And he shall offer the ram for a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD, with the basket of unleavened bread: the priest shall offer also his meat offering, and his drink offering.

NUMBERS 6:17KJV
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Numbers 6:17 (KJV)

What does Numbers 6:17 mean?

Numbers 6:17 describes how, as part of a special ceremony, a ram is offered as a peace offering to the LORD, along with a basket of unleavened bread. The priest also presents a grain offering and a drink offering as part of this ritual.

In this verse, God is giving Moses instructions for the Nazirite vow, a voluntary commitment made by individuals who wanted to dedicate themselves to God for a period of time. When the time of the vow ended, the Nazirite would bring several offerings to the tabernacle. This verse lists the specific sacrifices and offerings the priest was to present on behalf of the Nazirite, showing the careful and detailed nature of worship in ancient Israel.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 6:17

  • "Peace offerings" is שָׁלָמִים (shelamim), which refers to offerings meant to express fellowship or harmony with God. This type of sacrifice was often shared as a meal, symbolizing peace between the worshiper and God.
  • "Unleavened bread" is מַצָּה (matzah), bread made without yeast. In offerings, unleavened bread often symbolized purity and separation from sin.
  • "Meat offering" is מִנְחָה (minchah), which actually means a grain or gift offering, not meat as in animal flesh. This was typically made of flour, oil, and sometimes frankincense, and was a way to honor God with the work of one’s hands.
  • "Drink offering" is נֶסֶךְ (nesekh), a pouring out of wine, which was an act of dedication and gratitude to God.

Why Numbers 6:17 matters

  • Numbers 6:17 shows that the Nazirite vow was not just about abstaining from certain things, but also about a positive act of worship and thanksgiving at its conclusion.
  • The verse highlights the variety of offerings—animal, grain, and drink—demonstrating the completeness and richness of Israelite worship practices.
  • By specifying these rituals, the verse connects the Nazirite’s personal devotion to the wider community’s worship, reminding readers that individual commitments were always tied to the shared life and worship of Israel.

Where else these words appear

“basket” Hebrew H5536 · used in 13 verses

  • Genesis 40:16 When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said unto Joseph, I also was in my dream, and, behold, I had three white baskets on my head:
  • Exodus 29:23 And one loaf of bread, and one cake of oiled bread, and one wafer out of the basket of the unleavened bread that is before the LORD:
  • Leviticus 8:31 And Moses said unto Aaron and to his sons, Boil the flesh at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and there eat it with the bread that is in the basket of consecrations, as I commanded, saying, Aaron and his sons shall eat it.

“bread” Hebrew H4682 · used in 42 verses

  • Genesis 19:3 And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.
  • Leviticus 2:4 And if thou bring an oblation of a meat offering baken in the oven, it shall be unleavened cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, or unleavened wafers anointed with oil.
  • Deuteronomy 16:16 Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty:

“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 28:31 Ye shall offer them beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering,(they shall be unto you without blemish) and their drink offerings.
  • 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.