Bible Strands

Numbers 15:27

Also, if one person sins unintentionally, he is to present a year-old female goat as a sin offering.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Moses addresses the Israelites in the wilderness, outlining sacrificial procedures for both collective and individual transgressions. This verse specifies the required action when a single person commits an unintentional sin.

The words — The Hebrew בִּשְׁגָגָה (bi-shgagah) means "by inadvertence," and עֵז (ez) translates literally to "female goat." These terms dictate that an accidental violation still requires a specific animal to be brought near for the ritual.

The thread — The requirement for an individual's unintentional offering parallels Leviticus 4:27 and introduces a theological pattern later referenced in Acts 3:17 and 17:30 regarding divine oversight and the call to repentance.

Why it lands — The text commands the sinner to present a year-old female goat to secure forgiveness, establishing that inadvertent wrongdoing still demands a concrete atonement procedure.

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

וְאִם־ve./'im-and/ ifנֶ֥פֶשׁNe.fesha personאַחַ֖ת'a.Chatoneתֶּחֱטָ֣אte.che.Ta'it will sinבִשְׁגָגָ֑הvi/sh.ga.Gahby/ inadvertenceוְהִקְרִ֛יבָהve./hik.Ri.vahand/ it will bring nearעֵ֥ז'eza female goatבַּת־bat-a daughter ofשְׁנָתָ֖הּshe.na.Ta/hyear/ itsלְחַטָּֽאת׃le./cha.Tatto/ a sin offering

King James Version

And if any soul sin through ignorance, then he shall bring a she goat of the first year for a sin offering.

Cross-references