Numbers 7:57

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 7:57 meticulously details the specific components of the burnt offering presented by Ahira, the prince of the tribe of Naphtali, on the eleventh day of the Tabernacle's dedication. This verse, mirroring the identical burnt offering prescribed for each of the twelve tribal leaders, underscores the precise and comprehensive nature of Israelite worship, emphasizing complete surrender and atonement through divinely ordained sacrifice as a foundational act in the newly consecrated sanctuary, symbolizing a unified national commitment to God.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Numbers 7:57 is strategically placed within a lengthy and highly repetitive chapter that meticulously records the dedication offerings brought by each of the twelve tribal princes of Israel. Following the completion and anointing of the Tabernacle in [Numbers 7:1](/numbers/7-1 "Numbers 7 - The Dedication of the Tabernacle Begins"), each prince, on successive days, presents an identical set of gifts and sacrifices. Verse 57 specifically details the burnt offering component of the gifts brought by Ahira, the son of Enan, who was the prince of the children of Naphtali, on the eleventh day of this significant dedication period. The preceding verses (Numbers 7:54-56) introduce Ahira and his other offerings, while the subsequent verses (Numbers 7:58-60) list the sin offering and peace offerings he presented. The chapter's repetitive structure serves to underscore the unity, order, and comprehensive nature of the tribes' collective act of worship and their unwavering commitment to God's established covenant.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** This passage is set shortly after the construction and anointing of the Tabernacle, as meticulously detailed in [Exodus 40](/exodus/40 "Exodus 40 - The Tabernacle Completed and Dedicated"). The Israelites are encamped in the wilderness, having recently received the Mosaic Law at Mount Sinai, a pivotal moment in their covenant relationship with Yahweh. The Tabernacle served as the central place of worship, God's dwelling among His people, and the focal point for their communal and spiritual life. The dedication offerings, including the burnt offering, were essential for consecrating the Tabernacle for its sacred purpose and establishing the divinely prescribed means by which a sinful people could approach a holy God. The act of offering valuable animals—specifically a young bullock, a ram, and a lamb of the first year—reflected the economic and social realities of the time, where livestock represented significant wealth and a primary form of sustenance. These offerings were not arbitrary but were precisely commanded by God, emphasizing the paramount importance of obedience and the divine provision for atonement within the covenant relationship.
* **Key Themes:** Numbers 7:57 contributes significantly to several key theological and narrative themes prevalent in the book of Numbers and the Pentateuch. Foremost is the theme of **Divine Order and Holiness**, as the meticulous instructions for the Tabernacle's construction and its subsequent dedication offerings underscore God's absolute demand for precision and purity in worship. The identical nature of the offerings across all twelve tribes highlights **Unity and Corporate Worship**, demonstrating that despite tribal distinctions, all Israel approached God under the same divine mandate and with the same sacrificial provisions. The burnt offering itself powerfully embodies the theme of **Atonement and Complete Surrender**, signifying the worshiper's total devotion and the means by which sin could be covered, allowing for fellowship with a holy God. This dedication also reinforces the theme of **Covenant Faithfulness**, as the Israelites, through these offerings, reaffirmed their commitment to the covenant established at [Mount Sinai](/exodus/19-20 "Exodus 19-20 - The Giving of the Law at Sinai"), acknowledging God's presence and provision in their midst.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Burnt Offering (Hebrew, _ʿôlâh'_):** Derived from a root meaning "to ascend" or "to go up," the _ʿôlâh_ was unique among Israelite sacrifices because the entire animal (except for its hide, which went to the priest) was consumed by fire on the altar, ascending as smoke to God. This type of offering, often referred to as a "holocaust," symbolized complete surrender, total devotion, and general atonement for unintentional sin, serving as a "pleasing aroma" to the Lord, indicating divine acceptance of the worshiper and their offering.
* **Bullock (Hebrew, _par'_):** This term refers to a young bull or ox, often associated with breaking forth in wild strength. In the context of sacrifice, a bullock was a substantial and costly animal, typically reserved for communal offerings or those of high status. Its inclusion in the burnt offering underscored the significance and value of the sacrifice, representing the giving of one's most valuable possessions and the profound gravity of approaching a holy God.
* **Lamb (Hebrew, _kebes'_):** This word denotes a young ram, specifically a lamb just old enough to butt. The phrase "lamb of the first year" (incorporating H1121 _bên_ and H8141 _shâneh_) further specifies its youth and prime condition, making it an unblemished and perfect offering. The lamb's inclusion emphasizes purity, innocence, and the requirement of offering the best and most pristine animals for sacrifice, a concept that carries significant theological weight throughout Scripture.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"One young bullock,"**: This specifies the largest and most valuable animal in the burnt offering. The bullock symbolized strength, purity, and substantial worth, indicating that the worshiper was giving their best and most significant offering to God. Its inclusion highlights the gravity and costliness of approaching a holy God, demanding an offering commensurate with the reverence due to the Almighty.
* **"one ram,"**: The ram, a mature male sheep, was another valuable component of the offering. Its inclusion alongside the bullock and lamb signifies a comprehensive and diverse offering, demonstrating a complete and unreserved act of worship. This variety of animals represented a full spectrum of livestock available to the Israelites, emphasizing that the offering was not merely symbolic but also a substantial economic sacrifice, demonstrating the totality of their devotion.
* **"one lamb of the first year,"**: This refers to a young, unblemished male lamb, typically less than a year old. The "first year" emphasizes its youth, purity, and prime condition, making it a perfect and acceptable sacrifice. The lamb's inclusion points to the requirement of offering the best and most innocent animals, a theme that resonates deeply throughout the sacrificial system and foreshadows later redemptive themes.
* **"for a burnt offering:"**: This phrase explicitly states the purpose of these animals. As an _ʿōlāh_, or burnt offering, the entire animal (excluding the hide) was consumed by fire on the altar, symbolizing complete surrender, devotion, and atonement for general sin. It signified a total dedication of the worshiper to God, with the smoke ascending as a pleasing aroma, indicating divine acceptance and reconciliation between the offerer and the divine.

