Numbers 7:58 (KJV)

What does Numbers 7:58 mean?

Numbers 7:58 records that one young male goat was offered as a sin offering. This was part of the offerings brought by the tribal leaders of Israel during the dedication of the altar in the wilderness.

In the context of Numbers 7, each leader from the twelve tribes of Israel brought a set of offerings to dedicate the altar, and this verse lists part of what was brought by the leader of the tribe of Benjamin. The "sin offering" was a specific type of sacrifice meant to address sin and restore the relationship between the people and God. This verse highlights the careful, repeated pattern of offerings for each tribe during this important ceremony.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 7:58

• אֶחָד (echad, "one"): This word emphasizes that a single animal was offered, showing the standardization and equality in the offerings from each tribe.
• שָׂעִיר (sa'ir, "kid"): This term refers to a young male goat, which was the required animal for a sin offering in this context.
• עֵזִים (ezim, "goats"): This word clarifies the species of the animal, making it clear that the offering was a goat and not another kind of animal.
• חַטָּאת (chatat, "offering"): This is the word for "sin offering," a sacrifice specifically intended to deal with sin and impurity.

Why Numbers 7:58 matters

• Numbers 7:58 shows the careful repetition and orderliness of the offerings, underlining the unity and shared responsibility of all the tribes in dedicating the altar.
• The mention of the sin offering (חַטָּאת, chatat) highlights the need for atonement and purification even during a joyful, communal event like the dedication of the altar.
• This verse connects to the larger passage by showing that every tribe, regardless of size or status, participated equally in the spiritual life of the community.