Numbers 29:17

Translation
King James Version
And on the second day ye shall offer twelve young bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of the first year without spot:
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KJV (with Strong's)
And on the second H8145 day H3117 ye shall offer twelve H8147 H6240 young H1121 H1241 bullocks H6499, two H8147 rams H352, fourteen H702 H6240 lambs H3532 of the first H1121 year H8141 without spot H8549:
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Complete Jewish Bible
"'On the second day you are to present twelve young bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs in their first year, without defect;
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Berean Standard Bible
On the second day you are to present twelve young bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, all unblemished,
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American Standard Version
And on the second dayye shall offertwelve young bullocks, two rams, fourteen he-lambs a year old without blemish;
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World English Bible Messianic
“‘On the second day you shall offer twelve young bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defect;
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Geneva Bible (1599)
And the second day ye shall offer twelue yong bullockes, two rams, fourteene lambes of a yeere olde without blemish,
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Young's Literal Translation
`And on the second day twelve bullocks, sons of the herd, two rams, fourteen lambs, sons of a year, perfect ones;
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See also
Numbers 29:20Numbers 29:40Psalms 51:16Psalms 51:17Psalms 50:8Psalms 50:9Psalms 40:6
In the KJVVerse 4,626 of 31,102

Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Numbers 29:17 meticulously outlines the specific sacrificial offerings mandated for the second day of the seven-day Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot). This verse, following the detailed instructions for the first day, specifies the offering of twelve young bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year, all to be "without spot." It underscores the precision required in Israelite worship, reflecting God's holy character and the covenantal relationship maintained through prescribed atonement and communion.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: Numbers 29:17 is situated within a lengthy section (Numbers 28-29) that provides a comprehensive calendar of annual feasts and their corresponding sacrificial requirements, serving as a liturgical appendix to the Mosaic Law. Specifically, Numbers 29 details the offerings for the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles. The immediate context of verse 17 is the Feast of Tabernacles (Numbers 29:12-38), a seven-day celebration followed by an eighth-day assembly. This section meticulously lists the daily offerings, with a notable progression: the number of bullocks decreases by one each day, from thirteen on the first day (Numbers 29:13) to seven on the seventh day (Numbers 29:32), while the rams (two) and lambs (fourteen) remain constant. This systematic reduction in bullocks is unique to Sukkot and emphasizes a distinct liturgical rhythm within this joyous festival.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: The Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkot, was one of the three pilgrimage festivals in ancient Israel, requiring all Israelite males to appear before the Lord in Jerusalem (Deuteronomy 16:16). Celebrated in the autumn (late September/early October), it had a dual significance: it was a harvest festival, giving thanks for the ingathering of crops (Exodus 23:16), and a commemoration of God's faithful provision and protection during Israel's forty years of wandering in the wilderness, where they dwelt in temporary shelters or "booths" (Leviticus 23:42-43). The construction and dwelling in these temporary booths (sukkot) served as a tangible reminder of their nomadic past and God's dwelling among them. The elaborate sacrificial system, including the daily burnt offerings, peace offerings, and sin offerings, was central to maintaining ritual purity and covenant fidelity within this agricultural and historical remembrance.
  • Key Themes: Numbers 29:17 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the book of Numbers and the Pentateuch. First, it highlights Meticulous Obedience and Divine Order in worship. The precise numbers and types of animals, along with their blemish-free requirement, underscore that Israelite worship was not arbitrary but demanded exact adherence to God's revealed instructions, reflecting His absolute holiness and sovereignty. Second, it reinforces the theme of Atonement and Consecration. Each sacrifice, particularly the burnt offerings, served to atone for sin and consecrate the people and their worship, maintaining the covenant relationship between a holy God and His people. The requirement for animals "without spot" (Numbers 29:17) points to the necessity of ritual purity and perfection in approaching God, a standard consistently emphasized throughout the Mosaic Law, as seen in the foundational instructions for offerings in Leviticus 1:3. Finally, the entire sacrificial system, including these detailed offerings, serves as a profound Anticipation of Christ's Perfect Sacrifice. These repeated, animal sacrifices foreshadowed the ultimate, once-for-all atonement achieved by Jesus Christ, the spotless Lamb of God, as articulated in Hebrews 10:10.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • Second Day (Hebrew, shênîy_ _yôwm', H8145): This phrase combines H8145 (shênîy), meaning "second" or "double," and H3117 (yôwm), meaning "day" (as the warm hours or a defined space of time). Together, they precisely mark the specific temporal setting for these offerings within the week-long Feast of Tabernacles. This emphasis on daily progression underscores the continuous nature of Israel's worship and their sustained commitment throughout the festival, with each day holding its unique, divinely appointed ritual.
  • Young Bullocks (Hebrew, _par bên _bâqâr'__, H6499): This compound term refers to specific male bovines. H6499 (par) denotes a "bullock," often implying strength. H1121 (bên) means "son" or "young," indicating the animal's age and vigor. H1241 (bâqâr) refers to "beef cattle" or an "animal of the ox family." Combined, these terms specify valuable, uncastrated male cattle, typically in their prime, making them costly and significant sacrificial animals. Their prominence in the Feast of Tabernacles offerings underscores the festival's importance and the magnitude of the nation's thanksgiving and atonement.
  • Without Spot (Hebrew, tâmîym', H8549): This critical term (H8549, tâmîym) translates to "entire," "complete," "sound," "whole," or "perfect." For sacrificial animals, it meant being free from any physical blemish, disease, or defect. This physical perfection was not merely aesthetic; it symbolized the moral and spiritual purity required for an offering to be acceptable to a holy God. It pointed to the ideal of wholeness and integrity in worship and, prophetically, to the flawless nature of the ultimate Messiah.

