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Numbers 5:8

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Numbers 5:8 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “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.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

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.
Numbers 5:8 — American Standard Version

Context — Numbers 5

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
5And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,
6Speak unto the children of Israel, When a man or woman shall commit any sin that men commit, so as to trespass against Jehovah, and that soul shall be guilty;
7then he shall confess his sin which he hath done: and he shall make restitution for his guilt in full, and add unto it the fifth part thereof, and give it unto him in respect of whom he hath been guilty.
8But 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.
9And every heave-offering of all the holy things of the children of Israel, which they present unto the priest, shall be his.
10And every man`s hallowed things shall be his: whatsoever any man giveth the priest, it shall be his.
11And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,
← Numbers 5:7Numbers 5:9 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“But if a man have no kinsman to recompense the trespass to, etc.] This supposes that if a man should die, against whom the trespass is, before the restitution is made, then it shall be made to his heirs; and if he has none, then it was to be given to the priest, as after directed: the Jews f28 generally understand this of a proselyte, that has no heirs, for they say, there is no Israelite but has kinsmen, a brother or a son, or some one or other near of kin to him, of his father’s family, even up to Jacob: let the trespass be recompensed unto the Lord, [even] to the priest; that is, let the principal, with the fifth part, which is the recompence for the trespass committed, be given to the…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The law of restitution: a passage supplementary to Leviticus 5:5, etc., Leviticus 6:5, etc. Numbers 5:7 Recompense his trespass - i. e. make restitution to the person whom he has injured. Numbers 5:8 Whereby an atonement shall be made for him - literally, “which shall clear him of guilt as to it,” i. e. as to the trespass. Numbers 5:10 And every man’s hallowed things shall be his - i. e. the priest’s. The heave offerings Numbers 5:9 and dedicatory offerings (e. g. first-fruits) were to be the perquisite of the officiating priests. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“No kinsman - This supposes the person injured to be dead or gone, into some unknown place, and the person injured to be known to the injurer. To the priest - Whom God appointed as his deputy to receive his dues, and take them to his own use, that so he might more chearfully and entirely devote himself to the ministration of holy things. This is an additional explication to that law, Lev 6:2, and for the sake thereof it seems here to be repeated. Numbers 5:9”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“5:8 Because sin is ultimately against God (5:6; Ps 51:4), the perpetrator had a moral obligation to make restitution to the Lord, who authorized the human victims of the sin to receive that payment; if none were living, the Lord received payment through the priest. Perpetrators also had to offer a valuable sacrifice that restored their ritual purity (Num 5:1-4) and their relationship with God. • purified and made right with the Lord: See study note on Lev 1:4.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“have no: Lev 25:25, Lev 25:26 beside the ram: Lev 6:6, Lev 6:7, Lev 7:7 Numbers 5:9”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification