Numbers 7:39

KJV

One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

KJV (with Strong's)

One {H259} young {H1241} bullock {H6499}, one {H259} ram {H352}, one {H259} lamb {H3532} of the first {H1121} year {H8141}, for a burnt offering {H5930}:

Complete Jewish Bible

one young bull, one ram, one male lamb in its first year as a burnt offering,

Berean Standard Bible

one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering;

American Standard Version

one young bullock, one ram, one he-lamb a year old, for a burnt-offering;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 7:39 meticulously details a component of the dedication offerings brought by Gamaliel, the leader of the tribe of Manasseh, for the newly consecrated Tabernacle. This verse specifies the animals—a young bullock, a ram, and a lamb of the first year—designated for the burnt offering, an act of complete surrender and atonement. It forms part of a larger, repetitive account in Numbers chapter 7, which underscores the precision and unity required in Israelite worship and the profound significance of total dedication to God.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Numbers 7:39 is situated within a lengthy and highly structured narrative in Numbers chapter 7, which records the offerings presented by the twelve tribal leaders for the dedication of the Tabernacle and its implements. This chapter immediately follows the anointing of the Tabernacle and the altar, as commanded by God ([Numbers 7:1](/numbers/7-1 "Numbers 7:1 - Anointing of the Tabernacle")). For twelve consecutive days, each tribal leader brought an identical set of gifts, emphasizing uniformity and shared devotion. Numbers 7:39 specifically describes the burnt offering portion of the gifts brought by Gamaliel, the son of Pedahzur, on the seventh day. The repetitive nature of this chapter, detailing the exact same offerings from each tribe, serves to highlight the meticulous obedience required in worship and the collective commitment of the entire nation to God's dwelling place among them.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The events of Numbers chapter 7 unfold shortly after the construction and anointing of the Tabernacle, a pivotal moment in Israel's history as they prepared for their journey through the wilderness. The Tabernacle served as God's dwelling place among His people, symbolizing His presence and providing a prescribed means for worship and atonement. The offerings, including the burnt offering mentioned in [Numbers 7:39](/numbers/7-39 "Numbers 7:39 - Gamaliel's Burnt Offering"), were not merely ceremonial gifts but essential acts of consecration, dedicating the sacred space and its instruments for divine service. These sacrifices were foundational to Israelite covenant relations, establishing a framework for approaching a holy God. The specific animals—a young bullock, a ram, and a lamb of the first year—were standard sacrificial animals, chosen for their purity and unblemished state, representing the best of the flock or herd, reflecting the principle that only the finest was acceptable for God's service, as detailed in [Leviticus 1](/leviticus/1 "Leviticus 1 - The Burnt Offering").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Burnt Offering (Hebrew, _‘ōlāh'_):** This term translates the Hebrew word עֹלָה (`‘ōlāh`), which literally means "that which ascends" or "goes up." This refers to the smoke of the sacrifice ascending to God, signifying a complete and total surrender, dedication, and devotion. Unlike other sacrifices where portions were returned to the priests or worshipers, the burnt offering was entirely consumed by fire on the altar (save for the hide, which went to the priest in some cases), symbolizing a complete giving of oneself or one's offering to God. It served as a general atonement for unintentional sins and a demonstration of fervent devotion, making the worshiper acceptable before the Lord.
* **Young Bullock, Ram, Lamb of the First Year:** These specific animals represent the standard, unblemished male animals required for various sacrifices, particularly the burnt offering. The "young bullock" (פר בן בקר, _par ben baqar_) signifies a mature, valuable animal from the cattle, indicative of significant cost and offering. The "ram" (איל, _’ayil_) is a male sheep, also a substantial offering. The "lamb of the first year" (כבש בן שנתו, _kebes ben shenato_) refers to a young, pure, and unblemished male lamb, often associated with purity and innocence, and frequently used in communal and individual offerings. The selection of these specific animals underscores the divine precision and high value placed on the offerings presented to God.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"One young bullock":** This specifies the largest and most valuable animal in the offering, a male calf, indicating a substantial and costly sacrifice. Its inclusion signifies the worshiper's willingness to give generously and sacrificially to God.
* **"one ram":** This refers to a male sheep, a significant animal in the pastoral economy of ancient Israel. Its presence alongside the bullock reinforces the comprehensive nature of the offering, drawing from different categories of livestock.
* **"one lamb of the first year":** This denotes a young, pure, and unblemished male lamb, often symbolizing innocence and purity. Its inclusion highlights the requirement for perfection and blamelessness in offerings presented to a holy God, foreshadowing the ultimate perfect sacrifice.
* **"for a burnt offering":** This clause explicitly states the purpose of these animals. They were designated for the `‘ōlāh`, the sacrifice entirely consumed on the altar, symbolizing complete dedication, atonement for sin, and the worshiper's total surrender to God's will.