#### Literary Devices
Numbers 7:57, situated within the broader context of Numbers 7, employs several significant literary devices that amplify its meaning and theological impact. **Repetition** is the most prominent, as the exact list of offerings, including the burnt offering, is meticulously repeated for each of the twelve tribes. This stylistic choice powerfully emphasizes the unity of the tribes in their worship, the divine order and precision required for the Tabernacle service, and the meticulous adherence demanded for sacred acts. **Symbolism** is also central; the animals themselves (bullock, ram, lamb) symbolize purity, value, and the giving of one's absolute best. The act of the "burnt offering" (**_ʿōlāh_**) profoundly symbolizes complete devotion, total surrender, and the ascending of the offering to God as a pleasing aroma, representing atonement and divine acceptance. Furthermore, the entire sacrificial system, including the burnt offering, functions as **Typology**, serving as a prophetic shadow that foreshadows the ultimate, perfect, and once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who fully embodies the concepts of complete surrender, perfect atonement, and pleasing devotion to God.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 7:57, as an integral part of the Tabernacle dedication, powerfully illustrates the enduring theological themes of divine order, communal worship, and the indispensable necessity of atonement. The meticulous prescription of the burnt offering underscores God's unwavering demand for holiness and the precise, divinely appointed means by which a sinful people could approach a holy God. The complete consumption of the _ʿōlāh_ signifies total surrender and unreserved devotion, a profound theological principle that transcends the Old Covenant. It teaches that true worship involves giving one's absolute best and holding nothing back from the Lord, acknowledging His absolute sovereignty and His gracious provision for reconciliation. This act of sacrifice was not merely a ritualistic obligation but a profound expression of faith, obedience, and a deep longing for fellowship with God, setting the stage for a deeper understanding of ultimate sacrifice and the nature of true worship.

