Numbers 7:87

KJV

All the oxen for the burnt offering [were] twelve bullocks, the rams twelve, the lambs of the first year twelve, with their meat offering: and the kids of the goats for sin offering twelve.

KJV (with Strong's)

All the oxen {H1241} for the burnt offering {H5930} were twelve {H8147}{H6240} bullocks {H6499}, the rams {H352} twelve {H8147}{H6240}, the lambs {H3532} of the first {H1121} year {H8141} twelve {H8147}{H6240}, with their meat offering {H4503}: and the kids {H8163} of the goats {H5795} for sin offering {H2403} twelve {H8147}{H6240}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The livestock for the burnt offering consisted of twelve bulls, twelve rams and twelve male lambs in their first year, with their grain offering. There were twelve male goats for a sin offering.

Berean Standard Bible

All the livestock for the burnt offering totaled twelve bulls, twelve rams, and twelve male lambs a year old—together with their grain offerings—and twelve male goats for the sin offering.

American Standard Version

all the oxen for the burnt-offering twelve bullocks, the rams twelve, the he-lambs a year old twelve, and their meal-offering; and the males of the goats for a sin-offering twelve;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 7:87 serves as the grand summation of the collective offerings presented by the twelve tribal leaders of Israel during the dedication of the newly erected Tabernacle. This verse meticulously tallies the total number of animals—bullocks, rams, lambs, and goats—designated for burnt offerings and sin offerings, alongside their accompanying grain offerings. It underscores the immense scale of the nation's unified devotion, highlighting their corporate commitment to God and His prescribed rituals for worship and atonement at the heart of their new covenant relationship.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Numbers 7:87 concludes a lengthy and highly detailed section (Numbers 7:10-83) that meticulously records the identical offerings brought by each of the twelve tribal princes of Israel over a period of twelve consecutive days for the dedication of the Tabernacle. Preceding this detailed account, Numbers 7:1-9 describes the anointing of the Tabernacle and the distribution of wagons and oxen to the Levites for their service. Following the individual offerings, Numbers 7:84-86 provides a summary of the precious metals (silver and gold) contributed. Verse 87, therefore, acts as the final, comprehensive tally of the animal sacrifices, bringing a sense of culmination and completion to the entire dedication narrative. It emphasizes the collective and unified nature of the nation's worship and consecration of God's dwelling place.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The dedication of the Tabernacle was a monumental event in Israel's early history, signifying God's tangible presence among His people after their deliverance from Egypt and the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai. The Tabernacle served as the central place of worship, sacrifice, and divine encounter, embodying the covenant relationship between Yahweh and Israel. The offerings described in Numbers 7 were not merely ceremonial but deeply theological, representing acts of worship, atonement, and communal fellowship. The repetition of "twelve" for each category of offering is profoundly significant, symbolizing the complete participation of all [twelve tribes of Israel](/genesis/49-28 "Genesis 49:28 - The Twelve Tribes of Israel") and their unified commitment to their covenant God. This collective act of generosity and dedication, involving substantial resources, reinforced their shared identity and their adherence to the divinely ordained sacrificial system, which was central to their approach to a holy God (as detailed in [Leviticus 1-7](/leviticus/1 "Leviticus 1-7 - Laws of Sacrifice")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Burnt Offering (Hebrew, _‘olah_):** Literally meaning "that which ascends" or "goes up," referring to the smoke of the sacrifice ascending to God. The burnt offering was unique because the entire animal (except for the hide, which went to the priest) was consumed by fire on the altar. It symbolized complete dedication, devotion, and surrender to God, and served as a general atonement for unintentional sins, fostering communion and acceptance with the Lord.
* **Sin Offering (Hebrew, _chatta'th_):** While the root word means "sin," in the context of an offering, _chatta'th_ is better understood as a "purification offering" or "de-sinning offering." It was prescribed for specific unintentional sins, ritual impurities, and certain transgressions that defiled the individual or the community. Its primary purpose was to cleanse and purify the offerer, restoring them to a state of ritual purity and fellowship with God, thereby removing the impediment of sin.
* **Twelve (Hebrew, _shenem ‘asar_):** This number is highly significant in biblical numerology, representing completeness, divine order, and the totality of God's people, particularly the twelve tribes of Israel. Its emphatic repetition in Numbers 7:87 underscores the unified, comprehensive, and full participation of the entire nation in the dedication of the Tabernacle, signifying their corporate identity and shared commitment to the covenant.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"All the oxen for the burnt offering [were] twelve bullocks,"**: This opening clause specifies the first category of large animals, bullocks, consecrated exclusively for the burnt offering. The immediate mention of "twelve" sets the tone for the entire verse, emphasizing the collective and comprehensive nature of the offerings from all twelve tribes.
* **"the rams twelve,"**: Continuing the enumeration of animals for the burnt offering, this clause adds rams, again in the precise number of twelve. This reinforces the theme of unity and the significant scale of the sacrifices presented by the unified nation.
* **"the lambs of the first year twelve, with their meat offering:"**: The third category for the burnt offering is young lambs, also numbering twelve. The inclusion of "with their meat offering" (Hebrew: _minchah_) indicates that these animal sacrifices were accompanied by grain offerings, which typically consisted of flour, oil, and frankincense. The grain offering symbolized the dedication of the produce of the land and human labor to God, an acknowledgment that all sustenance comes from Him.
* **"and the kids of the goats for sin offering twelve."**: This final clause specifies the animals designated for the sin offering—kids of the goats—once more in the number of twelve. This highlights the collective need for purification and atonement for the entire community of Israel, demonstrating their corporate recognition of sin and their reliance on God's provision for cleansing.

