandment, that soul shall be utterly cut off. His iniquity shall be on him.’”
The Sabbath Breaker
32While the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day.
33Those who found him gathering sticks brought him to Moses and Aaron, and to all the congregation.
34They put him in custody, because it had not been declared what should be done to him.
35The LORD said to Moses, “The man shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him with stones outside of the camp.”
36All the congregation brought him outside of the camp, and stoned him to death with stones, as the LORD commanded Moses.
The Law of Tassels
37The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
38“Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them that they should make themselves fringes on the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put on the fringe of each border a cord of blue.
39It shall be to you for a fringe, that you may see it, and remember all the LORD’s commandments, and do them; and that you don’t follow your own heart and your own eyes, after which you used to play the prostitute;
40so that you may remember and do all my commandments, and be holy to your God.
41I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the LORD your God.”
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Theme
Numbers 15 establishes regulations for worship and community life in the Promised Land, detailing specific offerings that must accompany sacrifices and emphasizing that both native Israelites and foreigners are subject to the same laws. The chapter includes a sobering account of a man executed for violating the Sabbath, demonstrating the serious consequences of deliberate disobedience. It concludes with instructions about tassels on garments as visual reminders of God's commandments, reinforcing the call to holiness and obedience.
Context
Following the rebellion and judgment in chapters 13-14, this chapter looks forward to life in the Promised Land with practical laws for worship and community conduct.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-16 Offerings in the Promised Land Detailed instructions for grain and drink offerings that must accompany sacrifices, with equal requirements for natives and foreigners
- 17-21 Firstfruits of Dough Command to offer a cake from the first dough as a wave offering to the Lord
- 22-31 Atonement for Unintentional and Intentional Sins Procedures for community and individual sin offerings, with the warning that defiant sins result in being cut off
- 32-36 The Sabbath Violator Executed A man found gathering wood on the Sabbath is stoned to death by divine command
- 37-41 Tassels as Reminders Instructions to wear fringed tassels on garments as visual reminders to obey God's commandments
Laws for Offerings in the Promised Land
15:1–15:21 law instruction contemplative
God gives Moses detailed instructions for various offerings to be made once Israel enters the Promised Land. The same laws apply to both native-born Israelites and foreigners living among them.
person_contrast
Moses receives offering laws for a land he will never enter, creating a poignant tension between legislative authority and personal exclusion from the Promised Land's worship.
Offerings for Unintentional and Intentional Sins
15:22–15:31 law instruction solemn
God establishes laws distinguishing between unintentional sins (which can be atoned for through offerings) and intentional sins (which result in being cut off from the people). The passage emphasizes that atonement is available for errors but not for deliberate rebellion against God's commandments.
person_contrast
Moses appears here uniquely as the mediator through whom God establishes the distinction between forgivable unintentional sins and unforgivable defiant rebellion, bridging divine justice with mercy.
The Sabbath Breaker
15:32–15:36 narrative narration solemn
A man found gathering sticks on the Sabbath is brought before Moses and Aaron, and God commands that he be stoned to death. This narrative demonstrates the serious consequences of deliberately violating God's commandments, particularly the Sabbath law.
person_contrast
Moses, typically portrayed as the obedient lawgiver, here becomes the reluctant executor who must seek divine clarification before pronouncing death for Sabbath violation.
The Law of Tassels
15:37–15:41 law instruction contemplative
God commands the Israelites to wear tassels with blue cords on their garments as a visual reminder to obey His commandments and remain holy. The tassels serve as a constant reminder of their covenant relationship and God's deliverance from Egypt.
person_contrast
The blue cord in these tassels uniquely mirrors the blue fabric of the tabernacle curtains, creating a portable sanctuary reminder that transforms everyday clothing into sacred space.
Insights
Moses appears here uniquely as the mediator through whom God establishes the distinction between forgivable unintentional sins and unforgivable defiant rebellion, bridging divine justice with mercy.
Moses, typically portrayed as the obedient lawgiver, here becomes the reluctant executor who must seek divine clarification before pronouncing death for Sabbath violation.
The blue cord in these tassels uniquely mirrors the blue fabric of the tabernacle curtains, creating a portable sanctuary reminder that transforms everyday clothing into sacred space.
