Numbers 7:10 kjv
And the princes offered for dedicating of the altar in the day that it was anointed, even the princes offered their offering before the altar.
Numbers 7:10 nkjv
Now the leaders offered the dedication offering for the altar when it was anointed; so the leaders offered their offering before the altar.
Numbers 7:10 niv
When the altar was anointed, the leaders brought their offerings for its dedication and presented them before the altar.
Numbers 7:10 esv
And the chiefs offered offerings for the dedication of the altar on the day it was anointed; and the chiefs offered their offering before the altar.
Numbers 7:10 nlt
The leaders also presented dedication gifts for the altar at the time it was anointed. They each placed their gifts before the altar.
Numbers 7 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 29:36-37 | "And every day you shall offer... until the days... Thus you shall consecrate the altar..." | Consecration of the altar for service. |
| Exod 30:26-28 | "And with it you shall anoint the tent of meeting and the ark... and the altar of burnt offering..." | Anointing sets apart for holiness. |
| Lev 8:10-11 | "Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and all that was in it, and consecrated them." | Divine pattern for consecration. |
| Num 7:1 | "On the day that Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle, and had anointed it..." | The immediate context of dedication. |
| Num 7:84 | "This was the dedication offering for the altar... when it was anointed, from the chiefs of Israel." | Summary reinforcing the dedication. |
| Deut 20:5 | "What man is there who has built a new house and has not dedicated it?" | Concept of dedication beyond sacred spaces. |
| 1 Kings 8:63 | "So the king and all the people of Israel dedicated the house of the LORD." | Dedication of Solomon's Temple. |
| Ezra 6:16 | "And the people of Israel... kept the dedication of this house of God with joy." | Dedication of the Second Temple. |
| Neh 12:27 | "And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites..." | Dedication of a civil structure with religious involvement. |
| Heb 9:1-2 | "Now even the first covenant had regulations... a sanctuary and a sacred tent." | Earthly sanctuary as a copy of heavenly one. |
| Heb 9:21-22 | "And in the same way he sprinkled... even the tabernacle and all the vessels..." | Blood purification central to consecration. |
| Heb 10:10-12 | "By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." | Christ's sacrifice as ultimate dedication. |
| Rom 12:1 | "Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." | Believers as consecrated offerings. |
| Eph 5:2 | "As Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." | Christ's life as an ultimate offering. |
| Col 3:17 | "Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus..." | All of life to be dedicated to God. |
| 1 Chr 29:6-9 | "Then the leaders... offered willingly... wholehearted to the LORD." | Leaders giving willingly for sacred work. |
| Psa 24:3-4 | "Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD?... He who has clean hands and a pure heart..." | Purity required to approach holy spaces. |
| Zech 14:20-21 | "Even the bells... shall be holy to the LORD; and the pots... shall be like the bowls before the altar." | Future total consecration to God. |
| Phil 4:18 | "I have received full payment... a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God." | Generosity as a pleasing sacrifice to God. |
| Matt 5:23-24 | "So if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember..." | The importance of right heart in offering. |
Numbers 7 verses
Numbers 7 10 Meaning
Numbers 7:10 describes the moment the leaders of the Israelite tribes brought their initial offerings for the dedication of the newly anointed altar, affirming their role in inaugurating the sacred worship space within the Tabernacle. This act marked the formal consecration of the altar, setting it apart for the Lord's service, and demonstrated the people's collective and leadership-led commitment to Yahweh's dwelling place.
Numbers 7 10 Context
Numbers Chapter 7 details the specific offerings presented by the heads of each of the twelve tribes of Israel for the dedication of the newly consecrated Tabernacle and its altar. This extensive record follows immediately after the completion, erection, and anointing of the Tabernacle and its components, as described in Numbers 7:1. The anointing made the Tabernacle and altar holy, fit for divine service, and this dedication period marked their ceremonial opening. Each tribal leader brought an identical, lavish offering over twelve successive days, emphasizing the unity of the tribes in worship and their commitment to the Lord's prescribed sanctuary rituals. The verse highlights the initiation of these structured offerings, underscoring the formal beginning of regular, centralized worship for Israel.
Numbers 7 10 Word analysis
- And the princes: (וַיַּקְרִיב֤וּ נְשִׂיאֵי֙ - Vayyāqrîḇū nəśî’ê)
- And: The connecting particle signifies continuity with previous events (Tabernacle completion and anointing).
