Numbers 7 27

Numbers 7:27 kjv

One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

Numbers 7:27 nkjv

one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, as a burnt offering;

Numbers 7:27 niv

one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering;

Numbers 7:27 esv

one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;

Numbers 7:27 nlt

He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering,

Numbers 7 verses

Numbers 7 27 Meaning

Numbers 7:27 records the fifth daily offering presented for the dedication of the newly anointed Tabernacle. On this specific day, Elizur, the son of Shedeur and the recognized leader of the tribe of Simeon, brought his tribe's allocated contribution, following the exact pattern and substance as the preceding tribes. This event highlights the structured participation of each tribal head in providing for the Tabernacle's maintenance and the initiation of its sacrificial service, demonstrating corporate obedience and devotion to the Lord.

Numbers 7 27 Context

Numbers chapter 7 details the dedicated offerings presented by the leaders of each of the twelve tribes of Israel following the completion and anointing of the Tabernacle and its furnishings (Num 7:1). This meticulously recorded event unfolds over twelve consecutive days, with one tribal leader bringing his designated offering each day. The offerings consist of wagons and oxen for transport of the Tabernacle, as well as an identical set of valuable vessels, precious metals, and animals for various sacrifices. Numbers 7:27 specifically identifies the offering brought on the fifth day by Elizur, the prince of the tribe of Simeon. This extended passage underscores the communal effort in establishing divine worship, the precise adherence to God's instructions, and the leadership's role in spiritual matters. It occurs chronologically shortly after the census of Israel (Numbers 1-4) and before the arrangements for setting out on their wilderness journey, cementing the central role of God's presence and worship within the Israelite community. Historically, such meticulous records and elaborate ceremonies for dedicating sacred structures were common in the ancient Near East, but here they are unique in their divine prescription and monotheistic focus, clearly distinguishing Yahweh worship from surrounding pagan cults.

Numbers 7 27 Word analysis

• On the fifth day (בַּיּוֹם הַחֲמִישִׁי, ba-yom ha-chamishi):

  • "Fifth": Denotes chronological order. In a context of twelve identical offerings, it emphasizes the structured and methodical nature of the divine command and human obedience. The repetition reinforces the solemnity and completeness of the dedication.
  • Significance: God's dealings are orderly and specific. Each tribe received an appointed time, signifying equality in responsibility and privilege.

• Elizur (אֱלִיצוּר, ʼEliytsuwr):

  • Meaning: "My God is a rock" or "God is my rock."
  • Significance: A personal name that reflects a theological affirmation. It speaks of faith in God as a stable, strong, and dependable foundation. Such names were common in ancient Israel and often served as declarations of an individual's or family's core beliefs. For a tribal leader, his name subtly echoed his role in providing stability and guidance based on divine strength.

• the son of (בֶן, ben):

  • Significance: Indicates lineage and patriarchal tribal structure. In ancient Israelite society, one's identity was strongly tied to one's father and tribe. This precise genealogical identification confirms his legitimate role as the representative leader.

• Shedeur (שְׁדֵיאוּר, Shdayʼuwri):

  • Meaning: "Shaddai is light" or "Almighty is light." Shaddai is one of the oldest names for God (El Shaddai), emphasizing His power and sufficiency.
  • Significance: Similar to Elizur, this name is a confession of faith. The combination of "Almighty" and "light" suggests God's omnipotence and revelation, perhaps a heritage of acknowledging God's guiding presence. The faith expressed in these names connects the offering to a personal and familial walk with God.

• the leader (נָשִׂיא, nasi):

  • Meaning: Prince, chieftain, tribal head, elected leader. This term designates someone elevated, chosen to represent and rule over his people.
  • Significance: The leaders were not self-appointed but divinely ordained through Moses. Their bringing of offerings emphasized representative leadership and the collective participation of the entire tribe through their head. The nasi embodied the tribe's devotion.

• of the people of Simeon (בְּנֵי שִׁמְעוֹן, bney Shim'on):

  • "People of Simeon": "Sons of Simeon." Simeon (שִׁמְעוֹן, Shim'on) means "hearing" or "heard."
  • Significance: Identifies the specific tribal unit making the offering. Each tribe maintained its distinct identity, yet all were unified under the covenant with Yahweh. Simeon, like other tribes, contributed to the collective act of national worship. Jacob's prophecy concerning Simeon in Gen 49 indicated dispersion, and here, they participate as a defined tribal unit, though their future would see them largely absorbed into Judah's territory.

• presented his offering (הִקְרִב קָרְבָּנוֹ, hiqrib qorbano):

  • "presented" (הִקְרִב, hiqrib): To bring near, cause to approach, offer. It signifies drawing something close to God in a sacred context.
  • "offering" (קָרְבָּן, qorban): Derived from the root "to draw near." It refers to any gift brought to God in worship, emphasizing closeness, dedication, and relationship.
  • Significance: This is the core action. It underscores the act of worship and the transfer of value from the human to the divine sphere. The act of bringing the offering signified not just the material gift but also the devotion, obedience, and identity of the offeror with the people of God. The phrase also suggests the public and formal nature of the offering, carried out by the appointed representative before all of Israel and God.

Numbers 7 27 Bonus section

The highly repetitive nature of Numbers chapter 7, where the same type and quantity of offerings are listed for each tribe, serves several critical purposes beyond mere record-keeping. Firstly, it emphasizes the exactness and faithfulness with which God's commands were to be carried out; there was no room for individual variation or pride in contributing more or less. Secondly, it highlights the unity in diversity within the nation; although twelve distinct tribes, they all equally participated in the central act of national worship. This stands in contrast to common ancient Near Eastern practices where offerings might vary wildly based on individual wealth or pagan deity preferences, underscoring the divinely ordered and standardized worship of Yahweh. Lastly, the lavishness of these initial dedication offerings for the Tabernacle (which required significant wealth and resources from each tribe) set a precedent for sacrificial generosity and dedication to God's dwelling, reinforcing that Israel's relationship with God demanded significant personal and communal investment.

Numbers 7 27 Commentary

Numbers 7:27 serves as a microcosmic example within a larger repetitive liturgical narrative, highlighting fundamental aspects of Israel's covenant relationship with God. It demonstrates the meticulous detail and precise adherence required in worshipping the Lord, reinforcing divine authority and human obedience. The individual offering of Elizur, as the leader of Simeon, represents the entire tribe's commitment, illustrating the principle of corporate representation common in God's dealings with His people. The identical nature of the offerings across all tribes emphasizes unity and equality before God, transcending tribal distinctions in matters of worship. This dedication event laid the foundational pattern for the nation's ongoing spiritual life, underscoring that all provision for God's presence and service came from His people's willing hearts and hands, reflecting both their generosity and the immense value placed on the Tabernacle as God's dwelling place among them. It ultimately points to Christ, who, as our true "leader" and High Priest, offered Himself as the perfect "offering," bringing us near to God eternally.