Numbers 29:34
And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering.
Original Language Analysis
חַטָּ֖את
for a sin offering
H2403
חַטָּ֖את
for a sin offering
Strong's:
H2403
Word #:
2 of 8
an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiation; also (concretely) an offender
מִלְּבַד֙
H905
מִלְּבַד֙
Strong's:
H905
Word #:
4 of 8
properly, separation; by implication, a part of the body, branch of a tree, bar for carrying; figuratively, chief of a city; especially (with preposit
עֹלַ֣ת
burnt offering
H5930
עֹלַ֣ת
burnt offering
Strong's:
H5930
Word #:
5 of 8
a step or (collectively, stairs, as ascending); usually a holocaust (as going up in smoke)
הַתָּמִ֔יד
beside the continual
H8548
הַתָּמִ֔יד
beside the continual
Strong's:
H8548
Word #:
6 of 8
properly, continuance (as indefinite extension); but used only (attributively as adjective) constant (or adverbially, constantly); elliptically the re
Historical Context
The goat's blood was sprinkled on the altar, and its flesh was eaten by the priests in a holy place (Leviticus 6:24-30), making the priests participants in bearing the people's sin symbolically. This prefigured Christ as both priest and sacrifice, bearing our sins in his own body (1 Peter 2:24).
Questions for Reflection
- How does the unceasing need for sin offerings, even at the feast's pinnacle, guard against spiritual pride in your most mature moments?
- What does the seventh-day sin offering reveal about the relationship between spiritual growth and ongoing dependence on grace?
- How does this daily pattern deepen your appreciation for the permanence of Christ's atonement (Hebrews 10:12)?
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Analysis & Commentary
One goat for a sin offering—Even on the seventh day's symbolic high point, the chatat remains non-negotiable. The seventh sin offering beside the continual burnt offering demonstrates that no achievement in religious observance, no symbolic completeness, removes our dependence on atoning blood.
This anticipates the New Covenant reality: our spiritual maturity never graduates us beyond our need for Christ's blood. The most sanctified believer still pleads, "Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling." The daily sin offering, even at the feast's climax, prefigures Hebrews 10:14: "by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified."