Numbers 28:10

Translation
King James Version
This is the burnt offering of every sabbath, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.
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KJV (with Strong's)
This is the burnt offering H5930 of every sabbath H7676, beside the continual H8548 burnt offering H5930, and his drink offering H5262.
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Complete Jewish Bible
This is the burnt offering for every Shabbat, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering.
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Berean Standard Bible
This is the burnt offering for every Sabbath, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering.
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American Standard Version
this is the burnt-offering of every sabbath, besides the continual burnt-offering, and the drink-offering thereof.
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World English Bible Messianic
this is the burnt offering of every Sabbath, besides the continual burnt offering, and its drink offering.
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Geneva Bible (1599)
This is ye burnt offring of euery Sabbath, beside the continuall burnt offring, and drinke offring thereof.
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Young's Literal Translation
the burnt-offering of the sabbath in its sabbath, besides the continual burnt-offering and its libation.
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See also
Ezekiel 46:4Ezekiel 46:5Numbers 29:25Numbers 28:3Numbers 29:34Numbers 29:31Numbers 29:16
In the KJVVerse 4,588 of 31,102

Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Numbers 28:10 meticulously details the specific burnt offering required on the Sabbath day, an additional sacrifice mandated by God for Israel's weekly worship. This command, alongside the daily "continual burnt offering" and its associated drink offering, underscores the divine expectation for consistent, prescribed worship and highlights the unique sanctity of the Sabbath within the Mosaic covenant, setting it apart as a holy time dedicated to the Lord.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: Numbers 28:10 is situated within a lengthy and detailed section of the book (chapters 28-29) that outlines the precise regulations for various public offerings and sacrifices. This particular verse falls under the category of weekly offerings, following the instructions for daily sacrifices (Numbers 28:3-8) and preceding the monthly (Numbers 28:11-15) and annual festival offerings (Numbers 28:16-31). The meticulous enumeration of these rituals emphasizes the structured, divinely ordained system of worship that was central to Israel's covenant relationship with Yahweh. The repetition and specificity throughout these chapters underscore the non-negotiable nature of God's commands regarding how His people were to approach Him.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: The book of Numbers records Israel's journey through the wilderness, a period of transition and formation following their exodus from Egypt. These detailed sacrificial laws were given to a nomadic people, preparing them for a settled life in the Promised Land and establishing a stable, predictable system of worship centered on the Tabernacle. The Sabbath, rooted in the creation account found in Genesis 2:2-3 and reinforced as a sign of the covenant at Sinai in Exodus 20:8-11, was a cornerstone of Israelite identity. The offerings themselves, including the burnt offering and drink offering, were common ancient Near Eastern practices, but in Israel, they were uniquely consecrated to Yahweh alone, serving as a means of atonement, dedication, and communion within the framework of the Mosaic covenant.
  • Key Themes: The requirement for a specific offering on the Sabbath powerfully highlights the sanctity of the Sabbath itself. It was not merely a day of physical rest but a consecrated time for intensified worship and a profound recognition of God's holiness and provision, reinforcing the command to "remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy" as stated in Exodus 20:8. This verse also speaks to the theme of regular and prescribed worship, demonstrating God's desire for consistent, orderly, and intentional devotion from His people. The combination of the daily "continual burnt offering" detailed in Numbers 28:3 and the additional Sabbath offering underscored the importance of both daily faithfulness and special recognition of sacred times. Furthermore, the act of offering these sacrifices served as a constant reminder of covenant fidelity, emphasizing Israel's dependence on God and the ongoing need for purification and dedication to maintain their relationship with Him.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • burnt offering (Hebrew, ʻôlâh', H5930): This term literally means "that which goes up" or "ascends," referring to the smoke of the consumed sacrifice rising to God. The ʻôlâh was unique among sacrifices because the entire animal (except for the hide, which went to the priest) was consumed by fire on the altar, symbolizing complete dedication, consecration, and atonement for sin. It represented a worshiper's total surrender and devotion to God.
  • continual (Hebrew, tâmîyd', H8548): This adverb emphasizes the regular, perpetual, and unceasing nature of the daily burnt offerings. Performed morning and evening, the tâmîyd offering was a constant act of worship and covenant maintenance, signifying Israel's uninterrupted relationship with God and His continuous presence among them.
  • drink offering (Hebrew, neçek', H5262): Often consisting of wine, a neçek was typically poured out at the base of the altar as an accompaniment to other offerings, such as the burnt offering or grain offering. It was an act of devotion, a libation that completed the sacrificial ritual, signifying joy, communion, and a complete offering to the Lord.

