Numbers 29 31

Numbers 29:31 kjv

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

Numbers 29:31 nkjv

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

Numbers 29:31 niv

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

Numbers 29:31 esv

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

Numbers 29:31 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 31 Meaning

Numbers 29:31 describes the specific accompanying grain and drink offerings that were to be made for the final set of sacrifices on the eighth and concluding day of the Feast of Booths (Sukkot). It underscores the meticulous and precise nature of Israelite worship, where every offering, down to its complements, was strictly dictated by God's commandments. This verse ensures the complete fulfillment of the liturgical requirements for this solemn assembly, indicating the proper proportion of offerings for the bull, the ram, and the seven lambs offered on that day.

Numbers 29 31 Context

Numbers chapter 29 outlines the specific daily sacrifices required for Israel during various solemn feasts throughout the year. It begins with the New Moon, then moves to the Day of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and extensively details the Feast of Booths (Sukkot). The Feast of Booths is unique for its seven-day duration, followed by an eighth day, often called the "Solemn Assembly."

Verses 12-38 of Numbers 29 detail the sacrifices for Sukkot, notable for the diminishing number of bulls offered each day from thirteen on the first day to seven on the seventh day. Verse 30 specifically lists the main animal offerings for this eighth day: one bull, one ram, and seven male lambs, all without blemish. Numbers 29:31, then, immediately follows, specifying the accompanying grain and drink offerings required for these particular animals on that climactic final day. The entire chapter emphasizes God's precise and demanding standards for worship, ensuring every part of the offering process is according to His command, thereby reflecting His holiness and the serious nature of approaching Him. Historically, these elaborate sacrifices would have been performed at the tabernacle and later the Temple, representing a national act of worship, dependence, and atonement before God, deeply ingrained in Israel's liturgical calendar.

Numbers 29 31 Word analysis

• with their grain offering: (וּמִנְחָתָן - ūminḥātān)
  • וּ (u-): Hebrew conjunctive "and," connecting this verse to the preceding sacrificial requirements.
  • מִנְחָה (minḥah): This term literally means "gift" or "tribute," but in the context of offerings, it refers specifically to a "grain offering" or "meal offering." It was typically made of fine flour, often mixed with oil and frankincense (Lev 2). Unlike burnt offerings which fully atoned for general sin (voluntary or involuntary), the minchah was generally an offering of dedication, thanksgiving, remembrance, or worship, acknowledging God's provision and sustaining power. It was often presented with burnt offerings and peace offerings. Its absence of blood contrasted with blood sacrifices, emphasizing its different symbolic function—a non-atoning gift.
• and their drink offerings: (וְנִסְכֵּיהֶם - vənisəkhêhem)
  • וְ (və-): Hebrew conjunctive "and," linking this type of offering.
  • נֶסֶךְ (nesech): This word means "drink offering" or "libation." It typically consisted of wine (Ex 29:40) or strong drink, poured out at the altar (Num 15:5). The pouring out symbolized pouring out one's life, devotion, and gratitude before the Lord. It completed the full offering ritual alongside grain and animal sacrifices. In other cultures, similar libations were made to deities; here, it is consecrated solely to YHWH, rejecting syncretism.
• for the bull, for the ram, and for the lambs,: (לַפָּר לָאַיִל וְלַכְּבָשִׂים - lapār lā’ayil vəlakkevaśîm)
  • לַפָּר (lapār): "for the bull."
  • לָאַיִל (la’ayil): "for the ram."
  • וְלַכְּבָשִׂים (vəlakkevaśîm): "and for the lambs."
  • These are the specific animals mentioned in the preceding verse (Num 29:30) for the eighth day of the feast. This clarifies that the accompanying offerings were precisely proportioned for each type and number of animal sacrifice required. The choice of these animals reflects standard biblical sacrificial categories and the progressively reduced animal count on each subsequent day of the feast.
• in proportion to their number,: (בְּמִסְפָּרָם - bəmispārām)
  • בְּ (bə-): "in," "according to."
  • מִסְפָּר (misəpār): "number," "counting," "quantity."
  • This phrase emphasizes precise calibration. It means the grain and drink offerings were not a single, fixed amount, but varied according to the specific count of bulls, rams, and lambs. Each animal type had a specified associated grain and drink offering (e.g., Num 15:4-5 specifies 3/10 ephah flour and 1/2 hin wine for a bull, 2/10 ephah flour and 1/3 hin wine for a ram, and 1/10 ephah flour and 1/4 hin wine for a lamb). This shows God's demand for meticulous exactness in worship.
• according to the prescribed rule: (כַּמִּשְׁפָּט - kammishpāṭ)
  • כַּ (ka-): "according to," "as."
  • מִשְׁפָּט (mishpāṭ): "judgment," "ordinance," "rule," "manner," "custom."
  • This is a summary phrase reinforcing the binding nature of the commandments. It means "as it is decreed" or "as the law requires." This confirms that these detailed specifications were not arbitrary but were fixed divine decrees that were to be strictly adhered to, showing the Israelites the unchanging and holy nature of their God and His requirements for approaching Him. It dismisses human improvisation in divine worship.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• with their grain offering and their drink offerings: This highlights the inseparable nature of these "complementary" offerings to the main animal sacrifices. The grain and drink offerings were not stand-alone atonements but essential additions, making the overall act of worship complete and acceptable to God. They underscore a holistic giving of material wealth and devotion.
• for the bull, for the ram, and for the lambs: This repetition reinforces the specific targets of the accompanying offerings, emphasizing that each component of the offering ritual was tied to a defined sacrifice. It removes any ambiguity about what these complementary offerings were for on this specific day.
• in proportion to their number, according to the prescribed rule: This twin phrase forms the legal backbone of the verse. "In proportion to their number" speaks to the precise quantity, while "according to the prescribed rule" speaks to the binding authority and manner of these divine ordinances. Together, they leave no room for deviation, signifying that worship was a matter of strict obedience and not human discretion. This meticulousness served to instruct Israel about God's order, purity, and the gravity of drawing near to Him. It set them apart from the ad-hoc and often immoral worship practices of surrounding pagan nations, reinforcing the uniqueness and holiness of YHWH.

