Numbers 15:35
And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.
Original Language Analysis
יְהוָה֙
And the LORD
H3068
יְהוָה֙
And the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
2 of 14
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
יוּמַ֖ת
put to death
H4191
יוּמַ֖ת
put to death
Strong's:
H4191
Word #:
5 of 14
to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
יוּמַ֖ת
put to death
H4191
יוּמַ֖ת
put to death
Strong's:
H4191
Word #:
6 of 14
to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
הָאִ֑ישׁ
The man
H376
הָאִ֑ישׁ
The man
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
7 of 14
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
אֹת֤וֹ
H853
אֹת֤וֹ
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
9 of 14
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
11 of 14
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הָ֣עֵדָ֔ה
all the congregation
H5712
הָ֣עֵדָ֔ה
all the congregation
Strong's:
H5712
Word #:
12 of 14
a stated assemblage (specifically, a concourse, or generally, a family or crowd)
Cross References
Acts 7:58And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.1 Kings 21:13And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died.Deuteronomy 21:21And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.Leviticus 24:23And Moses spake to the children of Israel, that they should bring forth him that had cursed out of the camp, and stone him with stones. And the children of Israel did as the LORD commanded Moses.
Historical Context
Stoning was the prescribed punishment for various covenant violations including blasphemy (Leviticus 24:16), idolatry (Deuteronomy 17:5), and rebellion (Deuteronomy 21:21). It served both as punishment and as solemn warning to all Israel about the cost of presumptuous sin.
Questions for Reflection
- How does church discipline today reflect the principle that sin affects the whole body?
- What does God's holiness require in response to willful, unrepentant sin?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
God commanded execution by stoning—the community's collective participation symbolized that his sin offended all and required corporate response. Stoning also prevented any individual from bearing sole responsibility for the death, distributing the burden across the community. The severity matched the crime's serious nature: public, willful covenant violation.