#### Literary Devices
Numbers 7:39, within its broader context, employs several significant literary devices. **Repetition** is the most prominent, as the entire chapter meticulously repeats the identical list of offerings for each of the twelve tribal leaders. This **Repetition** serves to emphasize the uniformity of divine command, the unity of the tribes in their worship, and the meticulous nature of God's requirements. It also highlights the importance and value of each component of the offering. **Symbolism** is inherent in the animals themselves: the unblemished bullock, ram, and lamb symbolize purity, value, and the best of the worshiper's possessions, signifying that only the perfect and most valuable is fitting for God. The "burnt offering" itself is a powerful **Symbol** of complete surrender, total dedication, and atonement, as the entire offering ascends to God in smoke. Furthermore, the detailed prescription of these offerings, while literal in their immediate context, functions as **Typology**, foreshadowing the ultimate, perfect sacrifice that would fully and finally atone for sin, establishing a pattern for future divine provision.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 7:39, as part of the Tabernacle dedication offerings, powerfully articulates the theological principles of divine precision, complete dedication, and the necessity of atonement. The meticulous detail in God's commands for worship underscores His holiness and the reverence due to Him. The burnt offering, entirely consumed, symbolizes total surrender and the giving of one's best to God, a principle that transcends the Old Testament sacrificial system. This act of atonement, making the worshiper acceptable before a holy God, points forward to a greater, more perfect sacrifice that would provide ultimate and complete reconciliation.

* [Leviticus 1:3](/leviticus/1-3 "Leviticus 1:3 - Requirements for a Burnt Offering")
* [Hebrews 10:10](/hebrews/10-10 "Hebrews 10:10 - Christ's Single Sacrifice")
* [Romans 12:1](/romans/12-1 "Romans 12:1 - Living Sacrifices")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the specific practice of animal sacrifice is no longer required for believers in Christ, Numbers 7:39 and its broader context offer profound and enduring principles for our spiritual lives. The meticulousness with which God prescribed these offerings teaches us that our worship and service to Him should be intentional, thoughtful, and offered with our very best, not as an afterthought or with half-hearted effort. The concept of the burnt offering, symbolizing complete surrender and dedication, challenges us to examine the extent of our own commitment to God. Are we holding anything back, or are we truly presenting our whole selves—our time, talents, resources, and desires—as a "living sacrifice" to Him? This passage calls us to a life of holistic devotion, recognizing that true worship involves not just ritual but a transformed heart and obedient living, reflecting the complete surrender symbolized by the ascending smoke of the offering.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life am I holding back from complete surrender to God, rather than offering my "best" as a burnt offering?**
* **How does the meticulous detail of God's requirements for the Tabernacle offerings inform my approach to worship and obedience today?**
* **Considering the symbolism of the burnt offering, what does it mean for me to "present my body as a living sacrifice" in a practical, daily sense?**

### FAQ
**Why were specific animals like a young bullock, ram, and lamb of the first year required for the burnt offering?**

Answer: The specific animals were chosen for several reasons, reflecting divine instruction and symbolic meaning. Firstly, they were considered "clean" animals suitable for sacrifice according to Mosaic Law, as detailed in [Leviticus 1](/leviticus/1 "Leviticus 1 - The Burnt Offering"). Secondly, they had to be "unblemished" or "without defect," signifying the purity and perfection required for an offering to a holy God. This emphasized the high standard God set for approaching Him. Thirdly, the varying sizes and values of the animals (bullock being the most valuable, then ram, then lamb) allowed for different levels of sacrifice based on a worshiper's means, while still requiring the "best" of what they possessed. The "lamb of the first year" specifically highlighted purity and innocence, a foreshadowing of the ultimate perfect sacrifice.

**What was the primary purpose of the burnt offering in ancient Israelite worship?**

Answer: The primary purpose of the burnt offering (`‘ōlāh`) was multifaceted. It was fundamentally an act of complete dedication and devotion to God, symbolizing the worshiper's total surrender and commitment, as the entire animal (except for the hide in some cases) was consumed by fire and ascended as smoke to God. It also served as a general atonement for unintentional sins, making the worshiper acceptable before the Lord. While other sacrifices addressed specific sins, the burnt offering had a broader atoning quality, restoring the relationship between the worshiper and God. It was also offered in communal settings for the nation's atonement and dedication, as seen in the Tabernacle dedication in [Numbers 7](/numbers/7 "Numbers 7 - Dedication of the Tabernacle").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Numbers 7:39, with its detailed description of the burnt offering, finds its ultimate and perfect fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The "young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year" all point to the singular, unblemished, and infinitely valuable sacrifice of 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 the burnt offering symbolized complete surrender and dedication, Jesus offered Himself entirely, without reservation, on the cross. His sacrifice was not merely a partial offering but a total, once-for-all atonement for the sins of humanity, rendering all subsequent animal sacrifices obsolete ([Hebrews 10:10-14](/hebrews/10-10 "Hebrews 10:10-14 - Christ's Perfect Sacrifice")). The ascending smoke of the `‘ōlāh` symbolized acceptance before God; similarly, Christ's perfect obedience and sacrificial death were supremely acceptable to the Father, securing our eternal redemption. Through His finished work, we are invited to present our lives as "living sacrifices" ([Romans 12:1](/romans/12-1 "Romans 12:1 - Living Sacrifices")), not to earn salvation, but in grateful response to the complete and perfect offering of our Lord Jesus Christ, who perfectly fulfilled every requirement of the Law.

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.