Bible Strands
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The text records God's directive to Moses regarding Israel's Passover observance in the wilderness. It addresses any ceremonially clean Israelite who is not traveling but neglects the festival.
The words — The Hebrew term חָדַל (cha.Dal) literally means "to fail" or "to neglect," describing the deliberate omission of the required offering. This verb anchors the penalty for willful disregard of the appointed time.
The thread — The consequence of being "cut off from his people" echoes the covenantal warning in Genesis 17:14 regarding uncircumcised males. The requirement to observe the Passover according to fixed statutes also governs the foreigner dwelling among Israel in Numbers 9:14.
Why it lands — The verse demands immediate compliance with the appointed time for the LORD’s offering, treating omission as a serious breach. It requires the reader to recognize that ceremonial status and physical location do not excuse failure to present the prescribed sacrifice.
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 man that is clean, and is not in a journey, and forbeareth to keep the passover, even the same soul shall be cut off from among his people: because he brought not the offering of the Lord in his appointed season, that man shall bear his sin.
Cross-references
- Genesis 17:14 But if any male is not circumcised, he will be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.”
- Exodus 12:15 For seven days you must eat unleavened bread. On the first day you are to remove the leaven from your houses. Whoever eats anything leavened from the first day through the seventh must be cut off from Israel.
- Numbers 9:7 and said to Moses, “We are unclean because of a dead body, but why should we be excluded from presenting the LORD’s offering with the other Israelites at the appointed time?”
- Numbers 5:31 The husband will be free from guilt, but the woman shall bear her iniquity.”
- 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.
- Leviticus 17:4 instead of bringing it to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting to present it as an offering to the LORD before His tabernacle—that man shall incur bloodguilt. He has shed blood and must be cut off from among his people.
- Leviticus 17:10 If anyone from the house of Israel or a foreigner living among them eats any blood, I will set My face against that person and cut him off from among his people.
- Leviticus 17:14 For the life of all flesh is its blood. Therefore I have told the Israelites, ‘You must not eat the blood of any living thing, because the life of all flesh is its blood; whoever eats it must be cut off.’
- Leviticus 20:20 If a man lies with his uncle’s wife, he has uncovered the nakedness of his uncle. They will bear their sin; they shall die childless.
- Numbers 9:2 “The Israelites are to observe the Passover at its appointed time.