Numbers 28:25

Authorized King James Version

And on the seventh day ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וּבַיּוֹם֙
day
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
#2
הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י
And on the seventh
seventh
#3
מִקְרָא
convocation
something called out, i.e., a public meeting (the act, the persons, or the place); also a rehearsal
#4
קֹ֖דֶשׁ
ye shall have an holy
a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity
#5
יִֽהְיֶ֣ה
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
#6
לָכֶ֑ם
H0
#7
כָּל
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
#8
מְלֶ֥אכֶת
work
properly, deputyship, i.e., ministry; generally, employment (never servile) or work (abstractly or concretely); also property (as the result of labor)
#9
עֲבֹדָ֖ה
no servile
work of any kind
#10
לֹ֥א
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
#11
תַֽעֲשֽׂוּ׃
ye shall do
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the political and social structures of the biblical period. The author writes to address believers seeking to understand God's will and purposes, making the emphasis on salvation particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection

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