- the princes: (נְשִׂיאֵי - nesi'ei from נָשִׂיא - nasi') Refers to the "head men" or "chiefs" of the tribes of Israel, individuals of high rank and authority, explicitly identified in Numbers 7:11 onwards as specific tribal leaders. Their prominent role highlights leadership's responsibility in leading sacred acts and supporting worship. Their collective action underlines unity among the tribes under divine command.
- offered: (הִקְרִיב֤וּ - hiqrivu, Hiphil perfect from קָרַב - qarab, meaning "to draw near," "to bring near," "to present"). This term is the standard word for presenting sacrifices or gifts to God in the cultic context. The Hiphil stem indicates a causative action—they "caused to draw near" their offerings to the altar, emphasizing intentional presentation before the Divine Presence.
- for the dedication: (לַחֲנֻכַּת֙ - laḥănukkath, from חֲנֻכָּה - chanukkah) "Dedication," "inauguration," "consecration." The root means "to train," "to initiate," "to dedicate." It signifies setting something apart for its intended, holy use. This is a foundational act establishing the purpose and sacredness of the altar for regular service. It establishes a concept found in later Jewish tradition as Hanukkah (Festival of Lights).
- of the altar: (הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ - hammizbeach, from זָבַח - zabach, "to slaughter," "to sacrifice"). The central element for burnt offerings and peace offerings. Its dedication made it a holy locus for approaching God through sacrifice. It was the place where sin was atoned for and fellowship with God was renewed.
- in the day that: (בְּיוֹם֙ אֹת֜וֹ - beyom oto) Emphasizes the specific, singular time of this inauguration. It points to a carefully ordained moment within Israel's early religious calendar, demonstrating the meticulous ordering of sacred events by divine instruction.
- it was anointed: (הִמָּשַׁ֨ח - himmashach, Niphal infinitive construct from מָשַׁח - mashach, "to smear," "to anoint"). This is a key act of consecration. Anointing with sacred oil set persons (priests, kings) and objects (Tabernacle, altar) apart as holy to the Lord. It infused the object with sacred purpose and the presence of God.
- even the princes offered: (נְשִׂיאֵ֥י הִקְרִ֛יבוּ - nesi'ei hiqrivu) This repetition is a rhetorical device common in Hebrew narrative. It emphasizes the collective participation of the leaders, underscores their active role in the sacred ceremony, and highlights the significance and solemnity of their act. It confirms that the offerings came specifically from this group.
- their offering: (קָרְבָּנָֽם - qorbânâm, from קָרְבָּן - qorban) The same root as "offered" (qarab), literally "that which is brought near." This term is used for a variety of cultic presentations, whether sacrifice or gift. It signifies something personally and intentionally brought near to God, belonging to the individual or group presenting it.
- before the altar: (לִפְנֵ֥י הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ - lifnei hammizbeach) "Before the face of the altar." This spatial description highlights the direct act of presentation at the specific, holy site, affirming the altar's function as the designated interface between God and humanity.
Numbers 7 10 Bonus section
The prolonged nature of this dedication period, stretching over twelve days with identical offerings from each prince (as detailed in the subsequent verses of Numbers 7), emphasizes the profound importance the Lord placed on the Tabernacle and its furnishings. It reflects not haste but methodical and reverent compliance with divine instruction, highlighting unity and consistency across all tribal divisions. This dedication, established by explicit command (Numbers 7:5), points to a foundational truth: worship of God is not haphazard but carefully structured according to His holy character and redemptive plan. The very expensive and substantial nature of the offerings presented also demonstrated the depth of the people's and their leaders' commitment and generosity, valuing the Tabernacle and access to God above their considerable material wealth.
Numbers 7 10 Commentary
Numbers 7:10 serves as the pivotal introductory verse to the lengthy record of dedication offerings. It encapsulates the core action: the Israelite tribal leaders initiating the formal use of the Tabernacle's altar through special gifts. This was not a general offering but a unique "dedication offering," marking the altar as sacred and operational for future worship. The repetition of "the princes offered" underscores the collective leadership, generosity, and orderliness inherent in this act. This historical event demonstrates the principle of setting aside consecrated resources—time, material, and leadership—for God's sacred purposes, prefiguring how all of life, especially our worship and service, should be dedicated to Him. This passage underscores the vital role of sanctification and purposeful presentation in the worship of the Lord.