Verse Breakdown

  • "And on the second day": This phrase immediately places the verse within the sequential progression of the Feast of Tabernacles. The daily enumeration of offerings highlights the continuous nature of worship and the sustained commitment required throughout the week-long festival, emphasizing that each day had its unique, divinely appointed ritual. This precise temporal marker underscores God's meticulous ordering of Israel's liturgical calendar.
  • "[ye shall offer] twelve young bullocks": The number twelve is highly significant in Israelite theology, often symbolizing the twelve tribes of Israel. While the first day required thirteen bullocks, the second day begins the daily decrease, offering twelve. This suggests a comprehensive offering on behalf of the entire nation, reinforcing the communal aspect of the festival and the unity of the people in their worship and atonement. The high value of bullocks signifies the magnitude of the offering.
  • "two rams": The offering of two rams (H352, ʼayil) remains constant throughout the seven days of the Feast of Tabernacles. Rams were significant sacrificial animals, often representing strength and used in burnt offerings, peace offerings, and consecration ceremonies. Their consistency, unlike the decreasing bullocks, might signify a foundational or unchanging element of the daily offering, perhaps representing the steadfastness of the covenant or the continuous need for propitiation and dedication.
  • "fourteen lambs of the first year without spot": The offering of fourteen lambs (H3532, kebes), twice seven, a number of completeness, also remains constant daily. Lambs of the first year (H8141, shâneh, for "year") were particularly valued for their purity and innocence, often associated with sin offerings and burnt offerings. The crucial addition "without spot" (H8549, tâmîym) emphasizes the absolute purity and perfection required of all sacrificial animals, signifying that only the unblemished was acceptable to a holy God, setting a standard for the integrity of the offering and the worshiper.

Literary Devices

The passage in Numbers 29, including verse 17, is characterized by several prominent literary devices. Repetition is a dominant feature, with the phrase "without spot" recurring for each type of animal and across various sacrificial contexts in the Pentateuch, underscoring the non-negotiable requirement for purity. The meticulous listing of numbers and types of animals across the days of the feast also employs Enumeration and Precision, which serve to emphasize the divine authority behind these commands and the absolute necessity of exact obedience. This detailed Prescriptive Law format leaves no room for ambiguity, highlighting God's orderliness and the seriousness with which He views worship. Furthermore, the selection of specific animals and their blemish-free status are rich in Symbolism, representing purity, atonement, and the transfer of sin, all pointing forward to the ultimate, perfect sacrifice. The unique daily decrease in bullocks during Sukkot also introduces a subtle Numerical Progression, which, while its exact theological meaning is debated, adds a distinct rhythmic element to the week's offerings.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Numbers 29:17, with its precise instructions for the second day of Sukkot, powerfully illustrates God's demand for holiness and the meticulous nature of His covenant relationship with Israel. The sheer volume and specific requirements of the offerings underscore the gravity of sin and the immense cost of atonement under the Old Covenant. This elaborate system was designed to impress upon the Israelites the holiness of God, their dependence on His provision, and the necessity of approaching Him on His terms. It teaches that true worship is not casual but requires intentionality, purity, and a recognition of God's absolute sovereignty. The "without spot" requirement, in particular, points to a divine standard of perfection that no human could meet, thereby highlighting the need for a perfect mediator and sacrifice.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

