Numbers 29:29-31 Meaning: The Sixth Day's Place in the Feast
29“‘On the sixth day: eight bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defect;
30and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance,
31and one male goat for a sin offering; in addition to the continual burnt offering, its meal offering, and the drink offerings of it.
29And on the sixth day eight bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish:
30And 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:
31And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering.
29And on the sixth day eight bullocks, two rams, fourteen he-lambs a year old without blemish;
30and their meal-offering and their drink-offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;
31and one he-goat for a sin-offering; besides the continual burnt-offering, the meal-offering thereof, and the drink-offerings thereof.
29`And on the sixth day eight bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs, sons of a year, perfect ones;
30and their present, and their libations, for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, in their number, according to the ordinance;
31and one goat, a sin-offering; apart from the continual burnt-offering, its present, and its libation.
29And on the sixth day, eight bullocks, two rams, fourteen yearling lambs without blemish;
30and their oblation and their drink-offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, by their number, according to the ordinance;
31and one he-goat for a sin-offering, — besides the continual burnt-offering, its oblation and its drink-offerings.
Meaning in one sentence
What do the eight bulls, two rams, and fourteen lambs on the sixth day of the Feast tell us about God? Find the pattern of worship here.
Context
The Feast of Tabernacles was Israel's great autumn celebration, a week of remembering God's provision in the wilderness. Numbers 29 gives the exact offerings for each day of this feast. On the first day, the people brought thirteen bulls. On the second day, twelve. The number dropped by one each day, until the seventh day when they offered seven bulls. The sixth day in this chapter fits right in the middle of that pattern: eight bulls, two rams, and fourteen lambs, plus a goat for a sin offering. Every day included grain and drink offerings alongside the regular daily burnt offering. God was teaching His people to worship with care, consistency, and an honest admission of their need for forgiveness.
Key Words
Three Hebrew words stand out in these verses. First, the animals were to be tamim, "unblemished" or "complete." This word carries a sense of wholeness and integrity. The worshipper was not to bring something broken or second-rate. They brought the best they had, because God deserves what is whole and sound. Second, the offerings were made "according to the mishpat", the ordinance or judgment. This word is often translated "justice," but here it means the established procedure, the way things are done when God sets the order. Worship is not left to our creativity; it follows God's design. Third, the goat was for a chattat, a sin offering. The same word means "sin" itself. The offering covered the contamination of sin, a daily reminder that even in celebration, the people needed cleansing. These three words together show that worship involves bringing our best, following God's way, and honestly facing our failures.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have read these sacrificial lists and seen different layers. The Geneva Bible Notes simply notes the numbers without comment, treating the text as a record of God's command to be obeyed. Matthew Henry's Commentary observes the decreasing bulls and suggests it teaches humility, as the feast goes on, the offerings reduce, perhaps reminding Israel that they depend entirely on God's mercy. Lange's Commentary focuses on the precision: every day had its exact number, showing that God cares about details in worship. Many Christians today see the feast and its sacrifices as a shadow pointing to Christ, the perfect sacrifice who fulfilled what these animals could only symbolize. While interpretations differ, all agree that the passage calls God's people to approach Him with reverence and to trust in His provision for sin.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers think the detailed numbers of animals are trivial details, ancient bureaucratic rules with no meaning for today. In fact, the pattern of decreasing bulls and the repeated sin offering highlight something essential: God's holiness requires careful, intentional worship, and our sin needs regular atonement. The numbers are not arbitrary; they structure the feast and teach the people to depend on God's precise instructions for drawing near to Him.
Living This Out
This week, you probably won't offer bulls or lambs. But you do bring something to God every day: your time, your attention, your work, your repentance. The sixth day of the feast asks you to consider what you are offering. Are you bringing your best, the whole, unblemished part of your day, not just leftovers? Are you following God's way, not your own ideas of worship? And are you honestly admitting where you fall short? The sin offering was part of every single day of the feast. You can take a quiet moment today to bring both your best effort and your need for forgiveness before God. He welcomes both.
Main takeaway: Approaching God requires bringing our best, following His design, and confessing our sin, every single day.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God told His people to bring special gifts to Him during a big celebration. On the sixth day, they brought eight bulls, two rams, and fourteen lambs. They also brought a goat to say sorry for their sins.
For ages 9, 12
During the Feast of Tabernacles, the Israelites offered many animals every day. You might notice that the number of bulls went down each day, from thirteen on day one to seven on day seven. This reminds us that God cares about details and that we need to keep coming to Him with our best gifts and with our mistakes. Even in a joyful celebration, God wants us to remember our need for forgiveness. The sin offering every day shows that we never outgrow our need for God's mercy.
Questions People Ask
Why did the number of bulls decrease each day during the Feast of Tabernacles?
The Bible doesn't give an explicit reason, but many commentators see a pattern of humility. As the feast progresses, the offerings reduce from thirteen bulls on day one to seven on day seven. Some suggest this reminds Israel that their relationship with God depends on His grace, not the quantity of their sacrifices. The consistent elements, two rams, fourteen lambs, and a sin offering each day, show that God's provision for worship is both structured and sufficient.
What does 'without blemish' mean in Numbers 29:29?
The Hebrew word is 'tamim,' meaning whole, complete, or sound. It describes an animal with no defects or injuries. This requirement taught the people to give God their best, not something broken or imperfect. For Christians, it also points to Christ, the perfect sacrifice who was without sin.
Why was a sin offering included every day of the feast?
The sin offering (a male goat) was added to the burnt offerings each day. It shows that even during a joyful celebration of God's provision, the people needed forgiveness for their sins. The Israelites could not approach God on their own merit; they needed a substitute to cover their wrongdoing. This pattern points ahead to Jesus, who became the final sin offering.
How does this passage apply to Christians today if we don't offer animal sacrifices?
Christians believe that Jesus fulfilled the sacrificial system once for all. However, the principles behind these offerings still speak to us: bring God your best (not leftovers), follow His instructions for worship, and regularly confess your sins. The repeated sin offering reminds us that we need God's forgiveness every day, not just once. The whole feast teaches dependence on God's provision.
Why are there grain and drink offerings alongside the animal sacrifices?
The grain offering (minchah) and drink offering (nesekh) accompanied the burnt offerings as acknowledgments of God's provision of food and drink. They made the sacrifice a complete meal, a way of offering back to God from what He had given. This taught the Israelites that worship involves thanking God for daily blessings, not just asking for forgiveness.
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