Question 1

What does Numbers 7:82 mean?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 2

The Hebrew behind Numbers 7:82

Accepted Answer

"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.

Question 3

Why Numbers 7:82 matters

Accepted Answer

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.

Numbers 7:82 (KJV)