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

NUMBERS 29:28KJV
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Numbers 29:28 (KJV)

What does Numbers 29:28 mean?

Numbers 29:28 completes the instructions for the sixth day of the Festival of Shelters. It calls for a goat as a sin offering, a gift associated with dealing with wrongdoing. The day’s offerings were given in addition to the regular daily offerings.

God is giving Moses instructions for Israel’s worship. After the animal offerings listed in the preceding verses, verse 28 adds the goat and makes clear that the established daily offerings continue during the festival.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 29:28

  • “meat offering” — מִנְחָה (minḥah): This word can mean a gift or an offering. In the KJV, “meat” could mean food in general; here the offering was made from flour and oil, not animal flesh.
  • “drink offering” — נֶסֶךְ (nesekh): This word refers to a liquid poured out as an offering. The word helps distinguish this offering from the flour mixture named just before it.

Why Numbers 29:28 matters

  • The festival schedule added to the daily pattern rather than replacing it. The word “beside” places the sixth day’s offerings alongside the “continual burnt offering.”
  • The goat had a distinct purpose within the day’s offerings. Numbers 29:28 calls it a “sin offering,” while the preceding verses describe animals for a burnt offering.
  • The flour and drink offerings belonged with the regular burnt offering. The KJV’s “his meat offering” and “his drink offering” refer back to that offering and its accompanying gifts.

Where else these words appear

“goat” 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.

“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.