Numbers 28:12-15 · Bible study
Numbers 28:12-15 Commentary: Monthly New Moon Offerings
Hebrew · 7 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore the purpose and significance of the additional burnt and sin offerings prescribed for the first day of each month in Numbers 28:12-15.
Research Summary
- Meaning: God commands a monthly burnt offering and sin offering for the new moon to consecrate time and cleanse the community.
- Key words: New moon (חֹדֶשׁ), burnt offering (עֹלָה), sin offering (חַטָּאת), drink offering (נֶסֶךְ), fine flour (סֹלֶת).
- Main debate: Whether the new moon was a rest day or simply a day of special sacrifice; over time it developed into a minor feast (Keil and Delitzsch).
- Theological theme: Regular rhythm of consecration and atonement; God provides a way for his people to start each month fresh.
- Best use: Background for a sermon on spiritual rhythms, monthly accountability, or the need for regular confession.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
12along with three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering with each bull, two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering with the ram,
13and a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering with each lamb. This is a burnt offering, a pleasing aroma, an offering made by fire to the LORD.
14Their drink offerings shall be half a hin of wine with each bull, a third of a hin with the ram, and a quarter hin with each lamb. This is the monthly burnt offering to be made at each new moon throughout the year.
15In addition to the regular burnt offering with its drink offering, one male goat is to be presented to the LORD as a sin offering.
WEB World English Bible 2000
12and three tenths of an ephah of fine flour for a meal offering mixed with oil, for each bull; and two tenth parts of fine flour for a meal offering mixed with oil, for the one ram;
13and one tenth part of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering to every lamb, as a burnt offering of a pleasant aroma, an offering made by fire to Yahweh.
14Their drink offerings shall be half a hin of wine for a bull, the third part of a hin for the ram, and the fourth part of a hin for a lamb. This is the burnt offering of every month throughout the months of the year.
15Also, one male goat for a sin offering to Yahweh shall be offered in addition to the continual burnt offering and its drink offering.
KJV King James Version 1769
12And three tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, for one bullock; and two tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, for one ram;
13And a several tenth deal of flour mingled with oil for a meat offering unto one lamb; for a burnt offering of a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the Lord.
14And their drink offerings shall be half an hin of wine unto a bullock, and the third part of an hin unto a ram, and a fourth part of an hin unto a lamb: this is the burnt offering of every month throughout the months of the year.
15And one kid of the goats for a sin offering unto the Lord shall be offered, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
12and three tenth parts of an ephah of fine flour for a meal-offering, mingled with oil, for each bullock; and two tenth parts of fine flour for a meal-offering, mingled with oil, for the one ram;
13and a tenth part of fine flour mingled with oil for a meal-offering unto every lamb; for a burnt-offering of a sweet savor, an offering made by fire unto Jehovah.
14And their drink-offerings shall be half a hin of wine for a bullock, and the third part of a hin for the ram, and the fourth part of a hin for a lamb: this is the burnt-offering of every month throughout the months of the year.
15And one he-goat for a sin-offering unto Jehovah; it shall be offered besides the continual burnt-offering, and the drink-offering thereof.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
12and three-tenth deals of flour, a present, mixed with oil, for the one bullock, and two-tenth deals of flour, a present, mixed with oil, for the one ram;
13and a several tenth deal of flour, a present, mixed with oil, for the one lamb; a burnt-offering, a sweet fragrance, a fire-offering to Jehovah;
14and their libations are a half of the hin to a bullock, and a third of the hin to a ram, and a fourth of the hin to a lamb, of wine; this is the burnt-offering of every month for the months of the year;
15and one kid of the goats for a sin-offering to Jehovah; besides the continual burnt-offering it is prepared, and its libation.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
12And three tenth parts of fine flour as an oblation, mingled with oil, for one bullock; and two tenth parts of fine flour as an oblation, mingled with oil, for the ram;
13and a tenth part of fine flour mingled with oil as an oblation for each lamb: [it is] a burnt-offering of a sweet odour, an offering by fire to Jehovah.
14And their drink-offerings: half a hin of wine for a bullock, and the third part of a hin for the ram, and the fourth part of a hin for a lamb. This is the monthly burnt-offering for each month throughout the months of the year.
15And a buck of the goats shall be offered, for a sin-offering to Jehovah, besides the continual burnt-offering, and its drink-offering.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
12And three tenths of flour tempered with oil in sacrifice for every calf: and two tenths of flour tempered with oil for every ram:
13And the tenth of a tenth of flour tempered with oil in sacrifice for every lamb. It is a holocaust of most sweet odour and an offering by fire to the Lord.
14And these shall be the libations of wine that are to be poured out for every victim: Half a hin for every calf, a third for a ram, and a fourth for a lamb. This shall be the holocaust for every month, as they succeed one another in the course of the year.
15A buck goat also shall be offered to the Lord for a sin offering over and above the perpetual holocaust with its libations.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Numbers 28:12
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that Numbers 28:12-15 prescribes the monthly burnt offering for the new moon, distinct from the daily offerings. Keil and Delitzsch highlight the dual purpose: the burnt offering consecrated the month to God, while the added sin offering of a male goat (Leviticus 4:23) provided expiation for unintentional sins accumulated over the past month. Barnes notes that this sin offering, though listed last, was probably offered first, following the pattern seen in Exodus 29, Leviticus 5, 8, 9, 14, and 16. The quantities of grain and wine for each animal, varying by size, follow the standard laid out in Numbers 15:1-16. Matthew Henry sees the new moon offering as a call to double devotion at the start of each month. The Cambridge Bible observes that this offering is part of a systematic calendar of sacrifices in Numbers 28-29, likely post-exilic in its final arrangement. All agree that the offering was 'in addition to the continual burnt offering' (v.15), showing that special seasons required even greater sacrifice.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: God commands additional offerings for the first day of each month, including a sin offering, to be offered alongside the daily burnt offering.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose of the sin offering | All agree the sin offering provided expiation for unintentional sins committed during the past month, as outlined in Numbers 15:22-26. | Some see it as covering only corporate, unwitting sins; others suggest a broader cleansing for any sin not yet atoned for, while noting intentional sins required separate handling (Numbers 15:30-31). |
| Nature of the new moon day | The new moon was a day of special sacrifice and worship, but the Torah does not command a full sabbath rest on that day. | Later Jewish tradition made it more festive (Amos 8:5, 2 Kings 4:23). Some Christians see it as wholly superseded by Christ; others draw principles for monthly devotion. |
| Order of the offerings | Both burnt offerings and a sin offering were part of the monthly ceremony. | Whether the sin offering was offered first (Barnes, based on precedents in Exodus 29 and Leviticus 9) or after the burnt offerings (as listed in the text) is debated. |
Historical & Cultural Context
In ancient Israel, the new moon (Rosh Chodesh) marked the beginning of a new lunar month. The day was distinguished by special sacrifices but was not originally a full rest day. Over time, its importance grew: trade was suspended (Amos 8:5), people sought instruction from prophets (2 Kings 4:23), and families presented thank offerings (1 Samuel 20:6, 29). Keil and Delitzsch explain the logical progression: if each day was sanctified by a burnt offering, the month's beginning deserved a larger consecration. The burnt offering expressed surrender to God, while the sin offering atoned for sins committed in the past month that had not been expiated.
The amounts of fine flour and oil follow Numbers 15:1-16. The drink offerings of wine, half a hin for a bull, a third for a ram, a quarter for a lamb, underscore proportionality. Gill notes the Targum of Jonathan specified wine of grapes. The animals had to be without defect. The phrase 'burnt offering of every month throughout the months of the year' (v.14) emphasizes continuity. The final verse (v.15) stresses that this was 'besides the continual burnt offering and its drink offering,' meaning regular worship was never to be set aside.
Literarily, the passage is part of the Priestly source (P), which systematically organizes Israel's sacrificial calendar (Cambridge Bible). It sits between the daily and Sabbath offerings (vv.1-10) and the festivals starting with Passover (v.16). Some scholars note the list is post-exilic because certain feasts like the Day of Atonement were not observed before Ezra (Cambridge). The custom of distinguishing new moons by special sacrifices likely existed earlier (1 Samuel 20) but was codified here.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for this passage. The Hebrew text is stable across manuscripts.
Reception History
In Jewish tradition, the new moon (Rosh Chodesh) remained a day of special observance with added prayers and readings, though without the sacrifices. The early Christian church did not perpetuate the new moon offerings, following Paul’s teaching that such observances are a shadow of Christ (Colossians 2:16-17). Patristic writers allegorized the monthly offering as the continual dedication of the believer’s life. In the Reformation, Matthew Henry saw the doubling of offerings on new moons as a pattern for Christians to intensify their devotions at special times. Modern readers draw principles about establishing spiritual rhythms and the need for regular confession, without enforcing the literal practice.
Preaching This Verse
This passage provides rich material for preaching on the rhythm of worship, the need for regular confession, and the costliness of devotion. The following outlines and illustrations can help connect the old covenant offerings to New Testament realities.
Three-point outline
- Sanctify Time: The monthly burnt offering dedicates the month to God. Just as days have the continual offering, the month begins with a special act of consecration.
- Provide Cleansing: The sin offering acknowledges that sin accumulates. Even unintentional sins need atonement (Numbers 15:22-26).