While the specific animal sacrifices of the Old Covenant are no longer required for believers in Christ, Numbers 29:17 remains deeply relevant, offering profound insights into the nature of worship and our relationship with God. This verse challenges us to consider the quality and intentionality of our own spiritual offerings. Just as God demanded the "without spot" and the "best" from Israel, so too does He deserve our utmost excellence in our worship, service, and daily lives. This means offering our time, talents, and resources not out of obligation, but with a spirit of reverence, gratitude, and wholehearted devotion, recognizing the immense cost of our redemption. The meticulousness of the ancient law should lead us to a deeper appreciation for the grace of the New Covenant, where Christ's perfect sacrifice has fulfilled all these requirements, enabling us to approach God with confidence, yet still with awe and respect for His holiness. Our "living sacrifice" (Romans 12:1) is now our entire life, lived in obedience and love, reflecting the transformative power of the Gospel.

Questions for Reflection

  • How does the meticulous detail of the Old Testament sacrifices, like those in Numbers 29:17, deepen your appreciation for God's holiness and the seriousness of sin?
  • In what ways can we, as New Covenant believers, apply the principle of offering our "best" and being "without spot" in our contemporary worship and daily walk with God?
  • Considering the shift from animal sacrifices to a "living sacrifice" (Romans 12:1), what does it mean practically for your life to be an acceptable offering to God?
  • How does understanding the Old Testament sacrificial system enhance your understanding and gratitude for the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross?

FAQ

Why did the number of bullocks decrease daily during the Feast of Tabernacles?

Answer: The daily decrease in the number of bullocks offered during the Feast of Tabernacles (from thirteen on the first day to seven on the seventh day) is unique among Israelite festivals and has prompted various interpretations. While the Bible does not explicitly state the reason, several theories exist. Some scholars suggest it symbolized a progression towards completion or perfection, with the number seven on the final day representing divine completeness. Others propose it might have reflected a gradual "winding down" of the festival's intensity or a symbolic representation of the seventy nations of the world, gradually being brought into the sphere of God's blessing, perhaps with one bullock for each nation over the course of the week. Another view is that it simply served as a distinctive feature to differentiate Sukkot from other feasts, emphasizing its unique character as a joyous harvest and wilderness commemoration. Regardless of the precise symbolic meaning, the decreasing number underscored the distinctiveness and divine ordering of this particular feast, as detailed in Numbers 29.

What is the significance of the phrase "without spot" for the sacrificial animals?

Answer: The phrase "without spot" (Hebrew: tamim) is of paramount significance for sacrificial animals throughout the Mosaic Law, as seen in passages like Leviticus 1:3 and Exodus 12:5. It means the animal must be physically perfect, free from any blemish, disease, or defect. Theologically, this requirement served multiple purposes. First, it emphasized the holiness and perfection of God, to whom the offering was made; only the best and most perfect was fitting for Him. Second, it symbolized the purity required for atonement. A blemished animal could not adequately represent the transfer of sin or the purity necessary to approach a holy God. Third, and most profoundly, it foreshadowed the ultimate, perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who was "without blemish and without spot" (1 Peter 1:19), making Him the only acceptable and effective atonement for the sins of humanity.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

The meticulous requirements for the sacrifices in Numbers 29:17, particularly the demand for animals "without spot," find their ultimate and perfect fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The Old Testament sacrificial system, with its daily, weekly, and annual offerings, served as a shadow pointing to the reality of God's redemptive plan (Colossians 2:17). The repeated sacrifices, including the twelve bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs, could never truly take away sin but merely covered it and reminded the people of their need for a perfect atonement (Hebrews 10:4). Jesus, however, is the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29), the true and perfect sacrifice. He was born "without spot" of sin (2 Corinthians 5:21), lived a blameless life, and offered Himself "through the eternal Spirit without blemish to God" (Hebrews 9:14). His once-for-all sacrifice on the cross superseded all the Old Covenant rituals, providing complete and eternal redemption (Hebrews 10:10-14). Thus, Numbers 29:17, with its emphasis on costly, pure, and numerous offerings, serves as a powerful backdrop, highlighting the immeasurable value and absolute perfection of Christ's singular, all-sufficient work, which truly cleanses us from all sin and grants us direct access to God (Ephesians 2:18).

