Numbers 29 40

Numbers 29:40 kjv

And Moses told the children of Israel according to all that the LORD commanded Moses.

Numbers 29:40 nkjv

So Moses told the children of Israel everything, just as the LORD commanded Moses.

Numbers 29:40 niv

Moses told the Israelites all that the LORD commanded him.

Numbers 29:40 esv

So Moses told the people of Israel everything just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

Numbers 29:40 nlt

So Moses gave all of these instructions to the people of Israel as the LORD had commanded him.

Numbers 29 verses

Numbers 29 40 Meaning

Numbers 29:40 serves as a conclusive summary, affirming that all the sacrificial regulations detailed throughout the chapter for the various annual feasts, particularly the Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and the extensive Feast of Tabernacles, were indeed commanded by the Lord to Moses and were to be meticulously performed by the Israelites. It underscores divine authority, the faithfulness of Moses in mediating God's commands, and the absolute requirement for the Israelites to comply precisely with these divine instructions regarding their worship and offerings.

Numbers 29 40 Context

Numbers chapter 29 details the prescribed offerings and sacrifices for several significant annual festivals: the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah, vv. 1-6), the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur, vv. 7-11), and especially the week-long Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot, vv. 12-38). The sheer volume and specificity of the required sacrifices (daily offerings, sin offerings, burnt offerings, peace offerings, drink offerings, etc.) underscore the intensity and theological significance of these festivals for Israel's relationship with God. The instructions for Sukkot, in particular, involve a decreasing number of bulls daily over seven days, along with consistent rams and lambs, signifying both the nation's corporate offering and their dependence on God. Verse 40 acts as a conclusive statement, drawing a clear line from God's explicit commands to Moses, and Moses's faithful conveyance of those commands, to Israel's required observance. Historically, these elaborate sacrificial protocols ensured the proper functioning of the worship system central to Israelite identity and their covenant with Yahweh, contrasting sharply with the arbitrary or idolatrous practices of surrounding pagan nations whose worship often lacked the precision and ethical framework present in God's law.

Numbers 29 40 Word analysis

• Just as (כַּאֲשֶׁר, ka'asher): This phrase signifies an exact conformity. It emphasizes precision and strict adherence, highlighting that the performance of these offerings was to mirror the divine instructions perfectly, leaving no room for deviation or personal interpretation. It conveys reliability and faithfulness.

• the Lord (יְהוָה, Yahweh): Refers to the personal, covenant-making God of Israel. The use of the divine name "Yahweh" (often rendered "LORD" in all capitals in English translations) emphasizes His supreme authority, unchangeable nature, and His specific relationship with His chosen people. It signifies the divine origin and binding nature of these commands, setting them apart from any human decree or wisdom.

• commanded (צִוָּה, tsivvah): A strong verb denoting a direct, authoritative order or charge. It is a divine imperative, not a suggestion or recommendation. This highlights the absolute nature of the instructions given; they were non-negotiable requirements for Israel's worship and walk with God. This divine "command" implies consequences for disobedience and blessings for obedience.

• Moses (מֹשֶׁה, Mosheh): The chosen mediator, prophet, and lawgiver through whom God communicated His covenant and laws to Israel. Moses's faithfulness in relaying God's precise words without alteration is crucial here. He is not the originator of these laws but the trustworthy channel. His unique role as God's servant is affirmed (Num 12:7).

• concerning the Israelites (בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, benei Yisrael): Literally, "sons of Israel." This specifies the target audience and beneficiaries of the command. These are God's covenant people, implying their unique relationship and responsibilities to Yahweh, distinguishing them from other nations who did not have such explicit divine mandates for worship. The instructions are specifically for them.

• for all these offerings (כֹּל הַקָּרְבָּנִים הָאֵלֶּה, kol ha-korbanim ha-elleh):

  • all (כֹּל, kol): Indicates inclusivity and totality. Every single detail of every offering previously mentioned in the chapter (and implied from previous laws) must be included and precisely fulfilled. There is no partiality or picking and choosing.
  • these (הָאֵלֶּה, ha-elleh): Points specifically to the long list of distinct sacrifices detailed from Numbers 29:1 through 29:39, primarily those for the Feast of Tabernacles, but also encompassing the preceding feasts within the chapter.
  • offerings (הַקָּרְבָּנִים, ha-korbanim): Derived from the Hebrew root qarab (קָרַב), meaning "to draw near" or "to present." These are physical items (animals, grains, liquids) "brought near" to God, presented as acts of worship, atonement, communion, or dedication. They were central to the Old Covenant worship, representing reconciliation and devotion to God.

• Word-group Analysis:

  • "just as the Lord commanded Moses": This phrase firmly establishes the divine origin and authority of the laws. It validates Moses's leadership and the divine authority of the Mosaic Law as a whole. It underscores a central theme of the Pentateuch: God's word is law, faithfully communicated through His chosen servant. It leaves no doubt that these are not human traditions but God's specific requirements.
  • "concerning the Israelites for all these offerings": This highlights the covenantal obligation and particularity of the commands. These detailed instructions were specific to Israel, reflecting their unique position as God's chosen people, given comprehensive means to approach Him and atone for sin through these rituals. It also shows the practical, observable nature of their obedience to God's will.

Numbers 29 40 Bonus section

The meticulous details in Numbers 29 and the concluding emphasis in verse 40 reveal several theological depths. They demonstrate God's pedagogical method, teaching His people about holiness, sin, atonement, and His very nature through tangible rituals. The increasing and then decreasing numbers of bulls offered during the Feast of Tabernacles might subtly teach the cyclical nature of agricultural life and Israel's dependence on God for rainfall and harvest. More broadly, the passage’s insistence on exact obedience in offerings serves as a polemic against the arbitrary, often idolatrous and fertility-cult practices of surrounding nations, reinforcing Israel's unique calling to worship a God who provides precise revelation. The sacrificial system, affirmed here, laid the groundwork for understanding the concept of ultimate sacrifice for sin, fulfilled in Christ, moving from external ritual to internal spiritual reality where believers become "living sacrifices" (Rom 12:1).

Numbers 29 40 Commentary

Numbers 29:40 serves as an emphatic capstone to a lengthy section detailing sacrificial ordinances for Israel's annual feasts. Far from being a mere summary, it is a crucial theological statement: every ritual, every specific offering, every precise number, every designated time detailed was unequivocally by divine decree, given directly by God to Moses, and absolutely binding upon the Israelites. This verse validates the entire system of worship described, affirming that Israel's religious life was not based on human invention or convenience but on strict, authoritative divine revelation. It highlights the importance of obedience in worship, signaling that only precisely those acts God commands are truly acceptable to Him. The painstaking specificity of the commands concerning "all these offerings" underscored that sincere worship requires careful attention to God's precise instructions, revealing His holiness and the serious nature of approaching Him. This also anticipates Christ, who did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it (Matt 5:17), offering the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice (Heb 9:26) which transcended all these Old Testament types.