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
Numbers 15:3 5 references
Lexicals 5
Leviticus 22:21 Lexical
Whoever offers a sacrifice of peace offerings to the LORD to accomplish a vow, or for a free will offering of the herd o…
Deuteronomy 12:6 Lexical
You shall bring your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the wave offering of your hand, your vows, your free…
Numbers 29:13 Lexical
You shall offer a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to the LORD: thirteen young bulls, two r…
Leviticus 23:18 Lexical
You shall present with the bread seven lambs without defect a year old, one young bull, and two rams. They shall be a bu…
Leviticus 7:16 Lexical
“‘But if the sacrifice of his offering is a vow, or a free will offering, it shall be eaten on the day that he offers hi…
Numbers 15:4 5 references
Lexicals 5
Leviticus 23:13 Lexical
The meal offering with it shall be two tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, an offering made by fire to the…
Exodus 29:40 Lexical
and with the one lamb a tenth part of an ephah of fine flour mixed with the fourth part of a hin of beaten oil, and the…
Numbers 28:5 Lexical
with one tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a meal offering, mixed with the fourth part of a hin of beaten oil.
Numbers 7:19 Lexical
He offered for his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of…
Leviticus 2:4 Lexical
“‘When you offer an offering of a meal offering baked in the oven, it shall be unleavened cakes of fine flour mixed with…
Numbers 15:5 5 references
Lexicals 5
Numbers 28:14 Lexical
Their drink offerings shall be half a hin of wine for a bull, the third part of a hin for the ram, and the fourth part o…
Exodus 29:40 Lexical
and with the one lamb a tenth part of an ephah of fine flour mixed with the fourth part of a hin of beaten oil, and the…
Numbers 28:7 Lexical
Its drink offering shall be the fourth part of a hin for each lamb. You shall pour out a drink offering of strong drink…
1 Chronicles 29:21 Lexical
They sacrificed sacrifices to the LORD and offered burnt offerings to the LORD on the next day after that day, even one…
Leviticus 23:13 Lexical
The meal offering with it shall be two tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, an offering made by fire to the…
Numbers 15:6 5 references
Lexicals 5
Leviticus 23:13 Lexical
The meal offering with it shall be two tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, an offering made by fire to the…
Numbers 28:28 Lexical
and their meal offering, fine flour mixed with oil, three tenths for each bull, two tenths for the one ram,
Numbers 29:9 Lexical
and their meal offering, fine flour mixed with oil: three tenths for the bull, two tenths for the one ram,
Numbers 29:14 Lexical
and their meal offering, fine flour mixed with oil: three tenths for every bull of the thirteen bulls, two tenths for ea…
Numbers 29:3 Lexical
and their meal offering, fine flour mixed with oil: three tenths for the bull, two tenths for the ram,
Numbers 15:7 5 references
Lexicals 5
Leviticus 23:13 Lexical
The meal offering with it shall be two tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, an offering made by fire to the…
Numbers 28:14 Lexical
Their drink offerings shall be half a hin of wine for a bull, the third part of a hin for the ram, and the fourth part o…
Leviticus 23:18 Lexical
You shall present with the bread seven lambs without defect a year old, one young bull, and two rams. They shall be a bu…
Numbers 29:6 Lexical
in addition to the burnt offering of the new moon with its meal offering, and the continual burnt offering with its meal…
Ezekiel 20:28 Lexical
For when I had brought them into the land which I swore to give to them, then they saw every high hill and every thick t…
Numbers 15:8 5 references
Lexicals 5
Leviticus 22:21 Lexical
Whoever offers a sacrifice of peace offerings to the LORD to accomplish a vow, or for a free will offering of the herd o…
Deuteronomy 12:6 Lexical
You shall bring your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the wave offering of your hand, your vows, your free…
Proverbs 7:14 Lexical
“Sacrifices of peace offerings are with me. Today I have paid my vows.
Numbers 6:2 Lexical
“Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them: ‘When either man or woman shall make a special vow, the vow of a Naziri…
Numbers 29:39 Lexical
“‘You shall offer these to the LORD in your set feasts—in addition to your vows and your free will offerings—for your bu…
Numbers 15:9 5 references
Lexicals 5
Leviticus 23:13 Lexical
The meal offering with it shall be two tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, an offering made by fire to the…
Numbers 29:3 Lexical
and their meal offering, fine flour mixed with oil: three tenths for the bull, two tenths for the ram,
Numbers 28:20 Lexical
with their meal offering, fine flour mixed with oil. You shall offer three tenths for a bull, and two tenths for the ram…
Leviticus 14:10 Lexical
“On the eighth day he shall take two male lambs without defect, one ewe lamb a year old without defect, three tenths of…
Numbers 28:12 Lexical
and three tenths of an ephah of fine flour for a meal offering mixed with oil, for each bull; and two tenth parts of fin…
Numbers 15:10 5 references
Lexicals 5
Leviticus 23:13 Lexical
The meal offering with it shall be two tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, an offering made by fire to the…
Leviticus 23:18 Lexical
You shall present with the bread seven lambs without defect a year old, one young bull, and two rams. They shall be a bu…
Exodus 29:41 Lexical
The other lamb you shall offer at evening, and shall do to it according to the meal offering of the morning and accordin…
Numbers 28:8 Lexical
The other lamb you shall offer at evening. As the meal offering of the morning, and as its drink offering, you shall off…
Numbers 28:24 Lexical
In this way you shall offer daily, for seven days, the food of the offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to the LOR…
Numbers 15:11 5 references
Lexicals 5
Deuteronomy 14:4 Lexical
These are the animals which you may eat: the ox, the sheep, the goat,
Exodus 12:5 Lexical
Your lamb shall be without defect, a male a year old. You shall take it from the sheep or from the goats.