* [Leviticus 1:3-9](/leviticus/1-3-9 "Leviticus 1:3-9 - Regulations for the Burnt Offering")
* [Hebrews 10:1-4](/hebrews/10-1-4 "Hebrews 10:1-4 - The Inadequacy of Animal Sacrifices")
* [Romans 12:1](/romans/12-1 "Romans 12:1 - A Living Sacrifice")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Numbers 7:57, though detailing an ancient ritual from the wilderness wanderings, offers profound and enduring principles for contemporary believers. The Israelites were called to give their best, not their leftovers, in worship and dedication to God. This challenges us to deeply consider the quality and sincerity of our own offerings to God today—our time, our talents, our financial resources, our affections, and indeed, our very lives. Is our devotion truly "burnt offering" deep, signifying complete surrender and unreserved commitment to God's will and purposes? The fact that the offering was entirely consumed by fire reminds us that our worship should involve our whole being, a total consecration of ourselves to God. While we no longer offer animal sacrifices, the call to live a life of complete devotion, radical obedience, and grateful surrender remains paramount. Our worship is not merely about what we do in a church service, but how we live every moment, presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, which is our spiritual act of worship.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What does "giving your best" to God practically look like in your life today, extending beyond financial contributions to include your time, energy, and passions?**
* **In what specific areas of your life might you be holding back from complete surrender to God, and what tangible steps can you take to offer those areas as a "living sacrifice" to Him?**
* **How does understanding the profound symbolism of the ancient burnt offering deepen your appreciation for the concept of worship as a total act of devotion and self-consecration in your own spiritual journey?**

### FAQ
**What was the primary purpose of the "burnt offering" mentioned in Numbers 7:57?**

Answer: The primary purpose of the "burnt offering" (Hebrew: _ʿōlāh_) was to symbolize complete surrender, total devotion, and general atonement for unintentional sin. Unlike other sacrifices where portions were eaten by priests or offerers, the entire animal (except the hide) was consumed by fire on the altar, ascending as smoke to God. This signified the worshiper's unreserved dedication and was considered a "pleasing aroma" to the Lord, indicating divine acceptance. It was a foundational offering for general atonement and consecration, as detailed in [Leviticus 1](/leviticus/1 "Leviticus 1 - The Regulations for the Burnt Offering").

**Why is the same offering repeated for each tribal prince in Numbers 7?**

Answer: The repetition of the exact same offering for each of the twelve tribal princes throughout [Numbers 7](/numbers/7 "Numbers 7 - The Dedication of the Tabernacle") serves several significant purposes. It emphasizes the profound unity and equality of all the tribes before God, demonstrating that each partook equally in the national act of worship and dedication. It also underscores the divine order and meticulousness required in Tabernacle service, highlighting that God's instructions were to be followed precisely and without deviation. Furthermore, the sheer volume of these identical offerings signified the comprehensive and collective dedication of the entire Israelite community to God and His newly consecrated dwelling place, establishing a pattern of corporate worship and obedience.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The burnt offering in Numbers 7:57, with its emphasis on complete consumption and total surrender, finds its ultimate and perfect fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. The "one young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year" collectively represent the costly and unblemished sacrifice required for atonement under the Old Covenant, yet these animal offerings were merely shadows and types pointing to the perfect reality to come. Jesus, as the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), offered Himself once and for all, not with the perishable blood of bulls and goats, but with His own precious and eternal blood ([Hebrews 9:12](/hebrews/9-12 "Hebrews 9:12 - Christ's Perfect Sacrifice")). His sacrifice was the ultimate _ʿōlāh_, a complete and unreserved offering of Himself, perfectly obedient even to death on a cross ([Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Christ's Humility and Obedience")). Through His death, Jesus fully satisfied God's righteous demands, becoming the "pleasing aroma" and perfect sacrifice that truly atones for all sin, thereby making all repeated animal offerings obsolete and unnecessary ([Hebrews 10:10-14](/hebrews/10-10-14 "Hebrews 10:10-14 - Christ's Once-for-All Sacrifice")). Thus, the ancient ritual points forward to Christ, who embodies the ultimate devotion, the perfect atonement, and the complete surrender that brings eternal reconciliation between God and humanity.

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.