Numbers 5:7

7 then he shall 1confess his sins which he has committed, and he 2shall make restitution in full for his wrong and add to it one-fifth of it, and give it to him whom he has wronged.

Numbers 5:7 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 5:7

Then they shall confess their sin which they have done
The form of which confession, according to Fagius, was, O Lord, I am guilty of death, I have deserved to be stoned for this sin, or to be strangled for this trespass, or to be burnt for this crime

and he shall recompense his trespass with the principal thereof, and
add unto it the fifth [part] thereof;
paying the whole of whatsoever he had in any manner defrauded his neighbour of, to which he was to add a fifth part of that; that is, as Aben Ezra interprets it, it he confesses of himself, but if there are witnesses of it he must add two fifths, and some say a fifth of a fifth:

and give [it] unto [him] against whom he hath trespassed;
as a satisfaction for the injury done him.

Numbers 5:7 In-Context

5 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
6 "Speak to the sons of Israel, 'When a man or woman commits any of the sins of mankind, acting unfaithfully against the LORD , and that person is guilty,
7 then he shall confess his sins which he has committed, and he shall make restitution in full for his wrong and add to it one-fifth of it, and give it to him whom he has wronged.
8 '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.
9 'Also every contribution pertaining to all the holy gifts of the sons of Israel, which they offer to the priest, shall be his.

Cross References 2

  • 1. Leviticus 5:5; Leviticus 26:40, 41; Joshua 7:19
  • 2. Leviticus 6:4, 5

Footnotes 3

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