Numbers 15:24
Then 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.
Original Language Analysis
וְהָיָ֗ה
H1961
וְהָיָ֗ה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 24
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
אִ֣ם
H518
אִ֣ם
Strong's:
H518
Word #:
2 of 24
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
מֵֽעֵינֵ֣י
without the knowledge
H5869
מֵֽעֵינֵ֣י
without the knowledge
Strong's:
H5869
Word #:
3 of 24
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
הָֽעֵדָ֡ה
of the congregation
H5712
הָֽעֵדָ֡ה
of the congregation
Strong's:
H5712
Word #:
4 of 24
a stated assemblage (specifically, a concourse, or generally, a family or crowd)
וְעָשׂ֣וּ
Then it shall be if ought be committed
H6213
וְעָשׂ֣וּ
Then it shall be if ought be committed
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
5 of 24
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
וְעָשׂ֣וּ
Then it shall be if ought be committed
H6213
וְעָשׂ֣וּ
Then it shall be if ought be committed
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
7 of 24
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
כָל
H3605
כָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
8 of 24
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הָֽעֵדָ֡ה
of the congregation
H5712
הָֽעֵדָ֡ה
of the congregation
Strong's:
H5712
Word #:
9 of 24
a stated assemblage (specifically, a concourse, or generally, a family or crowd)
פַּ֣ר
bullock
H6499
פַּ֣ר
bullock
Strong's:
H6499
Word #:
10 of 24
a bullock (apparently as breaking forth in wild strength, or perhaps as dividing the hoof)
בֶּן
young
H1121
בֶּן
young
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
11 of 24
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
בָּקָר֩
H1241
בָּקָר֩
Strong's:
H1241
Word #:
12 of 24
a beeve or an animal of the ox family of either gender (as used for plowing); collectively, a herd
אֶחָ֖ד
and one
H259
אֶחָ֖ד
and one
Strong's:
H259
Word #:
13 of 24
properly, united, i.e., one; or (as an ordinal) first
לְעֹלָ֜ה
for a burnt offering
H5930
לְעֹלָ֜ה
for a burnt offering
Strong's:
H5930
Word #:
14 of 24
a step or (collectively, stairs, as ascending); usually a holocaust (as going up in smoke)
נִיחֹ֙חַ֙
for a sweet
H5207
נִיחֹ֙חַ֙
for a sweet
Strong's:
H5207
Word #:
16 of 24
properly, restful, i.e., pleasant; abstractly, delight
לַֽיהוָ֔ה
unto the LORD
H3068
לַֽיהוָ֔ה
unto the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
17 of 24
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
וּמִנְחָת֥וֹ
with his meat offering
H4503
וּמִנְחָת֥וֹ
with his meat offering
Strong's:
H4503
Word #:
18 of 24
a donation; euphemistically, tribute; specifically a sacrificial offering (usually bloodless and voluntary)
כַּמִּשְׁפָּ֑ט
according to the manner
H4941
כַּמִּשְׁפָּ֑ט
according to the manner
Strong's:
H4941
Word #:
20 of 24
properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law, ind
עִזִּ֥ים
of the goats
H5795
עִזִּ֥ים
of the goats
Strong's:
H5795
Word #:
22 of 24
a she-goat (as strong), but masculine in plural (which also is used elliptically for goat's hair)
Cross References
Leviticus 4:23Or if his sin, wherein he hath sinned, come to his knowledge; he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a male without blemish:Leviticus 5:15If a soul commit a trespass, and sin through ignorance, in the holy things of the LORD; then he shall bring for his trespass unto the LORD a ram without blemish out of the flocks, with thy estimation by shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass offering:Numbers 28:15And one kid of the goats for a sin offering unto the LORD shall be offered, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.
Historical Context
Corporate guilt was real in Israel's covenant structure—the whole nation could suffer for communal sin (Achan's sin in Joshua 7). This corporate dimension contrasts with modern individualism. Ancient Near Eastern cultures generally understood collective responsibility more readily than modern Western societies. The sacrificial system's elaborate regulations (detailed in Leviticus 1-7) governed Israel's worship from Sinai through the first temple's destruction (586 BC) and again after the return until AD 70.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the concept of corporate guilt challenge individualistic modern Christianity?
- What does the combination of burnt offering and sin offering teach about comprehensive atonement?
- How do these typological sacrifices deepen appreciation for Christ's singular, sufficient sacrifice?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
If ought be committed by ignorance without the knowledge of the congregation—corporate inadvertent sin required corporate atonement. The phrase "without the knowledge" (me'eyney, מֵעֵינֵי—literally "from the eyes of") means sin committed when the congregation was unaware, either of the act itself or its sinfulness. The prescribed offering—one young bullock for a burnt offering... and one kid of the goats for a sin offering—combined the olah (עֹלָה, burnt offering, wholly consumed) expressing total dedication, with the chattat (חַטָּאת, sin offering) providing atonement.
This dual offering reveals atonement theology: sin required blood purification (chattat) AND renewed consecration to God (olah). The burnt offering's sweet savour unto the LORD (reach nichoach, רֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ—literally "aroma of appeasement") indicates God's acceptance, not literal divine smell-pleasure. God graciously accepted symbolic substitution—an animal's life for the sinner's deserved death. This prefigures Christ who offered Himself "for a sweetsmelling savour" (Ephesians 5:2).