Carelessness

A lack of attention to one's thoughts and deeds, or a failure to give adequate thought to the consequences of one's actions, often leading to distressing results.

Carelessness in speech

Leviticus 5:4 See also Proverbs 20:25; Ecclesiastes 5:2, Ecclesiastes 5:6; Matthew 12:36

Or if someone swears thoughtlessly with his lips to do anything good or evil— in whatever matter a man may rashly pronounce an oath— even if he is unaware of it, when he realizes it, he is guilty in the matter.

Warnings against carelessness in actions

Exodus 21:33–34 See also Exodus 21:22–25, Exodus 21:28–29, Exodus 21:35–36, Exodus 22:5; Leviticus 5:2–3; Numbers 35:22–24

If a man opens or digs a pit and fails to cover it, and an ox or a donkey falls into it, the owner of the pit shall make restitution; he must pay its owner, and the dead animal will be his.

Unintentional sins resulting from carelessness

By the nation

Leviticus 4:13 See also Numbers 15:22–26

Now if the whole congregation of Israel strays unintentionally and the matter escapes the notice of the assembly so that they violate any of the LORD’s commandments and incur guilt by doing what is forbidden,

By an individual

Leviticus 4:27 See also Leviticus 4:2–3, Leviticus 4:22–23; Numbers 15:27–28, Numbers 35:22–24

And if one of the common people sins unintentionally and does what is prohibited by any of the LORD’s commandments, he incurs guilt.

Examples of carelessness

Careless speech

Judges 11:30–35 See also Genesis 25:29–34; Matthew 14:6–11 parallel Mark 6:21–28

Jephthah made this vow to the LORD: “If indeed You will deliver the Ammonites into my hand, then whatever comes out the door of my house to greet me on my triumphant return from the Ammonites will belong to the LORD, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.” So Jephthah crossed over to the Ammonites to fight against them, and the LORD delivered them into his hand. With a great blow he devastated twenty cities from Aroer to the vicinity of Minnith, as far as Abel-keramim. So the Ammonites were subdued before the Israelites. And when Jephthah returned home to Mizpah, there was his daughter coming out to meet him with tambourines and dancing! She was his only child; he had no son or daughter besides her. As soon as Jephthah saw her, he tore his clothes and said, “No! Not my daughter! You have brought me to my knees! You have brought great misery upon me, for I have given my word to the LORD and cannot take it back.”

Careless actions and omissions

Matthew 7:26–27 parallel Luke 6:49 See also Matthew 25:1–13

But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell— and great was its collapse!”