Verse Breakdown

  • "[This is] the burnt offering of every sabbath": This clause introduces a specific, additional burnt offering mandated for the Sabbath day. Unlike the daily offerings, this was a special provision, underscoring the unique sanctity and heightened spiritual significance of the Sabbath within Israelite worship. It was a time for intensified devotion and a distinct acknowledgment of God's holiness.
  • "beside the continual burnt offering": This crucial phrase clarifies that the Sabbath offering was not a replacement for the daily morning and evening sacrifices but was to be presented in addition to them. This emphasizes the cumulative nature of worship on the Sabbath, where the regular, ongoing devotion was supplemented by an extra act of consecration, further elevating the day's spiritual importance.
  • "and his drink offering": This specifies that the Sabbath burnt offering, like other significant sacrifices, was to be accompanied by a drink offering. The inclusion of the neçek indicates a complete and proper act of worship, signifying a full measure of devotion and communion offered to God, reinforcing the solemnity and totality of the Sabbath ritual.

Literary Devices

The passage in Numbers 28-29, including verse 10, is characterized by Exposition and Instruction, providing clear, unambiguous, and highly detailed commands for ritual practice. The extensive Repetition of sacrificial types and their accompanying elements throughout these chapters serves to emphasize the importance, precision, and non-negotiable nature of God's requirements for worship. This meticulousness underscores the divine order and holiness expected in approaching God. Furthermore, the various offerings employ profound Symbolism: the burnt offering (ʻôlâh) symbolizes complete dedication and atonement, as the entire offering ascends to God; the drink offering (neçek) represents devotion and communion; and the Sabbath itself is symbolic of divine rest, covenant relationship, and a consecrated time set apart for the Lord.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Numbers 28:10, with its detailed prescriptions for Sabbath worship, reveals profound truths about God's nature and His relationship with humanity. It underscores that God is holy and demands a reverent, intentional approach from His people. The meticulousness of the sacrificial system taught Israel about the seriousness of sin, the necessity of atonement, and the importance of complete dedication. The Sabbath offering, in particular, highlighted that true rest is found not merely in cessation from labor but in consecrated worship and communion with the Creator. These rituals, while specific to the Old Covenant, pointed forward to the ultimate and perfect sacrifice that would fully reconcile humanity to God.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

The ancient command in Numbers 28:10, though rooted in a specific covenantal context, resonates deeply with timeless principles for our spiritual lives today. It challenges us to consider the intentionality and consistency of our worship. Just as Israel had both daily and special Sabbath offerings, we are called to a lifestyle of continuous devotion—a "continual burnt offering" of our lives—while also setting aside specific, consecrated times for deeper communion with God. This might involve dedicated time for prayer, scripture study, corporate worship, or simply quiet reflection where we intentionally "rest" in God's presence and offer Him our undivided attention. The meticulousness of the Old Testament rituals serves as a powerful reminder that our worship should not be haphazard or an afterthought, but a deliberate and cherished act of love and reverence for our holy God.

Questions for Reflection

  • How does the meticulousness of Old Testament worship, as seen in Numbers 28:10, challenge my approach to personal and corporate devotion today?
  • In what practical ways can I "sanctify" specific times or days in my week to honor God more deeply, beyond my regular spiritual disciplines?
  • How does understanding the Old Testament sacrifices and their specific requirements deepen my appreciation for Christ's finished work on the cross?

FAQ

Why were so many detailed sacrifices required in the Old Testament?

