Numbers 29 22

Numbers 29:22 kjv

And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, and his drink offering.

Numbers 29:22 nkjv

also one goat as a sin offering, besides the regular burnt offering, its grain offering, and its drink offering.

Numbers 29:22 niv

Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

Numbers 29:22 esv

also one male goat for a sin offering, besides the regular burnt offering and its grain offering and its drink offering.

Numbers 29:22 nlt

You must also sacrifice a male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its accompanying grain offering and liquid offering.

Numbers 29 verses

Numbers 29 22 Meaning

Numbers 29:22 specifies the additional animal sacrifices required on the sixth day of the Feast of Booths (Sukkot). It dictates the offering of one male goat to be a sin offering for atonement, and two yearling male lambs to be a peace or fellowship offering, signifying communion and reconciliation with God.

Numbers 29 22 Context

Numbers 29 is situated within the book of Numbers, detailing the elaborate census, wilderness journey, and preparations for entering the Promised Land. This chapter specifically focuses on the offerings for the seven annual festivals of Israel: Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and, predominantly, the Feast of Booths (Sukkot). Numbers 29:12-38 outlines the precise daily sacrifices for the Feast of Booths. The immediate context of verse 22 is the sixth day of Sukkot, following the specific burnt offerings mentioned for that day (v. 20-21). This period of intensified, precise offerings highlights the Israelites' continued reliance on God's provision and their need for ongoing atonement and communion as they anticipated dwelling in the land God had promised. Historically, the elaborate system of sacrifices established order and distinguished Israel's worship from the often chaotic and immoral rituals of surrounding pagan nations, reinforcing divine holiness and the pathway to covenant relationship.

Numbers 29 22 Word analysis

• and / וְ (ve-)
  • Meaning: A simple conjunction meaning "and" or "also."
  • Significance: Connects this specific set of offerings (sin and peace) directly to the previously mentioned burnt offerings for the sixth day (v. 20-21). It signals an additive and integral part of the daily required ritual, not a standalone offering.
• one male goat / שְׂעִיר עִזִּים אֶחָד (se'ir 'izzim echad)
  • Meaning: Se'ir 'izzim literally means "hairy one of goats" or "male goat," and echad means "one."
  • Significance: This specific animal, a male goat, was routinely designated for sin offerings (chatta't), especially for communal or specific purposes within the tabernacle cult. The singularity of "one" reinforces its specific purpose.
• for a sin offering / לְחַטָּאת (le-chatta't)
  • Meaning: Le- means "for," and chatta't means "sin offering."
  • Significance: The chatta't served to atone for unintentional sins, purifications, or specific ceremonial defilements, restoring the offerer's state of cleanness and ability to approach God. It was essential for cleansing before maintaining or establishing full fellowship. This particular offering would atone for sins that might have occurred on that specific day of the feast.
• and / וְ (ve-)
  • Meaning: "and," again connecting elements.
  • Significance: Connects the sin offering to the peace offering, demonstrating that both types of sacrifices were required on this day, serving distinct but complementary spiritual purposes. Sin must be addressed before perfect fellowship can be celebrated.
• two male lambs / וּשְׁנֵי כְבָשִׂים (u-shnei kevasim)
  • Meaning: u-shnei means "and two," and kevasim refers to male lambs, generally yearlings or young rams.
  • Significance: "Two" indicates the specific quantity for this particular offering on the sixth day. Lambs are frequently offered as prime sacrifices due to their commonality and symbolic innocence.
• a year old / בְּנֵי שָׁנָה (bnei shanah)
  • Meaning: Literally "sons of a year," meaning in their first year of life.
  • Significance: This specification ensured the animal was young, in its prime, unworked, and typically unblemished. Such pristine condition was essential for an acceptable sacrifice to a holy God, symbolizing the dedication of the very best to Him (Mal 1:8). This emphasized the high value placed on the offerings presented.
• for a peace offering / לְזֶבַח שְׁלָמִים (le-zevach shlamim)
  • Meaning: Le-zevach means "for a sacrifice," and shlamim is "peace offerings," also often translated "fellowship offering" or "fellowship sacrifices." The root shalem implies wholeness, completion, or peace.
  • Significance: The shelem offering was distinct as parts were given to God, to the priest, and importantly, shared by the offerer with his family and guests. It was a communal meal symbolizing reconciliation, thanksgiving, fulfillment of vows, or a spontaneous expression of devotion and peaceful communion with God. It followed the sin offering, establishing the re-enablement of harmonious relationship after sin was atoned for.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "one male goat for a sin offering": This grouping clearly defines the nature and purpose of this specific animal. It highlights the foundational need for purification and expiation before an individual or the community could genuinely engage in joyful worship and fellowship. The focus on "one" indicates a singular, distinct requirement for communal atonement.
• "two male lambs a year old for a peace offering": This phrase combines the specific number and type of animal with its explicit purpose. The use of "two" lambs (rather than a single one) for the peace offering could subtly emphasize abundance, mutual fellowship, or completeness in communion. The emphasis on "a year old" signifies offering something of premium value, suitable for joyous feasting with the Almighty, highlighting that peace and fellowship with God are achieved through costly, unblemished sacrifice.