Deuteronomy 22:1 Lexical
You shall not see your brother’s ox or his sheep go astray and hide yourself from them. You shall surely bring them agai…
Leviticus 22:28 Lexical
Whether it is a cow or ewe, you shall not kill it and its young both in one day.
Leviticus 22:27 Lexical
“When a bull, a sheep, or a goat is born, it shall remain seven days with its mother. From the eighth day on it shall be…
Numbers 15:13 5 references
Lexicals 5
Numbers 28:2 Lexical
“Command the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘See that you present my offering, my food for my offerings made by fire…
Numbers 29:36 Lexical
but you shall offer a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, a pleasant aroma to the LORD: one bull, one ram, seven m…
Leviticus 23:18 Lexical
You shall present with the bread seven lambs without defect a year old, one young bull, and two rams. They shall be a bu…
Leviticus 1:13 Lexical
but the innards and the legs he shall wash with water. The priest shall offer the whole, and burn it on the altar. It is…
Numbers 29:13 Lexical
You shall offer a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to the LORD: thirteen young bulls, two r…
Numbers 15:14 5 references
Lexicals 5
Numbers 18:17 Lexical
“But you shall not redeem the firstborn of a cow, or the firstborn of a sheep, or the firstborn of a goat. They are holy…
Leviticus 17:13 Lexical
“‘Whatever man there is of the children of Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners among them, who takes in h…
Leviticus 17:8 Lexical
“You shall say to them, ‘Any man there is of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners among them,…
Leviticus 2:2 Lexical
He shall bring it to Aaron’s sons, the priests. He shall take his handful of its fine flour, and of its oil, with all it…
Exodus 29:18 Lexical
You shall burn the whole ram on the altar: it is a burnt offering to the LORD; it is a pleasant aroma, an offering made…
Numbers 15:15 5 references
Lexicals 5
Leviticus 16:29 Lexical
“It shall be a statute to you forever: in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls…
Numbers 19:10 Lexical
He who gathers the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening. It shall be to the chil…
Numbers 9:14 Lexical
“‘If a foreigner lives among you and desires to keep the Passover to the LORD, then he shall do so according to the stat…
Leviticus 18:26 Lexical
You therefore shall keep my statutes and my ordinances, and shall not do any of these abominations; neither the native-b…
Leviticus 10:9 Lexical
“You and your sons are not to drink wine or strong drink whenever you go into the Tent of Meeting, or you will die. This…
Numbers 15:16 3 references
Lexicals 3
Exodus 12:49 Lexical
One law shall be to him who is born at home, and to the stranger who lives as a foreigner among you.”
Numbers 9:14 Lexical
“‘If a foreigner lives among you and desires to keep the Passover to the LORD, then he shall do so according to the stat…
Leviticus 18:26 Lexical
You therefore shall keep my statutes and my ordinances, and shall not do any of these abominations; neither the native-b…
Numbers 15:20 1 reference
Numbers 15:21 1 reference
Numbers 15:24 5 references
Lexicals 5
Leviticus 23:18 Lexical
You shall present with the bread seven lambs without defect a year old, one young bull, and two rams. They shall be a bu…
Numbers 7:87 Lexical
all the cattle for the burnt offering twelve bulls, the rams twelve, the male lambs a year old twelve, and their meal of…
Numbers 29:6 Lexical
in addition to the burnt offering of the new moon with its meal offering, and the continual burnt offering with its meal…
Numbers 29:19 Lexical
and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, with its meal offering and their drin…
Numbers 29:16 Lexical
and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, its meal offering, and its drink offe…
Numbers 15:25 5 references
Lexicals 5
Leviticus 4:35 Lexical
He shall remove all its fat, like the fat of the lamb is removed from the sacrifice of peace offerings. The priest shall…
Leviticus 5:18 Lexical
He shall bring a ram without defect from of the flock, according to your estimation, for a trespass offering, to the pri…
Leviticus 19:22 Lexical
The priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering before the LORD for his sin which he has c…
Leviticus 4:26 Lexical
All its fat he shall burn on the altar, like the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings; and the priest shall make aton…
Leviticus 5:13 Lexical
The priest shall make atonement for him concerning his sin that he has sinned in any of these things, and he will be for…
Numbers 15:26 5 references
Lexicals 5
Joshua 20:9 Lexical
These were the appointed cities for all the children of Israel, and for the alien who lives among them, that whoever kil…
Numbers 35:15 Lexical
These six cities shall be refuge for the children of Israel, for the stranger, and for the foreigner living among them,…
Leviticus 18:26 Lexical
You therefore shall keep my statutes and my ordinances, and shall not do any of these abominations; neither the native-b…
Numbers 19:10 Lexical
He who gathers the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening. It shall be to the chil…
Leviticus 16:29 Lexical
“It shall be a statute to you forever: in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls…
Numbers 15:27 4 references
Lexicals 4
Ezekiel 43:22 Lexical
“On the second day you shall offer a male goat without defect for a sin offering; and they shall cleanse the altar, as t…
Leviticus 5:6 Lexical
and he shall bring his trespass offering to the LORD for his sin which he has sinned: a female from the flock, a lamb or…
Leviticus 4:23 Lexical
if his sin in which he has sinned is made known to him, he shall bring as his offering a goat, a male without defect.
