Numbers 5:5-10·~1 min

Confession and Restitution

The LORD defines injury against another as guilt before him and requires confession, restitution, and an added fifth; when no relative can receive repayment, it goes to the LORD through the priest.

A⁵nd the LORD said to Moses, ⁶“Tell the Israelites that when a man or woman acts unfaithfully against the LORD by committing any sin against another, that person is guilty ⁷and must confess the sin he has committed. He must make full restitution, add a fifth to its value, and give all this to the one he has wronged. ⁸But if the man has no relative to whom restitution can be made for the wrong, the restitution belongs to the LORD and must be given to the priest along with the ram of atonement, by which the atonement is made for him.

Sacred contributions brought to the priest belong to him, and gifts given into priestly hands remain his.

⁹Every sacred contribution the Israelites bring to the priest shall belong to him. ¹⁰Each man’s sacred gifts are his own, but whatever he gives to the priest will belong to the priest.”

Section summaryWrong done against another is treated as unfaithfulness against the LORD, and guilt must be answered with confession and full restitution plus an added fifth. If no injured relative can receive it, the restored amount passes to the LORD through the priest, along with the atoning ram.

Role in the chapterThis section moves from ritual impurity to social wrong, showing that holiness in the camp includes repaired relationships and honest acknowledgment of guilt. It also clarifies how restitution and sacred gifts belong within the priestly order.