Numbers 6:15 (KJV)

What does Numbers 6:15 mean?

Numbers 6:15 describes the specific offerings a Nazirite must bring: a basket of unleavened bread, cakes made from fine flour mixed with oil, wafers of unleavened bread anointed with oil, along with a grain offering and drink offerings. These items are part of the ritual for completing a Nazirite vow.

In this verse, God is giving Moses instructions for the Israelites about the Nazirite vow—a special period of dedication to God. The offerings listed are part of the ceremony marking the end of this vow. Each item has symbolic meaning in Israelite worship, showing the seriousness and completeness of the Nazirite’s commitment.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 6:15

• "basket" (סַל, sal): This word refers to a woven container used to carry the bread offerings, emphasizing the careful preparation and presentation required.
• "bread" (מַצָּה, matzah): This is unleavened bread, which in Israelite tradition often symbolizes purity and separation from sin or corruption.
• "cakes" (חַלָּה, challah): These are specific types of baked goods made from fine flour and oil, showing richness and care in the offering.
• "mingled" (בָּלוּל, balul): This word means mixed or blended, here referring to oil being thoroughly combined with the flour, which was a special way to prepare offerings.
• "anointed" (מָשַׁח, mashach): This means to smear or rub with oil, marking the wafers as set apart or consecrated for a holy purpose.

Why Numbers 6:15 matters

• Numbers 6:15 clarifies that the Nazirite vow involved not just abstaining from certain things, but also required a specific set of offerings at its completion, highlighting the seriousness of the commitment.
• The verse shows the detailed care and ritual involved in Israelite worship, emphasizing that dedication to God was marked by both personal discipline and public ceremony.
• By listing both grain and drink offerings, Numbers 6:15 connects the Nazirite’s personal vow to the wider system of sacrifices in Israel, showing that individual devotion was always linked to the community’s worship practices.