Numbers 29 36

Numbers 29:36 kjv

But ye shall offer a burnt offering, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savor unto the LORD: one bullock, one ram, seven lambs of the first year without blemish:

Numbers 29:36 nkjv

You shall present a burnt offering, an offering made by fire as a sweet aroma to the LORD: one bull, one ram, seven lambs in their first year without blemish,

Numbers 29:36 niv

Present as an aroma pleasing to the LORD a food offering consisting of a burnt offering of one bull, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect.

Numbers 29:36 esv

but you shall offer a burnt offering, a food offering, with a pleasing aroma to the LORD: one bull, one ram, seven male lambs a year old without blemish,

Numbers 29:36 nlt

You must present a burnt offering as a special gift, a pleasing aroma to the LORD. It will consist of one young bull, one ram, and seven one-year-old male lambs, all with no defects.

Numbers 29 verses

Numbers 29 36 Meaning

Numbers 29:36 specifies the precise burnt offerings and their accompanying cereal and drink offerings, along with a singular purification offering, to be presented to the Lord on the eighth day of the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot). This final day, known as Shemini Atzeret, signifies a unique solemn assembly distinct from the main week-long celebration. The offerings on this day are considerably fewer in number compared to the preceding days of the festival, yet their adherence to divine command emphasizes their crucial importance in Israel's worship and consecration before God.

Numbers 29 36 Context

Numbers 29:36 is found within the detailed instructions for the sacrificial system, specifically outlining the offerings for the various annual feasts. This verse concludes the section detailing the daily sacrifices for the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot), a major pilgrimage festival celebrated in the seventh month. Sukkot lasts seven days, followed by a distinct eighth day. This particular verse describes the precise animals and their associated offerings for this singular eighth day, known as Shemini Atzeret. Historically and culturally, the meticulous nature of these instructions underscores the Israelites' divinely ordained worship practices, ensuring precision, purity, and reverence in their approach to God. The decreasing number of bulls sacrificed over the course of Sukkot, culminating in a single bull on the eighth day, symbolically emphasizes a transition from the outward grandeur of the feast to a more focused, solemn reflection and intimate communion. The entire set of regulations provided in Numbers establishes the pattern for Israel's liturgical life, differentiating their worship from the chaotic, impure, and often capricious rites of surrounding pagan nations.

Numbers 29 36 Word analysis

• one bull: (Hebrew: par) - A large, strong, and valuable animal, commonly used for major communal burnt offerings or sin offerings. Its inclusion here, though only one, marks the solemnity of the eighth day.
• one ram: (Hebrew: ayil) - A male sheep, often symbolizing dedication and atonement, a significant burnt offering in its own right, signifying surrender to God.
• seven lambs a year old: (Hebrew: kevasim b'nei shanah) - Young, vigorous, and pure, often signifying innocence and consistent devotion. Seven represents completion, perfection, and the covenantal number of days in the creation week. The "year old" emphasizes their peak suitability for sacrifice.
• without blemish: (Hebrew: temimim) - Critical requirement for all sacrifices. It signifies physical perfection, wholeness, and purity. This represents the absolute perfection God demands and foreshadows the sinless perfection of Jesus Christ, the ultimate sacrifice.
• their grain offering: (Hebrew: minchah) - A cereal offering, typically of fine flour, oil, and frankincense, accompanying the burnt offerings. It signified devotion, thanksgiving, and acknowledgment of God's provision. It's often associated with the priest's livelihood too.
• and their drink offerings: (Hebrew: nesakhim) - Libations, usually of wine, poured out beside the altar. These offerings sealed the sacrifice, signifying commitment, joy, and the flowing out of life or blessing, representing fullness.
• for the bull, for the ram, and for the lambs: This repetition clarifies that each specified animal type receives its due accompanying offerings, adhering to established norms for such sacrifices. It underlines the precision of God's command.
• by their number according to the rule: (Hebrew: kamishpat) - Emphasizes strict adherence to God's exact divine stipulations for each offering. "According to the rule/judgment" denotes the specific, precise measurements and procedures already ordained in the Law, leaving no room for human alteration or interpretation in the sacred act. This underscores divine authority and Israel’s obedience.
• one male goat: (Hebrew: se'ir izzim) - A he-goat, distinct from other sacrificial animals and primarily used for purification (sin) offerings, often for corporate or high-ranking individual sin.
• for a sin offering: (Hebrew: chatta't) - A purification offering, not primarily for forgiveness but for cleansing ritual defilement or unintentional sins, restoring ceremonial purity to the offerer and sanctuary. This particular offering addresses the ongoing human need for purification even amidst festive worship.
• and its drink offering: While unusual for a chatta't offering itself, this phrase may either clarify the completeness of offerings required or imply that general libations were part of the day's overall presentation, ensuring all aspects of worship were met. More often, a minchah and nesek are associated with olah (burnt) offerings. In this specific context, it means the sin offering for this day also needed its associated drink offering.

