Numbers 29:35 kjv
On the eighth day ye shall have a solemn assembly: ye shall do no servile work therein:
Numbers 29:35 nkjv
'On the eighth day you shall have a sacred assembly. You shall do no customary work.
Numbers 29:35 niv
"?'On the eighth day hold a closing special assembly and do no regular work.
Numbers 29:35 esv
"On the eighth day you shall have a solemn assembly. You shall not do any ordinary work,
Numbers 29:35 nlt
"On the eighth day of the festival, proclaim another holy day. You must do no ordinary work on that day.
Numbers 29 35 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 23:36 | “On the eighth day you shall have a sacred assembly..." | Outlines Shemini Atzeret's distinct sacred assembly. |
| Ex 12:16 | "On the first day you shall hold a sacred assembly, and on the seventh day a sacred assembly; no work shall be done on them..." | Establishes the principle of "sacred assembly" with no work for holy days. |
| Lev 23:7 | "...on the first day you shall have a sacred assembly; you shall not do any ordinary work." | Reiterates the Sabbath-like rest for feast days. |
| Num 29:12 | "On the fifteenth day of the seventh month... you shall hold a feast to the Lord for seven days." | Context of the preceding Feast of Booths (Sukkot). |
| Lev 23:33-34 | "On the fifteenth day... the Feast of Booths for seven days." | Broader context for the Feast of Booths. |
| Lev 23:39 | "On the eighth day you shall celebrate a sacred assembly to the Lord." | Reinforces the sacred nature of the eighth day. |
| Deut 16:15 | "Seven days you shall keep a solemn feast to the Lord your God..." | The commanded duration of Sukkot and implied importance of the end. |
| Heb 4:9 | "So then, there remains a Sabbath-rest for the people of God..." | Theological connection to spiritual rest and ultimate fulfillment. |
| Col 2:16-17 | "Therefore let no one pass judgment on you... with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come..." | Christ as the fulfillment of the Old Covenant feasts. |
| John 7:37 | "On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out..." | Jesus' discourse during Sukkot, implicitly leading to the eighth day. |
| Rev 7:9 | "After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude... standing before the throne..." | Eschatological ingathering, echoing the assembly theme. |
| Zech 14:16-19 | "Then everyone who survives of all the nations... shall go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Booths." | Prophetic future worship and ingathering linked to Sukkot's completion. |
| Lev 12:3 | "On the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised." | Significance of the eighth day as a mark of new beginning/covenant. |
| Gen 17:12 | "He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised..." | Establishing the "eighth day" for covenant entrance. |
| 1 Pet 3:20-21 | "...in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism... now saves you..." | Theological link to salvation and new creation on an 'eighth day' principle (resurrection on the first day of the week, new creation day). |
| Ezek 43:27 | "And when these days are over, then from the eighth day onward the priests shall offer on the altar..." | Purity and completion leading to sacred service. |
| Isa 66:23 | "From new moon to new moon, and from Sabbath to Sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship before me..." | Future universal worship, reflecting perpetual holy assemblies. |
| Phil 2:12-13 | "Therefore, my beloved... work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you..." | Spiritual "work" contrasting with forbidden customary labor. |
| Ex 34:21 | "Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest..." | Underlying principle of Sabbath rest influencing feast days. |
| Num 28:18 | "On the first day you shall have a sacred assembly..." | Further examples of specific sacred assemblies for festivals. |
| Isa 58:13-14 | "If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath... call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the Lord honorable..." | Importance of honoring holy days as times of delight and non-work. |
Numbers 29 verses
Numbers 29 35 Meaning
Numbers 29:35 mandates a special, holy gathering on the eighth day following the seven days of the Feast of Booths. This day, known as Shemini Atzeret (Eighth Day of Assembly), is designated as a sacred assembly where no customary work is permitted. It signifies a distinct culmination of the pilgrimage festivals, emphasizing a time solely for divine communion and rest.
Numbers 29 35 Context
Numbers chapter 29 details the elaborate and precise sacrificial offerings required for the major feasts during the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. These include the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah), the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), and the seven-day Feast of Booths (Sukkot). Numbers 29:35 specifically addresses the instruction for the eighth day following Sukkot.
This eighth day, known as Shemini Atzeret, is not an extension of Sukkot but a distinct, separate sacred occasion. While Sukkot involved temporary dwellings and rejoicing for the harvest and God's provision in the wilderness, Shemini Atzeret marks a final, unique assembly. The emphasis shifts from an agrarian pilgrimage festival to a day of direct, intimate communion with the Lord, as if God invites His people to linger a little longer after the week-long celebration. The prohibition of "customary work" aligns this day with the sanctity of the Sabbath, setting it apart completely for worship and rest in God's presence, rather than mundane labor. It served as a climactic close to the annual festival cycle, prompting reflection and rededication.
