Bible Strands
Numbers 32:23
But if you do not do this, you will certainly sin against the LORD—and be assured that your sin will find you out.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Moses warns the Reubenites and Gadites, who have requested to settle east of the Jordan, that failing to fight until the land is subdued will constitute sin against Yahweh. The warning is the negative condition attached to their permission.
The words — חֲטָאתֶם (cha.ta.Tem) is a noun, "your sin" (H2398 + 2nd pl. suffix), not a verb; the BSB's "you will certainly sin" is a dynamic rendering of a static noun. The imperative וּדְעוּ (u.de.'U, "and know") makes the warning an explicit command to be aware of the consequence.
The thread — The idea that sin actively pursues or exposes its owner recurs in Proverbs 13:21 ("disaster pursues sinners"), Isaiah 59:12 ("our sins testify against us"), and Genesis 44:16 ("God has exposed the iniquity").
Why it lands — The verse removes the possibility that sin is a private matter; it is a force that will locate and confront its author. The reader is told, in the imperative, to know this before the fact.
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 if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 59:12 For our transgressions are multiplied before You, and our sins testify against us. Our transgressions are indeed with us, and we know our iniquities:
- Proverbs 13:21 Disaster pursues sinners, but prosperity is the reward of the righteous.
- Genesis 44:16 “What can we say to my lord?” Judah replied. “How can we plead? How can we justify ourselves? God has exposed the iniquity of your servants. We are now my lord’s slaves—both we and the one who was found with the cup.”
- Psalms 90:8 You have set our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your presence.
- Genesis 4:7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you refuse to do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires you, but you must master it.”
- 1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
- Romans 2:9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil, first for the Jew, then for the Greek;
- Deuteronomy 28:15 If, however, you do not obey the LORD your God by carefully following all His commandments and statutes I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:
- Isaiah 3:11 Woe to the wicked; disaster is upon them! For they will be repaid with what their hands have done.
- Isaiah 59:1 Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear.