🔢WEB · Numbers 28:6
What does Numbers 28:6 mean?
"It is a continual burnt offering, which was ordained in Mount Sinai for a pleasant aroma, an offering made by fire to Yahweh."
— Numbers 28:6 (World English Bible)
Surrounding context
You shall tell them, ‘This is the offering made by fire which you shall offer to Yahweh: male lambs a year old without defect, two day by day, for a continual burnt offering.
You shall offer the one lamb in the morning, and you shall offer the other lamb at evening;
with one tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a meal offering, mixed with the fourth part of a hin of beaten oil.
It is a continual burnt offering, which was ordained in Mount Sinai for a pleasant aroma, an offering made by fire to Yahweh.
Its drink offering shall be the fourth part of a hin for the one lamb. You shall pour out a drink offering of strong drink to Yahweh in the holy place.
The other lamb you shall offer at evening. As the meal offering of the morning, and as its drink offering, you shall offer it, an offering made by fire, for a pleasant aroma to Yahweh.
“‘On the Sabbath day, you shall offer two male lambs a year old without defect, and two tenths of an ephah of fine flour for a meal offering, mixed with oil, and its drink offering:
Explanation
Numbers 28:6 sits within a longer passage (Numbers 28:1-8) where God gives Moses instructions about the daily burnt offering, often called the "tamid" offering. This particular verse describes a lamb offering—one presented every morning and another every evening—as a "continual burnt offering." The verse is essentially a reminder and reaffirmation that this offering isn't new; it was already established as a permanent, ongoing practice going back to when Israel first received the law at Mount Sinai.
The context here is important. The book of Numbers records Israel's experiences during the wilderness wandering, and chapters 28-29 form a section detailing the calendar of required sacrifices—daily, weekly (Sabbath), monthly, and at the annual feasts. Moses, writing under God's direction, is restating and reinforcing regulations that were originally given at Sinai (see Exodus 29:38-42, where this same daily offering is first commanded). By the time of Numbers 28, the Israelites are preparing to enter the Promised Land, so God is renewing these instructions to ensure that once they settle in Canaan, the rhythm of worship established at Sinai continues uninterrupted.
Theologically, the phrase "pleasant aroma" (or "sweet savor" in older translations) reflects anthropomorphic language used throughout Leviticus and Numbers to describe how these offerings were pleasing and acceptable to God when done in obedience and faith. The word "continual" underscores a key theological point: worship and atonement were not occasional or optional
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