- Renew Devotion: The burnt offering of sweet savor symbolizes total surrender. Each new moon was a fresh start, a reset for the community.
Five-point outline
- Regularity: God ordains a calendar of worship, daily, weekly, monthly, yearly.
- Proportionality: The amount of grain and wine matches the size of the animal, teaching that our offerings should reflect our capacity.
- Priority: The sin offering (though listed last) was probably offered first, showing that cleansing precedes consecration.
- Abundance: The new moon offering is in addition to the daily offering; special seasons call for extra devotion, but ordinary worship never stops.
- Community: The offerings are for the whole congregation, not just individuals. Corporate worship marks time together.
Illustration hooks
- A family that starts each month with a calendar review and special meal to discuss goals; Israel did this spiritually with sacrifices.
- A smartphone monthly data reset, the new moon was the nation’s reset point for their relationship with God.
- Cooking for a crowd: if you host a feast, you buy more food. The offerings scale up for the larger animals; our worship should match the occasion.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why did God require so many animals, two bulls, one ram, seven lambs, each month?
- Does the new moon (Rosh Chodesh) have any meaning for Christians today, since Paul says not to judge regarding new moons (Colossians 2:16)?
- How can we apply the principle of starting each month with special prayer and consecration without returning to animal sacrifices?
Leading a Discussion
This passage shows how God provided regular rhythms for his people to approach him. The monthly offerings included both burnt offerings (dedication) and sin offerings (cleansing). As you study together, consider how regular practices of confession and commitment shape your walk with God.
Discussion questions
- What animals and quantities are prescribed for the new moon offering? (Read vv.11-15)
- How does this offering compare with the daily burnt offering described in vv.1-8?
- Why was a sin offering included every month? What does this suggest about God’s awareness of human sin?
- The offerings were 'a pleasing aroma to Yahweh' (v.13). What does this phrase teach about God’s response to faithful worship?
- In what ways does the principle of beginning each month with dedication and purification apply to your life today?
- How can churches today create regular 'reset' moments for confession and renewal, without returning to animal sacrifices?
- Read Hebrews 10:1-10. How does Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice fulfill the need for these repeated offerings?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Numbers 15:4 | then he who offers his offering shall offer to Yahweh a meal offering of one tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with one fourth of a hin of oil. |
| Numbers 15:12 | According to the number that you shall prepare, so you shall do to everyone according to their number. |
| Numbers 29:10 | one tenth for every lamb of the seven lambs; |
| Ezekiel 46:5 | and the meal offering shall be an ephah for the ram, and the meal offering for the lambs as he is able to give, and a hin of oil to an ephah. |
| Ezekiel 46:7 | He shall prepare a meal offering: an ephah for the bull, and an ephah for the ram, and for the lambs according as he is able, and a hin of oil to an ephah. |
| Leviticus 4:23 | if his sin in which he has sinned is made known to him, he shall bring as his offering a goat, a male without defect. |
| Leviticus 16:15 | “Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering that is for the people, and bring his blood within the veil, and do with his blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat and before the mercy seat. |
| Numbers 15:24 | then it shall be, if it was done unwittingly, without the knowledge of the congregation, that all the congregation shall offer one young bull for a burnt offering, for a pleasant aroma to Yahweh, with its meal offering and its drink offering, according to the ordinance, and one male goat for a sin offering. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
6 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes notes that the sin-offering goat, though listed last, was actually offered first. He highlights a major shift: what had previously been a discretionary offering for unknown sins was now commanded as a regular monthly ritual, repeated at least once a month.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
This commentary notes that the list of offerings in Numbers 28-29 is post-exilic, since the Day of Atonement and the eighth day of the Feast of Booths were not observed before Ezra's time. It also observes that this schedule is more complete and systematic than the parallel lists in Leviticus 23 and Ezekiel 45-46.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Bible notes emphasize that God prescribed exact amounts of flour, oil, and wine for each animal in the monthly burnt offering—a precise ratio for bulls, rams, and lambs. A goat was also required as a separate sin offering, distinct from the daily burnt offering.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill notes that the sin offering is called "unto the Lord" specifically to distinguish it from Egyptian moon worship, where such offerings were made to the moon itself. He also observes that even with this large monthly burnt offering, the regular daily sacrifice and its drink offering must still be presented.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch draws a pointed contrast: a single day needed only a burnt-offering of consecration, but a whole month required a sin-offering first, because sins committed during the month had gone unexpiated. The new moon sacrifice thus provided forgiveness and reconciliation, so the people could then be freshly consecrated to the Lord.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry observes that the Sabbath offering was doubled, and he draws the principle that Christians should double their devotion on that day. For him, Sabbath rest serves a purpose: it prepares for the Sabbath work, which should fill the entire day.