Numbers 29:5 (KJV)

What does Numbers 29:5 mean?

Numbers 29:5 commands that one young goat be offered as a sin offering to make atonement for the people. This instruction is part of a larger set of sacrifices that the Israelites were to bring during their religious festivals, specifically to address sin and restore the relationship between the people and God.

In this verse, Moses is relaying God’s instructions to the Israelites about the required offerings during the Feast of Trumpets. The mention of a "sin offering" highlights the need for atonement—covering or removing guilt—so that the community could approach God with a clean slate. This sacrifice was one part of a detailed system meant to keep the people mindful of their dependence on God’s forgiveness.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 29:5

• "one" (אֶחָד, 'echad'): This word emphasizes that only a single goat was required for the sin offering, underlining the specific and intentional nature of the ritual.
• "kid" (שָׂעִיר, sa‘ir): This term refers to a young male goat, which was a common animal used in sin offerings, symbolizing innocence and substitution.
• "goats" (עֵזִים, ‘ezim): While "kid" specifies the age and gender, "goats" identifies the broader category of animal, showing the ritual’s consistency with other sacrificial instructions.
• "offering" (חַטָּאת, chatta’t): This word means "sin offering," a sacrifice specifically meant to deal with unintentional sins and restore the relationship between the people and God.
• "atonement" (כָּפַר, kaphar): This verb means "to cover" or "to make atonement," pointing to the purpose of the sacrifice—to cover over sin so that the people could remain in right standing with God.

Why Numbers 29:5 matters

• Numbers 29:5 clarifies that even during joyful festivals, the need for atonement was not overlooked; sin offerings were always part of Israel’s worship, reminding the people of their ongoing need for forgiveness.
• The verse connects the specific ritual of the Feast of Trumpets to the broader sacrificial system, showing that atonement was a central concern in every aspect of Israel’s relationship with God.
• By specifying a single young goat, the verse highlights the careful and ordered nature of Israel’s worship, where every detail had meaning and purpose.