Numbers 18:32

Once you have presented the best part of it, you will not incur guilt because of it. But you must not defile the sacred offerings of the Israelites, or else you will die.’”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — God addresses Moses and the priestly line regarding their administration of sacred contributions. This instruction immediately follows the grant of priestly compensation for their service at the Tent of Meeting.

The words — תִשְׂאוּ חֵטְא (tis'U chet') literally means "you will bear sin" and appears with בַּהֲרִמְכֶם (ba-harimchem), "when you offer up," to connect the ritual act with its accountability.

The thread — The prohibition against defiling sacred offerings and its associated penalty resurfaces in Leviticus 19:8, Leviticus 22:2, and Leviticus 22:15. These passages consistently link mishandling consecrated gifts with divine judgment.

Why it lands — The text mandates precise handling of holy contributions, warning that profanation results in death. It requires the reader to treat sacred boundaries with strict operational care rather than casual familiarity.

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

וְלֹֽא־ve./lo'-and/ not תִשְׂא֤וּtis.'Uyou will bear עָלָיו֙'a.La/von/ it חֵ֔טְאChet'sin בַּהֲרִֽימְכֶ֥םba./ha.rim./Khemwhen/ offer up/ you אֶת־'et-<obj.>חֶלְבּ֖וֹchel.B/obest of/ its מִמֶּ֑נּוּmi.Me./nufrom <the>/ it וְאֶת־ve./'Etand/ <obj.>קָדְשֵׁ֧יka.de.Shei[the] holy gifts of בְנֵי־ve.nei-[the] people of יִשְׂרָאֵ֛לYis.ra.'ElIsrael לֹ֥אlo'not תְחַלְּל֖וּte.cha.le.Luyou will profane וְלֹ֥אve./Lo'and/ not תָמֽוּתוּ׃ פta.Mu.tuyou will die

King James Version

And ye shall bear no sin by reason of it, when ye have heaved from it the best of it: neither shall ye pollute the holy things of the children of Israel, lest ye die.

Cross-references

Leviticus 19:8 Whoever eats it will bear his iniquity, for he has profaned what is holy to the LORD. That person must be cut off from his people.
Leviticus 22:2 “Tell Aaron and his sons to treat with respect the sacred offerings that the Israelites have consecrated to Me, so that they do not profane My holy name. I am the LORD.
Leviticus 22:15 The priests must not profane the sacred offerings that the Israelites present to the LORD
Numbers 18:22 No longer may the Israelites come near to the Tent of Meeting, or they will incur guilt and die.
Malachi 1:7 By presenting defiled food on My altar. But you ask, ‘How have we defiled You?’ By saying that the table of the LORD is contemptible.
1 Corinthians 11:27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.
1 Corinthians 11:29 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.