The big picture
Numbers 15 opens in verse 1 with “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,”, reaches its middle movement near verse 21 with “Of the first of your dough ye shall give unto the LORD an heave offering in your…”, and closes in verse 41 with “I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, offering, Moses, congregation, children. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Numbers · King James Version · 41Numbers 15:1-7
1–7: The LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Numbers 15:1–7 opens with “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,” and reaches “And for a drink offering thou shalt offer the third part of an hin of wine, for a sweet savour…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by offering, LORD, burnt.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,” Naming Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land of your habitations, which I give…” Naming Israel and Speak keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And will make an offering by fire unto the LORD , a burnt offering, or a sacrifice in performing a vow, or in a…” The line’s distinctive content terms include offering, LORD, burnt. Its relationship to verses 2 and 4 shows what work it does in this passage.
Numbers 15:1-7
King James Version1And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land of your habitations, which I give unto you,
3And will make an offering by fire unto the LORD , a burnt offering, or a sacrifice in performing a vow, or in a freewill offering, or in your solemn feasts, to make a sweet savour unto the LORD , of the herd, or of the flock:
4Then shall he that offereth his offering unto the LORD bring a meat offering of a tenth deal of flour mingled with the fourth part of an hin of oil.
5And the fourth part of an hin of wine for a drink offering shalt thou prepare with the burnt offering or sacrifice, for one lamb.
6Or for a ram, thou shalt prepare for a meat offering two tenth deals of flour mingled with the third part of an hin of oil.
7And for a drink offering thou shalt offer the third part of an hin of wine, for a sweet savour unto the LORD .
Numbers 15:8-14
8–14: When thou preparest a bullock for a burnt offering, or for a sacrifice…
Numbers 15:8–14 opens with “And when thou preparest a bullock for a burnt offering, or for a sacrifice in performing a vow…” and reaches “And if a stranger sojourn with you, or whosoever be among you in your generations, and will…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by offering, LORD, bullock.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And when thou preparest a bullock for a burnt offering, or for a sacrifice in performing a vow, or peace offerings…” The line’s distinctive content terms include bullock, burnt, LORD. Its relationship to verses 9 shows what work it does in this passage.
“Then shall he bring with a bullock a meat offering of three tenth deals of flour mingled with half an hin of oil.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Numbers 15:8-14
King James Version8And when thou preparest a bullock for a burnt offering, or for a sacrifice in performing a vow, or peace offerings unto the LORD :
9Then shall he bring with a bullock a meat offering of three tenth deals of flour mingled with half an hin of oil.
10And thou shalt bring for a drink offering half an hin of wine, for an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD .
11Thus shall it be done for one bullock, or for one ram, or for a lamb, or a kid.
12According to the number that ye shall prepare, so shall ye do to every one according to their number.
13All that are born of the country shall do these things after this manner, in offering an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD .
14And if a stranger sojourn with you, or whosoever be among you in your generations, and will offer an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD ; as ye do, so he shall do.
Numbers 15:15-21
15–21: One ordinance shall be both for you of the congregation, and also for…
Numbers 15:15–21 opens with “One ordinance shall be both for you of the congregation, and also for the stranger that…” and reaches “Of the first of your dough ye shall give unto the LORD an heave offering in your generations.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by heave, LORD, offering.
Context that brings the passage to life
“One ordinance shall be both for you of the congregation, and also for the stranger that sojourneth with you, an…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“One law and one manner shall be for you, and for the stranger that sojourneth with you.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Numbers 15:15-21
King James Version15One ordinance shall be both for you of the congregation, and also for the stranger that sojourneth with you, an ordinance for ever in your generations: as ye are, so shall the stranger be before the LORD .
16One law and one manner shall be for you, and for the stranger that sojourneth with you.
17And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
18Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land whither I bring you,
19Then it shall be, that, when ye eat of the bread of the land, ye shall offer up an heave offering unto the LORD .
20Ye shall offer up a cake of the first of your dough for an heave offering: as ye do the heave offering of the threshingfloor, so shall ye heave it.
21Of the first of your dough ye shall give unto the LORD an heave offering in your generations.
Numbers 15:22-28
22–28: If ye have erred, and not observed all these commandments, which the…
Numbers 15:22–28 opens with “And if ye have erred, and not observed all these commandments, which the LORD hath spoken unto…” and reaches “And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sinneth ignorantly, when he sinneth by…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by LORD, offering, ignorance.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And if ye have erred, and not observed all these commandments, which the LORD hath spoken unto Moses,” Naming Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Even all that the LORD hath commanded you by the hand of Moses, from the day that the LORD commanded Moses, and…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“Then it shall be, if ought be committed by ignorance without the knowledge of the congregation, that all the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Numbers 15:22-28
King James Version22And if ye have erred, and not observed all these commandments, which the LORD hath spoken unto Moses,
23Even all that the LORD hath commanded you by the hand of Moses, from the day that the LORD commanded Moses, and henceforward among your generations;
24Then it shall be, if ought be committed by ignorance without the knowledge of the congregation, that all the congregation shall offer one young bullock for a burnt offering, for a sweet savour unto the LORD , with his meat offering, and his drink offering, according to the manner, and one kid of the goats for a sin offering.
25And the priest shall make an atonement for all the congregation of the children of Israel, and it shall be forgiven them; for it is ignorance: and they shall bring their offering, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD , and their sin offering before the LORD , for their ignorance:
26And it shall be forgiven all the congregation of the children of Israel, and the stranger that sojourneth among them; seeing all the people were in ignorance.
27And if any soul sin through ignorance, then he shall bring a she goat of the first year for a sin offering.
28And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sinneth ignorantly, when he sinneth by ignorance before the LORD , to make an atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him.
Numbers 15:29-35
29–35: Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, both for…
Numbers 15:29–35 opens with “Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, both for him that is born among…” and reaches “And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by LORD, soul, born.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, both for him that is born among the children of Israel…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Numbers 15:29-35
King James Version29Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them.
30But 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.
31Because he hath despised the word of the LORD , and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him.
32And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day.
33And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation.
34And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him.
35And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.
Numbers 15:36-41
36–41: All the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with…
Numbers 15:36–41 opens with “And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died…” and reaches “I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by LORD, borders, commandments.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,” Naming Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Numbers 15:36-41
King James Version36And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses.
37And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
38Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue:
39And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD , and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring:
40That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God.
41I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the LORD your God.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Numbers 15:1 begins with “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,”
Where the chapter turns
Numbers 15:19 forms a natural hinge: “Then it shall be, that, when ye eat of the bread of the land, ye shall offer up an heave offering unto the LORD .”
The final note
Numbers 15:41 leaves the reader with “I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the LORD your God.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, offering, Moses, congregation, children, ignorance help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What is Abram invited to trust?
God's promise of an heir and innumerable descendants despite his present childlessness.
Why does the delay matter?
The covenant is larger than one lifetime and includes suffering before deliverance.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thou
- you
- hath
- has
- spake
- spoke
- sojourn
- live somewhere as a resident outsider
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.