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 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, identical to the burnt offering prescribed for each of the twelve tribal leaders, highlights the meticulous nature of Israelite worship, emphasizing complete surrender and atonement through divinely ordained sacrifice as a foundational act in the newly consecrated sanctuary.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Numbers 7:57 is situated 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 Offerings"), 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 underscores the unity, order, and comprehensive nature of the tribes' collective act of worship and commitment to God.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** This passage takes place shortly after the construction and anointing of the Tabernacle, as 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. The Tabernacle served as the central place of worship, God's dwelling among His people, and the focal point for their communal life. The dedication offerings, including the burnt offering in [Numbers 7:57](/numbers/7-57 "Numbers 7:57 - Naphtali's Burnt Offering"), were essential for consecrating the Tabernacle for its sacred purpose and establishing the prescribed means by which the 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. These offerings were not arbitrary but were precisely commanded by God, emphasizing the importance of obedience and the divine provision for atonement within the covenant relationship.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Burnt Offering (Hebrew, _ʿōlāh_):** Derived from the root meaning "to ascend" or "to go up," the _ʿōlāh_ 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 symbolized complete surrender, total devotion, and atonement for unintentional sin. It was considered a "sweet savor" or "pleasing aroma" to the Lord, indicating divine acceptance of the worshiper and their offering. Unlike other sacrifices where portions were eaten by priests or offerers, the _ʿōlāh_ represented an unreserved giving of oneself and one's best to God.
* **Sacrificial Animals (Hebrew, _par_, _ʾayil_, _kebes_):** The specific mention of "one young bullock," "one ram," and "one lamb of the first year" indicates a prescribed variety and value of animals. A young bullock (_par_) was a substantial and costly animal, often used for communal or high-status offerings. A ram (_ʾayil_) was also a valuable male sheep, while a "lamb of the first year" (_kebes_) specified a young, unblemished male lamb, representing purity and prime condition. The combination of these animals for a single burnt offering underscored the significance and comprehensive nature of the sacrifice, representing the giving of one's most valuable possessions and the totality of devotion.

#### 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.
* **"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, covering a range of value and types of livestock available to the Israelites.
* **"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, foreshadowing later sacrificial 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 sin. It signified a total dedication of the worshiper to God, with the smoke ascending as a pleasing aroma, indicating divine acceptance.

#### Literary Devices
Numbers 7:57, within the broader context of Numbers 7, employs several significant literary devices. **Repetition** is the most prominent, as the exact list of offerings, including the burnt offering, is repeated for each of the twelve tribes. This stylistic choice emphasizes the unity of the tribes in their worship, the divine order of the Tabernacle service, and the meticulous adherence required for sacred acts. **Symbolism** is also central; the animals themselves (bullock, ram, lamb) symbolize purity, value, and the giving of one's 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 acceptance. Furthermore, the entire sacrificial system, including the burnt offering, functions as **Typology**, foreshadowing the ultimate, perfect, and once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who fully embodies the concepts of complete surrender, atonement, and pleasing devotion to God.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 7:57, as part of the Tabernacle dedication, powerfully illustrates the themes of divine order, communal worship, and the necessity of atonement. The meticulous prescription of the burnt offering underscores God's demand for holiness and the specific means by which a sinful people could approach a holy God. The complete consumption of the _ʿōlāh_ signifies total surrender and devotion, a 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 sovereignty and provision for reconciliation. This act of sacrifice was not merely ritual but a profound expression of faith, obedience, and a longing for fellowship with God, setting the stage for a deeper understanding of ultimate sacrifice.

* [Leviticus 1:3-9](/leviticus/1-3 "Leviticus 1:3-9 - Regulations for the Burnt Offering")
* [Hebrews 10:1-4](/hebrews/10-1 "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, offers profound principles for contemporary believers. The Israelites were called to give their best, not their leftovers, in worship. This challenges us to consider the quality of our own offerings to God—our time, talents, resources, and affections. Is our devotion truly "burnt offering" deep, signifying complete surrender and unreserved commitment? 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's will and purpose. While we no longer offer animal sacrifices, the call to live a life of complete devotion, obedience, and grateful surrender remains paramount. Our worship is not merely about what we do in a service, but how we live every moment, presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What does "giving your best" to God practically look like in your life today, beyond financial contributions?**
* **In what areas of your life are you holding back from complete surrender to God, and what steps can you take to offer those areas as a "burnt offering"?**
* **How does understanding the symbolism of the burnt offering deepen your appreciation for the concept of worship as a total act of devotion?**

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

Answer: The primary purpose of the "burnt offering" (_ʿōlāh_) was to symbolize complete surrender, total devotion, and atonement for unintentional sin. Unlike other sacrifices where portions were eaten, 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 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 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. 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.

### 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 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, yet these animal offerings were merely shadows of 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 blood of bulls and goats, but with His own precious 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, making repeated animal offerings obsolete ([Hebrews 10:10-14](/hebrews/10-10 "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.