Answer: The detailed sacrificial system, as seen in Numbers 28 and Numbers 29, served multiple critical purposes within the Old Covenant. First, it provided a divinely ordained means for atonement, allowing sinful people to approach a holy God. Each sacrifice, particularly the burnt offering, symbolized the transfer of sin and the need for a substitute. Second, it taught Israel about the seriousness of sin and the cost of rebellion against God. Third, it served as a constant reminder of God's holiness and His desire for a relationship with His people, even in their fallen state. Finally, these rituals were pedagogical, pointing forward to the ultimate, perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which would fulfill and supersede all these temporary provisions.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

Numbers 28:10, with its emphasis on the Sabbath burnt offering, finds its profound and ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "burnt offering" (Hebrew, ʻôlâh'), symbolizing complete dedication and atonement, is perfectly embodied in Christ, who "offered himself without blemish to God" as described in Hebrews 9:14. Unlike the Old Testament sacrifices, which had to be offered continually because they could not truly take away sins, as Hebrews 10:1-4 explains, Jesus' single, perfect sacrifice on the cross was "once for all," rendering all subsequent animal sacrifices obsolete, a truth powerfully declared in Hebrews 10:10. Furthermore, the Sabbath itself, which the offering in Numbers 28:10 intensified, finds its true spiritual rest in Christ. He declared, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" in Matthew 11:28. We no longer need to observe a ritualistic Sabbath or offer animal sacrifices, because Christ is our ultimate Sabbath rest and the perfect, complete offering for our sins. Our worship now is a spiritual offering, presenting our bodies "as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship" as exhorted in Romans 12:1, in light of His finished work.

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Commentary on Numbers 28 verses 9–15

The new moons and the sabbaths are often spoken of together, as great solemnities in the Jewish church, very comfortable to the saints then, and typical of gospel grace. Now we have here the sacrifices appointed, 1. For the sabbaths. Every sabbath day the offering must be doubled; besides the two lambs offered for the daily burnt-offering, there must be two more offered, one (it is probable) added to the morning sacrifice, and the other to the evening, Num 28:9, Num 28:10. This teaches us to double our devotions on sabbath days, for so the duty of the day requires. The sabbath rest is to be observed, in order to a more close application to the sabbath work, which ought to fill up sabbath time. In Ezekiel's temple-service, which points at gospel times, the sabbath offerings were to be six lambs and a ram, with their meat-offerings, and drink-offerings (Eze 46:4, Eze 46:5), to intimate not only the continuance, but the advancement, of sabbath sanctification in the days of the Messiah. This is the burnt-offering of the sabbath in his sabbath, so it is in the original, v. 10. We must do every sabbath day's work in its day, studying to redeem every minute of sabbath time as those that believe it precious; and not thinking to put off one sabbath's work to another, for sufficient to every sabbath is the service thereof. 2. For the new moons. Some suggest that, as the sabbath was kept with an eye to the creation of the world, so the new moons were sanctified with an eye to the divine providence, which appoints the moon for seasons, guiding the revolutions of time by its changes, and governing sublunary bodies (as many think) by its influences. Though we observe not any feast of new moons, yet we must not forget to give God the glory of all the precious things put forth by the moon which he has established for ever, a faithful witness in heaven, Psa 89:37. The offerings in the new moons were very considerable, two bullocks, a ram, and seven lambs, with the meat-offerings and drink-offerings that were to attend them (Num 28:11, etc.), besides a sin-offering, Num 28:15. For, when we give glory to God by confessing his mercies, we must give glory to him likewise by confessing our own sins; and, when we rejoice in the gifts of common providence, we must make the sacrifice of Christ, that great gift of special grace, the fountain and spring-head of our joy. Some have questioned whether the new moons were to be reckoned among their feasts; but why should they not, when, besides the special sacrifices which were then to be offered, they rested from servile works (Amo 8:5), blew the trumpets (Num 10:10), and went to the prophets to hear the word? Kg2 4:23. And the worship performed in the new moons is made typical of gospel solemnities, Isa 66:23.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 9–15. Public domain.
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John ChrysostomAD 407
HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW 39.3
Because they could not have borne it if when giving the law for the sabbath God had said, “Do your good works on the sabbath, but do not the works that are evil,” therefore he restrained them from all alike. “You must do nothing at all,” he says, and even so they were not kept in line. But in the very act of giving the law of the sabbath he signified, though in shaded language, that he restricts them from evil works only, for he says, “You must do no work, except what shall be done for your life.” And in the temple too all went on each sabbath with even more diligence and double toil. Thus even by shadows he was secretly opening them to the truth.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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