And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:

NUMBERS 29:21KJV
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Numbers 29:21 (KJV)

What does Numbers 29:21 mean?

Numbers 29:21 explains that the grain (meat) and drink offerings for each animal sacrifice—the bulls, rams, and lambs—should match the number of animals being offered and follow the established instructions. This verse is about making sure each animal has its proper accompanying offerings, done according to the set rules.

In this part of Numbers, Moses is relaying God’s instructions to the Israelites about the sacrifices for the Feast of Tabernacles. The verse emphasizes careful attention to detail: each type of animal (bull, ram, lamb) has its own required grain and drink offering, and the people must follow the prescribed pattern for each, not just the main animal sacrifice.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 29:21

  • "offering" (מִנְחָה, minchah): This word refers to a grain offering, usually of flour, oil, and sometimes frankincense. Its use here highlights that worship involved more than just animal sacrifices; it included offerings from the harvest as well.
  • "offerings" (נֶסֶךְ, nesech): This word means a drink offering, typically wine poured out as part of the ritual. Including this term shows the completeness of the ceremony, combining both food and drink as acts of devotion.
  • "bullocks" (פַּר, par), "rams" (אַיִל, ayil), "lambs" (כֶּבֶשׂ, keves): These words specify the animals involved, underscoring that each category had its own requirements.
  • "number" (מִסְפָּר, mispar): This word means the count or total, making it clear that the offerings must correspond exactly to how many animals are sacrificed.
  • "manner" (מִשְׁפָּט, mishpat): This word means the prescribed rule or ordinance, stressing that these offerings are to be done according to God’s set instructions, not personal preference.

Why Numbers 29:21 matters

  • Numbers 29:21 clarifies that the supporting offerings (grain and drink) are not optional or generic, but must be carefully matched to each animal, reinforcing the importance of obedience and attention to detail in worship.
  • The verse shows that worship in ancient Israel was structured and orderly, with specific instructions for every part of the sacrifice, not just the main animal.
  • This instruction ties into the larger context of the Feast of Tabernacles, showing that every day’s sacrifices were to be done with the same carefulness, reflecting the seriousness with which the Israelites were to approach God.

Where else these words appear

“offerings” 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.

“lambs” Hebrew H3532 · used in 100 verses

  • Exodus 12:5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:
  • Numbers 7:53 And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Elishama the son of Ammihud.
  • Numbers 29:17 And on the second day ye shall offer twelve young bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of the first year without spot:

“bullocks” Hebrew H6499 · used in 119 verses

  • Genesis 32:15 Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and ten bulls, twenty she asses, and ten foals.
  • Numbers 7:57 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
  • Numbers 29:33 And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:

“number” Hebrew H4557 · used in 129 verses

  • Genesis 34:30 And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.
  • Deuteronomy 33:6 Let Reuben live, and not die; and let not his men be few.
  • Ezra 3:4 They kept also the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required;