Numbers 15:28
New International Version
The priest is to make atonement before the LORD for the one who erred by sinning unintentionally, and when atonement has been made, that person will be forgiven.

New Living Translation
The priest will sacrifice it to purify the guilty person before the LORD, and that person will be forgiven.

English Standard Version
And the priest shall make atonement before the LORD for the person who makes a mistake, when he sins unintentionally, to make atonement for him, and he shall be forgiven.

Berean Standard Bible
And the priest shall make atonement before the LORD on behalf of the person who erred by sinning unintentionally; and when atonement has been made for him, he will be forgiven.

King James Bible
And 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.

New King James Version
So the priest shall make atonement for the person who sins unintentionally, when he sins unintentionally before the LORD, to make atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him.

New American Standard Bible
And the priest shall make atonement before the LORD for the person who goes astray by an unintentional sin, making atonement for him so that he may be forgiven.

NASB 1995
‘The priest shall make atonement before the LORD for the person who goes astray when he sins unintentionally, making atonement for him that he may be forgiven.

NASB 1977
‘And the priest shall make atonement before the LORD for the person who goes astray when he sins unintentionally, making atonement for him that he may be forgiven.

Legacy Standard Bible
And the priest shall make atonement before Yahweh for the person who goes astray when he sins unintentionally, making atonement for him that he may be pardoned.

Amplified Bible
The priest shall make atonement before the LORD for the person who commits an error when he sins unintentionally, making atonement for him so that he may be forgiven.

Christian Standard Bible
The priest will then make atonement before the LORD on behalf of the person who acts in error sinning unintentionally, and when he makes atonement for him, he will be forgiven.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The priest must then make atonement before the LORD on behalf of the person who acts in error sinning unintentionally, and when he makes atonement for him, he will be forgiven.

American Standard Version
And the priest shall make atonement for the soul that erreth, when he sinneth unwittingly, before Jehovah, to make atonement for him; and he shall be forgiven.

Contemporary English Version
The priest will then ask me to forgive you, and your sin will be forgiven.

English Revised Version
And the priest shall make atonement for the soul that erreth, when he sinneth unwittingly, before the LORD, to make atonement for him; and he shall be forgiven.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The priest will offer the sacrifice to make peace with the LORD for that person, and that person will be forgiven.

Good News Translation
At the altar the priest shall perform the ritual of purification to purify you from your sin, and you will be forgiven.

International Standard Version
Then, in the LORD's presence, the priest is to make atonement for the person who sinned inadvertently, that is, to make atonement on his behalf so he may be forgiven.

Majority Standard Bible
And the priest shall make atonement before the LORD on behalf of the person who erred by sinning unintentionally; and when atonement has been made for him, he will be forgiven.

NET Bible
And the priest must make atonement for the person who sins unintentionally--when he sins unintentionally before the LORD--to make atonement for him, and he will be forgiven.

New Heart English Bible
The priest shall make atonement for the soul who errs, when he sins unwittingly, before the LORD, to make atonement for him; and he shall be forgiven.

Webster's Bible Translation
And 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.

World English Bible
The priest shall make atonement for the soul who errs when he sins unwittingly before Yahweh. He shall make atonement for him; and he shall be forgiven.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and the priest has made atonement for the person who is erring, in his sinning through ignorance before YHWH, by making atonement for him, and it has been forgiven him;

Young's Literal Translation
and the priest hath made atonement for the person who is erring, in his sinning in ignorance before Jehovah, by making atonement for him, and it hath been forgiven him;

Smith's Literal Translation
And the priest expiated for the soul erring, in sinning in error before Jehovah, to expiate for him; and it was forgiven to him.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the priest shall pray for him, because he sinned ignorantly before the Lord: and he shall obtain his pardon, and it shall be forgiven him.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the priest shall pray for him, because he sinned unknowingly before the Lord. And he shall obtain pardon for him, and it will be forgiven him.

New American Bible
And the priest shall make atonement before the LORD for the one who erred, since the sin was inadvertent, making atonement for the person to secure forgiveness.

New Revised Standard Version
And the priest shall make atonement before the LORD for the one who commits an error, when it is unintentional, to make atonement for the person, who then shall be forgiven.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the priest shall make atonement for the person who sins, when he sins by an error before the LORD. to make an atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the Priest shall make atonement for the soul who has sinned in a sin of error before LORD JEHOVAH, and it shall be atoned for him and it shall be forgiven him.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the priest shall make atonement for the soul that erreth, when he sinneth through error, before the LORD, to make atonement for him; and he shall be forgiven,

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the priest shall make atonement for the soul that committed the trespass unwillingly, and that sinned unwillingly before the Lord, to make atonement for him.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Offerings for Unintentional Sins
27Also, if one person sins unintentionally, he is to present a year-old female goat as a sin offering. 28And the priest shall make atonement before the LORD on behalf of the person who erred by sinning unintentionally; and when atonement has been made for him, he will be forgiven. 29You shall have the same law for the one who acts in error, whether he is a native-born Israelite or a foreigner residing among you.…

Cross References
Leviticus 4:20
He shall offer this bull just as he did the bull for the sin offering; in this way the priest will make atonement on their behalf, and they will be forgiven.

Leviticus 4:26
He must burn all its fat on the altar, like the fat of the peace offerings; thus the priest will make atonement for that man’s sin, and he will be forgiven.

