Numbers 28:4 kjv
The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning, and the other lamb shalt thou offer at even;
Numbers 28:4 nkjv
The one lamb you shall offer in the morning, the other lamb you shall offer in the evening,
Numbers 28:4 niv
Offer one lamb in the morning and the other at twilight,
Numbers 28:4 esv
The one lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight;
Numbers 28:4 nlt
Sacrifice one lamb in the morning and the other in the evening.
Numbers 28 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 29:38 | “Now this is what you shall offer on the altar: two lambs... daily, regularly. | Foundation for daily offering. |
| Ex 29:39 | The one lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight... | Echoes morning/evening command. |
| Lev 6:12 | The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out. Every morning... | Emphasis on continuous fire for sacrifices. |
| Ezr 3:3 | They set the altar in its place, for they were in dread of the peoples around them... and offered burnt offerings... morning and evening. | Resumption after exile. |
| Neh 10:33 | ...for the showbread, for the regular grain offering and for the regular burnt offering, for the Sabbaths, New Moons... | Commitment to perpetual offerings. |
| Psa 5:3 | In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. | Echo of morning devotion. |
| Psa 141:2 | May my prayer be counted as incense before You, the lifting up of my hands as the evening offering. | Prayer as spiritual offering. |
| Dan 6:10 | ...he continued to go to his house... and prayed three times a day, giving thanks... as he had done before. | Example of daily faithful devotion. |
| Jn 1:29 | The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" | Christ as the ultimate sacrificial Lamb. |
| Isa 53:7 | He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; He was led like a lamb to the slaughter... | Prophecy of Christ's silent suffering. |
| Heb 7:27 | Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins... for this he did once for all when he offered himself. | Christ's perfect, singular sacrifice. |
| Heb 9:12 | He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. | Christ's sacrifice, once for all. |
| Heb 10:10 | And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. | Christ's one offering for sanctification. |
| Heb 10:1-4 | The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming – not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. | Old Covenant sacrifices were a shadow. |
| 1 Pet 1:18-19 | For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life... but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot. | Christ's perfect blood as redemption. |
| Rev 5:6 | Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne... | Christ depicted as the slain Lamb. |
| Rom 12:1 | Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. | Believer's spiritual sacrifice today. |
| Heb 13:15 | Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess His name. | Spiritual offering of praise. |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | ...you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. | Believers as priests offering sacrifices. |
| Eph 5:2 | ...and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. | Christ's fragrant offering of love. |
| Phil 4:18 | I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. | Gifts as acceptable sacrifice. |
Numbers 28 verses
Numbers 28 4 Meaning
This verse specifies the details of the daily whole burnt offering, known as the olat tamid (perpetual burnt offering), commanded by God to the Israelites. It mandates that a male lamb without blemish is to be offered on the altar each day, with one lamb offered in the morning and another offered in the evening. This perpetual sacrifice was central to Israel's worship, symbolizing constant dedication to God, seeking His presence, and providing ongoing atonement for the community. It underscored the continuous need for propitiation and consecration before a holy God, forming a daily rhythm of communion between the Lord and His people.
Numbers 28 4 Context
Numbers chapter 28 initiates a significant section detailing the precise offerings required for various daily, weekly, monthly, and annual feasts and observances. Following the census and preparation for entering the Promised Land, this chapter underscores God's meticulous instructions for maintaining the covenant relationship through ritual worship. Verse 4 specifically outlines the twice-daily national burnt offering, known as the olat tamid. This perpetual sacrifice was foundational, performed every single day as a burnt offering, signifying a constant national act of devotion, atonement, and recognition of God's sovereignty. It provided a continual covering for sins and maintained God's presence among His people, serving as a constant reminder of their dependence on Him and the need for purification. Historically, this regular offering would anchor the daily rhythms of the tabernacle (and later, temple) worship, ensuring Israel's covenant fidelity and allowing their presence before a holy God.
Numbers 28 4 Word analysis
The one lamb: Refers to a single, male lamb, one year old, specified in Num 28:3. This was the prescribed age and gender for a burnt offering lamb, signifying purity, perfection, and suitability for sacred sacrifice. It underscores that God requires the prime and best from His people.
you shall offer: From the Hebrew verb qārav (קרב), meaning "to bring near" or "to present." This highlights the act of drawing near to God through the offering, emphasizing proximity and the bringing of a gift or sacrifice for acceptance. It's a divinely ordained action by the priests on behalf of the congregation.
in the morning: Ba-bōqer (בַּבֹּקֶר). This indicates the very start of the day's worship and activity, symbolizing the prioritization of God. It signifies bringing the first of the day to the Lord, recognizing Him at the dawn of new beginnings.
and the other lamb: Denotes the second of the two daily sacrifices. This duplication emphasizes the twofold, continual nature of the perpetual offering, bookending the day with worship.
you shall offer: Repetition of the verb reinforces the mandatory, unwavering, and consistent nature of this commandment. It underscores the perpetual obligation.
at twilight: Bēn hāʿarbayim (בֵּין הָעַרְבַּיִם), literally "between the two evenings." This typically referred to the late afternoon or early evening period, around sunset, and often interpreted as the time when the sun's direct light fades until darkness fully sets in. It symbolizes the conclusion of the active day, consecrated to God.
Words-group analysis:
- "The one lamb... in the morning, and the other lamb... at twilight": This phrase precisely defines the olat tamid, the daily perpetual burnt offering. It specifies the offering (one unblemished lamb) and its twice-daily frequency (morning and evening), creating a liturgical rhythm that frames the entire day around God's requirements and presence. This daily dual sacrifice ensured constant atonement and dedication for the nation, setting a pattern of consistent worship.
- "you shall offer": This imperative phrase, repeated, indicates a direct, unchanging divine command to the people of Israel through Moses. It is not an option but an essential act of obedience that maintains the covenant relationship, underscoring the vital importance of these prescribed rituals for the nation's spiritual well-being.
Numbers 28 4 Bonus section
The "Tamid" (perpetual) offering was the anchor of the Tabernacle and Temple worship system. All other festival, Sabbath, New Moon, or individual offerings were considered supplemental to it, never replacing it. Its continual nature established a unique identity for Israel, as no other ancient religion mandated such a meticulously regular, daily, and communal sacrifice to their deity. The precise instruction in this verse echoes and reinforces earlier commands given at Sinai (e.g., Ex 29:38-42). The practice continued steadfastly until the destruction of the Second Temple in AD 70, a poignant event that demonstrated the cessation of the sacrificial system's function, fully superseded by the atoning work of Jesus Christ.
Numbers 28 4 Commentary
Numbers 28:4 lays down the essential rhythm of Israel's corporate worship: the twice-daily burnt offering of an unblemished lamb. This "perpetual offering" was not merely a ritual but a profound theological statement, signifying Israel's unending dedication to God and providing continuous atonement for the community. The specific timings—morning and evening—enveloped the entire day in worship and purification, reminding the people of their constant need for God's grace and forgiveness. This daily act sustained their covenant relationship and holiness before a holy God. In the New Covenant, this elaborate system of daily animal sacrifice found its perfect fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the ultimate "Lamb of God" whose single, perfect sacrifice cleansed sin "once for all." While animal sacrifices are no longer needed, the principle of continuous dedication, self-offering, and daily spiritual communion remains central for believers today.
- Examples: For believers today, the spirit of this continuous offering can be seen in daily personal devotions, morning and evening prayers, dedicating one's work and activities to God's glory, and striving for a lifestyle of obedience (Rom 12:1).