Numbers 29:11

KJV

One kid of the goats [for] a sin offering; beside the sin offering of atonement, and the continual burnt offering, and the meat offering of it, and their drink offerings.

KJV (with Strong's)

One {H259} kid {H8163} of the goats {H5795} for a sin offering {H2403}; beside the sin offering {H2403} of atonement {H3725}, and the continual {H8548} burnt offering {H5930}, and the meat offering {H4503} of it, and their drink offerings {H5262}.

Complete Jewish Bible

also one male goat as a sin offering; in addition to the sin offering for atonement and the regular burnt offering with its grain offering, and their drink offerings.

Berean Standard Bible

Include one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the sin offering of atonement and the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offerings.

American Standard Version

one he-goat for a sin-offering; besides the sin-offering of atonement, and the continual burnt-offering, and the meal-offering thereof, and their drink-offerings.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 29:11 concludes the detailed sacrificial instructions for the Feast of Tabernacles, specifically addressing the unique offerings required for the eighth day, known as Shemini Atzeret. This verse highlights the final sin offering, alongside the enduring daily burnt offering and its accompanying grain and drink offerings, emphasizing the Israelite community's perpetual need for atonement and God's meticulous provision for worship even after a period of intense celebration. It underscores the divine precision in cultic observance and the comprehensive nature of God's redemptive plan, foreshadowing a more perfect sacrifice.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Numbers 29:11 is situated within a lengthy section (Numbers 28-29) that meticulously details the various sacrifices required for Israel's annual calendar of feasts and regular offerings. Chapters 28 and 29 form a comprehensive liturgical manual, outlining daily, weekly, monthly, and annual sacrifices. Numbers 29 specifically focuses on the offerings for the seventh month, which was the most sacred and festival-rich period, encompassing the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah), the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), and the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot). Verse 11 specifically addresses the offerings for the "eighth day" (Shemini Atzeret), a distinct holy convocation that followed the seven days of Sukkot. This final day marked the culmination of the entire autumn festival cycle, requiring its own unique set of sacrifices, distinct from the preceding seven days of Sukkot, signifying a solemn conclusion to the year's major feasts.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Israelite calendar was deeply intertwined with both their agricultural cycle and their covenant relationship with Yahweh. The autumn feasts, including the Feast of Tabernacles, were harvest festivals, celebrating God's provision and protection. The Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) itself involved living in temporary shelters (booths) for seven days, commemorating Israel's wilderness wanderings and God's dwelling among them. The "eighth day," Shemini Atzeret, was a separate, solemn assembly, distinct from the seven days of Sukkot, signifying a final, concentrated time of fellowship with God before the people returned to their homes. It was a day of rest and holy convocation, emphasizing God's enduring presence and the covenant's requirements even after a period of joyous celebration. The meticulous nature of the offerings reflected the cultural understanding of approaching a holy God with reverence and precision, ensuring ritual purity and covenant faithfulness.
* **Key Themes:** The instructions in Numbers 29, and particularly verse 11, contribute to several key themes prevalent in the book of Numbers and the Pentateuch. First, the **Continual Need for Atonement** is vividly portrayed; even after the intense purification of the [Day of Atonement](/leviticus/16 "Leviticus 16 - The Day of Atonement") and the joyous celebration of Sukkot, a sin offering is still required on the eighth day, underscoring humanity's persistent sinfulness and God's ongoing provision for reconciliation. This highlights the reality that ritual purity was never a permanent state but required constant maintenance. Second, the **Divine Specificity in Worship** is paramount. The precise details regarding the type, number, and accompanying offerings for each