Psalm 66:15 kjv
I will offer unto thee burnt sacrifices of fatlings, with the incense of rams; I will offer bullocks with goats. Selah.
Psalm 66:15 nkjv
I will offer You burnt sacrifices of fat animals, With the sweet aroma of rams; I will offer bulls with goats. Selah
Psalm 66:15 niv
I will sacrifice fat animals to you and an offering of rams; I will offer bulls and goats.
Psalm 66:15 esv
I will offer to you burnt offerings of fattened animals, with the smoke of the sacrifice of rams; I will make an offering of bulls and goats. Selah
Psalm 66:15 nlt
That is why I am sacrificing burnt offerings to you ?
the best of my rams as a pleasing aroma,
and a sacrifice of bulls and male goats. Interlude
Psalm 66 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 1:3-9 | If his offering is a burnt sacrifice of the herd... the priest shall offer the whole on the altar. | Burnt offering ritual |
| Lev 3:16 | All the fat is the Lord's. | Fatness for God; dedication of the best |
| Lev 7:16 | If the sacrifice... is a votive offering or a freewill offering... | Vows and freewill offerings explained |
| Num 15:3 | To make a burnt offering... of the herd or of the flock. | Sacrificial animals listed |
| Deut 23:21 | When you make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not delay to pay it. | Importance of fulfilling vows |
| 1 Sam 15:22 | Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying...? | Obedience valued above mere sacrifice |
| Ps 20:3 | May He remember all your offerings and accept your burnt sacrifice. | Prayers for accepted offerings |
| Ps 50:14 | Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving... and pay your vows. | Thanksgiving includes fulfilling vows |
| Ps 50:9-13 | I will not take a bull from your house... For every beast of the forest is Mine. | God owns all; sacrifice is for dedication |
| Ps 51:16-17 | For You do not desire sacrifice... The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit... | Heartfelt repentance over ritual |
| Ps 54:6 | I will freely sacrifice to You... | Willing offering in gratitude |
| Ps 56:12 | I must perform my vows to You, O God... | Fulfilling vows made in distress |
| Ps 116:17 | I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord. | Link between sacrifice and praise |
| Isa 1:11 | "What is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?" says the Lord. | God's disdain for insincere sacrifice |
| Jer 7:22-23 | For I did not speak to your fathers, or command them... concerning burnt offerings... | Emphasis on obedience over mere ritual |
| Hos 6:6 | For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. | Prioritizing inward disposition |
| Mic 6:6-8 | With what shall I come before the Lord... He has shown you, O man, what is good. | Righteous living as superior offering |
| Rom 12:1 | Present your bodies a living sacrifice... | New Covenant spiritual offering |
| Eph 5:2 | Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering... | Christ as the ultimate offering |
| Heb 9:11-14 | But Christ came as High Priest... not with the blood of goats and calves... | Christ's ultimate sacrifice transcends all |
| Heb 10:4 | For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. | Sacrifices point to Christ |
| Heb 13:15 | Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God... | Spiritual sacrifice of praise |
Psalm 66 verses
Psalm 66 15 Meaning
Psalm 66:15 expresses a psalmist's deep commitment to fulfill extravagant vows of sacrifice made to God, likely in a time of distress or plea for deliverance. It specifically lists high-value animal offerings: "burnt offerings of fat animals, with the smoke of rams; I will offer bulls with goats." This demonstrates a profound gratitude and dedication to the Lord following a significant divine intervention, signifying that no expense would be spared in worship.
Psalm 66 15 Context
Psalm 66 is a psalm of communal thanksgiving, recounting God's mighty and awesome deeds. The preceding verses (1-12) call for all the earth to worship God and marvel at His power in delivering His people through trials. Verses 13-15 shift to the psalmist's personal vow fulfillment in the context of this national deliverance or significant personal salvation. The offerings mentioned in verse 15 are a response to God having "heard the voice of my supplications" (v. 19), implying the psalmist had made these extensive vows during a period of intense distress, praying for divine intervention. Now, having been delivered, the psalmist expresses a willingness to pay these vows in full measure. The subsequent verses (16-20) then invite others to hear the psalmist's personal testimony of answered prayer.
Psalm 66 15 Word analysis
- I will offer to You: Signifies personal and intentional devotion and the fulfillment of a vow (נְשַׁלֵּם, neshalem - "I will repay/perform"). This highlights direct gratitude towards God.
- burnt offerings (עֹלוֹת, olot): From the Hebrew root alah, "to go up," referring to something ascending. These were offerings entirely consumed by fire on the altar, symbolizing complete dedication to God and atonement. It represents devotion and yielding oneself fully to God.
- of fat animals (מְרִיאִים, m'ri'im): Refers to plump, fattened animals. This signifies giving the best and most valuable part, reflecting the lavishness of the offering and the psalmist's immense gratitude. Fat was considered the richest part and exclusively for God in many offerings.
- with the smoke of rams (קְטֹרֶת אֵילִים, q'toret eilim): Q'toret often refers to incense or the smoke of burnt offerings ascending to God, representing the pleasant aroma to God (cf. Gen 8:21, Eph 5:2). Eilim are male sheep, also a significant and valuable sacrificial animal (Exod 29:1-3, Lev 8:2, Num 28:11).
- I will offer (אֶעֱשֶׂה, e'eseh): Literally "I will make" or "I will do," reiterating the psalmist's active commitment to perform the sacrifice.
- bulls (פָּרִים, parim): Large, costly male cattle, indicating a major sacrifice (Lev 1:5, 4:3).
- with goats (עַתּוּדִים, 'attudim): Male goats, another standard sacrificial animal, used for various offerings including sin and burnt offerings (Lev 4:24, Num 7:16). Their inclusion underscores the comprehensive and abundant nature of the offering.
Psalm 66 15 Bonus section
The fulfillment of vows in the Old Testament was not merely a ritual obligation but a profound spiritual act. It underscored the covenant relationship between God and His people, where promises made to God in times of need were to be kept when He answered. The lavishness of the offerings in this verse points to a joyous and complete payment, far exceeding a minimalist interpretation of one's vows. This contrasts with practices that might offer cheap or blemished sacrifices (Mal 1:8). The passage demonstrates that the act of giving one's best in sacrifice to God is a testimony to His greatness and faithfulness, reflecting the very heart of the worshiper in response to God's benevolence.
Psalm 66 15 Commentary
Psalm 66:15 reflects a deep Old Covenant principle of expressing gratitude and worship through physical sacrifices. The description of the animals—fatlings, rams, bulls, and goats—shows that the psalmist is committed to offering sacrifices of the highest quality and in abundant quantity. This generosity indicates the profound depth of relief and thanksgiving experienced, as one would spare no expense in expressing thanks for miraculous deliverance. It reminds believers that true gratitude, when able, seeks to give sacrificially from the best one possesses. While the New Covenant no longer requires animal sacrifices for sin or fellowship due to Christ's singular offering, the spirit of this verse—a grateful, lavish heart offering its best—remains vital for believers in spiritual sacrifices of praise, service, and transformed living (Rom 12:1; Heb 13:15-16).