And the drink offering thereof shall be the fourth part of an hin for the one lamb: in the holy place shalt thou cause the strong wine to be poured unto the LORD for a drink offering.

NUMBERS 28:7KJV
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Numbers 28:7 (KJV)

What does Numbers 28:7 mean?

Numbers 28:7 describes how, as part of Israel’s daily offerings, a specific amount of strong wine was to be poured out in the holy place as a drink offering to the LORD, accompanying the sacrifice of a lamb. This instruction is about the exact ritual practice the priests were to follow in their service at the tabernacle.

In this verse, God is speaking to Moses, giving detailed instructions for the priests about daily worship in the tabernacle. The “fourth part of an hin” is an ancient measurement for the wine, and the “holy place” refers to the area set apart for worship. The drink offering was not for human consumption but was poured out as a symbol of dedication to God.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 28:7

  • הִין (hin, H1969): This is an ancient Hebrew liquid measure, roughly equivalent to about 1.5 gallons or 5.7 liters, so a “fourth part” would be about a pint or half a liter. Knowing the exact amount helps us see the care and precision expected in worship.
  • שֵׁכָר (shekar, H7941): This word means “strong wine” or “fermented drink.” The use of strong wine, not just water or ordinary wine, highlights the value and seriousness of the offering.
  • יַיִן (yayin, H3196) does not appear in the tags, so the focus here is on שֵׁכָר (shekar), which often refers to a more potent drink, emphasizing the richness of what was offered to God.
  • קָדֶשׁ (qodesh, H6944): This means “holy” or “set apart.” The pouring happens in the holy place, showing that this act was not casual but part of sacred ritual.

Why Numbers 28:7 matters

  • Numbers 28:7 clarifies that the drink offering was a specific, measured act of worship, not just a general gift, showing the importance of following God’s instructions exactly.
  • The verse highlights that worship involved more than just animal sacrifices; it included offerings of valuable goods like strong wine, reflecting a fuller picture of devotion.
  • By connecting the drink offering to the daily lamb sacrifice, Numbers 28:7 shows how Israel’s worship was regular, structured, and involved multiple elements, not just one type of ritual.

Where else these words appear

“hin” Hebrew H1969 · used in 19 verses

  • Exodus 29:40 And with the one lamb a tenth deal of flour mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil; and the fourth part of an hin of wine for a drink offering.
  • Numbers 15:6 Or for a ram, thou shalt prepare for a meat offering two tenth deals of flour mingled with the third part of an hin of oil.
  • Ezekiel 4:11 Thou shalt drink also water by measure, the sixth part of an hin: from time to time shalt thou drink.

“wine” Hebrew H7941 · used in 20 verses

  • Leviticus 10:9 Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:
  • Judges 13:14 She may not eat of any thing that cometh of the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing: all that I commanded her let her observe.
  • Isaiah 5:11 Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!

“poured” Hebrew H5258 · used in 24 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.
  • Psalms 2:6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
  • Jeremiah 19:13 And the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses of the kings of Judah, shall be defiled as the place of Tophet, because of all the houses upon whose roofs they have burned incense unto all the host of heaven, and have poured out drink offerings unto other gods.

“fourth” Hebrew H7243 · used in 54 verses

  • Genesis 1:19 And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.
  • 1 Kings 6:1 And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD.
  • 1 Chronicles 27:7 The fourth captain for the fourth month was Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.