#### Literary Devices
Numbers 7:87 powerfully employs several literary devices to convey its profound message. The most prominent is **Repetition**, specifically the insistent recurrence of the number "twelve." This emphatic repetition serves as a powerful rhetorical device, underscoring the **unity** and **completeness** of the Israelite nation's participation in the Tabernacle dedication. It reinforces the idea that *all* tribes, as a single, unified entity, were involved in this monumental act of worship and consecration. The verse also functions as a **Culmination**, bringing the preceding lengthy and detailed narrative of individual tribal offerings (Numbers 7:10-83) to a grand, collective summary. This provides a sense of closure and emphasizes the immense scale and corporate nature of the dedication. Furthermore, the number **twelve** itself is rich in **Symbolism** within biblical literature, representing divine government, completeness, and the chosen people of God (the twelve tribes). The various animal offerings also carry **symbolic** weight, representing different aspects of atonement, dedication, and purification within the Israelite sacrificial system.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 7:87, as the culmination of the Tabernacle dedication offerings, powerfully articulates the theological themes of corporate worship, national consecration, and the profound significance of sacrifice in maintaining covenant relationship with a holy God. The unified offering from all twelve tribes underscores the concept of Israel as a single, chosen people, bound together by covenant and called to worship God in unity. It demonstrates their corporate responsibility and collective dedication to the Lord, acknowledging His dwelling among them and their reliance on His provision for atonement and fellowship. The sheer volume and variety of the offerings—burnt offerings for complete devotion and sin offerings for purification—reveal the comprehensive nature of their worship, encompassing both surrender and the need for cleansing. This collective act of costly worship was an expression of their identity as God's people, wholly devoted and continually seeking His favor through the prescribed means.

