Numbers 29 21

Numbers 29:21 kjv

And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:

Numbers 29:21 nkjv

and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, by their number, according to the ordinance;

Numbers 29:21 niv

With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified.

Numbers 29:21 esv

with the grain offering and the drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, in the prescribed quantities;

Numbers 29:21 nlt

Each of these offerings of bulls, rams, and lambs must be accompanied by its prescribed grain offering and liquid offering.

Numbers 29 verses

Numbers 29 21 Meaning

Numbers 29:21 specifies the accompanying offerings for the fifth day of the Feast of Booths, mandating that the prescribed grain offerings and drink offerings are to be presented in precise measure for the three bulls, two rams, and fourteen lambs designated for that day's sacrifices. This verse underscores the meticulous nature and divine authority of Israelite worship requirements, emphasizing adherence to God's exact stipulations.

Numbers 29 21 Context

Numbers 29 is part of the extensive priestly instructions given by God through Moses, outlining the specific sacrifices required for the major annual festivals. Following the regulations for the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement, the chapter devotes significant attention to the Feast of Booths (Sukkot), observed from the 15th to the 21st day of the seventh month. This feast was a harvest festival of thanksgiving and a remembrance of Israel's journey through the wilderness living in temporary dwellings. Verses 13-38 detail the elaborate sacrificial schedule for Sukkot, notable for a decreasing number of bulls offered each successive day, from thirteen on the first day to seven on the seventh day, always accompanied by two rams and fourteen lambs, plus their specific grain and drink offerings. Verse 21 fits directly into this daily pattern, detailing the requirements for the fifth day's offerings. It reinforces the theme of exact adherence to divine ritual and God's holy requirements for worship.

Numbers 29 21 Word analysis

• and their grain offering (וּמִנְחָתָם - u-minḥātām):

  • Word: Minchah (מִנְחָה).
  • Meaning: "Gift," "tribute," "offering." In a sacrificial context, often specifically a grain or meal offering (flour, oil, frankincense).
  • Significance: A non-bloody offering, an essential complement to burnt offerings. It symbolized the dedication of sustenance and the fruits of the land to God, acknowledging Him as the provider. It also represented human labor and thankfulness. Its combination with animal sacrifices underscored a holistic giving to God – life (animal), produce (grain), and spirit (drink).

• and their drink offerings (וְנִסְכֵּיהֶם - wənisḵêhem):

  • Word: Nesekh (נֶסֶךְ).
  • Meaning: "Libation," "pouring out." Typically wine poured out at the altar.
  • Significance: An act of worship where liquid, often wine, was poured out, signifying dedication and devotion to God. It expressed joyful worship and gratitude. In the Bible, it's never presented as an atoning sacrifice, but rather as an accessory, a pleasant aroma to God, further symbolizing complete offering and outpouring of oneself.

• for the bulls (לַפָּרִים - la-ppārîm):

  • Word: Par (פַּר).
  • Meaning: "Young bull" or "bullock."
  • Significance: These were significant and costly offerings, indicative of the seriousness and magnitude of the sin they atoned for or the scale of the festival's celebration. The decreasing number of bulls over Sukkot days is a unique feature of this festival's ritual. On the fifth day, there were nine bulls (referring to the main offering specified in Num 29:20), indicating a continuing high level of offering, yet part of a tapering pattern.

• for the rams (לָאֵילִים - lāʾêlîm):

  • Word: Ayil (אֵיל).
  • Meaning: "Ram," "male sheep."
  • Significance: Two rams were consistently offered daily throughout Sukkot. Rams were also substantial offerings, though less costly than bulls, and had specific significance in various purification and consecration rites. Their consistent number highlights their integral, non-varying role.

• and for the lambs (וְלַכְּבָשִׂים - wəlakəbāśîm):

  • Word: Kebeś (כֶּבֶשׂ).
  • Meaning: "Male lamb," typically one year old.
  • Significance: Fourteen lambs were consistently offered daily. Lambs were the most frequent burnt offering, often symbolizing purity and humble dedication. Their regular inclusion underscores the basic and pervasive nature of sacrificial worship.

• according to their number (בְּמִסְפָּרָם - bəmisparām):

  • Word: Mispar (מִסְפָּר).
  • Meaning: "Number," "reckoning," "count."
  • Significance: This phrase emphasizes the precision required. The exact quantities of grain and drink offerings were divinely prescribed and proportional to the animals they accompanied, demonstrating God's meticulousness and His demand for absolute obedience in worship, leaving no room for human improvisation or arbitrariness. This precision underscored the holiness of the cult.

