Numbers 29:34

KJV

And one goat [for] a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering.

KJV (with Strong's)

And one {H259} goat {H8163} for a sin offering {H2403}; beside the continual {H8548} burnt offering {H5930}, his meat offering {H4503}, and his drink offering {H5262}.

Complete Jewish Bible

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

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 29:34 provides a precise divine instruction for the sacrificial regimen on the seventh day of the Feast of Tabernacles, mandating the inclusion of a sin offering. This particular offering was to be presented "beside" the daily continual burnt offering, along with its associated grain and drink offerings, underscoring Israel's persistent need for atonement and purification even amidst joyous celebration, and highlighting the comprehensive nature of God's prescribed worship.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Numbers 29:34 is situated within a highly detailed liturgical calendar found in Numbers chapters 28 and 29. These chapters meticulously outline the specific sacrifices required for the regular daily offerings, weekly Sabbaths, monthly New Moons, and all annual feasts. The immediate context of verse 34 is the specific instructions for the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot), which spanned seven days of celebration followed by an eighth day of solemn assembly. Each of the first seven days had a unique sacrificial schedule, predominantly featuring a decreasing number of bullocks for the burnt offering, yet consistently requiring "one goat for a sin offering." This consistency for the sin offering, despite the variation in other sacrifices, emphasizes its foundational importance throughout the festival, acting as a crucial counterpoint to the celebratory atmosphere.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkot, was one of the three great pilgrimage festivals in ancient Israel, alongside Passover and Pentecost. It was primarily an agricultural harvest festival, celebrating the ingathering of the final crops (grapes, olives) and giving thanks to God for His provision. Culturally, it also served as a memorial of Israel's wilderness wanderings, during which they lived in temporary shelters (booths or tabernacles), reminding them of God's faithful provision and protection during their nomadic journey. The elaborate sacrificial system, as detailed in Numbers, was the divinely ordained means by which Israel maintained covenant relationship with a holy God. These offerings were not merely rituals but acts of worship, repentance, thanksgiving, and dedication, deeply embedded in the social and religious fabric of the nation, designed to foster communal and individual holiness.
* **Key Themes:** The detailed instructions in Numbers 29:34 contribute significantly to several overarching themes within the book of Numbers and the Pentateuch. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **Divine Prescription and Order**, emphasizing God's meticulousness in demanding precise adherence to His worship protocols. Every detail, from the type of animal to the quantity and timing, was divinely ordained, underscoring the seriousness and sanctity of approaching God. Secondly, the consistent inclusion of the sin offering throughout the joyous Feast of Tabernacles reinforces the theme of **Atonement and Purification**. Even during a time of celebration and thanksgiving for God's bounty, the Israelites were continually reminded of their inherent sinfulness and ongoing need for expiation and ritual cleansing to maintain their holy standing before God, as seen in passages like [Leviticus 16](/leviticus/16 "Leviticus 16 - The Day of Atonement"). Finally, the verse underscores the **Completeness and Sufficiency of the Sacrificial System** as given to Israel. The combination of burnt offerings (total dedication), grain offerings (thanksgiving, sustenance), drink offerings (devotion), and sin offerings (reconciliation) provided a holistic framework for worship that addressed various aspects of the human-divine relationship, acknowledging both God's absolute holiness and humanity's fallen state, a system designed to point towards the ultimate fulfillment in Christ, as anticipated in [Hebrews 10](/hebrews/10 "Hebrews 10 - Christ's Superior Sacrifice").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Goat (Hebrew, _'ez_):** In the context of the sin offering, the goat was a common animal specified for atonement, particularly for unintentional sins or communal transgressions. Its sacrifice symbolized the transfer of sin and the subsequent purification, serving as a substitute that bore the consequences of the people's impurity. The specific mention of "one goat" here emphasizes its singular, yet vital, role in the daily festival rites.
* **Sin Offering (Hebrew, _ḥaṭṭāʾt_):** This term, often translated as "sin offering," is more accurately understood as a "purification offering." While it addresses sin, its primary function was to cleanse ritual impurity and make atonement for unintentional transgressions, thereby restoring the purity of the worshiper and the sanctity of the sanctuary. Its consistent presence during the Feast of Tabernacles underscored the pervasive nature of impurity and the constant need for divine cleansing, even during times of national rejoicing.
* **Continual Burnt Offering (Hebrew, _ʿōlat hat-tāmîd_):** This refers to the daily morning and evening burnt offering, a perpetual sacrifice that symbolized Israel's ongoing dedication and complete surrender to God. The phrase "beside the continual burnt offering" in Numbers 29:34 is crucial, indicating that the festival sacrifices were *additional* to the regular, daily acts of worship. This highlights that the special festival offerings were not replacements but supplements, emphasizing the continuous nature of Israel's covenant relationship and their constant need for atonement and devotion.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And one goat [for] a sin offering":** This clause specifies the requirement for a single male goat to be offered as a purification offering. Its inclusion on the seventh day, consistent with the preceding days of the feast, underscores the persistent need for atonement and ritual cleansing for the community, even in the midst of a joyful harvest festival. It signifies that human imperfection and the potential for sin or impurity were ever-present, necessitating ongoing divine provision for reconciliation.
* **"beside the continual burnt offering":** This phrase is highly significant. It clarifies that this specific festival sin offering, along with the other festival sacrifices, was not to replace but to accompany the daily, perpetual burnt offering. The "continual burnt offering" (Numbers 28:3-8) was a constant expression of Israel's covenant commitment and atonement. Its presence here emphasizes that the special festival worship augmented, rather than superseded, the regular, foundational acts of national devotion and reconciliation.
* **"his meat offering, and his drink offering":** These refer to the grain (meat) offering and drink offering that invariably accompanied the burnt offering. The grain offering (minchah) was typically a gift of flour, oil, and frankincense, symbolizing thanksgiving, sustenance, and dedication. The drink offering (nesek), usually wine, was poured out as an act of devotion and worship. Their inclusion here confirms that the comprehensive package of daily worship, symbolizing complete dedication and sustenance from God, remained intact and foundational, even as additional festival sacrifices were added.