day and festival underscore God's holiness and His demand for worship conducted strictly according to His revealed will. This meticulousness demonstrates the importance of approaching God on His terms, emphasizing obedience and reverence. Finally, the concept of **Layered Sacrifices** is evident, where various offerings (sin, burnt, grain, drink) work in conjunction to address different aspects of the covenant relationship—purification from sin, complete dedication to God, and thanksgiving for His provision. The [continual burnt offering](/numbers/28-3 "Numbers 28:3 - The Daily Burnt Offering") mentioned here signifies the unbroken daily devotion owed to God, even amidst the special feast day offerings.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Kid of the Goats (Hebrew, _śāʿîr_):** This term specifically refers to a male goat, often used in sin offerings. In the context of the sacrificial system, a goat was a common animal for a *chatta't* (sin offering), symbolizing the transfer of the offerer's sin or impurity onto the animal, which then bore the consequences. The "kid" indicates a young animal, typically signifying purity and suitability for sacrifice.
* **Sin Offering (Hebrew, _ḥaṭṭāʾt_):** This offering was designed to atone for unintentional sins, ritual impurities, or breaches of the covenant that disrupted one's relationship with God or the community. Unlike the burnt offering which signified complete dedication, the *chatta't* focused on purification and restoration. Its inclusion on the eighth day of Tabernacles, after a week of celebration, underscored the ongoing human propensity for sin and the constant need for divine grace and cleansing.
* **Meat Offering (Hebrew, _minḥāh_):** While "meat offering" in KJV might suggest animal flesh, the Hebrew *minḥāh* actually refers to a **grain offering** or tribute. It typically consisted of fine flour, often mixed with oil and frankincense, and was a voluntary offering of thanksgiving, devotion, or a supplement to burnt and peace offerings. It symbolized the dedication of one's produce and livelihood to God, acknowledging His provision.
* **Drink Offering (Hebrew, _nesekh_):** This offering typically involved pouring out wine or other liquids as an act of devotion, often accompanying burnt and grain offerings. It was a gesture of consecration and homage, symbolizing the pouring out of one's life or blessings before God. Its presence here signifies a complete and comprehensive act of worship, encompassing both the animal and agricultural produce, and a liquid libation.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"One kid of the goats [for] a sin offering;":** This clause specifies the primary sacrifice for the eighth day of Shemini Atzeret: a single male goat, designated as a *chatta't* or sin offering. Its purpose was to cleanse the community from any ritual impurity or unintentional sin that might have accumulated, ensuring their continued purity and acceptance before God as the festival cycle concluded. This highlights the persistent need for atonement, even after a period of intense communion and celebration.
* **"beside the sin offering of atonement, and the continual burnt offering, and the meat offering of it, and their drink offerings.":** This crucial phrase indicates that the newly prescribed sin offering for the eighth day was *in addition to* other standing offerings.
* **"the sin offering of atonement":** This likely refers to the ongoing efficacy or remembrance of the annual Day of Atonement's comprehensive cleansing, ensuring that all specific sin offerings were viewed within the broader context of God's complete provision for national atonement. It could also broadly refer to the general principle that all sin offerings serve to make atonement.
* **"the continual burnt offering":** This refers to the daily morning and evening burnt offering (the *olah*), which was a perpetual sacrifice symbolizing Israel's unceasing dedication and complete surrender to God. Its inclusion here emphasizes that even during special feast days, the regular rhythm of devotion was maintained, signifying constant communion and worship.
* **"and the meat offering of it, and their drink offerings":** These refer to the grain (*minḥāh*) and drink (*nesekh*) offerings that regularly accompanied the burnt offerings. They provided a complementary dimension to the animal sacrifices, representing the dedication of agricultural produce and a pouring out of devotion, making the worship complete and holistic, acknowledging God's sovereignty over all aspects of life.

#### Literary Devices
Numbers 29:11, within its broader context, employs several literary devices. The most prominent is **Repetition**, as the chapter meticulously reiterates the types and quantities of sacrifices for each day of the festival, creating a rhythmic, liturgical cadence that emphasizes the unwavering and precise nature of Israelite worship. This repetition underscores the importance of adherence to divine commands. **Symbolism** is also central, with each offering carrying profound theological meaning: the sin offering symbolizes purification and reconciliation, the burnt offering represents complete dedication, and the grain and drink offerings signify thanksgiving and the dedication of one's livelihood. The meticulous detail itself serves as a form of **Emphasis**, highlighting the gravity of approaching a holy God and the comprehensive nature of His provision for atonement and communion. The culmination of offerings on the eighth day, after a week of decreasing animal sacrifices, provides a sense of **Culmination** and finality, bringing the entire festival cycle to a solemn, yet hopeful, close.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 29:11, as part of the intricate sacrificial system, profoundly illustrates God's holiness, humanity's pervasive sinfulness, and His gracious provision for reconciliation. The continual need for a sin offering, even after the Day of Atonement and a week of joyous celebration, underscores that human imperfection and the need for divine grace are constant realities. This meticulous system was not merely ritualistic but served as a powerful pedagogical tool, teaching Israel about the gravity of sin, the necessity of blood atonement, and the absolute purity required to stand in God's presence. It pointed forward to a time when a perfect, once-for-all sacrifice would definitively address the problem of sin, fulfilling the temporary and repetitive nature of these Old Covenant rituals. The complexity also reveals God's desire for His people to approach Him with reverence, precision, and a deep understanding of His terms for fellowship.

* [Leviticus 4:27-31](/leviticus/4-27 "Leviticus 4:27-31 - Sin Offering for a Common Person") - Details the procedure for a sin offering for an individual, showing the purpose of atonement and forgiveness.
* [Leviticus 16:34](/leviticus/16-34 "Leviticus 16:34 - Annual Atonement") - Emphasizes the annual Day of Atonement as a perpetual statute, highlighting the ongoing need for national cleansing.
* [Hebrews 10:1-4](/hebrews/10-1 "Hebrews 10:1-4 - The Law as a Shadow") - Explains that the Old Testament sacrifices, including those for sin, were a shadow of the good things to come, unable to truly take away sins.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Numbers 29:11, with its detailed requirements for the eighth day of the Feast of Tabernacles, serves as a powerful reminder of several enduring spiritual truths for believers today. Firstly, it underscores the persistent reality of human sin and our ongoing need for God's grace and forgiveness. Even after a week of celebrating God's faithfulness and dwelling with Him, a sin offering was still required, demonstrating that our fallen nature constantly requires cleansing. This should cultivate a posture of humility and dependence on God's mercy. Secondly, the meticulous nature of the offerings teaches us about the seriousness of worship and the importance of approaching God on His terms, not our own. While we no longer offer animal sacrifices, the principle of reverent, intentional, and obedient worship remains. True worship involves acknowledging our sin, seeking purification, and offering our lives in complete dedication and thanksgiving. Finally, this verse, like all Old Testament sacrifices, points us to the ultimate and perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It invites us to reflect on the immense cost of our redemption and to live in light of the profound grace extended to us through Him.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the inclusion of a "sin offering" on the eighth day of the Feast of Tabernacles speak to the ongoing reality of sin in the life of a believer, even after periods of spiritual celebration?**
* **What does God's meticulous detail in the sacrificial instructions teach us about His character and the nature of true worship?**
* **In what ways does the concept of "continual burnt offering" challenge or affirm your understanding of daily devotion and surrender to God?**
* **How can understanding the purpose of these Old Testament offerings deepen your appreciation for the "once-for-all" sacrifice of Jesus Christ?**

### FAQ
**What is the significance of the "eighth day" (Shemini Atzeret) in Numbers 29:11?**

Answer: The "eighth day" (Shemini Atzeret) is a distinct holy convocation that follows the seven days of the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot). While Sukkot celebrates God's provision and the wilderness wanderings, the eighth day marks a solemn conclusion to the entire autumn festival cycle. It is a day of rest and holy assembly, separate from the main feast, signifying a final, concentrated time of communion with God before the people return to their homes. The offerings on this day, as detailed in [Numbers 29:36-38](/numbers/29-36 "Numbers 29:36-38 - Offerings for the Eighth Day"), are fewer than the preceding days, perhaps emphasizing a shift from the boisterous celebration of Sukkot to a more intimate, reflective gathering with God. It underscores the enduring covenant relationship and God's desire for His people's presence.

