These things ye shall do unto the LORD in your set feasts, beside your vows, and your freewill offerings, for your burnt offerings, and for your meat offerings, and for your drink offerings, and for your peace offerings.

NUMBERS 29:39KJV
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Numbers 29:39 (KJV)

What does Numbers 29:39 mean?

Numbers 29:39 instructs the Israelites to offer specific sacrifices to the LORD during their appointed festivals, in addition to any personal vows or voluntary offerings they might bring. The verse lists several types of offerings—burnt, grain, drink, and peace offerings—emphasizing that these festival sacrifices are required alongside any extra gifts people choose to give.

Moses is speaking to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land, giving detailed instructions from God about worship and sacrifice. This verse sums up a section about festival offerings, making it clear that the set rituals do not replace personal commitments or freewill gifts; both are important parts of Israel’s relationship with God.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 29:39

  • LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH): This is the personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible, highlighting that these offerings are directed specifically to Israel’s covenant God, not just any deity.
  • Feasts (מוֹעֵד, mo‘ed): This word means appointed times or set festivals, showing these are not random or optional gatherings but scheduled, communal events in Israel’s calendar.
  • Vows (נֶדֶר, neder) and Freewill Offerings (נְדָבָה, nedavah): These terms distinguish between offerings people promised to God (vows) and those given voluntarily (freewill), making clear that the required festival sacrifices do not replace personal devotion.
  • Burnt Offerings (עֹלָה, ‘olah), Grain Offerings (מִנְחָה, minchah), Drink Offerings (נֶסֶךְ, nesech), Peace Offerings (שֶׁלֶם, shelem): Each type of offering had a specific purpose and ritual, showing the variety and richness of Israel’s worship practices.

Why Numbers 29:39 matters

  • Numbers 29:39 clarifies that the regular festival sacrifices do not take the place of personal or voluntary offerings, so both communal and individual worship are valued.
  • The verse highlights the structured nature of Israel’s worship, with both set times and personal expressions of faith, helping readers see the balance between obligation and freewill in ancient Israelite religion.
  • This summary verse connects the detailed instructions about sacrifices in Numbers 28–29, reminding the reader that all these offerings together form a complete picture of Israel’s worship life.

Where else these words appear

“offerings” Hebrew H5071 · used in 25 verses

  • Exodus 35:29 The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the LORD, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the LORD had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses.
  • Deuteronomy 12:6 And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks:
  • Ezra 8:28 And I said unto them, Ye are holy unto the LORD; the vessels are holy also; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering unto the LORD God of your fathers.

“vows” Hebrew H5088 · used in 57 verses

  • Genesis 28:20 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,
  • Numbers 30:6 And if she had at all an husband, when she vowed, or uttered ought out of her lips, wherewith she bound her soul;
  • 2 Samuel 15:8 For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.

“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.

“offerings” Hebrew H8002 · used in 84 verses

  • Exodus 20:24 An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.
  • Leviticus 9:22 And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed them, and came down from offering of the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and peace offerings.
  • Judges 20:26 Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.