Numbers 29 38

Numbers 29:38 kjv

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

Numbers 29:38 nkjv

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

Numbers 29:38 niv

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

Numbers 29:38 esv

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

Numbers 29:38 nlt

You must also sacrifice one 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 38 Meaning

Numbers 29:38 specifies the offering required for the eighth day of the Feast of Booths, also known as Shemini Atzeret. On this final, solemn assembly day, one goat was to be presented as a sin offering. This particular sacrifice was mandated in addition to the daily standing burnt offering, its accompanying grain offering, and its drink offering, highlighting a continuous and comprehensive cycle of worship and atonement required by God.

Numbers 29 38 Context

Numbers 29:38 concludes the intricate set of sacrificial regulations for the Feast of Booths (Sukkot), specifically for its eighth and final day, Shemini Atzeret ("The Eighth Day of Assembly"). This day marked a distinct, solemn assembly that concluded the annual pilgrimage feasts. While the first seven days of Sukkot involved a decreasing number of bullocks, the eighth day prescribed a minimal number (one bullock, one ram, one goat), underscoring a shift towards reflective completion rather than grand festivity.

The broader context of Numbers chapters 28 and 29 reveals God's meticulous, detailed instructions for all major feasts and offerings throughout the Israelite calendar. This precision highlighted God's demand for holiness, order, and a sustained, specific pattern of worship for His people, distinguishing their reverence for the One True God from the unpredictable, often debauched practices of surrounding pagan nations. These regular and feast-specific sacrifices provided continuous atonement for unintentional sins and maintained the covenant relationship between God and Israel, consistently pointing towards the need for a perfect, final sacrifice.

Numbers 29 38 Word analysis

• And one goat: This specific animal, a goat, was consistently prescribed for the sin offering (chatta'ah) in Levitical law, particularly for communal sins or certain individual transgressions. The singular "one" here contrasts with the multiple sacrifices of other animals, emphasizing the specific and singular purpose of this offering on the final day.
• for a sin offering: (Hebrew: לְחַטָּאָה, lechatta'ah) - The chatta'ah was a "purification offering" or "offering for sin." Its primary purpose was not merely to secure forgiveness (though it led to that) but to purify the individual or community from ritual defilement or unintentional sin, restoring them to a state of ritual cleanness before God. It cleansed from the effect of sin, enabling access to the Holy.
• besides: (Hebrew: מִלְּבַד, mil'bād) - This preposition means "apart from," "in addition to," or "separate from." It is crucial because it indicates that the sin offering for Shemini Atzeret was supplementary. It did not replace, but rather supplemented, the fundamental, perpetual daily offerings that were never to cease.
• the continual burnt offering: (Hebrew: עֹלַת הַתָּמִיד, 'olat hattāmîd) - The 'olah (burnt offering) signified complete dedication to God, total surrender, and made general atonement for the worshiper. It was called tamid ("continual" or "perpetual") because it was offered twice daily (morning and evening) without fail, representing the ongoing relationship between God and Israel. It pointed to the need for a constant, perfect atonement, ultimately found in Christ.
• and his meat offering: (Hebrew: וּמִנְחָתוֹ, ûminḥātô) - Refers to the "grain offering" (minchah). This non-bloody offering typically accompanied the burnt offering and was usually made of fine flour, oil, and frankincense. It was an expression of thanksgiving, homage, dedication of one's produce/labor to God, and a general acknowledgment of His provision.
• and his drink offering: (Hebrew: וְנִסְכּוֹ, wəniskô) - Refers to the "libation" or "pour offering" (nesek). Usually wine, sometimes oil, was poured out at the altar. It was typically offered with burnt offerings and grain offerings. The act of pouring out signified devotion, consecration, joy, and often served as a symbolic representation of consecration or being fully given over to God, sometimes prefiguring ultimate sacrifice as seen in the New Testament.

Words-group analysis:

• "one goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, and his drink offering.": This entire phrase encapsulates the layered nature of Israelite worship. It highlights that even during significant annual feasts requiring their own specific offerings (like the culminating sin offering for Shemini Atzeret), the foundational, daily expressions of devotion and general atonement (the tamid burnt offering and its accompanying grain and drink offerings) were absolutely non-negotiable and remained ongoing. This underscores God's demand for both specific atonement for transgressions and consistent, comprehensive dedication from His people, covering all aspects of life and time.

Numbers 29 38 Bonus section

• Shemini Atzeret's Uniqueness: While part of the general Sukkot celebration, Shemini Atzeret is seen as a distinct, separate holy day in Leviticus 23:36 and Numbers 29:35. It served as a final, solemn closing to the annual cycle of major festivals, allowing for reflection on the pilgrimage experience and drawing near to God in a unique manner distinct from the more festive Sukkot days. Its fewer sacrifices (relative to Sukkot's prior days) possibly highlighted an inward focus of communion rather than overwhelming festivity.
• Decreasing Sacrifices: Over the seven days of Sukkot, the number of bullocks offered progressively decreased, from thirteen on the first day to seven on the seventh day (Numbers 29:12-34). The eighth day then featured just one bullock, one ram, and one goat. This might symbolize a progressive intensification or distillation of worship, from outward celebration to inward spiritual purity and reflection on a concluding day. Alternatively, it signifies the culmination and fulfillment in a focused, perfect offering.
• Foreknowledge of Messiah: The constant, detailed sacrificial system, with its repetitive need for atonement for sin, implicitly revealed the imperfection of the blood of animals (Heb 10:4). Every offering, especially the sin offering, pointed to a greater, ultimate High Priest and sacrifice that could perfectly and permanently cleanse sin and establish eternal communion with God—a role exclusively fulfilled by Jesus Christ.

Numbers 29 38 Commentary

Numbers 29:38 closes the sacrificial requirements for the intense pilgrimage feast of Sukkot and its unique eighth day, Shemini Atzeret. The solitary sin offering on this day served to atone for any unintentional defilement or imperfection that might have occurred throughout the lengthy seven-day celebration, ensuring a clean and restored relationship before departing from God's presence. The vital phrase "besides" (מִלְּבַד) reinforces that this specific offering for the feast was supplementary to the non-negotiable daily offerings (burnt, grain, and drink offerings). This daily tamid (continual) offering was the backbone of Israel's covenant relationship with God, signifying ongoing atonement, dedication, and dependence. The detailed listing of these sacrifices, culminating in the humble one-goat sin offering, reveals God's precise and unceasing requirement for holiness and complete worship, constantly directing His people's hearts toward their reliance on divine provision for purification and sustenance. This comprehensive system foreshadowed the singular, complete, and eternally effective sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who perfectly offered Himself "once for all" (Heb 9:26) to purify and reconcile humanity, thereby fulfilling the true intent of all these ancient shadows.