Numbers 29:10 (KJV)

What does Numbers 29:10 mean?

Numbers 29:10 gives instructions for the amount of grain offering to be given with each lamb during a special sacrifice: each of the seven lambs was to have a separate tenth-part measure of flour as an offering. This verse is part of detailed directions for a festival sacrifice in ancient Israel.

Moses is relaying God’s instructions to the Israelites about how to prepare offerings during the Feast of Tabernacles. The verse focuses on the exact portion of grain to be offered with each lamb, showing the importance of following God’s instructions precisely and treating each animal’s sacrifice as individually significant.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 29:10

• "deal" (עִשָּׂרוֹן, ʿissaron): This word means a "tenth part," referring to a specific measure of flour. Here, it emphasizes that each lamb required its own separate portion, not a shared one.
• "one" (אֶחָד, ʾeḥad): This word means "one" or "each," underlining that the offering is for each individual lamb, not a collective amount for all seven.
• "lamb" (כֶּבֶשׂ, keves) and "lambs" (כֶּבֶשׂ, keves): The same word is used for both singular and plural, making it clear that the instruction applies to each of the seven lambs.
• "seven" (שֶׁבַע, sheva): This word specifies the number of lambs, tying the instruction to the festival’s ritual pattern.

Why Numbers 29:10 matters

• Numbers 29:10 clarifies that each lamb in the sacrifice required its own separate grain offering, preventing any confusion about whether the offering was to be divided among the animals.
• The verse highlights the careful attention to detail in Israel’s worship practices, showing that every part of the ritual was significant and not left to personal interpretation.
• This instruction fits into a larger pattern in Numbers 29, where each element of the festival sacrifices is carefully counted and measured, reflecting the orderliness and seriousness of Israel’s relationship with God.