Numbers 29 31 Bonus section

The Feast of Booths (Sukkot) and its concluding eighth day, as depicted in Numbers 29, signify not just gratitude for harvest but also Israel's dependence on God during their wilderness wandering. Living in temporary shelters (booths) for a week served as a tangible reminder of their transient journey and God's sustained provision (Lev 23:42-43). The progressively decreasing number of bulls offered daily throughout Sukkot is a unique feature not found in other feasts. While some scholars suggest it represents a diminishing "burden" or an ascent to a culminating single offering on the eighth day, others view it as a symbolic representation of the nations, perhaps seventy bulls for the seventy nations listed in Gen 10 (rabbinic tradition links Sukkot offerings to prayer for the nations), progressively diminishing as a move towards singular focus on Israel's unique relationship with God. The eighth day, therefore, with its singular bull, represents a focus on Israel's distinct calling and an intense, personal connection to God following the broader universal emphasis of the main Sukkot days. This eighth day, sometimes seen as distinct from the "seven days of Sukkot" itself, marks a solemn closing and a preparation for the next stage, much like circumcision on the eighth day for a new born signifies the commencement of their covenant identity.

Numbers 29 31 Commentary

Numbers 29:31 functions as a crucial addendum to the animal sacrifices prescribed for the final day of the Feast of Booths, ensuring that the grain and drink offerings—essential accompaniments to all major animal sacrifices—are also presented with perfect adherence to the divine standard. The verse underscores God's absolute demand for order, completeness, and meticulous obedience in worship. Every element, from the large burnt offerings to the precise proportions of flour and wine, had a place in His divinely ordained liturgy.

This seemingly minor detail about accompanying offerings highlights a significant theological truth: God delights in precision and completeness in our devotion. He had not merely established the major components of worship, but had also stipulated the specific quantities and types for every supporting element. This prevented arbitrary worship, teaching Israel that worship was not based on human feeling or preference but on divine instruction. The "prescribed rule" (mishpat) indicates these are established judgments or ordinances from God Himself, demonstrating His sovereignty over all aspects of their lives, especially their approach to Him.

Furthermore, this detailed command, while ritualistic for the Old Covenant, subtly foreshadows New Testament principles. The emphasis on offering "without blemish" and in "proportion" hints at the perfection and completeness required in the ultimate sacrifice of Christ (Heb 9:14), who perfectly fulfilled the Law's demands. Though physical sacrifices ceased with Christ's death, the spirit of "proportionality" and "prescribed rule" translates into worshiping God "in spirit and truth" (Jn 4:24), giving Him our best, living according to His commands (Rom 12:1-2), and offering up spiritual sacrifices of praise and good deeds (Heb 13:15-16), always recognizing His absolute authority and holiness. The eighth day also holds significance; it is a day of culmination and a new beginning, sometimes associated with covenant renewal and eternal hope.