Numbers 29 9

Numbers 29:9 kjv

And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals to a bullock, and two tenth deals to one ram,

Numbers 29:9 nkjv

Their grain offering shall be of fine flour mixed with oil: three-tenths of an ephah for the bull, two-tenths for the one ram,

Numbers 29:9 niv

With the bull offer a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with oil; with the ram, two-tenths;

Numbers 29:9 esv

And their grain offering shall be of fine flour mixed with oil, three tenths of an ephah for the bull, two tenths for the one ram,

Numbers 29:9 nlt

These offerings must be accompanied by the prescribed grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil ? six quarts of choice flour with the bull, four quarts of choice flour with the ram,

Numbers 29 verses

Numbers 29 9 Meaning

Numbers 29:9 details the required grain (meal) offering that must accompany the burnt sacrifices prescribed for the Day of Atonement. It specifies the precise quantity of "fine flour mixed with oil" – three-tenths of an ephah for each bull and two-tenths of an ephah for the one ram – ensuring that these components of the offering were given to God in exact accordance with His divine command. This instruction emphasizes the meticulousness, sacredness, and complete dedication expected in Israelite worship on this holiest day.

Numbers 29 9 Context

Numbers 29:9 is situated within a detailed prescriptive section of the Torah that outlines the specific sacrifices to be offered during Israel's annual sacred festivals. Chapter 29 is a continuation of Chapter 28, meticulously listing the precise offerings (burnt offerings, sin offerings, grain offerings, and drink offerings) required for the feasts of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and Tabernacles. This verse focuses on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), the holiest day of the Israelite calendar, which occurred on the tenth day of the seventh month. This was a day of solemn fasting, self-affliction, and communal repentance, during which the High Priest made atonement for himself, his household, and the entire congregation of Israel. The detailed, exact nature of these accompanying grain offerings, including specific quantities for different animals, underscores the sanctity and solemnity of the occasion and God's demand for meticulous obedience in worship. Historically and culturally, such precise instructions ensured uniform practice throughout the generations and conveyed the gravity of approaching a holy God.

Numbers 29 9 Word analysis

• And (וְ - ve): Connects this specific instruction regarding the grain offering to the preceding mention of the animal sacrifices on the Day of Atonement. It implies continuation and accompaniment.
• their (הֶם - hem): Refers back to the animal offerings—the bull and the ram—that these grain offerings are to accompany. It indicates that the grain offering belongs with the animal sacrifice, completing the offering unit.
• grain offering (מִנְחָה - minchah): This Hebrew term denotes a meal offering, usually composed of fine flour, oil, and frankincense, often brought voluntarily or as an accompaniment to a burnt offering. Here, it is mandatory and precisely specified, signifying a dedication of the produce of the land (and labor) to God, completing the sacrificial act alongside the animal offering. It represents gratitude and the fruit of human effort offered to the divine.
• shall be (יִהְיֶה - yihyeh): A declarative statement, indicating a divine command, not a suggestion. It signifies the binding and unchangeable nature of the instruction.
• of fine flour (סֹלֶת - soleth): Specifies the highest quality of flour, sieved multiple times to remove all impurities. This denotes excellence, purity, and the very best of one's possessions dedicated to God, signifying that only the purest form of worship and dedication is acceptable.
• mixed (בָּלוּל - balul): From the verb בָּלַל (balal), meaning to mix or mingle. It indicates a thorough, intimate blending of the flour and oil, signifying their integral relationship within the offering and a unified presentation to God.
• with oil (בַּשָּׁמֶן - bashamen): Refers to olive oil, an expensive commodity. Oil frequently symbolizes consecration, anointing, and blessing in the Bible, and often represents the presence or enablement of the Holy Spirit in broader biblical theology. Its inclusion makes the offering rich and complete, adding sanctity and signifying a blessed, consecrated offering.
• three-tenths (שְׁלֹשָׁה עֶשְׂרֹנִים - sheloshah 'esronim): This specifies three-tenths of an ephah. The numerical precision underscores the meticulousness required by God in all aspects of worship. It indicates exactness, uniformity across Israel, and divine authority in the details of the sacrificial system.
• of an ephah (אֵיפָה - eyfah): A standard dry measure, approximately 22 liters or about 0.6 bushels. Its inclusion provides a concrete and exact quantity for the grain offering, leaving no room for approximation.
• for each (לַפָּר - la-par) bull: Refers specifically to the amount required per bull offered, indicating that if multiple bulls were offered (though only one specific bull is commanded for this main burnt offering in the context), each would have this specific quantity. This ratio (three-tenths) for a bull in Num 15:9 also applied to general offerings, showing a consistent requirement for this substantial animal.
• and (וְ - ve): Connects the instruction for the bull's grain offering to the ram's.
• two-tenths (שְׁנֵי עֶשְׂרֹנִים - shenei 'esronim): Two-tenths of an ephah. This is the specified amount for the ram, distinct from the bull's, demonstrating a tiered and specific set of requirements based on the type of animal offered.
• for the one (לָאֶחָד - la-echad) ram (לָאַיִל - la-ayil): Refers to the singular ram designated for the burnt offering on the Day of Atonement. The numerical 'one' emphasizes its specific place in the Day of Atonement liturgy. The ram (ayil) was also a significant animal, requiring its specific, precisely measured offering.

