And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering.

NUMBERS 29:16KJV
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Numbers 29:16 (KJV)

What does Numbers 29:16 mean?

Numbers 29:16 describes the requirement to offer one young goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular daily burnt offering, its grain offering, and its drink offering. This instruction is part of a set of sacrifices the Israelites were to make during a festival, making clear that these special offerings did not replace the daily ones.

In this verse, God is speaking to Moses, giving him detailed instructions for the sacrifices the Israelites must bring during the Feast of Tabernacles. The verse emphasizes that the special sin offering (a young goat) is to be presented alongside—not instead of—the continual daily offerings. This shows the careful structure and ongoing nature of Israel’s worship practices.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 29:16

  • חַטָּאָה (ḥaṭṭā’āh, “sin offering”): This word refers specifically to an offering meant to deal with sin or impurity. Its use here highlights that even during festivals, the need for atonement remained central.
  • עֹלָה (ʿōlāh, “burnt offering”): This word describes an offering that is completely burned on the altar, symbolizing total dedication to God. The mention of the continual (תָּמִיד, tamid) burnt offering shows that daily worship and special festival sacrifices were both important and not to be neglected.

Why Numbers 29:16 matters

  • Numbers 29:16 clarifies that festival sacrifices were additions to, not replacements for, the daily offerings, showing the layered nature of Israel’s worship.
  • The verse highlights the ongoing need for atonement (through the sin offering) even during times of celebration, underlining the seriousness with which sin and purity were treated.
  • This instruction fits into a larger section where Moses is given precise details for each day’s offerings during the Feast of Tabernacles, reflecting the order and care expected in Israel’s relationship with God.

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 28:22 And one goat for a sin offering, 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 28:24 After this manner ye shall offer daily, throughout the seven days, the meat of the sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD: it shall be offered beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.
  • 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 28:30 And one kid of the goats, 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.