• according to the ordinance (כַּמִּשְׁפָּט - kammišpāṭ):

  • Word: Mishpat (מִשְׁפָּט).
  • Meaning: "Judgment," "justice," "ordinance," "rule," "custom."
  • Significance: Points to the established, divinely-given legal framework for worship. These were not arbitrary or ad-hoc offerings, but rooted in God's eternal laws. This implies adherence to proper procedure, indicating a system that reflected God's order and justice, distinguishing it sharply from arbitrary pagan cult practices which often involved spontaneous or self-devised rites.

Words-group analysis:

• "their grain offering and their drink offerings": This pairing of minchah and nesekh consistently accompanied most burnt offerings. It signified a comprehensive act of worship—not just the giving of animal life but also the fruits of the ground and human effort, symbolizing total dependence on and devotion to God. This dual nature ensures that the worship covers both the substitutionary aspect (animal) and the dedicatory aspect (grain/drink). It also prevented offerings from being purely blood-oriented, fostering a sense of wholesome worship encompassing various blessings from God.

• "for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs": This phrase ties the specific complementary offerings directly to the particular animal sacrifices on this day. It highlights a precise quantitative relationship, where each animal had a predefined proportion of grain and drink associated with it, ensuring completeness and specificity in the divine instructions. This prevents general, undifferentiated offerings, emphasizing individual components contributing to a unified act of worship.

• "according to their number, according to the ordinance": This double emphasis on precision (number) and divine authority (ordinance) underscores the fundamental principle of obedience in Old Covenant worship. It conveys that worship was not a matter of human preference or creativity but strict adherence to God's revealed will. This stands in contrast to common polytheistic worship where worshippers might innovate or modify their rites, attempting to appease deities through human-devised means. For Israel, every detail of their worship was divinely ordered, ensuring purity and acceptability before a holy God.

Numbers 29 21 Bonus section

The pattern of decreasing bull sacrifices throughout Sukkot, as exemplified in the daily schedule culminating in Numbers 29:21 and beyond, is unique. While rams and lambs maintain a consistent number (two rams, fourteen lambs daily), the bulls start at thirteen on day one and decline to seven by day seven. Various interpretations for this unique pattern have been proposed by scholars, including:

1. Symbolic of National Atonement: Some view the cumulative total of 70 bulls offered over the seven days as representative of the 70 nations of the world (based on Gen 10), implying a universal scope of atonement or Israel's priestly role for all humanity.
2. Highlighting the Ultimate Day: The decreasing number could build anticipation for the eighth day (Num 29:35-38), a distinct convocation with only one bull, one ram, and seven lambs, symbolizing a focused and unique culminating act of worship or reflection after the seven-day period of universal concern.
3. Emphasizing Completion or Perfection: The pattern, particularly with the numbers of animals associated with sevens (seven bulls on the last day, seven days, total of 14 lambs per day) and the eventual number of 70 bulls, draws heavily on biblical numerical symbolism associated with divine completeness and perfection.
4. Practical Logistics: Some suggest it could have simply been a practical arrangement to manage such a massive festival requiring extensive offerings and manpower.

Ultimately, these intricate sacrificial laws served not just as rituals but as tangible expressions of Israel's covenant relationship with Yahweh, constantly reminding them of their sinfulness, God's holiness, His provision for atonement, and the absolute necessity of living precisely according to His revealed will. While the New Testament reveals Christ as the fulfillment of these sacrifices, these Old Testament patterns deeply embed the principles of dedication, obedience, and the comprehensive nature of true worship.

Numbers 29 21 Commentary

Numbers 29:21 succinctly reiterates a foundational principle of Old Covenant worship: precision and obedience to God's explicit commands. On the fifth day of Sukkot, specific animal sacrifices were accompanied by their divinely ordained grain and drink offerings. This instruction highlights not only the meticulous nature of the Law but also the comprehensive quality of Israelite devotion. The minchah (grain offering) represented human labor, sustenance, and the fruit of the land, while the nesekh (drink offering) symbolized devotion and an outpouring of joy. Together, with the animal sacrifices (bulls, rams, lambs), they constituted a complete act of worship, offering life, livelihood, and heartfelt dedication. The repetition of "according to their number, according to the ordinance" is a potent reminder that acceptability in worship hinged not on the size or outward display, but on strict adherence to God's precise stipulations. This pattern, consistently repeated through the Feast of Booths, impressed upon the people that divine worship was not subject to human innovation or discretion but rooted entirely in God's holy, immutable decrees, reflecting His perfect order and His demand for unqualified submission.

• Example 1: In daily life, just as a builder follows blueprints precisely, so too does God expect us to follow His "blueprint" for worship and life, not cutting corners or adding our own "innovations."
• Example 2: This echoes the New Testament principle that genuine faith involves not only belief but also obedient living, where "faith without works is dead" (Jas 2:26), implying that proper actions flow from proper beliefs, guided by God's Word.