Numbers 29:23 (KJV)

What does Numbers 29:23 mean?

Numbers 29:23 gives instructions for the offerings to be made on the fourth day of a special festival, calling for ten young bulls, two rams, and fourteen year-old lambs, all without any defects. This verse is part of a detailed list of sacrifices that the Israelites were to bring to God during the Feast of Tabernacles.

In this passage, God is speaking to Moses, who is then to instruct the Israelites about their worship practices. The verse is part of a larger section where each day of the festival has specific sacrifices, with the number of bulls decreasing each day. The focus on animals “without blemish” shows the importance of offering the best to God, and the precise numbers highlight the careful order of Israel’s worship.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 29:23

• "Fourth" (רְבִיעִי, rĕvîʿî): This word marks the specific day in the sequence, showing that each day of the festival had its own unique set of offerings.
• "Bullocks" (פַּר, par): Refers to young bulls, which were considered valuable and significant in sacrificial rituals. The decreasing number each day may symbolize a progression or a countdown within the festival.
• "Without blemish" (תָּמִים, tāmîm): This phrase means the animals had to be free from any defect, emphasizing the requirement to bring only the best and most perfect offerings to God.

Why Numbers 29:23 matters

• Numbers 29:23 helps clarify that the sacrifices during the Feast of Tabernacles were not random but carefully structured, with each day having a specific set of offerings.
• The verse highlights the importance of order and intentionality in Israel’s worship, showing that every detail mattered in their relationship with God.
• By noting the animals had to be "without blemish," the verse underscores the value placed on purity and wholehearted devotion in the Israelites’ offerings.