Numbers 29:29-31 · Bible study
Numbers 29:29-31 Commentary: Festival Sacrifice Pattern
Hebrew · 3 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Study the sixth day of the Feast of Tabernacles: eight bulls, two rams, fourteen lambs, and a sin offering, what it means.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The sixth day of the Feast of Tabernacles requires eight bulls, two rams, fourteen lambs, and a goat sin offering, continuing the festival’s patterned worship.
- Key words: Mishpat (ordinance), the prescribed ritual order; tamid (continual), the regular daily burnt offering; tamim (unblemished), the standard of completeness for sacrifices.
- Main debate: Whether the diminishing number of bulls carries symbolic meaning (e.g., representing a decreasing stature of nations or a progression toward completeness) or is simply a practical liturgical design.
- Theological theme: God desires worship that is both orderly and generous, combining celebration with confession of sin.
- Best use: Preaching on the value of structure in worship, or teaching a series on the Old Testament festival calendar and its Christological shadows (Hebrews 9, 10).
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
29On the sixth day you are to present eight bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, all unblemished,
30along with the grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, according to the number prescribed.
31Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.
WEB World English Bible 2000
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.
KJV King James Version 1769
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.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
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.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
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.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
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.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
29The sixth day you shall offer eight calves, two rams, and fourteen lambs of a year old, without blemish:
30And the sacrifices and the libations of every one for the calves and for the rams and for the lambs you shall celebrate according to the rite:
31And a buck goat for sin, besides the perpetual holocaust, and the sacrifice and the libation thereof.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Numbers 29:29
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
The sixth day of the Feast of Tabernacles follows the same structure as the preceding days, with a gradual reduction in the number of bulls offered. On the first day thirteen bulls are sacrificed, then twelve on the second, continuing down to seven on the seventh day. The number of rams (two) and lambs (fourteen) stays constant each day, and a single male goat is always added as a sin offering. Lange’s Commentary notes that the Feast of Tabernacles serves as the culminating festival of the Israelite calendar, celebrating the settlement in Canaan and the sacred heritage. The offerings on each day, including the sixth, are part of an orderly, orchestrated worship that emphasizes both generosity and precision. God does not leave the details to human improvisation. The pattern itself communicates that worship involves thoughtful preparation, regularity, and an acknowledgment of sin even within joyful celebration.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: God commands specific numbers and types of sacrifices for each day of the Feast of Tabernacles, and these offerings are to be made in addition to the regular daily burnt offering.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose of diminishing bulls | The number of bulls decreases by one each day (13, 12, 11, ... 7). This pattern is intentional and part of the divine ordinance. | Some see a symbolic meaning, for example, representing the 70 nations of the world (a later Jewish tradition) or a gradual movement toward the Sabbath rest. Others hold that the reduction was purely practical, allowing the total number of animals to remain high while avoiding an excessive burden on the final days. |
| Inclusion of sin offering each day | A single goat is offered as a sin offering every day of the festival, in addition to the burnt offerings. | Some traditions emphasize that this shows human sinfulness even in joyous seasons; others focus on the sufficiency of the atonement system that covers all occasions. Christians differ on whether this points directly to Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice or to a continuing need for confession. |
| Relationship to the continual burnt offering | The festival offerings are offered ‘besides’ (Hebrew bad, ‘apart from’) the daily tamid burnt offering, which continues without interruption. | Some interpret this as teaching that special services add to, but never replace, regular worship. Others see a typological meaning: the tamid represents the constancy of God’s presence, while the festival offerings represent the extra gratitude of special seasons. |
| Underlying meaning of the Feast of Tabernacles | The feast commemorates the wilderness wandering and God’s provision, and celebrates the harvest. It is the concluding festival of the liturgical year. | Reformed commentators like Lange emphasize the feast as a celebration of the settlement in Canaan and the blessedness of the heritage. Other traditions (e.g., some Pentecostal) accent the eschatological hope of the future ingathering and the coming reign of God. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The Feast of Tabernacles, also called Sukkot or the Feast of Booths, is the third of the three major pilgrimage festivals in Israel’s calendar. It occurs in the seventh month (Tishri), following the Day of Atonement. The festival lasts seven days, with an eighth day of solemn assembly (Numbers 29:35). Historically, it commemorates God’s provision during the wilderness wanderings, when Israel lived in temporary shelters. It also functions as a harvest thanksgiving festival, marking the ingathering of the autumn crops. The detailed sacrificial requirements in Numbers 29 reflect the settled life in Canaan that the Israelites were about to enter, as Lange’s Commentary emphasizes: the festival anticipates the blessedness of life in the promised land.
