Numbers 5:8
New International Version
But if that person has no close relative to whom restitution can be made for the wrong, the restitution belongs to the LORD and must be given to the priest, along with the ram with which atonement is made for the wrongdoer.

New Living Translation
But if the person who was wronged is dead, and there are no near relatives to whom restitution can be made, the payment belongs to the LORD and must be given to the priest. Those who are guilty must also bring a ram as a sacrifice, and they will be purified and made right with the LORD.

English Standard Version
But if the man has no next of kin to whom restitution may be made for the wrong, the restitution for wrong shall go to the LORD for the priest, in addition to the ram of atonement with which atonement is made for him.

Berean Standard Bible
But if the man has no relative to whom restitution can be made for the wrong, the restitution belongs to the LORD and must be given to the priest along with the ram of atonement, by which the atonement is made for him.

King James Bible
But if the man have no kinsman to recompense the trespass unto, let the trespass be recompensed unto the LORD, even to the priest; beside the ram of the atonement, whereby an atonement shall be made for him.

New King James Version
But if the man has no relative to whom restitution may be made for the wrong, the restitution for the wrong must go to the LORD for the priest, in addition to the ram of the atonement with which atonement is made for him.

New American Standard Bible
But if the person has no redeemer to whom restitution may be made for the wrong, the restitution which is made for the wrong must go to the LORD for the priest, besides the ram of atonement, by which atonement is made for him.

NASB 1995
But if the man has no relative to whom restitution may be made for the wrong, the restitution which is made for the wrong must go to the LORD for the priest, besides the ram of atonement, by which atonement is made for him.

NASB 1977
‘But if the man has no relative to whom restitution may be made for the wrong, the restitution which is made for the wrong must go to the LORD for the priest, besides the ram of atonement, by which atonement is made for him.

Legacy Standard Bible
But if the man has no kinsman redeemer to whom restitution may be made for the wrong, the restitution which is made for the wrong must go to Yahweh for the priest, besides the ram of atonement, by which atonement is made for him.

Amplified Bible
But if the man [who was wronged] has no redeemer (relative) to whom the restitution may be made, it is to be given to the LORD for the priest, besides the ram of atonement with which atonement is made for the offender.

Christian Standard Bible
But if that individual has no relative to receive compensation, the compensation goes to the LORD for the priest, along with the atonement ram by which the priest will make atonement for the guilty person.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But if that individual has no relative to receive compensation, the compensation goes to the LORD for the priest, along with the atonement ram by which the priest will make atonement for the guilty person.

American Standard Version
But if the man have no kinsman to whom restitution may be made for the guilt, the restitution for guilt which is made unto Jehovah shall be the priest's; besides the ram of the atonement, whereby atonement shall be made for him.

Contemporary English Version
If the victim has no relative who can accept this money, it belongs to me and will be paid to the priest. In addition to that payment, you must take a ram for the priest to sacrifice so your sin will be forgiven.

English Revised Version
But if the man have no kinsman to whom restitution may be made for the guilt, the restitution for guilt which is made unto the LORD shall be the priest's; besides the ram of the atonement, whereby atonement shall be made for him.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But there may be no heir to whom the payment can be made. In that case, the payment for what you did wrong must be given to the LORD for the priest [to use]. This payment is in addition to the ram which makes peace with the LORD.

Good News Translation
But if that person has died and has no near relative to whom payment can be made, it shall be given to the LORD for the priest. This payment is in addition to the ram used to perform the ritual of purification for the guilty person.

International Standard Version
But if the person has no related redeemer to whom compensation may be made, the payment is to be brought to the LORD and given to the priest, in addition to a ram for atonement with which he is to be atoned.

Majority Standard Bible
But if the man has no relative to whom restitution can be made for the wrong, the restitution belongs to the LORD and must be given to the priest along with the ram of atonement, by which the atonement is made for him.

NET Bible
But if the individual has no close relative to whom reparation can be made for the wrong, the reparation for the wrong must be paid to the LORD for the priest, in addition to the ram of atonement by which atonement is made for him.

New Heart English Bible
But if the man has no kinsman to whom restitution may be made for the guilt, the restitution for guilt which is made to the LORD shall be the priest's; besides the ram of the atonement, by which atonement shall be made for him.

Webster's Bible Translation
But if the man shall have no kinsman to recompense the trespass to, let the trespass be recompensed to the LORD, even to the priest; besides the ram of the atonement, by which an atonement shall be made for him.

World English Bible
But if the man has no kinsman to whom restitution may be made for the guilt, the restitution for guilt which is made to Yahweh shall be the priest’s, in addition to the ram of the atonement, by which atonement shall be made for him.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And if the man has no redeemer to restore the guilt to, the guilt which is restored [is] to YHWH for the priest, apart from the ram of the atonements, whereby he makes atonement for him.

Young's Literal Translation
And if the man have no redeemer to restore the guilt to, the guilt which is restored is Jehovah's, the priest's, apart from the ram of the atonements, whereby he maketh atonement for him.