Leviticus 4:28 Lexical
if his sin which he has sinned is made known to him, then he shall bring for his offering a goat, a female without defec…
Numbers 15:28 5 references
Lexicals 5
Leviticus 5:18 Lexical
He shall bring a ram without defect from of the flock, according to your estimation, for a trespass offering, to the pri…
Leviticus 4:35 Lexical
He shall remove all its fat, like the fat of the lamb is removed from the sacrifice of peace offerings. The priest shall…
Leviticus 5:16 Lexical
He shall make restitution for that which he has done wrong regarding the holy thing, and shall add a fifth part to it, a…
Leviticus 19:22 Lexical
The priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering before the LORD for his sin which he has c…
Leviticus 5:10 Lexical
He shall offer the second for a burnt offering, according to the ordinance; and the priest shall make atonement for him…
Numbers 15:29 5 references
Lexicals 5
Exodus 12:49 Lexical
One law shall be to him who is born at home, and to the stranger who lives as a foreigner among you.”
Leviticus 16:29 Lexical
“It shall be a statute to you forever: in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls…
Joshua 20:9 Lexical
These were the appointed cities for all the children of Israel, and for the alien who lives among them, that whoever kil…
Ezekiel 47:22 Lexical
You shall divide it by lot for an inheritance to you and to the aliens who live among you, who will father children amon…
Leviticus 18:26 Lexical
You therefore shall keep my statutes and my ordinances, and shall not do any of these abominations; neither the native-b…
Numbers 15:30 2 references
Numbers 15:31 1 reference
Numbers 15:34 1 reference
Numbers 15:35 5 references
Lexicals 5
Leviticus 24:14 Lexical
“Bring him who cursed out of the camp; and let all who heard him lay their hands on his head, and let all the congregati…
Leviticus 24:23 Lexical
Moses spoke to the children of Israel; and they brought him who had cursed out of the camp, and stoned him with stones.…
Numbers 14:10 Lexical
But all the congregation threatened to stone them with stones. The LORD’s glory appeared in the Tent of Meeting to all t…
Numbers 31:13 Lexical
Moses and Eleazar the priest, with all the princes of the congregation, went out to meet them outside of the camp.
Numbers 19:9 Lexical
“A man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and lay them up outside of the camp in a clean place; and i…
Numbers 15:36 5 references
Lexicals 5
Leviticus 24:14 Lexical
“Bring him who cursed out of the camp; and let all who heard him lay their hands on his head, and let all the congregati…
Leviticus 24:23 Lexical
Moses spoke to the children of Israel; and they brought him who had cursed out of the camp, and stoned him with stones.…
Numbers 14:10 Lexical
But all the congregation threatened to stone them with stones. The LORD’s glory appeared in the Tent of Meeting to all t…
Numbers 31:13 Lexical
Moses and Eleazar the priest, with all the princes of the congregation, went out to meet them outside of the camp.
Numbers 19:9 Lexical
“A man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and lay them up outside of the camp in a clean place; and i…
Interlinear
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Lemma
Morphology
Semantic Range
Theological Significance
Translation Notes
Key Passages
Historical Context
Places and events in this chapter
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Timeline
Exodus
c. 1446 BCIsrael's miraculous deliverance from Egyptian slavery under Moses' leadership, including the ten plagues and Red Sea crossing. This foundational event established Israel as God's chosen nation.
The tassels remind Israel of God's deliverance from Egypt and covenant obligations.
The Law of Tassels