Numbers 6 10

Numbers 6:10 kjv

And on the eighth day he shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons, to the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation:

Numbers 6:10 nkjv

Then on the eighth day he shall bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons to the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of meeting;

Numbers 6:10 niv

Then on the eighth day they must bring two doves or two young pigeons to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting.

Numbers 6:10 esv

On the eighth day he shall bring two turtledoves or two pigeons to the priest to the entrance of the tent of meeting,

Numbers 6:10 nlt

On the eighth day they must bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons to the priest at the entrance of the Tabernacle.

Numbers 6 verses

Numbers 6 10 Meaning

Numbers 6:10 outlines a specific requirement for a Nazarite who has inadvertently become ceremonially unclean by sudden contact with a dead body during their vow. On the eighth day following their cleansing ritual, they are to bring two specific birds—either turtledoves or young pigeons—to the priest at the entrance of the Tabernacle. This act serves as a sin offering and a burnt offering, enabling the Nazarite to be purified and able to recommence the days of their vow from that point.

Numbers 6 10 Context

Numbers chapter 6 details the law of the Nazarite vow, a voluntary commitment by a man or woman to consecrate themselves specially to the Lord for a period. This vow involved three main prohibitions: abstaining from grape products, not cutting their hair, and avoiding contact with any dead body. The immediate context of verse 10 follows verse 9, which addresses the scenario where a Nazarite is suddenly defiled by an unforeseen death near them. This unintentional defilement renders the initial period of their vow void, requiring purification and restarting. Numbers 6:10 specifies the precise offerings and their timing to achieve ritual purity. Historically, ritual purity was paramount in ancient Israelite worship, distinguishing God's holy people from surrounding pagan cultures who did not have such detailed laws for purification and atonement for unintentional sin.

Numbers 6 10 Word analysis

• And (וְ - ve-): A simple conjunctive, linking this command directly to the previous instruction about unintentional defilement, signifying a direct consequence or next step in the purification process.
• on the eighth day (בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי - ba-yom ha-shemini):
  • "Eighth day": Significant throughout the Old Testament, representing completion, new beginnings, or a cycle of renewal after a week-long purification. This period allows sufficient time for the unclean individual to complete their seven-day purification process (Num 6:9) and for the proper ceremonial cleansing to take place, symbolizing fresh start for their interrupted vow.
  • The seventh day completes a cycle; the eighth initiates a new one, as seen in circumcision (Gen 17:12, Lev 12:3), priestly ordination (Exo 29:35-37, Lev 9:1), and cleansing rituals for various impurities (Lev 14:10, 15:14, 29).
• he shall bring (יָבִיא - yavi):
  • "Bring": Active verb, indicating the personal responsibility of the Nazarite in their own purification and recommitment to the vow. It is an act of obedience and re-dedication.
• two turtledoves (שְׁתֵּי תֹרִים - shtey torim):
  • "Turtledoves": One specific type of bird designated for offerings. These were common and accessible in Israel.
• or two young pigeons (אוֹ שְׁנֵי בְּנֵי יוֹנָה - o shney beney yonah):
  • "Or...young pigeons": Provides an alternative, showing divine consideration and flexibility for the individual, especially concerning economic affordability. Both types of birds were acceptable. This aligns with other Levitical laws allowing less costly offerings for the poor (Lev 1:14, 5:7, 12:8).
• to the priest (אֶל הַכֹּהֵן - el ha-kohen):
  • "Priest": The appointed mediator between God and the people under the Old Covenant. All ritual purification and sacrifice required priestly intercession and administration, highlighting that cleansing and reconciliation are God-ordained and facilitated.
• to the door of the tabernacle (אֶל פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד - el petach ohel mo'ed):
  • "Door of the Tabernacle": The prescribed, sacred location for all public offerings and ritual actions. It symbolized access to God's presence, the centrality of corporate worship, and the public nature of the Nazarite's purification and recommitment.
  • "Tabernacle of the congregation" (ohel mo'ed - "Tent of Meeting"): The portable sanctuary where God met with His people. This place represented God's dwelling among Israel, and all rituals connected directly to His presence and covenant.
• Words-group Analysis: "Two turtledoves or two young pigeons"
  • These birds were for specific purposes: one for a sin offering (chatta't) and one for a burnt offering ('olah), as explicitly stated in Num 6:11. The sin offering dealt with the defilement (even unintentional), and the burnt offering symbolized renewed dedication and total surrender to God, essential for the Nazarite to continue their vow. This two-part offering addresses both forgiveness for the past transgression and re-consecration for the future.

Numbers 6 10 Bonus section

The regulations concerning the Nazarite vow, including purification for defilement, underscored the seriousness of vows made to God. This was not a light matter, and breaches, even unintentional, carried specific consequences requiring atonement and dedication. The choice of specific bird types, instead of, say, lambs or goats, signifies that the primary concern here is the restoration of ceremonial purity to resume a spiritual state of dedication, rather than atoning for grave moral transgressions which often required larger animal sacrifices. The Tabernacle, serving as the dwelling place of God's manifest presence, meant that purity was not merely a ceremonial requirement but essential for drawing near to a holy God. Any breach of a vow, however slight, impinged on this holy communion, necessitating precise, divinely instituted steps for rectification.

Numbers 6 10 Commentary

Numbers 6:10 provides the procedural detail for a Nazarite's re-entry into a state of ritual purity after an interruption of their vow due to defilement by a dead body. The selection of doves or pigeons reveals God's gracious provision for individuals regardless of their economic status, emphasizing accessibility to atonement. The act of bringing these offerings to the priest at the Tabernacle's entrance underscores the need for divine mediation and adherence to God's prescribed means of cleansing and reconciliation. The "eighth day" ritual speaks to a theme of new beginnings, a restoration to the initial, pristine state of the vow, effectively wiping the slate clean and allowing the Nazarite to proceed with renewed consecration, starting their vow anew from that day. Spiritually, this passage highlights that even unintentional sin requires atonement and demonstrates God's commitment to purity for those set apart for Him. It also serves as a shadow, pointing towards the complete and accessible cleansing from sin available through Christ, our great High Priest, whose once-for-for-all sacrifice fulfills the need for ongoing ceremonial purity.