Smith's Literal Translation
And if not to the man a kinsman to give back the transgression to him, the transgression being given back to Jehovah, to the priest; besides the ram of expiations, it shall be expiated by it for him.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But if there be no one to receive it, they shall give it to the Lord, and it shall be the priest's, besides the ram that is offered for expiation, to be an atoning sacrifice.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But if there would be no one to receive it, they shall give it to the Lord, and it shall be for the priest, except for the ram, which is offered for expiation, in order to be a pleasing victim.

New American Bible
However, if there is no next of kin, one to whom restitution can be made, the restitution shall be made to the LORD and shall fall to the priest; this is apart from the ram of atonement with which the priest makes atonement for the guilty individual.

New Revised Standard Version
If the injured party has no next of kin to whom restitution may be made for the wrong, the restitution for wrong shall go to the LORD for the priest, in addition to the ram of atonement with which atonement is made for the guilty party.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And if the person has no kinsman to whom to recompense the trespass, let the trespass offering which they bring on his behalf before the LORD be given to the priest in addition to the ram of the atonement with which an atonement is made for him.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And if the man does not have one who is near to him, he may bring a sin offering for the sake of sin for his person that they bring for his sake before LORD JEHOVAH to the Priest; it shall be apart from the ram of the atonement by which he is atoned.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
But if the man have no kinsman to whom restitution may be made for the guilt, the restitution for guilt which is made shall be the LORD'S, even the priest's; besides the ram of the atonement, whereby atonement shall be made for him.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
But if a man have no near kinsman, so as to make satisfaction for his trespass to him, the trespass-offering paid to the Lord shall be for the priest, besides the ram of atonement, by which he shall make atonement with it for him.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Restitution for Trespasses
7and must confess the sin he has committed. He must make full restitution, add a fifth to its value, and give all this to the one he has wronged. 8But if the man has no relative to whom restitution can be made for the wrong, the restitution belongs to the LORD and must be given to the priest along with the ram of atonement, by which the atonement is made for him. 9Every sacred contribution the Israelites bring to the priest shall belong to him.…

Cross References
Leviticus 6:1-7
And the LORD said to Moses, / “If someone sins and acts unfaithfully against the LORD by deceiving his neighbor in regard to a deposit or security entrusted to him or stolen, or if he extorts his neighbor / or finds lost property and lies about it and swears falsely, or if he commits any such sin that a man might commit— ...

Exodus 22:1-4
“If a man steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters or sells it, he must repay five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep. / If a thief is caught breaking in and is beaten to death, no one shall be guilty of bloodshed. / But if it happens after sunrise, there is guilt for his bloodshed. A thief must make full restitution; if he has nothing, he himself shall be sold for his theft. ...

Leviticus 5:14-16
Then the LORD said to Moses, / “If someone acts unfaithfully and sins unintentionally against any of the LORD’s holy things, he must bring his guilt offering to the LORD: an unblemished ram from the flock, of proper value in silver shekels according to the sanctuary shekel; it is a guilt offering. / Regarding any holy thing he has harmed, he must make restitution by adding a fifth of its value to it and giving it to the priest, who will make atonement on his behalf with the ram as a guilt offering, and he will be forgiven.

Leviticus 7:1-10
“Now this is the law of the guilt offering, which is most holy: / The guilt offering must be slaughtered in the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered, and the priest shall splatter its blood on all sides of the altar. / And all the fat from it shall be offered: the fat tail, the fat that covers the entrails, ...

Leviticus 19:21-22
The man, however, must bring a ram to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting as his guilt offering to the LORD. / The priest shall make atonement on his behalf before the LORD with the ram of the guilt offering for the sin he has committed, and he will be forgiven the sin he has committed.

1 Samuel 12:3
Here I am. Bear witness against me before the LORD and before His anointed: Whose ox or donkey have I taken? Whom have I cheated or oppressed? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe and closed my eyes? Tell me, and I will restore it to you.”

2 Samuel 12:6
Because he has done this thing and has shown no pity, he must pay for the lamb four times over.”

Ezekiel 33:15
if he restores a pledge, makes restitution for what he has stolen, and walks in the statutes of life without practicing iniquity—then he will surely live; he will not die.

Proverbs 6:30-31
Men do not despise the thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger. / Yet if caught, he must pay sevenfold; he must give up all the wealth of his house.

Matthew 5:23-24
So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, / leave your gift there before the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

Luke 19:8
But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, half of my possessions I give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will repay it fourfold.”

Acts 3:19-21
Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away, / that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus, the Christ, who has been appointed for you. / Heaven must take Him in until the time comes for the restoration of all things, which God announced long ago through His holy prophets.

Acts 24:16
In this hope, I strive always to maintain a clear conscience before God and man.

Romans 13:8-10
Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love. For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. / The commandments “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and any other commandments, are summed up in this one decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” / Love does no wrong to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

1 Corinthians 6:7-8
The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means that you are thoroughly defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? / Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, even against your own brothers!