#### Literary Devices
Numbers 29:34, like much of the Pentateuchal legal material, employs several literary devices to convey its message with precision and emphasis. **Repetition** is a prominent feature throughout Numbers 29, with the phrase "one goat for a sin offering" recurring daily, reinforcing the persistent need for purification despite the changing numbers of other sacrifices. This repetition serves to instill the importance of atonement into the national consciousness. The **Specificity** of the instructions, detailing the exact animal and its purpose, reflects the meticulousness of divine law and the seriousness with which God's worship was to be approached. This precision leaves no room for ambiguity or human improvisation in sacred matters. Furthermore, the use of **Juxtaposition** in placing the "sin offering" "beside the continual burnt offering" highlights the interplay between specific festival atonement and ongoing national dedication, creating a comprehensive picture of Israel's relationship with God that balanced joyous celebration with a sober recognition of sin and the need for constant reconciliation.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 29:34, though a seemingly minor detail in the vast sacrificial system, profoundly illustrates core theological truths about God's holiness, humanity's sinfulness, and the divine provision for reconciliation. It underscores that even in moments of national joy and thanksgiving, the reality of sin and impurity necessitates a constant need for atonement. The meticulous nature of the instructions reveals God's absolute sovereignty over worship and His desire for a holy people who approach Him on His terms. This verse, therefore, serves as a powerful reminder of the pervasive nature of sin and the foundational role of sacrifice in bridging the gap between a holy God and an imperfect humanity, a theme woven throughout the Old Testament narrative.

* [Leviticus 4:27-31](/leviticus/4-27 "Leviticus 4:27-31 - Sin Offering for the Common Person")
* [Hebrews 9:22](/hebrews/9-22 "Hebrews 9:22 - Without the Shedding of Blood There Is No Forgiveness")
* [Romans 6:23](/romans/6-23 "Romans 6:23 - The Wages of Sin Is Death")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The inclusion of a sin offering, even on the seventh day of a joyous harvest festival like the Feast of Tabernacles, serves as a profound spiritual reminder for believers today. It teaches us that our need for God's grace and forgiveness is not confined to moments of overt failure or crisis, but is a constant, underlying reality of our human condition. Even in our most celebratory moments, when we feel closest to God and most thankful for His blessings, we are called to humble ourselves and acknowledge our inherent imperfections and ongoing need for purification. This prevents spiritual pride and fosters a deep, abiding humility, reminding us that our standing before a holy God is always by His grace and provision, never by our own merit or performance. Just as the "continual burnt offering" reminded Israel of their daily dependence, so too are we called to live in continual reliance on Christ's finished work and to practice ongoing confession and repentance, finding purification and maintaining fellowship with God through Him.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the consistent need for a sin offering, even during a joyful festival, challenge our modern understanding of sin and grace?**
* **In what ways do we, like ancient Israel, need to be reminded of our ongoing need for purification and atonement, even when we feel spiritually strong?**
* **What does the phrase "beside the continual burnt offering" teach us about the relationship between special acts of worship and our daily walk with God?**
* **How can we cultivate a posture of humility and ongoing repentance in our lives, recognizing our need for God's grace in all circumstances?**

### FAQ

**Why was a sin offering required every day of the Feast of Tabernacles, even though it was a joyful celebration?**

Answer: The consistent requirement for a sin offering, even during the joyous Feast of Tabernacles, underscores a fundamental theological truth: humanity's inherent sinfulness and need for atonement are constant, regardless of the occasion. While the festival celebrated God's bountiful provision and faithfulness, it also served as a reminder that the people, despite their blessings, remained imperfect and prone to both intentional and unintentional sins or ritual impurities. The sin offering (or purification offering) was essential to cleanse these impurities and maintain the people's holy standing before God, ensuring that their worship and celebration were acceptable and not defiled by unaddressed sin. It prevented presumption and fostered humility, reminding Israel that even their greatest joys were sustained by God's grace and provision for sin, a theme echoed in [Leviticus 16:16](/leviticus/16-16 "Leviticus 16:16 - Atonement for the Sanctuary").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Numbers 29:34, with its emphasis on the daily sin offering "beside the continual burnt offering," powerfully foreshadows the ultimate and perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The repeated animal sacrifices of the Old Covenant, including the goat for a sin offering, were inherently temporary and imperfect, serving as a constant reminder of sin's pervasive presence and the ongoing need for atonement, as [Hebrews 10:11](/hebrews/10-11 "Hebrews 10:11 - Priests Stand Daily Offering Sacrifices") explains. These offerings could only cover sins, never fully take them away. However, Jesus Christ is the ultimate [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), the definitive fulfillment of every Old Testament sacrifice. His singular, once-for-all sacrifice on the cross, as described in [Hebrews 9:11-14](/hebrews/9-11 "Hebrews 9:11-14 - Christ's Superior Sacrifice"), achieved what no animal could: perfect and eternal redemption, purifying not just the flesh but the conscience from dead works. He became our "sin offering" ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")), bearing the full wrath of God for our transgressions, so that we might be declared righteous. Thus, the continual need for atonement highlighted in Numbers 29:34 finds its glorious and complete resolution in Christ, who, unlike the Levitical offerings, perfectly and permanently reconciles humanity to God, establishing a new and living way through His blood ([Hebrews 10:19-20](/hebrews/10-19 "Hebrews 10:19-20 - Access to God Through Christ's Blood")).

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.