And they brought seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven he goats, for a sin offering for the kingdom, and for the sanctuary, and for Judah. And he commanded the priests the sons of Aaron to offer them on the altar of the LORD.

2 CHRONICLES 29:21KJV
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2 Chronicles 29:21 (KJV)

What does 2 Chronicles 29:21 mean?

2 Chronicles 29:21 describes how seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats were brought as a sin offering for the kingdom, the sanctuary, and Judah, and the priests, who were descendants of Aaron, were commanded to offer these animals on the altar to the LORD. This verse shows a specific ritual act meant to seek forgiveness and purification for the people and their place of worship.

King Hezekiah is leading a national religious renewal after a period of neglect and idolatry in Judah. He gathers the priests and Levites to restore proper worship in the temple. The verse details the exact animals and numbers used for the sin offering, emphasizing the seriousness and completeness of the act, as well as the involvement of the priests according to the traditions given to Aaron’s descendants.

The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 29:21

  • "Seven" (שִׁבְעָה, shiv'ah): The repeated use of the number seven often symbolizes completeness or perfection in Hebrew thought, highlighting the thoroughness of this offering.
  • "Sin offering" (חַטָּאָה, chatta'ah): This term refers to a sacrifice specifically meant to deal with sin and restore a right relationship with God, showing that the ritual was about seeking forgiveness.
  • "Priests" (כֹּהֵן, kohen) and "sons of Aaron" (בְּנֵי אַהֲרֹן, bnei Aharon): These phrases stress that only those from Aaron’s family line, as commanded in the Law, could perform this sacred duty, underlining the importance of following the proper order in worship.

Why 2 Chronicles 29:21 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the sin offering was made not just for individuals but for the whole kingdom, the temple itself, and the tribe of Judah, showing the wide scope of the need for cleansing.
  • The detailed instructions and the use of the number seven emphasize the seriousness and completeness of the national repentance and renewal.
  • By naming the priests as "sons of Aaron," the verse connects this ritual back to the original commands given in the Law of Moses, showing a return to faithful worship after a period of neglect.

Where else these words appear

“he” Hebrew H6842 · used in 5 verses

  • Ezra 8:35 Also the children of those that had been carried away, which were come out of the captivity, offered burnt offerings unto the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety and six rams, seventy and seven lambs, twelve he goats for a sin offering: all this was a burnt offering unto the LORD.
  • Daniel 8:5 And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.
  • Daniel 8:8 Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.

“sanctuary” Hebrew H4720 · used in 71 verses

  • Exodus 15:17 Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established.
  • Psalms 68:35 O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God.
  • Ezekiel 28:18 Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.

“goats” Hebrew H5795 · used in 74 verses

  • Genesis 15:9 And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.
  • Leviticus 9:3 And unto the children of Israel thou shalt speak, saying, Take ye a kid of the goats for a sin offering; and a calf and a lamb, both of the first year, without blemish, for a burnt offering;
  • Numbers 28:30 And one kid of the goats, to make an atonement for you.

“lambs” Hebrew H3532 · used in 100 verses

  • Exodus 12:5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:
  • Numbers 7:53 And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Elishama the son of Ammihud.
  • Numbers 29:17 And on the second day ye shall offer twelve young bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of the first year without spot: