Numbers 15:30
in Numbers 15But the person who sins defiantly, whether a native or foreigner, blasphemes the LORD. That person shall be cut off from among his people.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But the soul that doeth aught with a high hand, whether he be home-born or a sojourner, the same blasphemeth Jehovah; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.
KJV
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.
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This verse in Numbers 15
Commentary
7 notes on this verseBut the soul that doeth aught presumptuously - Bold daring acts of transgression against the fullest evidence, and in despite of the Divine authority, admitted of no atonement; the person was to be cut off - to be excluded from God’s people, and from all their privileges and blessings. Probably the presumption mentioned here implied an utter contempt of the word and authority of God, springing from an idolatrous or atheistical mind. In such a case all repentance was precluded, because of the denial of the word and being of God.
This site's exposition
if one person sins unintentionally
on Numbers 15:27-31
One person's error is met with a year-old female goat, but the one who sins defiantly receives no offering. The Hebrew is a high hand, the phrase used of Israel's leaving Egypt at Numbers 33:3.
This site's exposition
But the person who sins defiantly
Adam Clarke describes the defiant sin as a bold act against the fullest evidence and in despite of God's authority. He takes being cut off as exclusion from God's people and from all their privileges and blessings. The verse calls such sin blasphemy.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
), that is, that avowedly confront God's authority, and set up their own lust in competition with it, that sin for sinning-sake, in contradiction to the precept of the law, and in defiance of the penalty, that fight against God, and dare him to do his worst; see Job xv. It is not only to sin against knowledge, but to sin designedly against God's will and glory.
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); he says the worst he can of him, and most unjustly. The language of presumptuous sin is, "Eternal truth is not fit to be believed, the Lord of all not fit to be obeyed, and almighty power not fit to be either feared or trusted." It imputes folly to Infinite Wisdom, and iniquity to the righteous Judge of heaven and earth; such is the malignity of wilful sin.
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But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
the soul that doeth aught presumptuously--Hebrew, "with an high" or "uplifted hand"--that is, knowingly, wilfully, obstinately. In this sense the phraseology occurs (Ex 14:8;
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The words behind it
18 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְהַנֶּ֜פֶשׁ | vehanefesh | and the person | H5315 → | 754 times |
| אֲשֶֽׁר־ | ʾasher- | who | H834 → | 5497 times |
| תַּעֲשֶׂ֣ה׀ | taaseh | it will act | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| בְּיָ֣ד | beyad | with a hand | H3027 → | 1618 times |
| רָמָ֗ה | ramah | raised | H7311 → | 190 times |
| מִן־ | min- | one of | H4480 → | 1188 times |
| הָֽאֶזְרָח֙ | haezrach | the native-born | H249 → | 17 times |
| וּמִן־ | umin- | and one of | H4480 → | 1188 times |
| הַגֵּ֔ר | hager | the sojourner[s] | H1616 → | 92 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| יְהוָ֖ה | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| ה֣וּא | hu' | he | H1931 → | 1879 times |
| מְגַדֵּ֑ף | megadef | [is] blaspheming | H1442 → | |
| וְנִכְרְתָ֛ה | venikhretah | and it will be cut off | H3772 → | 288 times |
| הַנֶּ֥פֶשׁ | hanefesh | the person | H5315 → | 754 times |
| הַהִ֖וא | hahiv' | <the> that | H1931 → | 1879 times |
| מִקֶּ֥רֶב | mikerev | from [the] midst | H7130 → | 227 times |
| עַמָּֽהּ׃ | ʾamah | people its | H5971 → | 1873 times |
וְהַנֶּ֜פֶשׁand the person
vehanefeshH5315 →754 times
אֲשֶֽׁר־who
ʾasher-H834 →5497 times
תַּעֲשֶׂ֣ה׀it will act
taasehH6213 →2628 times
בְּיָ֣דwith a hand
beyadH3027 →1618 times
רָמָ֗הraised
ramahH7311 →190 times
מִן־one of
min-H4480 →1188 times
הָֽאֶזְרָח֙the native-born
haezrachH249 →17 times
וּמִן־and one of
umin-H4480 →1188 times
הַגֵּ֔רthe sojourner[s]
hagerH1616 →92 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
יְהוָ֖הYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
ה֣וּאhe
hu'H1931 →1879 times
מְגַדֵּ֑ף[is] blaspheming
megadefH1442 →
וְנִכְרְתָ֛הand it will be cut off
venikhretahH3772 →288 times
הַנֶּ֥פֶשׁthe person
hanefeshH5315 →754 times
הַהִ֖וא<the> that
hahiv'H1931 →1879 times
מִקֶּ֥רֶבfrom [the] midst
mikerevH7130 →227 times
עַמָּֽהּ׃people its
ʾamahH5971 →1873 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Hebrews 10:26If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains,
it leads to
- 2 Peter 2:20–22
If indeed they have escaped the corruption of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, only to be entangled and overcome by it again, their final condition is worse…
- Hebrews 6:4–6
It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit,
- John 9:41
“If you were blind,” Jesus replied, “you would not be guilty of sin. But since you claim you can see, your guilt remains.”
- Luke 12:47
That servant who knows his master’s will but does not get ready or follow his instructions will be beaten with many blows.
- Matthew 12:43–45
When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it passes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it.
- 2 Peter 2:20–22
Through
Psalms 19:13Keep Your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless and cleansed of great transgression.
it leads to
- Psalms 119:133
Order my steps in Your word; let no sin rule over me.
- Romans 6:12–14
Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires.
- Psalms 7:10
My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart.
- Psalms 119:133
Where this verse is studied
About Numbers
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.