Numbers 29 22 Bonus section

• Diminishing Bull Offerings: While verse 22 refers to goats and lambs, it is embedded within the unique context of the Sukkot offerings (Num 29:12-38) where the number of bull sacrifices diminishes daily (from 13 on Day 1 to 7 on Day 7). This progressive reduction is distinct from other feast offerings and has prompted varied interpretations among scholars. Some suggest it signifies the cumulative nature of the offerings over the feast or an intensification of devotion; others propose it might symbolize a diminishing need for extensive atonement as the feast progresses, culminating in full communion with God, foreshadowing the comprehensive nature of Christ's singular sacrifice that removes the daily necessity for multiple sin offerings.
• Contrast with Pagan Practices: The meticulous and specific requirements for each sacrifice—the exact type, age, and condition of the animal (like "a year old" and without "blemish"), along with the prescribed order and purpose (sin before peace)—stood in stark contrast to the often haphazard, arbitrary, or morally perverse sacrifices offered in contemporary pagan cults. Israel's system was rooted in God's holy character and His established way for humanity to approach Him, emphasizing purity, order, and atonement for reconciliation rather than appeasement of fickle deities.
• Joy and Dependence: The Feast of Booths itself was a joyous harvest festival, remembering God's provision and presence during Israel's wilderness wanderings. The elaborate sacrificial schedule, including the sin and peace offerings in verse 22, indicates that even in times of celebration and abundance, Israel's peace and joy were predicated upon a right relationship with a holy God, continuously maintained through ordained sacrifice and confession. It underscores dependence on God not only for physical provision but spiritual sustenance and communion.

Numbers 29 22 Commentary

Numbers 29:22 is a precise command within the broader ritual economy of ancient Israel, detailing offerings for the sixth day of the Feast of Booths. This verse showcases the dual necessity of addressing sin and celebrating communion, even amidst the joyous backdrop of a harvest festival. The male goat for a sin offering (chatta't) reminds the Israelites that constant purification is required, signifying that unaddressed sin separates from God. The sin offering made it possible for God to "tabernacle" among a sinful people. Following this, the two yearling male lambs for a peace offering (shelem) enabled a deeper form of covenant engagement and joyous fellowship. The sequence (sin offering first, then peace offering) underscores a foundational theological principle: peace with God and open communion can only follow the propitiation for sin. While these Old Testament sacrifices were shadows, they profoundly foreshadowed the once-for-all, perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Through Him, believers are simultaneously cleansed from sin and brought into an enduring, peaceful communion with God (Heb 9:11-14; Rom 5:1). These ancient rituals illustrate spiritual truths of access to God that are fulfilled and simplified in the New Covenant through Christ's perfect atoning work.