Numbers 15:24

and if it was done unintentionally without the knowledge of the congregation, then the whole congregation is to prepare one young bull as a burnt offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD, with its grain offering and drink offering according to the regulation, and one male goat as a sin offering.

Berean Standard Bible

Follow its threads on the canvas →

Study note

Setting — Moses delivers this command to the Israelites as a continuing generational regulation following the laws for individual and leader transgressions.

The words — The text uses מֵעֵינֵי הָעֵדָה (me'ei nei ha'edah, "away from the eyes of the congregation") and לִשְׁגָגָה (lish'gagah, "to inadvertence") to define the offense. These terms establish that the violation occurred without collective awareness.

The thread — This framework for communal inadvertence appears in Leviticus 4:13, Leviticus 4:23, and Leviticus 5:15, where similar sacrificial requirements address unintentional violations by the assembly or individuals.

Why it lands — The passage mandates that the whole congregation prepare one young bull as a burnt offering with its regulated grain and drink offerings, plus one male goat as a sin offering. Readers must apply this procedure whenever a collective oversight occurs, recognizing that formal atonement remains required regardless of intent.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וְהָיָ֗הve./ha.Yahand/ it will be אִ֣ם'imif מֵעֵינֵ֣יme./'ei.Neiaway from/ [the] eyes of הָעֵדָה֮ha./'e.Dahthe/ congregation נֶעֶשְׂתָ֣הne.'es.Tahit was done לִשְׁגָגָה֒li/sh.ga.Gahto/ inadvertence וְעָשׂ֣וּve./'a.Suand/ they will offer כָל־khol-all הָעֵדָ֡הha./'e.Dahthe/ congregation פַּ֣רpara young bull בֶּן־ben-a young one of בָּקָר֩ba.Karcattle אֶחָ֨ד'e.Chadone לְעֹלָ֜הle./'o.Lahto/ a burnt offering לְרֵ֤יחַle./Rei.achto/ an odor of נִיחֹ֙חַ֙ni.Cho.achsoothing לַֽיהוָ֔הla./Yah.wehto/ Yahweh וּמִנְחָת֥וֹu./min.cha.T/oand/ grain offering/ its וְנִסְכּ֖וֹve./nis.K/oand/ drink offering/ its כַּמִּשְׁפָּ֑טka./mish.Pataccording to the/ ordinance וּשְׂעִיר־u./se.'ir-and/ a male goat of עִזִּ֥ים'i.Zimgoats אֶחָ֖ד'e.Chadone לְחַטָּֽת׃le./cha.Tatto/ a sin offering

King James Version

Then it shall be, if ought be committed by ignorance without the knowledge of the congregation, that all the congregation shall offer one young bullock for a burnt offering, for a sweet savour unto the Lord, with his meat offering, and his drink offering, according to the manner, and one kid of the goats for a sin offering.

Cross-references

Leviticus 4:23 When he becomes aware of the sin he has committed, he must bring an unblemished male goat as his offering.
Leviticus 4:13 Now if the whole congregation of Israel strays unintentionally and the matter escapes the notice of the assembly so that they violate any of the LORD’s commandments and incur guilt by doing what is forbidden,
Leviticus 5:15 “If someone acts unfaithfully and sins unintentionally against any of the LORD’s holy things, he must bring his guilt offering to the LORD: an unblemished ram from the flock, of proper value in silver shekels according to the sanctuary shekel; it is a guilt offering.
Numbers 15:8 When you prepare a young bull as a burnt offering or sacrifice to fulfill a vow or as a peace offering to the LORD,
Numbers 28:15 In addition to the regular burnt offering with its drink offering, one male goat is to be presented to the LORD as a sin offering.
2 Chronicles 29:21 They brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats as a sin offering for the kingdom, for the sanctuary, and for Judah. And the king commanded the priests, the descendants of Aaron, to offer them on the altar of the LORD.
Ezra 6:17 For the dedication of the house of God they offered a hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and a sin offering for all Israel of twelve male goats, one for each tribe of Israel.
Ezra 8:35 Then the exiles who had returned from captivity sacrificed burnt offerings to the God of Israel: 12 bulls for all Israel, 96 rams, 77 lambs, and a sin offering of 12 male goats. All this was a burnt offering to the LORD.