Words-group Analysis

• "and one bull, one ram, seven lambs a year old without blemish": This detailed list presents the core burnt offerings. The specific types and ages emphasize quality, strength, purity, and suitability for sacred use, pointing to the excellence demanded in approaching a holy God.
• "and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bull, for the ram, and for the lambs": These phrase highlight the indispensable nature of accompanying offerings. Burnt offerings were never given alone but were always complemented by these expressions of sustenance, gratitude, and libation, creating a holistic act of worship and dedication.
• "by their number according to the rule": This crucial phrase reinforces the non-negotiable aspect of God's instructions. Every element, down to precise quantities, was to be performed exactly as commanded, emphasizing the importance of obedient worship over human initiative or deviation.
• "and one male goat for a sin offering, and its drink offering": This section points to the ongoing necessity of purification even during times of festive joy. It acknowledges humanity's pervasive imperfection and the continuous need for atonement and cleansing to maintain proper standing with a holy God, prefiguring Christ's ongoing mediatorial work.

Numbers 29 36 Bonus section

The pronounced reduction in the number of bull offerings on the eighth day (from 13 down to 1) has been interpreted in various ways. Some scholars suggest it marks a transition from a grand, nationalistic celebration to a more inward, intimate, and contemplative day. Others see it as a shift from a focus on the past (the Exodus and wilderness dwelling, symbolized by the main Sukkot festival) to a future anticipation or perhaps a symbolic completion of God's covenantal dealings. This shift subtly hints that quantitative rituals, though divinely commanded, find their true spiritual depth not in mere volume, but in sincere, unblemished offering and communion, setting a theological stage for the eventual perfect and singular sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The Hebrew tradition often views Shemini Atzeret as a day where Israel "stays an extra day" with God after the general feasting, enjoying a more personal time of intimacy and seeking His guidance, as if a private audience after the crowds have departed. This intimacy, underscored by simpler but precise offerings, reflects a deepening relationship with the Divine.

Numbers 29 36 Commentary

Numbers 29:36 concludes the liturgical sequence for the Feast of Tabernacles with unique precision. On this eighth day, Shemini Atzeret, the sheer volume of bull sacrifices drastically reduces from thirteen on the first day to just one. This significant numerical shift indicates a transition from a seven-day communal festival to a distinct, solemn assembly often understood as a conclusion or summation of the preceding week. The specific burnt offerings – one bull, one ram, seven lambs – emphasize a focused act of consecration and devotion, with the number seven denoting completeness and perfection, possibly pointing to God's covenantal fulfillment. The consistent requirement of "without blemish" for all animals underlines the perfect standard demanded by a holy God and prefigures the unblemished sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who offered Himself as the ultimate Lamb. Furthermore, the mandatory inclusion of grain and drink offerings, "by their number according to the rule," highlights the precision and totality of worship required. The separate "male goat for a sin offering" is critical, reminding the worshipers that even in their rejoicing and dedicated service, purification from sin remains a perpetual necessity. This specific purification offering addresses defilement and maintains the sanctity of the sanctuary and the people. Ultimately, these meticulously detailed commands reflect God's absolute sovereignty over Israel's worship, instilling obedience and a deep understanding that access to His presence is through divinely ordained means, ultimately finding its complete fulfillment and grace in Christ.