One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

NUMBERS 7:39KJV
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Numbers 7:39 (KJV)

What does Numbers 7:39 mean?

Numbers 7:39 records animals brought as part of a leader’s gift for the dedication of the altar. The young bull, ram, and year-old lamb were set aside for a burnt offering: a gift to God that would be burned on the altar.

The verse is part of the account of the offering brought by Shelumiel, the leader of Simeon, on the fifth day. After the grain offering mentioned in verse 37, the list turns to animals brought for sacrifice.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 7:39

  • “burnt offering” — עֹלָה (ʿolah): This word names an offering presented by burning. Elsewhere in the instructions for such offerings, the animal is burned on the altar; the Hebrew name is associated with what goes up.

Why Numbers 7:39 matters

  • The animals form one part of a larger gift, not the whole gift. Shelumiel’s offering also includes silver vessels, flour, oil, and incense in Numbers 7:37–38.
  • The list distinguishes gifts by their purpose. Verse 39 names a “burnt offering,” while verse 40 names a separate offering for sin.
  • The repeated pattern of gifts gives each tribe’s leader a place in the altar’s dedication. Shelumiel’s animals match those listed for the preceding leader in Numbers 7:33.

Where else these words appear

“lamb” Hebrew H3532 · used in 100 verses

  • Exodus 12:5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:
  • Numbers 7:57 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
  • Numbers 29:18 And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:

“bullock” Hebrew H6499 · used in 119 verses

  • Genesis 32:15 Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and ten bulls, twenty she asses, and ten foals.
  • Numbers 7:63 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
  • Numbers 29:33 And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner: