Numbers 28:9

KJV

¶ And on the sabbath day two lambs of the first year without spot, and two tenth deals of flour [for] a meat offering, mingled with oil, and the drink offering thereof:

KJV (with Strong's)

And on the sabbath {H7676} day {H3117} two {H8147} lambs {H3532} of the first {H1121} year {H8141} without spot {H8549}, and two {H8147} tenth {H6241} deals of flour {H5560} for a meat offering {H4503}, mingled {H1101} with oil {H8081}, and the drink offering {H5262} thereof:

Complete Jewish Bible

"'On Shabbat offer two male lambs in their first year and without defect, with one gallon of fine flour as a grain offering, mixed with olive oil, and its drink offering.

Berean Standard Bible

On the Sabbath day, present two unblemished year-old male lambs, accompanied by a grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, as well as a drink offering.

American Standard Version

And on the sabbath day two he-lambs a year old without blemish, and two tenth parts of an ephah of fine flour for a meal-offering, mingled with oil, and the drink-offering thereof:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 28:9 meticulously outlines the specific additional sacrifices commanded for the Sabbath day within the Mosaic Law, augmenting the daily burnt offerings. This verse details the requirement of two unblemished lambs of the first year, along with two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour for a grain offering mingled with oil, and its accompanying drink offering. These heightened provisions underscore the unique sanctity and profound devotion expected on the Sabbath, a day uniquely set apart for the Lord.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Numbers 28-29 forms a distinct legislative unit within the book, providing a comprehensive and meticulously detailed schedule of the public offerings God commanded the Israelites to present regularly. Following the census and the preparations for entering the Promised Land, this section emphasizes the critical importance of precise adherence to divine instructions for national worship and consecration. Numbers 28 begins with the foundational daily burnt offerings outlined in [Numbers 28:3-8](/numbers/28-3-8 "Numbers 28:3-8 - Daily Burnt Offerings"), then transitions to the weekly Sabbath offerings (verse 9), followed by monthly offerings, and finally, the extensive annual festival offerings detailed in [Numbers 29](/numbers/29 "Numbers 29 - Festival Offerings"). The strategic placement of the Sabbath offering immediately after the daily offerings highlights its elevated significance as a foundational, recurring act of worship, distinct from the daily ritual but integral to the continuous cycle of national devotion and covenant faithfulness.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The commands in Numbers were given to the generation of Israelites preparing to enter Canaan, solidifying their identity as God's covenant people. The sacrificial system was the bedrock of their relationship with Yahweh, serving as the primary means of atonement, thanksgiving, and dedication. While sacrifices were common in the ancient Near East, Israel's system was profoundly unique due to its monotheistic focus, its detailed divine prescription, and its unwavering emphasis on purity, holiness, and the exclusive worship of the one true God. The Sabbath itself was a distinctive sign of the covenant between God and Israel ([Exodus 31:13](/exodus/31-13 "Exodus 31:13 - The Sabbath as a Sign of the Covenant")), a divinely ordained day of rest from labor and holy convocation. The requirement for *additional* offerings on this day reinforced its sacred status, demanding a heightened spiritual focus and a deeper expression of devotion beyond the ordinary daily rituals.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several overarching themes present throughout Numbers and the Pentateuch. Foremost is the **sanctity of the Sabbath**, dramatically demonstrated by the requirement for *additional* sacrifices. This signifies the Sabbath's unique status as a day consecrated to the Lord, underscoring God's claim over Israel's time and their covenantal obligation to honor His rest. The theme of **regularity and precision in worship** is also central; God's meticulous instructions regarding quantities, types, and conditions ("without spot") reflect His demand for intentional, consistent, and obedient worship, not arbitrary or casual acts. Furthermore, these offerings served as a vital means of **atonement and dedication**, expressing Israel's dependence on God's grace and their desire for reconciliation. The requirement for unblemished animals powerfully foreshadows the need for absolute purity and perfection in approaching a holy God, ultimately pointing to the [perfect, unblemished sacrifice of Christ](/hebrews/9-14 "Hebrews 9:14 - Christ's Perfect Sacrifice"). Finally, the inclusion of grain and drink offerings acknowledges **God's abundant provision and sustenance**, recognizing Him as the ultimate source of all blessings and returning a portion in thanksgiving and praise.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Sabbath (Hebrew, _shabbâth'_):** Derived from a root meaning "to cease" or "to rest," _shabbâth'_ refers to the weekly day of intermission from labor, specifically the seventh day, consecrated by God. It signifies a cessation of ordinary activity to focus on spiritual matters and worship. In this context, the additional offerings emphasize that the Sabbath was not merely a day off, but a day of heightened spiritual activity and devotion to the Lord, distinct from the six days of work.
* **Lambs (Hebrew, _kebes'_):** This term refers to a young ram, typically one just old enough to butt, signifying a prime, vigorous animal. As a sacrificial animal, the lamb often symbolized innocence and purity, making it a fitting offering for atonement and dedication. The specification of "two lambs" here, as opposed to the single daily lamb, highlights the elevated nature of the Sabbath offering.
* **Minchah (Hebrew, _minchâh'_):** Often translated as "meat offering" in the KJV, _minchâh'_ specifically denotes a **grain offering** or **meal offering**. Unlike blood sacrifices, it was a bloodless donation, typically made of fine flour, often mixed with oil and frankincense. This offering was usually voluntary, expressing thanksgiving, dedication, or a vow, and symbolized the dedication of one's labor and sustenance to God, acknowledging His provision.
* **Without Spot (Hebrew, _tâmîym'_):** This crucial term signifies completeness, physical perfection, wholeness, and blamelessness. For sacrificial animals, it meant being free from any blemish, defect, or disease. Theologically, this requirement underscored the absolute purity and excellence necessary for any offering presented to a holy God, emphasizing that only a perfect sacrifice could be acceptable for atonement. This concept finds its ultimate fulfillment in the [spotless Lamb, Jesus Christ](/1_peter/1-19 "1 Peter 1:19 - The Precious Blood of Christ"), whose perfect life and sacrifice atoned for humanity's sins.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And on the sabbath day":** This introductory phrase immediately establishes the specific temporal context for these offerings, distinguishing them from the daily burnt offerings. It underscores the unique sanctity and heightened spiritual focus that the Sabbath, as a day consecrated to the Lord, demanded from the Israelite community.
* **"two lambs of the first year without spot":** This clause specifies the primary animal offering for the Sabbath. The "two lambs" represent a doubling of the daily burnt offering of lambs ([Numbers 28:3](/numbers/28-3 "Numbers 28:3 - Daily Burnt Offerings")), powerfully emphasizing the Sabbath's increased significance and the intensified devotion required. "Of the first year" indicates young, prime animals, signifying vitality, value, and the best quality. "Without spot" reiterates the absolute purity and physical perfection essential for a sacrifice to be acceptable to a holy God, symbolizing the blamelessness required for atonement. These lambs were for a burnt offering, signifying complete dedication and consecration to God.
* **"and two tenth deals of flour [for] a meat offering, mingled with oil":** This details the accompanying grain offering. "Two tenth deals" (two-tenths of an ephah) is also double the amount prescribed for the daily offering, again highlighting the Sabbath's special status and the increased generosity expected. "Flour" indicates a grain offering (_minchâh'_), and "mingled with oil" refers to the preparation where oil (symbolizing blessing, anointing, or the Holy Spirit's presence) was mixed with the fine flour before it was prepared. This offering represented thanksgiving for God's provision and the dedication of the fruits of the land and one's labor to Him.
* **"and the drink offering thereof":** This refers to the libation, typically of wine, which was poured out as an accompaniment to the burnt and grain offerings. It was a common feature of many sacrifices, symbolizing joy, covenant affirmation, and complete devotion poured out before the Lord, often accompanying the sweet aroma of the burnt offering.

#### Literary Devices
The passage primarily employs **Prescriptive Language**, characteristic of legal and cultic texts throughout the Pentateuch. This direct, instructional tone details precise requirements for ritual practice, highlighting the divine authority behind the commands and the necessity of exact obedience in worship. **Symbolism** is pervasive: the "lambs of the first year without spot" are potent symbols of purity, innocence, and the highest quality of offering acceptable to a holy God. The doubling of the offerings (two lambs, two tenth deals of flour) on the Sabbath uses **Emphasis through Quantity**, visually and ritually underscoring the elevated sanctity and unique importance of this particular day compared to ordinary days. Furthermore, the entire sacrificial system, as presented here, functions as **Typology**, serving as a divinely ordained foreshadowing of the ultimate, perfect, and once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the spotless Lamb of God.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The Sabbath offerings in Numbers 28:9 powerfully illustrate God's demand for holiness, His provision for atonement, and the necessity of dedicated worship from His covenant people. The doubling of the daily offering on the Sabbath underscores that true rest in God is not passive idleness but an intensified, active focus on Him, expressed through costly and precise acts of devotion. These sacrifices, though temporary and symbolic, pointed to the profound truth that humanity, marred by sin, requires a perfect mediator and an unblemished offering to approach a holy God. They cultivated a rhythm of worship that consistently reminded Israel of their covenant identity, God's unwavering faithfulness, and their ongoing need for His grace and atonement. This ritual discipline was designed to foster a deep and abiding reverence for the Lord.

* [Leviticus 23:3](/leviticus/23-3 "Leviticus 23:3 - The Sabbath as a Holy Convocation")
* [Exodus 29:38-42](/exodus/29-38-42 "Exodus 29:38-42 - Daily Burnt Offerings")
* [Hebrews 9:11-14](/hebrews/9-11-14 "Hebrews 9:11-14 - Christ's Superior Sacrifice")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the Old Testament sacrificial system has been fulfilled and superseded by the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the profound principles embedded in Numbers 28:9 remain profoundly relevant for believers today. This passage calls us to a deep consideration of the intentionality, purity, and generosity of our worship. Just as Israel was commanded to offer specific, regular sacrifices as a priority, we are called to intentional and consistent worship of God, not as an afterthought but as a central, defining aspect of our lives. This includes setting aside dedicated, consecrated time for spiritual focus, whether in personal devotion, family worship, or corporate gathering on the Lord's Day. The "without spot" requirement reminds us that God desires not just our actions, but our hearts—a genuine dedication and purity in our spiritual offerings, our praise, our service, and our very lives. We are to offer ourselves as a [living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God](/romans/12-1 "Romans 12:1 - Presenting Your Body as a Living Sacrifice"), recognizing that our ability to do so stems entirely from Christ's perfect sacrifice on our behalf, which cleanses and enables us to approach a holy God.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the doubling of offerings on the Sabbath challenge our modern understanding of "rest" and "worship," especially in a culture that often views rest as passive leisure?**
* **In what practical and heartfelt ways can we offer "unblemished" sacrifices of praise, service, and devotion to God in our daily lives today, reflecting genuine purity of motive?**
* **What specific steps can we take to make our time set aside for God (e.g., Sundays, daily devotions, quiet times) more intentional, focused, and truly consecrated to Him?**
* **How does understanding the meticulous nature and symbolic significance of the Old Testament sacrificial system deepen our appreciation for Christ's finished, perfect, and all-sufficient work on the cross?**

### FAQ
**What is the "meat offering" mentioned in the King James Version?**

Answer: In the King James Version, the term "meat offering" (or "meat-offering") is an older English term for food in general, not specifically flesh or meat as we understand it today. In the context of Numbers 28:9 and other Old Testament passages, it refers to a **grain offering** or **meal offering** (Hebrew: _minchâh'_). This offering typically consisted of fine flour, often mixed with oil and frankincense, and could be baked or unbaked. It was usually offered as an act of thanksgiving or dedication to God, often accompanying burnt offerings, as seen in this verse. It symbolized the dedication of the fruits of one's labor and God's provision. For more details on its composition and purpose, you can refer to [Leviticus 2](/leviticus/2 "Leviticus 2 - The Grain Offering").

**Why were *additional* sacrifices required on the Sabbath day?**

Answer: The requirement for additional sacrifices on the Sabbath underscored the unique sanctity and elevated status of this day within the Israelite calendar. The Sabbath was not merely a day of physical rest but a holy day, a distinctive sign of God's covenant with Israel ([Exodus 31:13](/exodus/31-13 "Exodus 31:13 - The Sabbath as a Sign")), set apart for special communion and intensified worship with Him. By doubling the daily offerings, God emphasized that the Sabbath was a time for heightened devotion, deeper reflection, and more profound acknowledgment of His sovereignty and provision. It was a day to cease from ordinary labor and focus more fully and intentionally on the Lord, expressing increased reverence and dedication.

**What does "without spot" signify in the context of sacrificial animals?**

Answer: The phrase "without spot" (Hebrew: _tâmîym'_) signifies physical perfection, wholeness, and blamelessness. For sacrificial animals, it meant they had no physical defects, blemishes, or diseases that would render them imperfect or unacceptable. Theologically, this requirement was crucial because sacrifices were meant to be a pure, excellent, and unblemished offering presented to a holy God. It underscored the absolute purity and perfection necessary for any offering to be acceptable for atonement and reconciliation. This concept ultimately finds its profound fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ, who is described as the [spotless Lamb](/1_peter/1-19 "1 Peter 1:19 - The Precious Blood of Christ"), whose perfect, unblemished life and sacrifice alone could truly atone for the sins of humanity, satisfying God's righteous demands.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Numbers 28:9, with its meticulous instructions for Sabbath offerings, finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus. The "lambs of the first year without spot" are a powerful and direct type of Christ, the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). Just as these lambs had to be physically perfect and unblemished, Jesus lived a perfectly righteous and sinless life, making Him the [unblemished and spotless sacrifice](/1_peter/1-19 "1 Peter 1:19 - The Precious Blood of Christ") required to satisfy God's holiness and justice. The doubling of offerings on the Sabbath, signifying heightened devotion and increased significance, points to the ultimate and complete offering made by Christ, which was not merely an addition to ongoing sacrifices but the once-for-all, perfect sacrifice that rendered all previous animal sacrifices obsolete and eternally effective ([Hebrews 10:10](/hebrews/10-10 "Hebrews 10:10 - Christ's Once-for-All Sacrifice")). Through His death and resurrection, Jesus fulfilled the law's demands, becoming the substance to which the shadows and types of the Old Covenant pointed ([Colossians 2:16-17](/colossians/2-16-17 "Colossians 2:16-17 - Fulfillment in Christ")). He is both the perfect Lamb offered and the High Priest who offered Himself, providing eternal redemption and enabling us to truly rest in His finished work—a spiritual rest far deeper and more complete than any Sabbath observance could provide ([Hebrews 4:9-10](/hebrews/4-9-10 "Hebrews 4:9-10 - The Sabbath Rest for the People of God")).

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.

Cross-References

Isaiah 58:13

¶ If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, [from] doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking [thine own] words:

Exodus 20:8

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Exodus 20:11

For [in] six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them [is], and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Revelation 1:10

I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

Psalms 92:1

¶ A Psalm [or] Song for the sabbath day. [It is a] good [thing] to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:

Psalms 92:4

For thou, LORD, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands.

Ezekiel 20:12

Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I [am] the LORD that sanctify them.