Leviticus 4:31
Then he is to remove all the fat, just as it is removed from the peace offering, and the priest is to burn it on the altar as a pleasing aroma to the LORD. In this way the priest will make atonement for him, and he will be forgiven.

Leviticus 4:35
And he shall remove all the fat, just as the fat of the lamb is removed from the peace offerings, and he shall burn it on the altar along with the food offerings to the LORD. In this way the priest will make atonement for him for the sin he has committed, and he will be forgiven.

Leviticus 5:10
And the priest must prepare the second bird as a burnt offering according to the ordinance. In this way the priest will make atonement for him for the sin he has committed, and he will be forgiven.

Leviticus 5:13
In this way the priest will make atonement for him for any of these sins he has committed, and he will be forgiven. The remainder will belong to the priest, like the grain offering.”

Leviticus 6:7
In this way the priest will make atonement for him before the LORD, and he will be forgiven for anything he may have done to incur guilt.”

Hebrews 9:22
According to the law, in fact, nearly everything must be purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Hebrews 10:4
because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

Hebrews 10:10
And by that will, we have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Hebrews 10:12
But when this Priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God.

Hebrews 10:14
because by a single offering He has made perfect for all time those who are being sanctified.

1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 2:1-2
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. / He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.


Treasury of Scripture

And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sins ignorantly, when he sins by ignorance before the LORD, to make an atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him.

Leviticus 4:35
And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat of the lamb is taken away from the sacrifice of the peace offerings; and the priest shall burn them upon the altar, according to the offerings made by fire unto the LORD: and the priest shall make an atonement for his sin that he hath committed, and it shall be forgiven him.

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Astray Atonement Commits Erred Erreth Erring Error Errs Ignorance Ignorantly Inadvertently Sin Sinneth Sinning Sins Soul Unconsciously Unintentionally Unwittingly Wrong
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Astray Atonement Commits Erred Erreth Erring Error Errs Ignorance Ignorantly Inadvertently Sin Sinneth Sinning Sins Soul Unconsciously Unintentionally Unwittingly Wrong
Numbers 15
1. The law of the meat offering, and the drink offering
14. The stranger is under the same law
17. The law of the first of the dough
22. The sacrifice for sins of ignorance
30. The punishment of presumption
32. He who violated the Sabbath is stoned
37. The law of tassels














The priest
In ancient Israel, the priest served as a mediator between God and the people. The Hebrew word for priest, "kohen," signifies one who is set apart for sacred duties. The priest's role was crucial in maintaining the covenant relationship between God and Israel, highlighting the importance of spiritual leadership and intercession in the community of faith.

will make atonement
The concept of atonement is central to the sacrificial system in the Old Testament. The Hebrew word "kaphar" means to cover or to reconcile. Atonement involves the covering of sin, allowing for reconciliation between the sinner and God. This foreshadows the ultimate atonement made by Jesus Christ, who, as the perfect High Priest, offered Himself as the final sacrifice for sin.

before the LORD
This phrase emphasizes the presence and authority of God in the atonement process. The Hebrew term "YHWH" is the sacred name of God, often rendered as "LORD" in English translations. It signifies the covenantal relationship between God and His people, reminding believers that all acts of worship and repentance are conducted in the sight of a holy and righteous God.

for the person who erred
The Hebrew word "shagah" refers to going astray or making a mistake. This acknowledges human fallibility and the reality of unintentional sin. It underscores the need for grace and mercy, as even unintentional sins require atonement. This reflects the comprehensive nature of God's law and the provision for forgiveness.

by sinning unintentionally
The distinction between intentional and unintentional sin is significant in the Old Testament. Unintentional sins, or "bishgagah," are those committed out of ignorance or error, not out of willful rebellion. This highlights God's justice and mercy, as He provides a means for forgiveness even when sin is not deliberate.

and when atonement has been made for him
This phrase indicates the completion of the atonement process. The sacrificial system was a temporary measure pointing to the ultimate atonement through Christ. The assurance of forgiveness upon the completion of atonement reflects God's faithfulness to His promises and His desire for restored fellowship with His people.

he will be forgiven
Forgiveness, or "salach" in Hebrew, is a divine act of grace. It signifies the removal of guilt and the restoration of the sinner to a right relationship with God. This promise of forgiveness is a source of hope and assurance for believers, reminding them of God's willingness to forgive and restore those who come to Him in repentance and faith.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And the priest
הַכֹּהֵ֗ן (hak·kō·hên)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3548: Priest

shall make atonement
וְכִפֶּ֣ר (wə·ḵip·per)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3722: To cover, to expiate, condone, to placate, cancel

before
לִפְנֵ֣י (lip̄·nê)
Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

the LORD
יְהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

on behalf of
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the person
הַנֶּ֧פֶשׁ (han·ne·p̄eš)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

who erred
בִשְׁגָגָ֖ה (ḇiš·ḡā·ḡāh)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 7683: To go astray, commit sin or error

by sinning unintentionally;
הַשֹּׁגֶ֛גֶת (haš·šō·ḡe·ḡeṯ)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular
Strong's 7684: A mistake, inadvertent transgression

and when atonement has been made
לְכַפֵּ֥ר (lə·ḵap·pêr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct
Strong's 3722: To cover, to expiate, condone, to placate, cancel

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

he will be forgiven.
וְנִסְלַ֥ח (wə·nis·laḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5545: To forgive, pardon


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OT Law: Numbers 15:28 The priest shall make atonement (Nu Num.)
Numbers 15:27
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