Bible Strands
Numbers 15:30
But the person who sins defiantly, whether a native or foreigner, blasphemes the LORD. That person shall be cut off from among his people.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Moses addresses the Israelite assembly in the wilderness, distinguishing the law for unintentional transgressions from the penalty for deliberate rebellion. The directive follows the grain offering regulations and establishes a covenant boundary for both native-born Israelites and resident foreigners.
The words — The phrase בְּיָד רָמָה (be-yad ramah) literally renders "with a raised hand," while תַּעֲשֶׂה (ta'aseh) means "it will act." Together they describe a person who will act defiantly against divine instruction.
The thread — The concept of deliberate sin and its consequences appears in Hebrews 10:26; Psalms 19:13; and Deuteronomy 1:43. These passages track the biblical pattern of rebellion against known command.
Why it lands — The text states that defiant rejection of God's word results in being cut off from the people. It demands recognition that covenant membership requires submission to divine authority, not merely ritual observance.
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
But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the Lord; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.
Cross-references
- Hebrews 10:26 If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains,
- Psalms 19:13 Keep Your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless and cleansed of great transgression.
- Deuteronomy 1:43 So I spoke to you, but you would not listen. You rebelled against the command of the LORD and presumptuously went up into the hill country.
- Deuteronomy 17:12 But the man who acts presumptuously, refusing to listen either to the priest who stands there to serve the LORD your God, or to the judge, must be put to death. You must purge the evil from Israel.
- Deuteronomy 29:19 because when such a person hears the words of this oath, he invokes a blessing on himself, saying, ‘I will have peace, even though I walk in the stubbornness of my own heart.’ This will bring disaster on the watered land as well as the dry.
- Hebrews 10:29 How much more severely do you think one deserves to be punished who has trampled on the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and insulted the Spirit of grace?
- Numbers 14:40 Early the next morning they got up and went up toward the ridge of the hill country. “We have indeed sinned,” they said, “but we will go to the place the LORD has promised.”
- Matthew 12:32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the one to come.
- Exodus 21:14 But if a man schemes and acts willfully against his neighbor to kill him, you must take him away from My altar to be put to death.
- Numbers 9:13 But if a man who is ceremonially clean and is not on a journey still fails to observe the Passover, he must be cut off from his people, because he did not present the LORD’s offering at its appointed time. That man will bear the consequences of his sin.