On the sixth day, the offerings are eight bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs, all without defect, along with grain and drink offerings according to the ordinance (mishpat), and a goat for a sin offering. The use of the Hebrew term tamim (unblemished) for the animals underscores the requirement for whole, complete offerings. The phrase “according to the ordinance” (kammishpat) indicates that the quantities of grain and drink were prescribed for each animal type, not left to the worshiper’s discretion. The continual burnt offering (tamid) was offered daily regardless of the festival, and the festival offerings were added on top of it. This layered structure, regular and festival sacrifices, shows how observances could build on one another without replacing the foundational daily worship.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Numbers 29:29-31. The Hebrew text is stable across manuscripts, with consistent numbers and phrasing. The main differences in English translations reflect varying terms for offerings (e.g., ‘meal offering’ vs ‘grain offering,’ ‘meat offering’ vs ‘grain offering’) but do not affect the meaning of the passage.
Reception History
Jewish tradition has long seen the Feast of Tabernacles as a time of joy and anticipation. The diminishing number of bulls was later linked to a prayer for the nations, the 70 bulls over the seven days correspond to the 70 nations of the world, with each day’s reduction representing a gradual diminishing of their power until the eighth day when only one bull is offered for Israel alone. This interpretation appears in the Talmud (Sukkah 55b). In Christian reception, the feast’s emphasis on dwelling in booths has been read as a picture of the believer’s temporary pilgrimage on earth, looking forward to an eternal home (cf. Hebrews 11:9-10). The precise sacrificial order has also been used to illustrate the thoroughness of Christ’s work, the Lamb of God who takes away sin once for all, replacing the multiplicity of animal offerings.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Order in worship. Every animal type and quantity is specified. The phrase “according to the ordinance” (kammishpat) shows that God cares about the details of how His people approach Him. Worship is not chaotic; it follows a divine pattern that invites participation within boundaries.
- Sin acknowledged in celebration. Even at a joyful harvest festival, a sin offering is required each day. The presence of the goat for a sin offering (chatat) reminds the congregation that joy and repentance are not opposites. Gratitude for God’s provision includes confessing dependence on His mercy.
- Generosity within structure. The large numbers of animals show lavish giving. But the schedule also prevents burnout: the diminishing bulls create a gentle decrescendo. God’s command is demanding yet considerate, inviting His people to give their best without exhausting themselves.
Five-point outline
- The sixth day as part of a seven-day progression. The number of bulls decreases by one each day, from thirteen to seven. This shape may symbolize the completeness of the festival and the movement toward the solemn eighth-day assembly.
- Consistency in the constant offerings. Two rams and fourteen lambs each day create stability. Amid change, certain elements remain fixed, reminding worshipers of God’s unchanging faithfulness.
- The role of grain and drink offerings. Meal offerings (minchah) and drink offerings (nesech) accompany the animal sacrifices. Worship involves more than blood; it includes the fruit of the land, symbolizing a full response to God’s provision.
- The continual burnt offering. The festival sacrifices never replace the daily tamid. This principle, regular devotion continuing even in special seasons, applies to spiritual disciplines that persist through all of life’s rhythms.
- Preparation for the eighth day. The final solemn assembly (Numbers 29:35) uses a different pattern: one bull, one ram, seven lambs. The seventh-day reduction prepares the congregation for this change, teaching that climaxes are often preceded by quiet conclusion.
Illustration hooks
- A family that plans vacation meals for a week, assigning each day’s menu and shopping list. The schedule ensures everyone is fed, nothing is wasted, and special meals are anticipated.
- A church that holds a week-long missions conference, with consistent elements (prayer, preaching) each evening but a different focus each night, building toward a commissioning service on the final day.
- A team working on a month-long project, gradually reducing overtime as the deadline approaches, leaving energy for the final presentation.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why do the numbers of bulls keep changing each day? What is God trying to teach through this pattern?
- Does the sin offering mean that even good celebrations are tainted by sin? How do we balance joy and repentance?
- How do the festival offerings relate to the regular daily sacrifices? Does this apply to how we handle special seasons alongside everyday routines?
Leading a Discussion
The sacrificial instructions in Numbers 29:29-31 are part of a larger calendar God gave Israel for the Feast of Tabernacles. This passage invites us to consider how God’s commands combine structure, generosity, and an awareness of sin. As you discuss, think about how order and freedom work together in worship.
Discussion questions
- What stands out to you about the specific numbers on the sixth day, eight bulls, two rams, fourteen lambs? How does this compare with the other days mentioned in Numbers 29?
- The phrase “according to the ordinance” appears repeatedly. Why do you think God gave such precise instructions for grain and drink offerings?
- Every day includes a goat for a sin offering, even during a joyful festival. What does this tell us about human nature and the character of God?
- How does the diminishing number of bulls (from thirteen to seven) affect the tone of the festival? What might this pattern communicate about God’s care for His people?
- In what ways do we balance “regular” spiritual disciplines (like daily prayer) with “special” seasons of worship (like holidays or retreats)?
- The festival anticipates life in the promised land. How does this passage speak to God’s provision and our response?
- If you were to design a week of worship that included both structure and freedom, what elements would you keep constant and what would you vary?
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.
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
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