Numbers 29 15

Numbers 29:15 kjv

And a several tenth deal to each lamb of the fourteen lambs:

Numbers 29:15 nkjv

and one-tenth for each of the fourteen lambs;

Numbers 29:15 niv

and with each of the fourteen lambs, one-tenth.

Numbers 29:15 esv

and a tenth for each of the fourteen lambs;

Numbers 29:15 nlt

and two quarts for each of the fourteen lambs.

Numbers 29 verses

Numbers 29 15 Meaning

Numbers 29:15 describes the precise quantity and type of drink offerings and peace offerings to accompany the daily animal sacrifices during the Feast of Tabernacles. Specifically, it states the "measure" (exact proportion) of these subsidiary offerings for each bull, ram, and seven lambs, underscoring the divine demand for precise and proportional worship. These elements were crucial for maintaining fellowship with God and atonement according to His prescribed instructions.

Numbers 29 15 Context

Numbers chapter 29 outlines the specific burnt offerings, grain offerings, drink offerings, and a goat for a sin offering required for the annual set feasts of the Israelite calendar. This particular verse (15) is part of the instructions for the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot), the third great pilgrimage festival. Numbers 29 details the daily diminishing number of bull sacrifices during this seven-day festival, with specific accompanying offerings for each day. Verse 15 refers to the second day's peace offerings and the drink offerings associated with the sacrifices for that day—a decreasing number of bulls, a ram, and seven lambs. This precise legalistic detailing ensured the integrity of Israel's worship, maintaining fellowship with a holy God according to His explicit commandments, distinguishing Israel's unique covenant relationship from surrounding pagan practices.

Numbers 29 15 Word analysis

• and their drink offerings, (וְנִסְכֵּיהֶם, w’niskhêhem):
  • drink offerings: From the Hebrew word nesech (נֶסֶךְ), meaning "libation" or "poured out offering." These were typically wine poured out onto the altar, symbolizing dedication, joy, and often a spiritual act of communion or total surrender. In pagan contexts, libations were offered to various gods, but for Israel, they were solely for Yahweh, signifying their distinct covenant. The plural indicates multiple libations for the varied animals.
• and their peace offerings (וְשַׁלְמֵיהֶם, w’shalmêhem):
  • peace offerings: From the Hebrew word shelamim (שְׁלָמִים), derived from shalom (שָׁלוֹם), meaning "peace," "wholeness," "completeness," "well-being." These sacrifices fostered fellowship. Unique among sacrifices, portions were eaten by the offerer and the priests, symbolizing communion between God, His servants, and the worshiper. The plural here, like drink offerings, implies different peace offerings or the full measure for all the animals involved.
• for the cattle, (לַבָּקָר, labâqâr):
  • Refers to bovine animals, primarily large sacrificial animals. It sets the scope of the accompanying offerings, indicating these measures are relevant to cattle as well as the more specific animals that follow.
• for one bull, (לַפָּר הָאֶחָד, lappār hā’eḥād):
  • one bull: The most significant and costly animal sacrifice, particularly prominent during Sukkot where many bulls were offered daily, with the number decreasing each day. The phrase singles out a singular bull, meaning that the specified "measure" is applied to each individual bull offered.
• and for the ram, (וְלָאַיִל, w'lā'ayil):
  • ram: A male sheep, often symbolizing dedication. These were also central to Israel's sacrificial system. The ram here receives its own specific measure of accompanying offerings.
• and for the seven lambs, (וְלַכְּבָשִׂים הַשִּׁבְעָה, w'lakkesāśîm haššiv‘āh):
  • seven lambs: Lambs represented purity and vulnerability. "Seven" denotes completion or perfection in biblical numerology, suggesting the fullness of the sacrifice. Each of these seven lambs individually required their specific portion of drink and peace offerings.
• according to the measure. (כְּמִדָּתָם, k'midahttâm):
  • according to the measure: From middah (מִדָּה), meaning "measure," "proportion," "standard," "due amount." This phrase is critically important. It underscores God's demand for precise, exact, and proportional adherence to His sacrificial laws. It conveys a divine standard, a meticulously defined ritual that leaves no room for human alteration, symbolizing the exactitude required in worship and obedience. It highlights the divine wisdom behind the details, contrasting with human arbitrary offerings or approximations.

Words-group Analysis:

• "and their drink offerings, and their peace offerings": These two types of offerings highlight complementary aspects of communion with God. Drink offerings, often accompanying burnt offerings, were dedicatory and joyous. Peace offerings were for communion and thanksgiving, emphasizing God's shalom upon His people. Their presence together underscores a complete, multifaceted act of worship: full dedication leading to fellowship.
• "for the cattle, for one bull, and for the ram, and for the seven lambs": This grouping provides an exhaustive list of the different animal types for which the specified measures applied. The hierarchy from "cattle" (general) to specific "bull," then "ram," and "lambs" indicates a careful, tiered structure of sacrificial provisions, each requiring meticulous attention to its own particular associated offerings. It reinforces the scale and complexity of the ritual requirements.
• "according to the measure.": This concluding phrase acts as an overarching directive for the entire sacrificial instruction, not just for verse 15, but for all offerings. It emphasizes divine authority and the necessity of exact obedience in worship, pointing to a God who cares about every detail of how His people approach Him. It implies that these quantities were not arbitrary human inventions but divinely prescribed amounts, each carrying theological significance.

Numbers 29 15 Bonus section

The rigorous numerical details in Numbers, like in chapter 29, provided a comprehensive and unalterable blueprint for Israelite worship. The precise measures were not just about quantity; they implicitly carried symbolic weight concerning purity, holiness, and the relationship between the human and the divine. For instance, specific fractions of an ephah for grain offerings or fractions of a hin for drink offerings often appear alongside particular animals, establishing a divine stoichiometry for covenant fellowship. This was also a practical safeguard, preventing personal extravagance or parsimony in offerings and ensuring communal unity in worship practices. The cost and logistical demands of such precise and numerous offerings, particularly during a festival like Sukkot with its large daily bull sacrifices, would have been immense, constantly reminding Israel of the scale of God's provision and their collective obligation under the covenant.

Numbers 29 15 Commentary

Numbers 29:15, seemingly a mere tabulation of quantities, reveals profound theological truths about Israel's worship. It emphasizes the absolute specificity required by God for the auxiliary offerings accompanying the major animal sacrifices during the Feast of Tabernacles. The drink offerings (nesakhim) and peace offerings (shelamim) were not optional additions but integral components, essential for the rituals to be acceptable. The phrase "according to the measure" (k'middatam) is paramount, signifying that God Himself established the exact proportions and expected His people to adhere to them meticulously. This precision underlines that true worship is not improvised or decided by human convenience; it is a divinely ordered encounter. It also served as a safeguard against defilement of the altar or bringing common worship. These prescribed amounts pointed forward to the perfection and sufficiency found only in Christ. While the exact rites are now fulfilled, the principle of reverent, complete, and obedience-driven worship, presenting one's life as a spiritual sacrifice, remains central for believers today (Rom 12:1). The detailed attention to measures teaches that God is holy and demands exact obedience to His Word.