Numbers 28:14

KJV

And 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.

KJV (with Strong's)

And their drink offerings {H5262} shall be half {H2677} an hin {H1969} of wine {H3196} unto a bullock {H6499}, and the third {H7992} part of an hin {H1969} unto a ram {H352}, and a fourth {H7243} part of an hin {H1969} unto a lamb {H3532}: this is the burnt offering {H5930} of every month {H2320} throughout the months {H2320} of the year {H8141}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Their drink offerings will be two quarts of wine for a bull, one-and-one-third quarts for the ram, and one quart for each lamb. This is the burnt offering for every Rosh-Hodesh throughout the months of the year.

Berean Standard Bible

Their 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.

American Standard Version

And 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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 28:14 specifies the precise quantities of wine required for the drink offerings that accompanied the monthly burnt offerings, also known as the New Moon offerings, within the Israelite sacrificial system. This verse, part of a larger liturgical calendar, details that half a hin of wine was to be offered with a bullock, a third of a hin with a ram, and a fourth of a hin with a lamb, underscoring the divine demand for meticulous adherence and regularity in Israel's worship.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Numbers 28:14 is situated within a highly prescriptive section of the Book of Numbers (chapters 28-29) that meticulously outlines the sacrificial calendar for the Israelite community. This segment follows the instructions for the daily burnt offering ([Numbers 28:3](/numbers/28-3 "Numbers 28:3 - Daily Burnt Offering")) and the weekly Sabbath offering ([Numbers 28:9-10](/numbers/28-9 "Numbers 28:9-10 - Sabbath Offerings")), transitioning to the monthly New Moon offerings in [Numbers 28:11-15](/numbers/28-11 "Numbers 28:11-15 - New Moon Offerings"). The inclusion of precise measurements for the drink offerings alongside the animal sacrifices highlights the escalating complexity and specificity of God's commands as the calendar progresses from daily to monthly and then to annual feasts, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of Israel's covenant obligations.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israel, the New Moon (Rosh Chodesh) was a significant religious and social occasion, marked by the blowing of trumpets ([Numbers 10:10](/numbers/10-10 "Numbers 10:10 - Trumpets for New Moons and Feasts")) and special sacrifices. Drink offerings, or libations, were a common feature of sacrificial worship throughout the ancient Near East, symbolizing an act of dedication or a complete pouring out. Wine, a valuable agricultural product, was often used for these offerings, signifying the giving of one's best resources to God. The unit of "hin" (חִין, _chîn_) was a standard liquid measure, roughly equivalent to 3.67 liters or 1 gallon, demonstrating the tangible and exact nature of these divine prescriptions in a culture where precise measurements for religious rituals were paramount.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the Pentateuch and the Book of Numbers. First, it underscores the theme of **Divine Precision and Order** in worship, demonstrating God's demand for meticulous adherence to His commands, leaving no room for human improvisation in sacred rituals. Second, the phrase "every month throughout the months of the year" emphasizes **Regularity and Covenant Fidelity**, highlighting that worship was not an occasional event but a consistent, rhythmic expression of Israel's ongoing relationship with Yahweh, reinforcing their identity as a consecrated people. Finally, the inclusion of the drink offering alongside the animal sacrifice points to the **Completeness and Holistic Nature of Sacrifice**, where the pouring out of wine symbolized a full dedication and surrender of resources, complementing the life offered in the animal sacrifice and signifying a comprehensive act of devotion to the Lord. This holistic approach to worship is a recurring motif, seen also in the instructions for various offerings in [Leviticus](/leviticus "The Book of Leviticus - Laws of Holiness and Worship").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Hin (חִין, _chîn_):** An ancient Hebrew unit of liquid measure, approximately 3.67 liters or 1 gallon. Its precise fractional divisions (half, third, fourth) for different animals underscore the meticulous detail God required in the sacrificial system. This exactness highlights the sanctity of the offerings and the divine authority behind every aspect of Israelite worship.
* **Drink offerings (נְסָכִים, _nesakhim_):** Derived from the verb נָסַךְ (_nasakh_), meaning "to pour out." These libations were a common accompaniment to burnt offerings, symbolizing a complete dedication and pouring out of resources to the Lord. Unlike the animal sacrifice which involved death, the drink offering represented the giving of life's sustenance, a complementary act of worship that made the total offering more complete and comprehensive.
* **Burnt offering (עֹלָה, _’olah_):** Meaning "that which goes up" or "ascends," referring to an offering entirely consumed by fire on the altar, ascending as a pleasing aroma to God. It was an offering of complete dedication and atonement, symbolizing the worshiper's total surrender to God. The drink offering in Numbers 28:14 is specifically linked to this "burnt offering of every month," indicating its integral role in the monthly ritual of total devotion.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And 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 a hin unto a lamb:"** This clause specifies the precise quantities of wine for the drink offerings, correlating them to the size and value of the animal being sacrificed. The bullock, being the largest and most valuable animal, required the largest quantity of wine (half a hin), followed by the ram (a third of a hin), and then the lamb (a fourth of a hin). This graduated scale not only reflects the economic value but also subtly emphasizes the escalating significance and cost of the larger sacrifices, all divinely prescribed to ensure proper reverence and adherence in worship.
* **"this [is] the burnt offering of every month throughout the months of the year."** This concluding phrase clarifies that the specified drink offerings are an integral component of the monthly burnt offering ritual, which was to be observed consistently throughout the entire year. It emphasizes the regularity, continuity, and mandatory nature of these New Moon sacrifices, reinforcing the covenant relationship between God and Israel through a perpetual cycle of worship and remembrance.

#### Literary Devices
Numbers 28:14 primarily employs **Precision** and **Enumeration** to convey its message. The meticulous detailing of specific quantities ("half an hin," "third [part]," "fourth [part]") for each animal (bullock, ram, lamb) demonstrates a divine insistence on exactness in ritual practice. This **Numerical Specificity** is not merely administrative but underscores the sanctity and seriousness of approaching God, where every detail matters. Furthermore, the phrase "every month throughout the months of the year" utilizes **Repetition** and **Temporal Specification** to emphasize the mandated regularity and unending cycle of these offerings. This highlights the **Ritual Cycle** as a foundational element of Israel's covenant faithfulness, ensuring that worship was a consistent, ingrained rhythm in their national life. The wine itself functions as **Symbolism**, representing not just a valuable commodity but also life, joy, and the act of pouring out in complete dedication.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 28:14, with its meticulous instructions for drink offerings, underscores profound theological truths about God's nature and His relationship with humanity. The divine insistence on precision and regularity in worship reveals a God of order, holiness, and covenant faithfulness. He is not to be approached haphazardly but with intentionality and reverence, reflecting His perfect character. The act of pouring out the wine, a valuable commodity, alongside the animal sacrifice, signifies a complete dedication of resources and life, pointing to the principle that true worship involves giving one's best and holding nothing back from the Lord. This Old Testament practice foreshadows the New Testament call to present our entire lives as living sacrifices, a spiritual act of worship that flows from a heart devoted to God.

* [Exodus 29:40](/exodus/29-40 "Early Instruction for Drink Offerings")
* [Leviticus 23:24](/leviticus/23-24 "Feast of Trumpets and New Moon")
* [Numbers 15:1-10](/numbers/15-10 "General Laws for Grain and Drink Offerings")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the specific sacrificial system outlined in Numbers 28:14 has been fulfilled and rendered obsolete by Christ's ultimate sacrifice, the underlying principles remain profoundly relevant for believers today. The divine demand for precision and consistency in Old Testament worship calls us to consider the intentionality and regularity of our own spiritual disciplines. Are we approaching God with the reverence and thoughtfulness He deserves, not just in large gestures but in the daily rhythms of our lives? The concept of pouring out a valuable offering, like the wine, challenges us to consider what "best" we are offering to God in our time, talents, and resources. Our worship, prayer, study of God's Word, and service should be marked by a spirit of wholehearted dedication, reflecting a continuous and unwavering devotion, rather than sporadic or half-hearted efforts.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the divine demand for precision in Old Testament worship inform our approach to worship and obedience today?**
* **In what ways can we cultivate a more consistent and "monthly" (i.e., regular) devotion to God in our daily lives?**
* **What does it mean for us to offer our lives as a "drink offering" to God in the context of the New Covenant?**

### FAQ
**What is a "hin" and why are the measurements so specific?**

Answer: A "hin" (חִין, _chîn_) was an ancient Hebrew unit of liquid measure, roughly equivalent to 3.67 liters or 1 gallon. The measurements in Numbers 28:14 (half a hin, a third, a fourth) are so specific because they reflect God's absolute authority and demand for order in worship. This precision underscored the sanctity of the offerings and ensured that every aspect of the ritual was performed exactly as commanded by God. It left no room for human discretion or negligence, emphasizing that approaching a holy God required meticulous adherence to His divine instructions. This exactitude distinguished Israel's worship from pagan practices and reinforced the seriousness of their covenant relationship.

**What is the significance of "drink offerings" in the Old Testament?**

Answer: Drink offerings, or libations, were an act of pouring out a liquid (typically wine, but sometimes water or oil) as part of a sacrifice or vow. They often accompanied burnt offerings, as seen in [Numbers 28:14](/numbers/28-14 "Numbers 28:14 - Monthly Drink Offerings"). The act of pouring out symbolized a complete dedication, a giving of one's valuable resources to the Lord. It represented a holistic act of worship, complementing the animal sacrifice by adding a dimension of life's sustenance being offered. In some contexts, it could also signify a covenant ratification or a solemn vow, emphasizing a complete commitment to God. [Numbers 15:1-10](/numbers/15-10 "Numbers 15:1-10 - General Laws for Grain and Drink Offerings") provides broader instructions for their inclusion with various offerings.

**How does Numbers 28:14 relate to Christian worship today?**

Answer: While the specific ritual of animal and drink offerings has been fulfilled by Jesus Christ, Numbers 28:14 offers enduring principles for Christian worship. It teaches us about the importance of intentionality, consistency, and wholeheartedness in our devotion to God. Just as Israel was called to offer their best with precision and regularity, believers today are called to worship God "in spirit and truth" ([John 4:24](/john/4-24 "John 4:24 - Worship in Spirit and Truth")). This means cultivating consistent spiritual disciplines like prayer, Bible study, fellowship, and service, and offering our lives as "living sacrifices" ([Romans 12:1](/romans/12-1 "Romans 12:1 - Present Your Bodies as Living Sacrifices")), giving our best time, talents, and resources to God's kingdom. The Old Testament rituals serve as a shadow, pointing to the substance found in Christ and the spiritual worship He enables.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Numbers 28:14, with its detailed instructions for monthly drink offerings accompanying the burnt sacrifice, finds its ultimate and profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The Old Testament sacrificial system, including these precise libations, served as a "shadow of the good things to come" ([Hebrews 10:1](/hebrews/10-1 "Hebrews 10:1 - The Law as a Shadow")). Christ is the perfect and final Lamb of God, whose single, definitive sacrifice on the cross completely and eternally atoned for sin, rendering the continuous animal sacrifices and their accompanying drink offerings obsolete ([Hebrews 9:11-14](/hebrews/9-11 "Hebrews 9:11-14 - Christ's Superior Sacrifice")). His life was "poured out" not with wine, but with His own precious blood, a complete and unreserved dedication that perfectly satisfied God's righteous demands. Just as the drink offering symbolized a full surrender, Christ's death was the ultimate act of self-giving, a life completely poured out in obedience to the Father and for the redemption of humanity ([Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Christ's Obedience to Death")). Through His one perfect offering, believers are now invited into a new covenant, where our worship is no longer about external rituals but about presenting our very selves as "living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship" ([Romans 12:1](/romans/12-1 "Romans 12:1 - Living Sacrifice")). The precision and regularity demanded in Numbers 28:14 are now met by the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice of Christ, which is eternally effective and continually celebrated in the spiritual reality of our union with Him.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.