Numbers 5:5-10

Compensation for Wrongdoing

5 The Lord spoke to Moses:

6 "Tell the Israelites: When a man or woman commits any sin against another, that person acts unfaithfully toward the Lord and is guilty.

7 The person is to confess the sin he has committed. He is to pay full compensation, add a fifth of its value to it, and give [it] to the individual he has wronged.^[a]

8 But if that individual has no relative^[b] to receive compensation,^[c] 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.^[d]

9 Every holy contribution the Israelites present to the priest will be his.^[e]

10 Each one's holy contribution is his [to give]; what each one gives to the priest will be his."

Numbers 5:5-10 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 5

This chapter contains a repetition of some former laws, concerning putting unclean persons out of the camp, Nu 5:1-4; making restitution in case of trespass against another, Nu 5:5-8; and of giving the offering of all holy things and all hallowed things to the priests, Nu 5:9,10; and a new law concerning jealousy, in a man, of his wife, Nu 5:11-14; when she was to be brought to the priest, and various rites and ceremonies to be used, Nu 5:15-23; who was to give her bitter water as a trial of her chastity, which, if guilty, would have a strange effect upon her, and make her accursed, but if not, would not affect her, and she would be free and happy, Nu 5:24-31.

Footnotes

• [a]. Lv 6:1-5
• [b]. Lv 25:25,48-49; Jr 32:7
• [c]. In the case of the individual's death
• [d]. Lv 6:6-7
• [e]. Ex 25:2-3; 29:27-28; Lv 7:14,32,34