* [Exodus 29:38-42](/exodus/29-38 "Exodus 29:38-42 - The Daily Burnt Offerings")
* [Leviticus 1:1-17](/leviticus/1 "Leviticus 1 - The Law of the Burnt Offering")
* [Leviticus 4:1-35](/leviticus/4 "Leviticus 4 - The Law of the Sin Offering")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the Old Testament sacrificial system has been fulfilled in Christ, the principles embedded in Numbers 7:87 remain profoundly relevant for believers today. This verse calls us to reflect on the nature of our corporate worship and individual dedication. Just as the twelve tribes united in their lavish offerings, we are called to participate wholeheartedly and generously in the life of the church, recognizing our shared identity as the body of Christ. Our worship should be marked by unity, a collective commitment to God's purposes, and a willingness to offer our best. The costly nature of these ancient sacrifices challenges us to consider the true value of our own "offerings"—our time, talents, resources, and very lives—as we present them to God. Are we giving generously, not out of obligation, but out of a heart of gratitude and devotion? Furthermore, the distinction between burnt offerings (total dedication) and sin offerings (purification) reminds us that our walk with God involves both complete surrender to His will and a continual reliance on His grace for cleansing and forgiveness. We are called to live lives of consecration, acknowledging our need for Christ's atoning work daily.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the unified giving of the twelve tribes challenge our understanding of corporate worship and community responsibility today?**
* **In what ways can we, as believers, offer ourselves as "living sacrifices" in response to God's grace, mirroring the complete dedication seen in these ancient offerings?**
* **Considering the costly nature of these offerings, what does "generous giving" look like in our lives, not just financially, but in terms of time, talent, and devotion?**

### FAQ
**Why is the number twelve so prominent in this verse and the surrounding narrative?**

Answer: The prominence of the number "twelve" is highly symbolic and significant. It represents the twelve tribes of Israel, signifying the complete and unified participation of the entire nation in the dedication of the Tabernacle. It underscores that this was a corporate act of worship and consecration by all of God's chosen people. In biblical numerology, "twelve" often symbolizes divine order, governmental perfection, and completeness, further emphasizing the holistic nature of this national offering.

**What was the purpose of the "meat offering" mentioned alongside the lambs for the burnt offering?**

Answer: The "meat offering" (Hebrew: _minchah_) is more accurately translated as "grain offering" or "tribute offering." It typically consisted of fine flour, olive oil, and frankincense, sometimes baked into bread or cakes. While not an atoning sacrifice for sin in itself, the grain offering often accompanied burnt offerings or peace offerings. Its purpose was to express gratitude, devotion, and acknowledgment of God's provision. It symbolized the dedication of the fruits of the land and human labor to God, recognizing that all sustenance and blessings come from Him (as detailed in [Leviticus 2:1-16](/leviticus/2 "Leviticus 2 - The Grain Offering")).

**Did each tribal leader individually bring all these animals mentioned in Numbers 7:87?**

Answer: No, Numbers 7:87 provides the *sum total* of all the animals offered by the twelve tribal leaders collectively. The preceding verses (Numbers 7:10-83) detail that each of the twelve leaders brought *identical* offerings on their designated day. Therefore, the "twelve bullocks," "twelve rams," "twelve lambs," and "twelve kids of the goats" represent the combined total from all twelve individual contributions, emphasizing the unity and collective scale of the nation's dedication to the Tabernacle.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Numbers 7:87, with its meticulous tally of burnt offerings and sin offerings, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate and perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The collective and comprehensive nature of these ancient offerings, representing the entire nation's need for atonement and dedication, finds its complete fulfillment in the single, all-sufficient offering of the [Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). The burnt offerings, symbolizing total consecration and acceptance before God, point to Christ's perfect obedience and His complete surrender to the Father's will, even to the point of death on the cross (as seen in [Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Christ's Obedience to Death")). His life was a perfect "burnt offering" of devotion. Similarly, the sin offerings, designed for purification and the removal of defilement, are perfectly fulfilled in Christ, who "made purification for sins" (as described in [Hebrews 1:3](/hebrews/1-3 "Hebrews 1:3 - Christ's Purification for Sins")). Unlike the repeated animal sacrifices that could never truly take away sins ([Hebrews 10:4](/hebrews/10-4 "Hebrews 10:4 - The Insufficiency of Animal Blood")), Christ's "one sacrifice for sins has made perfect forever those who are being made holy" ([Hebrews 10:14](/hebrews/10-14 "Hebrews 10:14 - Christ's One Sacrifice")). Through His atoning work, believers are now called to offer themselves as "living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God" ([Romans 12:1](/romans/12-1 "Romans 12:1 - Living Sacrifices")), participating in the dedication that Christ Himself perfectly accomplished on our behalf.

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.