**Why are so many different offerings required on this single day?**

Answer: Numbers 29:11 specifies a "sin offering," alongside the "sin offering of atonement," the "continual burnt offering," and its associated "meat offering" (grain offering) and "drink offerings." This combination reflects the comprehensive nature of Israelite worship and the various aspects of their relationship with God. The sin offering addresses specific impurities or unintentional sins, ensuring ritual purity. The continual burnt offering represents Israel's unceasing dedication and complete surrender to God, a daily act of devotion that continued even during feasts. The grain and drink offerings were acts of thanksgiving and dedication of their produce. Together, these offerings provided a holistic means of approaching God—addressing sin, expressing devotion, and giving thanks—demonstrating that worship encompassed every facet of their lives and their covenant obligations.

**How does this verse relate to the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur)?**

Answer: While Numbers 29:11 describes offerings for the eighth day of Tabernacles, it implicitly relates to the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) by mentioning "the sin offering of atonement." Yom Kippur, described in [Leviticus 16](/leviticus/16 "Leviticus 16 - The Day of Atonement") and also commanded in [Numbers 29:7-11](/numbers/29-7 "Numbers 29:7-11 - Offerings for the Day of Atonement"), was the most solemn day of the year, providing a comprehensive, national atonement for all sins. The sin offering on the eighth day of Tabernacles, though distinct, operates within the framework of God's overarching provision for atonement established on Yom Kippur. It signifies that even after the annual cleansing, and a week of celebrating God's presence, the ongoing reality of human sin requires continuous, though perhaps less intensive, propitiation. It reminds the Israelites that while Yom Kippur provided a yearly national cleansing, individual and communal purity still needed regular attention.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Numbers 29:11, with its detailed sacrificial requirements for the eighth day of Tabernacles, finds its ultimate and glorious fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The "one kid of the goats for a sin offering" vividly points to the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). Unlike the repeated, temporary Old Testament sacrifices that could never truly perfect the worshiper ([Hebrews 10:1-4](/hebrews/10-1 "Hebrews 10:1-4 - The Law as a Shadow")), Christ offered Himself "once for all" ([Hebrews 10:10](/hebrews/10-10 "Hebrews 10:10 - Christ's Once-for-All Sacrifice")), becoming the perfect and sufficient sin offering. The "continual burnt offering" foreshadows Christ's complete and perpetual dedication to God's will, a life lived in perfect obedience and culminating in His self-sacrifice on the cross, which was wholly consumed by divine wrath on our behalf. Furthermore, the "sin offering of atonement" finds its complete efficacy in Christ's shed blood, which truly cleanses us from all sin and provides eternal redemption ([Hebrews 9:12](/hebrews/9-12 "Hebrews 9:12 - Eternal Redemption Through Christ")). The meticulous nature of the Old Covenant offerings underscores the gravity of sin and the holiness of God, but Christ's singular sacrifice transcends and perfects them all, ushering in a new covenant where forgiveness is freely given through faith in Him, allowing us to approach God with confidence, not through repeated animal blood, but through the perfect blood of our [Great High Priest](/hebrews/4-14 "Hebrews 4:14 - Jesus Our Great High Priest").

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

Leviticus 16:3

Thus shall Aaron come into the holy [place]: with a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering.

Leviticus 16:5

¶ And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.

Leviticus 16:9

And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD'S lot fell, and offer him [for] a sin offering.

Numbers 28:3

And thou shalt say unto them, This [is] the offering made by fire which ye shall offer unto the LORD; two lambs of the first year without spot day by day, [for] a continual burnt offering.

Numbers 28:8

And the other lamb shalt thou offer at even: as the meat offering of the morning, and as the drink offering thereof, thou shalt offer [it], a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.

Hebrews 9:25

Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;

Hebrews 9:28

So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.