Numbers 28 19

Numbers 28:19 kjv

But ye shall offer a sacrifice made by fire for a burnt offering unto the LORD; two young bullocks, and one ram, and seven lambs of the first year: they shall be unto you without blemish:

Numbers 28:19 nkjv

And you shall present an offering made by fire as a burnt offering to the LORD: two young bulls, one ram, and seven lambs in their first year. Be sure they are without blemish.

Numbers 28:19 niv

Present to the LORD a food offering consisting of a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect.

Numbers 28:19 esv

but offer a food offering, a burnt offering to the LORD: two bulls from the herd, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old; see that they are without blemish;

Numbers 28:19 nlt

As a special gift you must present a burnt offering to the LORD ? two young bulls, one ram, and seven one-year-old male lambs, all with no defects.

Numbers 28 verses

Numbers 28 19 Meaning

Numbers 28:19 specifies a crucial part of the communal offerings required for the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread, which immediately follows Passover. It mandates a significant burnt offering (olah) to the Lord: two bulls, one ram, and seven male lambs, each a year old and entirely without physical blemish. This sacrifice, presented as a "food offering" (ishsheh), was to ascend to God, symbolizing complete devotion and serving as an atoning sacrifice for the community.

Numbers 28 19 Context

Numbers chapter 28, along with chapter 29, constitutes a meticulous outline of the communal sacrifices required for all the annual festivals and New Moons in Israel's liturgical calendar. These detailed instructions were given by God to Moses, ensuring that Israel's worship would be consistent, comprehensive, and focused on Him. Verse 19 specifically details the burnt offerings for the "Feast of Unleavened Bread," which commences on the 15th day of the first month, immediately following the Passover celebration on the 14th. This week-long feast commemorated Israel's hurried exodus from Egypt and their complete reliance on God. The precise nature and quantity of the sacrifices highlighted the importance of collective atonement and thanksgiving, contrasting with the often erratic and morally corrupt sacrifices of surrounding pagan nations.

Numbers 28 19 Word analysis

• but offer (וְהִקְרַבְתֶּם, vehiqravtem): "And you shall offer." This word emphasizes a command, indicating that this sacrifice is not optional but a divine decree. The Hebrew verb for "to bring near" or "to present" signifies the act of drawing close to God through sacrifice.
• a food offering (אִשֶּׁה, ʾishsheh): This term broadly refers to an "offering made by fire" or "fire offering." It indicates that the sacrifice is consumed by fire on the altar, symbolizing its dedication to and ascent toward God, becoming an acceptable "food" or "consumption" for the divine presence.
• as a burnt offering (עֹלָה, ʿolah): Derived from a root meaning "to go up" or "to ascend." This is a specific type of sacrifice where the entire animal, after certain parts are prepared, is consumed by fire on the altar. It symbolized complete devotion, seeking atonement for unintentional sin, and was viewed as a "sweet aroma" to the Lord, indicating God's acceptance and pleasure.
• to the LORD (לַיהוָה, la-YHWH): Identifies the exclusive divine recipient of the sacrifice. YHWH is the personal covenant name of God, emphasizing the intimate and singular relationship between God and Israel and prohibiting any offerings to other deities.
• two bulls (פָּרִים שְׁנַיִם, parim shnayim): Specific quantity and type. Bulls represented strength, leadership, and significant economic value, indicating a costly and substantial offering from the community.
• one ram (וְאַיִל אֶחָד, ve'ayil echad): Specific quantity and type. Rams were common sacrificial animals, representing robust and valuable livestock, also offered for various atoning and fellowship sacrifices.
• and seven male lambs (כְּבָשִׂים שִׁבְעָה, kevashim shiv'ah): Specific quantity and type. Lambs symbolize purity, innocence, and vulnerability, foundational to the concept of sacrifice in the Law (cf. the Passover lamb). "Seven" signifies completion, perfection, and holiness, reinforcing the solemn and comprehensive nature of the offering for this sacred period.
• a year old (בְּנֵי שָׁנָה, benei shanah): Meaning "sons of a year." This specifies the age, ensuring the animals were in their prime, representing the highest quality and vitality for the offering, not weak or too young/old.
• see that they are without blemish (תְּמִימִם, temimim): This crucial qualification, meaning "perfect," "whole," "complete," or "without defect," was essential for all sacrifices. It reflected God's own perfect nature and holiness, the purity required for worship, and symbolically foreshadowed the sinless perfection of Christ, the ultimate sacrifice.
• Words-Group Analysis:
  • "food offering as a burnt offering": This pairing highlights the purpose (food for God/sustenance of the covenant relationship) and the method (complete consumption by fire ascending to God). It is the supreme expression of worship and dedication within the Old Testament ritual system.
  • "two bulls, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old": The combination of various animals, their specific numbers, age, and gender, shows the meticulousness and grandeur of the communal sacrifices. It denotes a substantial offering, requiring communal effort and resources, underscoring the collective identity and responsibility in worship. The precise count further suggests the divine ordering and wisdom behind the sacrificial system.
  • "to the LORD... without blemish": This phrase links the sanctity of the Divine Recipient with the integrity of the offering. Only what is perfect can be given to a perfect God, underscoring purity, holiness, and the absolute demand for excellence in approaching the Almighty. This anticipates the need for a spotless Lamb (Christ) for ultimate reconciliation.

Numbers 28 19 Bonus section

The extensive enumeration of sacrifices in Numbers 28 and 29 not only prescribed ritual exactness but also implicitly ensured a steady supply of meat for the priestly community from the other sacrificial portions not entirely burnt. However, for the olah (burnt offering), as described in this verse, the entire animal ascended to God. The large number of animals specified for feasts – for the Feast of Unleavened Bread, including accompanying offerings (Num 28:19-24), many dozens of animals were sacrificed over seven days – represented a profound communal act of both expense and faith. It was a costly demonstration that only the best was worthy of God, teaching dependency on His provision even as they sacrificed from their own. The continuous cycle of offerings throughout the year in Numbers served as a constant reminder of God's holiness, His covenant with Israel, and the perpetual need for atonement and communion, continually foreshadowing the one perfect sacrifice to come.

Numbers 28 19 Commentary

Numbers 28:19 encapsulates God's unwavering demand for devoted and spotless worship. The commanded burnt offering, consisting of specific quantities of unblemished animals, was far more than a mere ritual; it was a visible declaration of Israel's complete reliance on and consecration to YHWH during the pivotal Feast of Unleavened Bread. The consumption of the entire sacrifice by fire, ascending to the Lord as a "sweet aroma," underscored the concept of atonement for the community's general sins and an act of worship demonstrating complete surrender. This verse, like all sacrificial laws, points prophetically to Jesus Christ, the spotless Lamb of God (1 Pet 1:18-19), whose once-for-all self-offering "without blemish" (Heb 9:14) ultimately fulfills the shadowy demands of the Law, perfectly pleasing God and fully atoning for humanity's sins, rendering animal sacrifices obsolete (Heb 10:4-10). It calls believers today to offer "spiritual sacrifices" (1 Pet 2:5) through transformed lives (Rom 12:1) that are also "without blemish" in their devotion to God.