Original Word: שְׁגָגָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: shgagah
Pronunciation: she-gaw-gaw'
Phonetic Spelling: (sheg-aw-gaw')
KJV: error, ignorance, at unawares; unwittingly
NASB: unintentionally, error, mistake
Word Origin: [from H7683 (שָׁגַג - because he also)]

1. a mistake or inadvertent transgression

error, ignorance, at unawares, unwittingly

From shagag; a mistake or inadvertent transgression -- error, ignorance, at unawares; unwittingly.

see HEBREW shagag

Word Origin
from shagag
Definition
sin of error or inadvertance
NASB Translation
error (5), mistake (1), unintentionally (14).

שְׁגָגָה noun feminine sin of error, inadvertence; — absolute ׳שׁ Numbers 15:25 +; suffix שִׁגְָתוֺ Leviticus 5:18; שִׁגְָתָם Numbers 15:26; — error (opposed to sins of intention, or בְּיָד רָמָה) only P Ecclesiastes: Numbers 15:25 = Ecclesiastes 5:5, compare Ecclesiastes 10:5; ׳על שׁ Leviticus 5:18; Numbers 15:25; ׳חטא בִּשׁ Leviticus 4:2,22,27; Leviticus 5:15; Numbers 15:27,28 #NAME? Numbers 15:26; ׳עשׂה בִשׁ Leviticus 4:22; Numbers 15:29 + (׳לִשׁ) Numbers 15:24; ׳אכל קֹדֶשׁ בִּשׁ Leviticus 22:14; ׳מַכֵּהנֶֿפֶשׁ בִּשׁ of unintended killing Numbers 35:11,15 = Joshua 20:3,9 ("" in D בִּבְלִידַֿעַת. — 1 Samuel 14:24 see שׁגה. below

שִׁגָּיוֺן.

Definition and Scope

שְׁגָגָה denotes an act committed “by mistake,” “inadvertently,” or “unintentionally.” The word never softens the seriousness of sin; rather, it distinguishes sins of ignorance from those of defiance in order to show how a holy God provides a measured yet sufficient atonement.

Unintentional Sin in the Mosaic Sacrificial System

1. Individual Israelites (Leviticus 4:27-35)

Even the “common people” required a sin offering when they sinned unintentionally. “If anyone of the common people sins unintentionally … he must bring a female goat without blemish for the sin he has committed” (Leviticus 4:27-28). Ignorance did not excuse guilt; it only changed the remedy.

2. Leaders and Priests (Leviticus 4:3-21, 22-26)

The higher the position, the costlier the sacrifice. When “the anointed priest sins” a bull was required; when “a leader sins unintentionally,” the offering was a male goat. Spiritual influence magnifies responsibility.

3. Holy Things and Sacred Food (Leviticus 5:15; 22:14)

Mistaken misuse of consecrated items demanded restitution plus twenty percent, illustrating that holiness once violated could not simply be overlooked.

4. Congregational Sins (Numbers 15:24-26)

National obliviousness still required corporate repentance: “the entire congregation is to offer one young bull as a burnt offering … and the priest will make atonement for the whole congregation … and they will be forgiven” (Numbers 15:24-25).

5. The One-Offender Provision (Numbers 15:27-29)

“If one person sins unintentionally, he is to bring a year-old female goat as a sin offering” (Numbers 15:27). The law carefully balanced personal accountability with gracious provision.

Contrast with High-Handed Sin

Immediately after the shegagah regulations, Numbers 15:30-31 warns that the “high-handed” sinner finds no sacrifice available. This juxtaposition highlights two fixed truths: (1) God shows mercy to the ignorant and repentant; (2) He judges the willfully rebellious. The distinction guards against presuming upon grace while comforting the tender conscience.

Cities of Refuge: Shedding Blood in Error

Numbers 35:11, 15 and Joshua 20:3, 9 apply שְׁגָגָה to homicide. The accidental killer could flee to a city of refuge “so that a person who kills another unintentionally may flee there and find refuge from the avenger of blood” (Joshua 20:3). The provision preserved life while awaiting trial, reflecting both justice for the victim and mercy for the unintentional offender.

Wisdom Literature Usage

Ecclesiastes employs the word to expose folly that masquerades as harmless:

• “Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, and do not say before the messenger, ‘It was a mistake.’” (Ecclesiastes 5:6)
• “There is an evil I have seen under the sun—an error proceeding from the ruler.” (Ecclesiastes 10:5)

Here שְׁגָגָה cautions against careless words and rash governance, proving that even unintentional missteps can bear grave consequences.

Theological Significance

1. Universality of Sin

Ignorance does not nullify guilt (Psalm 19:12; compare Leviticus 4). All have sinned, whether knowingly or unknowingly.

2. Necessity of Atonement

Each occurrence of שְׁגָגָה in the Law is coupled with sacrifice or sanctuary, underscoring that divine forgiveness is never cheap.

3. Foreshadowing Christ

The New Testament affirms that the sacrifices were “a shadow of the good things to come” (Hebrews 10:1). Jesus fulfills the pattern by offering Himself “once for all” (Hebrews 10:10), covering both deliberate and inadvertent sins for those who believe (1 John 1:7).

Practical Ministry Implications

• Preaching and Teaching

Shepherds must address sins of ignorance, helping believers recognize hidden faults and leading them to Christ’s finished work.

• Pastoral Care

When counseling those troubled by unintentional offenses, ministers can point to the tenderness of God’s provision: He anticipated their need long before they were aware of it.

• Corporate Worship

Confession in public prayer should include acknowledgment of unknown sins, echoing the congregational atonement of Numbers 15:24-26.

• Social Justice

Modern legal systems mirror the biblical principle by differentiating between manslaughter and murder. Christians may advocate laws that reflect this balance of mercy and justice.

Summary of Key References

Leviticus 4:2, 22, 27; 5:15, 18; 22:14

Numbers 15:24-29; 35:11, 15

Joshua 20:3, 9

Ecclesiastes 5:6; 10:5

שְׁגָגָה teaches that God’s law penetrates beyond conscious intent, yet His grace is wide enough to atone for every repentant mistake.

בִּשְׁגָגָ֑ה בִּשְׁגָגָ֔ה בִּשְׁגָגָ֖ה בִּשְׁגָגָֽה׃ בִשְׁגָגָ֑ה בִשְׁגָגָ֖ה בִשְׁגָגָה֙ בשגגה בשגגה׃ הַשֹּׁגֶ֛גֶת השגגת כִּשְׁגָגָ֕ה כשגגה לִשְׁגָגָה֒ לשגגה שְׁגָגָ֖ה שְׁגָגָ֣ה שִׁגְגָת֧וֹ שִׁגְגָתָֽם׃ שגגה שגגתו שגגתם׃ biš·ḡā·ḡāh ḇiš·ḡā·ḡāh bišḡāḡāh ḇišḡāḡāh bishgaGah haš·šō·ḡe·ḡeṯ hashshoGeget haššōḡeḡeṯ kiš·ḡā·ḡāh kišḡāḡāh kishgaGah liš·ḡā·ḡāh lišḡāḡāh lishgaGah šə·ḡā·ḡāh šəḡāḡāh shegaGah shiggaTam shiggaTo šiḡ·ḡā·ṯām šiḡ·ḡā·ṯōw šiḡḡāṯām šiḡḡāṯōw vishgaGahInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts