And one kid of the goats for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you:

NUMBERS 29:5KJV
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Numbers 29:5 (KJV)

What does Numbers 29:5 mean?

Numbers 29:5 calls for a young goat to be offered on behalf of the Israelites. The offering addresses the people’s sin—their wrongdoing before God—and is part of the instructions for a sacred day.

God gives these instructions to Moses for the Israelites. After the offerings listed in the preceding verses, verse 5 adds an offering with a distinct purpose: “to make an atonement for you.” In everyday words, that phrase points to dealing with the people’s sin so they can be made right before God.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 29:5

  • “sin offering” — חַטָּאת (ḥaṭṭāʾt): This word can mean “sin” or an offering associated with sin. Here it names the kind of offering, rather than the wrongdoing itself.
  • “atonement” — כָּפַר (kāphar): This verb carries the sense of making amends or dealing with wrongdoing. In this verse, the action is done “for you,” on behalf of the people.

Why Numbers 29:5 matters

  • The offering has a communal purpose. The words “for you” address the Israelites receiving the instructions, rather than naming one person’s private offering.
  • The goat is one part of a larger set of offerings for the day. Verse 6 adds that these offerings are given alongside the regular offerings, showing that the day’s observance did not replace them.

Where else these words appear

“kid” 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.

“goats” Hebrew H5795 · used in 74 verses

  • Genesis 15:9 And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.
  • Leviticus 9:3 And unto the children of Israel thou shalt speak, saying, Take ye a kid of the goats for a sin offering; and a calf and a lamb, both of the first year, without blemish, for a burnt offering;
  • Numbers 28:30 And one kid of the goats, to make an atonement for you.

“atonement” Hebrew H3722 · used in 94 verses

  • Genesis 6:14 Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.
  • Leviticus 14:21 And if he be poor, and cannot get so much; then he shall take one lamb for a trespass offering to be waved, to make an atonement for him, and one tenth deal of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering, and a log of oil;
  • Numbers 25:13 And he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel.