Numbers 5:6

6 Speak thou to the sons of Israel (Say thou to the Israelites), When a man either a woman hath done any of all (of) the sins that be wont to fall to men, and have broken by negligence the behest of the Lord, and have trespassed,

Numbers 5:6 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 5:6

Speak unto the children of Israel
Put them in mind of the following law, that they observe it; and which is here repeated, because of two new things in it, as Jarchi observes, the one relates to confession, teaching that there is no fifth part nor trespass offering by witnesses, till a man confesses the thing; and the other is, concerning taking anything away by violence from a proselyte, which is to be given to the priests; see the original law in ( Leviticus 6:1-7 ) ;

when a man or woman shall commit any sin that men commit;
or, "any of the sins of men" F5, which are commonly done by men, and men are subject to through the infirmity of the flesh, and the temptations of Satan; or "any sin against man" F6, so some, as this referred to is expressly said to be, ( Numbers 5:7 ) ;

to do a trespass against the Lord;
for every sin against man is also against the Lord, being a breach of his command; as David's sin against Uriah was a sin against the Lord, ( Psalms 51:4 ) ; though the Jews understand it particularly of lying and swearing falsely, appealing to God, and calling him to be a witness to a falsehood; and so the Targum of Onkelos seems to interpret it:

and the person be guilty;
and knows he is so, and even knew it when he took an oath to the contrary; see ( Leviticus 6:3 Leviticus 6:4 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F5 (Mdah tajx lkm) "ex omnibus peccatis hominis", Montanus.
F6 "Ex omnibus peccatis contra hominem", Tigurine version; so Patrick.

Numbers 5:6 In-Context

4 And the sons of Israel did so (And the Israelites did so); and they putted them out of the tents, as the Lord spake to Moses.
5 And the Lord spake to Moses, and said,
6 Speak thou to the sons of Israel (Say thou to the Israelites), When a man either a woman hath done any of all (of) the sins that be wont to fall to men, and have broken by negligence the behest of the Lord, and have trespassed,
7 they shall acknowledge their sin, and they shall yield that head, or debt, and (add) the fifth part above (it), (and give it) to him against whom they (have) sinned.
8 But if none there is that shall receive that, they shall give it to the Lord, and it shall be the priest's part, besides the ram that is offered for cleansing, that it be a quemeful sacrifice. (But if there is no one who can receive that payment, then they shall give it to the Lord, and it shall be the priest's portion, besides the ram for making amends, which is offered to make amends for them.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.