Numbers 29 35 Word analysis
- On the eighth day (Hebrew:
ba-yom ha-shemini):yom(יום): Day.shemini(שמיני): Eighth. The number eight often signifies new beginnings, completion beyond perfection (seven), and ultimate salvation in biblical thought. It can represent the "new" era or a superabundant fulfillment.
- you shall have (Hebrew:
yihyeh lakhem):- Literally, "it shall be for you." This denotes a divine imperative and a provision, highlighting that this assembly is commanded and given for the people's benefit and interaction with God.
- a sacred assembly (Hebrew:
mikra qodesh):mikra(מקרא): Lit. "a calling," "a convocation," "an assembly." It implies that the people are "called out" from their ordinary activities for a divine appointment. It can also suggest a "proclamation" or "rehearsal" of God's redemptive plan.qodesh(קודש): Holy, set apart, consecrated. It signifies that the assembly is distinct, belonging exclusively to God, and dedicated to spiritual purposes.
- you shall do (Hebrew:
lo ta'asu):lo(לא): A strong negation, "not," "no."ta'asu(תעשו): "You shall do/make/perform." A direct prohibition.
- no customary work (Hebrew:
kol melekhet avoda):kol(כל): All, every. Emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the prohibition.melekhet(מלאכת): Work, occupation, skilled labor, craft. Often refers to the activity by which one earns a living.avoda(עבודה): Service, labor, bondage. It frequently denotes arduous or servile work. When paired withmelekhet, it emphasizes work performed for an income or to sustain livelihood, distinguishing it from acts of necessity or holy service (e.g., Temple duties). Thus, "no customary (secular, gainful, laborious) work" implies a complete cessation of typical daily economic pursuits.
Words-group analysis:
- "On the eighth day you shall have a sacred assembly": This phrase underlines the precise timing and absolute necessity of this divinely appointed gathering. It stresses the unique character of this final day of the festival cycle, differentiating it from the preceding days of Sukkot by its explicit designation as a dedicated, solemn "calling." The "eighth day" adds a layer of significance, hinting at ultimate completion or a fresh start in the spiritual journey.
- "you shall do no customary work": This prohibition underscores the sanctity and exclusiveness of the day for divine matters. It parallels the Sabbath command, liberating the people from their daily toils so they could fully consecrate themselves to the Lord's presence, reflecting reliance on His provision and honoring His call to rest. It reorients their focus from temporal pursuits to eternal relationship with God.
Numbers 29 35 Bonus section
- Distinction from Sukkot: Rabbinic tradition often describes Shemini Atzeret as God requesting Israel to "stay one more day" after Sukkot, for an even more personal and intimate time together. It signifies a "private farewell" after the public festive pilgrimage.
- Decrease in Sacrifices: Notably, the elaborate daily sacrifices that characterized the seven days of Sukkot (beginning with 13 bullocks and decreasing) dramatically drop on Shemini Atzeret to just one bull, one ram, and seven lambs (Num 29:36). This reduction emphasizes a shift from national, elaborate atonement rituals to a simpler, direct, and more intimate communion, pointing to a profound focus on God's inherent presence rather than just grand ritual.
- Eschatological Echo: The concept of the eighth day and its associated rest and re-gathering of Israel also holds strong eschatological significance, looking forward to the culmination of God's redemptive plan when all believers will enter into eternal rest and intimate fellowship with Him.
Numbers 29 35 Commentary
Numbers 29:35 institutes Shemini Atzeret, a climactic conclusion to the annual feast cycle. More than simply an extension of Sukkot, this "eighth day" represents a unique, intimate sacred assembly, set apart for the exclusive worship of God. The instruction to cease all customary work parallels the Sabbath law, underscoring the profound holiness of the day. This commanded rest ensured Israel's full devotion and attention to the divine presence, freeing them from the anxieties and distractions of daily labor. The "eighth day" holds rich theological meaning, symbolizing not only completion and culmination of the feasting but also points towards new beginnings and an enduring covenant relationship with God. In the broader sweep of redemptive history, such sacred days foreshadow the ultimate spiritual rest and complete fellowship believers find in Jesus Christ, who fulfills the shadowed meanings of all the feasts, bringing true and eternal Sabbath-rest.