Numbers 29 3

Numbers 29:3 kjv

And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals for a bullock, and two tenth deals for a ram,

Numbers 29:3 nkjv

Their grain offering shall be fine flour mixed with oil: three-tenths of an ephah for the bull, two-tenths for the ram,

Numbers 29:3 niv

With the bull offer a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with olive oil; with the ram, two-tenths;

Numbers 29:3 esv

also their grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil, three tenths of an ephah for the bull, two tenths for the ram,

Numbers 29:3 nlt

These must be accompanied by grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil ? six quarts with the bull, four quarts with the ram,

Numbers 29 verses

Numbers 29 3 Meaning

Numbers 29:3 prescribes the specific burnt offerings to be presented as a food offering to the LORD during the special celebrations of the seventh month, beginning with the Feast of Trumpets. It commands the Israelites to offer one young bull, one ram, and seven male lambs, each one year old and without any defect, symbolizing complete devotion, purity, and acceptance before God.

Numbers 29 3 Context

Numbers chapter 29 outlines the specific daily and additional sacrificial requirements for various annual feasts celebrated by Israel, with a particular focus on the significant observances in the seventh month of the Israelite calendar. The larger context of Numbers is the Israelites' journey through the wilderness and the detailed instructions God provides for their communal life, worship, and moral conduct, preparing them to be a holy nation. This chapter directly follows a detailed account of regular daily, weekly, and monthly offerings (Num 28).

Numbers 29:3 specifies part of the offering for the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah, Num 29:1-6), which falls on the first day of the seventh month (Tishrei). This day was a "memorial proclaimed with blast of trumpets" and a "holy convocation," a day of rest from ordinary labor. The prescribed sacrifices, including those detailed in verse 3, were in addition to the standing daily and monthly offerings. Historically, these detailed regulations ensured precise worship of Yahweh, emphasizing His holiness and distinguishing Israelite religious practices from the chaotic and often immoral rituals of surrounding pagan cultures, which might involve defective sacrifices or even human offerings. The intricate nature of these commands underscored the serious and specific nature of their covenant relationship with God.

Numbers 29 3 Word analysis

• You are to offer: This is a direct command from God, indicating a divine expectation and obligation for the people of Israel through their priesthood. It's not a suggestion but a covenantal requirement for proper worship.

• a food offering (’ishsheh): This Hebrew term broadly refers to "a fire offering" or "an offering made by fire." It encompasses any offering that was wholly or partially consumed on the altar by fire. It emphasizes that these offerings were prepared and presented to God through fire, signifying consumption by Him and a complete dedication.

• a burnt offering (‘olah): Derived from the root "to ascend" or "go up." This particular type of offering was entirely consumed by fire on the altar, with its smoke ascending to God. It symbolized total dedication, propitiation, and often general atonement for unintentional sin or failure to live up to God’s standard, rather than a specific known sin. It was an act of complete devotion and worship.

• of pleasing aroma (reiach nichoach): This phrase signifies divine acceptance and pleasure, indicating that the offering was ritually pure, properly presented, and offered with a right heart according to God's command. It is a metaphorical expression; God does not literally "smell" physical aroma but spiritually accepts the obedient and heartfelt offering. This acceptance is crucial for establishing fellowship between God and His people.

• to the LORD: (YHWH) This emphasizes that the sacrifice is solely directed towards the one true God, Yahweh, distinguishing Israelite worship from pagan rituals where sacrifices might be offered to various deities. It signifies a unique relationship and exclusive devotion.

• one bull: A bull was a large, valuable animal, often reserved for significant offerings, typically for leaders or the whole congregation. It represented strength and importance in sacrifice.

• one ram: Rams were also significant animals in the sacrificial system, often used in offerings related to consecration, guilt, or specific atonement. They symbolized a male offering of mature age.

• seven male lambs a year old: The number "seven" in biblical numerology often signifies completeness, perfection, or divine order. Seven lambs indicate a full and sufficient offering, demonstrating a comprehensive devotion. "Male lambs a year old" specifies animals in their prime youth, vigorous and innocent, considered optimal for sacrifice due to their unblemished state and vitality.

• without blemish (tamim): This crucial term means "whole," "perfect," "sound," or "blameless." The animal had to be free from any physical defect, sickness, or injury. This requirement symbolized the holiness and perfection required of anything brought into God's presence, signifying ritual purity. It implicitly taught that only the best and purest was fit for the holy God, setting Israel apart from pagan practices that sometimes permitted inferior or even blemished offerings. It also foreshadows the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ (Heb 9:14; 1 Pet 1:19).

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "a food offering, a burnt offering of pleasing aroma to the LORD": This phrase combines the general category of "fire offering" with the specific "burnt offering" and attributes its nature as "pleasing aroma" to the sole recipient, the "LORD." It powerfully conveys that these sacrifices are not mere ritual acts but divinely ordained means of worshipping God that result in His gracious acceptance when done according to His commands.
  • "one bull, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old without blemish": This detailed enumeration is not arbitrary. It dictates the precise composition of the burnt offering for the Feast of Trumpets, reflecting divine exactitude and order in worship. The inclusion of specific types of animals (bull, ram, lamb) and numbers (one, one, seven) speaks to their respective symbolic roles and the overall magnitude and completeness of the offering. The repeated requirement of "without blemish" underscores the essential quality of perfection for all sacrifices, a deep theological truth that would ultimately find its ultimate fulfillment in Christ.

Numbers 29 3 Bonus section

• The seventh month was exceptionally significant in the Israelite liturgical calendar, hosting the Feast of Trumpets (Num 29:1-6), the Day of Atonement (Num 29:7-11), and the Feast of Booths (Tabernacles) (Num 29:12-38). The increased and varied sacrificial load across these festivals underscored their crucial role in national remembrance, repentance, and communion with God.
• The progression of animal numbers for burnt offerings throughout Numbers 29 for the Feast of Tabernacles (decreasing from thirteen bulls on day one to seven on day seven) is unique. This gradual reduction, while maintaining consistent ram and lamb offerings, may symbolize the outpouring of God's blessings and sufficiency, or perhaps the gradual ascent of prayer and worship over the days of the feast.
• The requirement of "without blemish" served as a constant reminder of the infinite holiness of God and the need for purity in approaching Him. It was a visible pedagogical tool, deeply imprinting on the people the profound reverence due to Yahweh and the perfection of His own character. This physical perfection prefigured the moral and spiritual perfection of the Messiah.

Numbers 29 3 Commentary

Numbers 29:3 precisely details the special burnt offering required for the first day of the seventh month, the Feast of Trumpets, as an addition to the daily sacrifices. The meticulous specification of the animals (one bull, one ram, seven male lambs, all one year old and unblemished) highlights God’s demand for order, purity, and comprehensive devotion in worship. The "burnt offering" (olah) symbolized a worshipper's complete surrender and commitment, as the entire animal was consumed by fire, ascending as smoke to God. The phrase "pleasing aroma" signifies God's gracious acceptance and delight in the obedient and pure offering, rather than a literal sensory experience. This meticulous instruction taught Israel that only the best and perfect was fit for the Holy One of Israel. These animal sacrifices, though potent symbols of atonement and worship, were imperfect and temporary, pointing forward to the ultimate, once-for-all, perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who offered Himself "without blemish" and as a "fragrant offering" (Heb 9:14, Eph 5:2) to bring about eternal redemption and reconciliation for all who believe. This verse, therefore, underlines both the strictness of God's requirements for worship and the grace implied in His acceptance of offerings, setting the stage for the New Covenant’s spiritual sacrifices of devoted lives.