And one kid of the goats for a sin offering unto the LORD shall be offered, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.

NUMBERS 28:15KJV
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Numbers 28:15 (KJV)

What does Numbers 28:15 mean?

Numbers 28:15 commands that, along with the regular daily burnt offering, the Israelites must also offer one young male goat as a sin offering to the LORD, including its drink offering. This instruction sets an additional sacrifice that is to be made every month, not replacing but adding to the continual offerings.

Moses is relaying God’s instructions to the Israelites about their worship practices while they are in the wilderness. This verse comes in a section where God details the regular sacrifices required at different times—daily, weekly, monthly, and during special festivals. The focus here is on the monthly offering, emphasizing that the sin offering (a young goat) is always to be included alongside the ongoing daily burnt offerings.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 28:15

  • "Kid" — שָׂעִיר (saʿir): This word refers specifically to a young male goat, which was commonly used for sin offerings. Its use here highlights the particular animal required for this type of sacrifice.
  • "Offering" — חַטָּאת (chatta't): This word means "sin offering," a sacrifice made to atone for unintentional sins. Its presence clarifies that this goat is not just any offering, but one meant to address sin and restore relationship with God.
  • "Continual" — תָּמִיד (tamid): This term means "continual" or "regular," referring to the daily burnt offerings that were always to be kept going. The verse stresses that the sin offering is in addition to, not instead of, these regular sacrifices.

Why Numbers 28:15 matters

  • Numbers 28:15 clarifies that the monthly sin offering is not a replacement for the daily sacrifices but an extra requirement, underlining the importance of both regular and special acts of worship.
  • The verse shows that atonement for sin was a continual need, not just an occasional concern, which helps explain the structure of Israel’s sacrificial system.
  • This instruction connects the monthly ritual to the broader pattern of offerings in Numbers 28, showing how Israel’s worship life was carefully ordered and layered with meaning.

Where else these words appear

“kid” Hebrew H8163 · used in 57 verses

  • Genesis 27:11 And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man:
  • Leviticus 16:26 And he that let go the goat for the scapegoat shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward come into the camp.
  • Numbers 28:30 And one kid of the goats, to make an atonement for you.

“offering” Hebrew H5262 · used in 62 verses

  • Genesis 35:14 And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon.
  • Numbers 28:31 Ye shall offer them beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering,(they shall be unto you without blemish) and their drink offerings.
  • 2 Kings 16:15 And king Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, Upon the great altar burn the morning burnt offering, and the evening meat offering, and the king's burnt sacrifice, and his meat offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings; and sprinkle upon it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice: and the brasen altar shall be for me to enquire by.

“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 29:5 And one kid of the goats for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you:

“continual” Hebrew H8548 · used in 103 verses

  • Exodus 25:30 And thou shalt set upon the table shewbread before me alway.
  • 2 Samuel 9:7 And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.
  • Psalms 105:4 Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore.