Numbers 7:82 (KJV)

What does Numbers 7:82 mean?

Numbers 7:82 states that one young male goat was offered as a sin offering. This verse records a specific part of the offerings brought by a leader of Israel during the dedication of the altar in the wilderness.

The context is the dedication ceremony for the altar, where each tribal leader brought a set of offerings to God. The "sin offering" here was a required sacrifice meant to address the people's sin and maintain their relationship with God. This verse is part of a detailed list, showing that every tribe followed the same instructions, emphasizing order and equality among the tribes.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 7:82

• "One" (אֶחָד, 'echad): This word highlights that the offering was a single animal, not a group, pointing to the specific requirement for this part of the ceremony.
• "Kid" (שָׂעִיר, sa‘ir): This term refers to a young male goat, which was a common animal for sin offerings in the law of Moses.
• "Goats" (עֵז, ‘ez): This is the general word for goat, clarifying the type of animal being offered.
• "Offering" (חַטָּאת, chatta’t): This word means "sin offering," a sacrifice intended to deal with sin and restore fellowship with God.

Why Numbers 7:82 matters

• Numbers 7:82 shows that every tribe brought the same kind of sin offering, underlining the shared need for forgiveness and the equal standing of all the tribes before God.
• The verse connects to the larger passage by repeating the same pattern for each leader, emphasizing obedience and unity in worship.
• By specifying the type and number of animals, Numbers 7:82 helps clarify the careful attention to detail in Israel’s worship practices and the seriousness with which sin was addressed.