Later Text: Psalm 19:12
Earlier Source(s):
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Reference Type: Allusion
Connection Method(s): Longitudinal Theme
Significance: David's prayer "Who can understand his errors (שְׁגִיאוֹת, shegi'ot)? Cleanse me from secret faults (נִסְתָּרוֹת, nistarot)" employs vocabulary cognate with Leviticus 4's provision for sins committed "through ignorance" (בִשְׁגָגָה, bishgagah). Both words derive from the root שָׁגָה (shagah), "to err, go astray." David acknowledges that his sins exceed his self-awareness—he cannot confess what he does not perceive. Yet he trusts that God's gracious provision for ignorant sins (Leviticus 4) extends to "secret faults" hidden even from his own eyes. This OT-to-OT development shows the Levitical sin-of-ignorance category being internalized into personal piety: what the law provided ritually, David claims devotionally. The NT fulfillment comes in Hebrews 5:2, where Christ as High Priest "can have compassion on the ignorant"—the same mercy David sought, now available in the perfect High Priest who atones for sins we will never know we committed.