Numbers 15:25

The priest is to make atonement for the whole congregation of Israel, so that they may be forgiven; for the sin was unintentional and they have brought to the LORD a food offering and a sin offering, presented before the LORD for their unintentional sin.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Moses instructs the Israelites on the ritual response required when the community commits an unintentional corporate sin. The directive immediately follows the listing of the required burnt and sin offerings in the preceding verse.

The words — כִפֶּר (kippēr) describes the priest's ritual act of making atonement, while נִסְלַח (nislaḥ) denotes the resulting state of being forgiven. These terms bind the priestly action directly to the community's pardon.

The thread — The priestly atonement pattern echoes Leviticus 4:20, where the priest makes atonement for the people, and anticipates the New Testament references to Christ as the atoning sacrifice in Romans 3:25 and the merciful high priest in Hebrews 2:17.

Why it lands — The text requires the reader to recognize that forgiveness for unintentional corporate sin depends on prescribed offerings presented before the LORD, not on personal merit. It establishes a procedural boundary between sin, atonement, and pardon.

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

King James Version

And the priest shall make an atonement for all the congregation of the children of Israel, and it shall be forgiven them; for it is ignorance: and they shall bring their offering, a sacrifice made by fire unto the Lord, and their sin offering before the Lord, for their ignorance:

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.
Romans 3:25 God presented Him as an atoning sacrifice in His blood through faith, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand.
Hebrews 2:17 For this reason He had to be made like His brothers in every way, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, in order to make atonement for the sins of the people.
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.
Luke 23:34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His garments by casting lots.
Acts 13:39 Through Him everyone who believes is justified from everything from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.
1 John 2:2 He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.