Treasury of Scripture

But if the man have no kinsman to recompense the trespass to, let the trespass be recompensed to the LORD, even to the priest; beside the ram of the atonement, whereby an atonement shall be made for him.

have no

Leviticus 25:25,26
If thy brother be waxen poor, and hath sold away some of his possession, and if any of his kin come to redeem it, then shall he redeem that which his brother sold…

beside the ram

Leviticus 6:6,7
And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD, a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest: …

Leviticus 7:7
As the sin offering is, so is the trespass offering: there is one law for them: the priest that maketh atonement therewith shall have it.

Jump to Previous
Addition Apart Atonement Belongs Besides Close Guilt Jehovah's Kinsman LORD'S Maketh Offered Payment Priest Priest's Ram Recompense Recompensed Redeemer Relation Relative Restitution Restored Sheep Sin Trespass Whereby Wherewith Wrong
Jump to Next
Addition Apart Atonement Belongs Besides Close Guilt Jehovah's Kinsman LORD'S Maketh Offered Payment Priest Priest's Ram Recompense Recompensed Redeemer Relation Relative Restitution Restored Sheep Sin Trespass Whereby Wherewith Wrong
Numbers 5
1. The unclean are removed out of camp
5. Restitution is to be made in trespass
11. The trial of jealously














But if that man has no close relative
In the Hebrew text, the term for "close relative" is "גֹּאֵל" (go'el), which refers to a kinsman-redeemer. This concept is deeply rooted in the cultural and legal practices of ancient Israel, where family ties were paramount. The kinsman-redeemer had the responsibility to protect the interests of the family, including redeeming property or even avenging blood. This reflects the communal and familial nature of Israelite society, emphasizing the importance of family support and responsibility.

to whom restitution can be made
Restitution, or "שִׁלּוּם" (shillum), involves making amends for a wrong or injury. Biblically, it underscores the principle of justice and restoration. The law required that wrongs be righted, not just through punishment, but through restoring what was lost or damaged. This reflects God's justice, which is not merely punitive but restorative, aiming to heal relationships and communities.

the restitution belongs to the LORD
When there is no kinsman-redeemer, the restitution is directed to the LORD, signifying that ultimately, all justice and recompense are under His authority. This phrase highlights God's sovereignty and His role as the ultimate judge and redeemer. It also points to the idea that all things belong to God, and He is the source of all justice and mercy.

and must be given to the priest
The priest, or "כֹּהֵן" (kohen), acts as an intermediary between God and the people. In this context, the priest receives the restitution on behalf of the LORD, symbolizing the sacred role of the priesthood in maintaining the covenant relationship between God and Israel. This underscores the importance of the priestly office in the spiritual and communal life of Israel.

along with the ram of atonement
The "ram of atonement" refers to a sacrificial offering, "אָשָׁם" (asham), which is part of the atonement process. Sacrifices were central to the Old Testament system of worship and reconciliation with God. The ram, a valuable animal, signifies the costliness of sin and the seriousness of making amends. This points forward to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, who is the true and final atonement for sin.

with which the atonement is made for him
Atonement, or "כִּפֶּר" (kipper), involves covering or purging sin, allowing for reconciliation with God. This concept is foundational in the biblical narrative, illustrating God's provision for dealing with sin and restoring fellowship with Him. It foreshadows the New Testament revelation of Jesus Christ, whose atoning sacrifice on the cross fulfills and perfects the atonement process, offering complete reconciliation with God for all who believe.

Verse 8. - If the man have no kinsman. No goel, or personal representative. This supposes that the wronged man himself is dead, and it is an addition to the law of restitution as given in Leviticus 6, an addition clearly necessary to its completeness. The wrong-doer must in no case be the gainer by his own wrong, and if the trespass could not be "recompensed" to man, it must be "recompensed" to the Lord, who was as it were joint-plaintiff in the cause. To the priest. On the general principle that the priest was the visible representative of the invisible majesty.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But if
וְאִם־ (wə·’im-)
Conjunctive waw | Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

the man
לָאִ֜ישׁ (lā·’îš)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

has no
אֵ֨ין (’ên)
Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

relative
גֹּאֵ֗ל (gō·’êl)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 1350: To redeem, act as kinsman

to compensate,
לְהָשִׁ֤יב (lə·hā·šîḇ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

the restitution
הַמּוּשָׁ֥ב (ham·mū·šāḇ)
Article | Verb - Hofal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

belongs to the LORD
לַיהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

and must be given to the priest
לַכֹּהֵ֑ן (lak·kō·hên)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3548: Priest

along with
מִלְּבַ֗ד (mil·lə·ḇaḏ)
Preposition-m, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 905: Separation, a part of the body, branch of a, tree, bar for, carrying, chief of

the ram
אֵ֚יל (’êl)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 352: Strength, strong, a chief, a ram, a pilaster, an oak, strong tree

of atonement,
הַכִּפֻּרִ֔ים (hak·kip·pu·rîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3725: Expiation

by which
אֲשֶׁ֥ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

the atonement is made
יְכַפֶּר־ (yə·ḵap·per-)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3722: To cover, to expiate, condone, to placate, cancel

for him.
עָלָֽיו׃ (‘ā·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against


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OT Law: Numbers 5:8 But if the man has no kinsman (Nu Num.)
Numbers 5:7
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