And on the sabbath day two lambs of the first year without spot, and two tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, and the drink offering thereof:

NUMBERS 28:9KJV
Know the Bible

Numbers 28:9 (KJV)

What does Numbers 28:9 mean?

Numbers 28:9 describes the specific offerings that the Israelites were to bring on the Sabbath day: two unblemished year-old lambs, along with a grain offering made of fine flour mixed with oil, and a drink offering. This verse lays out the regular Sabbath sacrifices that were to be added to the daily offerings.

In this verse, God is speaking to Moses, giving instructions for the priests and the people of Israel about how to properly honor the Sabbath with sacrifices at the tabernacle. The details about the number and quality of lambs, the amount of flour, and the use of oil and drink offerings show the care and regularity expected in Sabbath worship. These instructions are part of a larger section where God outlines the daily, weekly, and special festival offerings for Israel.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 28:9

  • שַּׁבָּת (shabbat) — This word means "Sabbath," referring to the weekly day of rest and worship. Its use here emphasizes that these offerings are in addition to the regular daily sacrifices, marking the Sabbath as a special, set-apart day.
  • תְּמִימִם (temimim) — Translated as "without spot" or "unblemished," this word highlights that the lambs offered must be perfect, without physical defects. This requirement underscores the idea of giving the best to God.
  • סֹלֶת (solet) — This word means "fine flour," indicating a high-quality grain offering. The use of fine flour, rather than ordinary flour, points to the importance of the offering.
  • מִנְחָה (minchah) — This is the word for "offering," specifically a grain or meal offering. It often represents dedication and thanksgiving, not just animal sacrifice.

Why Numbers 28:9 matters

  • Numbers 28:9 clarifies that the Sabbath was not just a day of rest but also a day with its own special offerings, showing its unique place in Israel’s worship life.
  • The verse shows the careful structure and regularity of Israel’s worship, with specific instructions for different days and occasions, reflecting order and intentionality in approaching God.
  • Understanding these Sabbath offerings helps make sense of later passages in the Bible that refer to sacrifices and worship practices, and it shows how the Sabbath was observed in the time of Moses.

Where else these words appear

“tenth” Hebrew H6241 · used in 22 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.
  • Numbers 28:29 A several tenth deal unto one lamb, throughout the seven lambs;

“mingled” Hebrew H1101 · used in 42 verses

  • Genesis 11:7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.
  • Numbers 7:13 And his offering was one silver charger, the weight thereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them were full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat 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.

“flour” Hebrew H5560 · used in 52 verses

  • Genesis 18:6 And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.
  • Numbers 6:15 And a basket of unleavened bread, cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, and wafers of unleavened bread anointed with oil, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings.
  • Numbers 28:5 And a tenth part of an ephah of flour for a meat offering, mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil.

“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.