• "their grain offering shall be of fine flour mixed with oil": This phrase details the required composition of the minchah. It highlights that the offering must be of the highest purity (fine flour) and infused with the consecrated element of oil, signifying not just a physical gift but a purified and dedicated act of worship, full of symbolic meaning. This prepared meal symbolizes the dedicated service and devotion of the worshiper, becoming a "soothing aroma" to God (Lev 2:2).
• "three-tenths of an ephah for each bull, and two-tenths for the one ram": These precise measurements are crucial. They demonstrate God's sovereignty and His demand for exactitude in obedience, eliminating any arbitrary or partial fulfillment. The difference in quantity (more for the bull) reflects the larger size and greater value associated with the bull sacrifice compared to the ram, ensuring proportionality in the accompanying offerings. This exactitude underscores that divine worship is not left to human discretion but is ordered by God Himself, providing clear boundaries for ritual practice.

Numbers 29 9 Bonus section

The careful gradation of grain offerings according to the type of animal (more for a bull than a ram, consistent with Num 15 general offerings) showcases a theological understanding of proportionality in giving to God, reflecting the cost and significance of the primary sacrifice. This particular grain offering, tied to the solemnity of the Day of Atonement, signifies not merely a routine act but a profound engagement in the sacred processes of reconciliation and worship. The combination of various offerings—sin, burnt, grain, and drink—for such festivals presented a holistic picture of Israel's relationship with God: addressing sin, offering general devotion, dedicating life's sustenance, and giving freely. While these were types and shadows fulfilled in Christ, they underscored the deep reverence and intentionality required in approaching the Holy God.

Numbers 29 9 Commentary

Numbers 29:9 provides precise instructions for the accompanying grain offering during the solemn Day of Atonement sacrifices. Far from being a mere addendum, this verse highlights several profound principles: God's demand for precision in worship, the concept of completeness in offerings, and the significance of quality and consecration. The meticulous specification of "fine flour mixed with oil" (purity and sanctity) and the exact "three-tenths" and "two-tenths" measures (obedience and uniformity) leaves no room for human interpretation or casual observance. These non-blood offerings, while not atoning in themselves, symbolized the dedication, thanksgiving, and perhaps reparation for unintentional sins from the community, demonstrating the worshiper's holistic submission and gratitude to God after atonement was made. This structured giving reflects God's ordered nature and serves as a teaching tool for Israel, underscoring that all aspects of life, including economic produce, belong to Him and must be offered back in obedience and devotion. In Christ, believers offer themselves as living sacrifices, embodying the principle of complete dedication.