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Commentary on Numbers 29 verses 12–40

Soon after the day of atonement, that day in which men were to afflict their souls, followed the feast of tabernacles, in which they were to rejoice before the Lord; for those that sow in tears shall soon reap in joy. To the former laws about this feast, which we had, Lev 23:34, etc., here are added directions about the offerings by fire, which they were to offer unto the Lord during the seven days of that feast, Lev 23:36. Observe here, 1. Their days of rejoicing were to be days of sacrifices. A disposition to be cheerful does us no harm, nor is any bad symptom, when it is so far from unfitting us for the duties of God's immediate service that it encourages and enlarges our hearts in them. 2. All the days of their dwelling in booths they must offer sacrifices. While we are here in a tabernacle-state, it is our interest as well as duty constantly to keep up communion with God; nor will the unsettledness of our outward condition excuse us in our neglect of the duties of God's worship. 3. The sacrifices for each of the seven days, though differing in nothing but the number of the bullocks, are severally and particularly appointed, which yet is no vain repetition; for God would thus teach them to be very exact in those observances, and to keep an eye of faith fixed upon the institution in every day's work. It likewise intimates that the repetition of the same services, if performed with an upright heart, and with a continued fire of pious and devout affection, is no weariness to God, and therefore we ought not to snuff at it, or to say, Behold, what a weariness it is to us! 4. The number of bullocks (which were the most costly part of the sacrifice) decreased every day. On the first day of the feast they were to offer thirteen, on the second day but twelve, on the third day eleven, etc. So that on the seventh they offered seven; and the last day, though it was the great day of the feast, and celebrated with a holy convocation, yet they were to offer but one bullock; and, whereas on all the other days they offered two rams and fourteen lambs, on this they offered but one ram and seven lambs. Such was the will of the Law-maker, and that is reason enough for the law. Some suggest that God herein considered the infirmity of the flesh, which is apt to grudge the charge and expense of religion; it is therefore ordered to grow less and less, that they might not complain as if God had made them to serve with an offering, Isa 43:23. Or it is hereby intimated to them that the legal dispensation should wax old, and vanish away at last; and the multitude of their sacrifices should end in one great sacrifice, infinitely more worthy than all of them. It was on the last day of the feast, after all these sacrifices had been ordered, that our Lord Jesus stood and cried to those who still thirsted after righteousness (being sensible of the insufficiency of these sacrifices to justify them) to come unto him and drink, Joh 7:37. 5. The meat-offerings and drink-offerings attended all the sacrifices, according to their number, after the manner. Be there ever so much flesh, it is no feast without bread and drink, therefore these must never be omitted at God's altar, which was his table. We must not think that doing much in religion will be accepted if we do not do it well, and after the manner that God has appointed. 6. Every day there must be a sin-offering presented, as we observed in the other feasts. Our burnt-offerings of praise cannot be accepted of God unless we have an interest in the great sacrifice of propitiation which Christ offered when for us he made himself a sin-offering. 7. Even when all these sacrifices were offered, yet the continual burnt-offering must not be omitted either morning or evening, but each day this must be offered first in the morning and last in the evening. No extraordinary services should jostle out our stated devotions. 8. Though all these sacrifices were required to be presented by the body of the congregation, at the common charge, yet, besides these, particular persons were to glorify God with their vows and their free-will offerings, Num 29:39. When God commanded that this they must do, he left room for the generosity of their devotion, a great deal more they might do, not inventing other worships, but abounding in these, as Ch2 30:23, Ch2 30:24. Large directions had been given in Leviticus concerning the offerings of all sorts that should be brought by particular persons according to the providences of God concerning them and the graces of God in them. Though every Israelite had an interest in these common sacrifices, yet he must not think that these will serve instead of his vows and his free-will offerings. Thus our ministers' praying with us and for us will not excuse us from praying for ourselves.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 12–40. Public domain.
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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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