Numbers 29:31 — Word Study
WLCוּשְׂעִ֥יר חַטָּ֖את אֶחָ֑ד מִלְּבַד֙ עֹלַ֣ת הַתָּמִ֔יד מִנְחָתָ֖הּ וּנְסָכֶֽיהָ׃ פ
BSAInclude oneʼechâd [single, unique] male goatsâʻîyr [a hairy, wild goat, or satyr] as a sin offeringchaṭṭâʼâh [guilt, punishment for sin] in addition tobad the regulartâmîyd [continual, daily] burnt offeringʻôlâh [a step or stairs to the altar] with its grain offeringminchâh [meal] and drink offeringneçek [libation, ceremonial pouring, a gift to God]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וּשְׂעִ֥יר | and a male goat of | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular construct |
| חַטָּ֖את | a sin offering | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
| אֶחָ֑ד | one | Adj |
| מִלְּבַד֙ | besides | Preposition, preposition, noun common masculine singular construct |
| עֹלַ֣ת | [the] burnt offering of | Noun common, feminine singular construct |
| הַתָּמִ֔יד | continuity | Particle, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| מִנְחָתָ֖הּ | grain offering its | Noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| וּנְסָכֶֽיהָ׃ פ | and drink offerings its | Conjunction, noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering. |
| KJV | And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering. |
| ASV | and one he-goat for a sin-offering; besides the continual burnt-offering, the meal-offering thereof, and the drink-offerings thereof. |
| YLT | and one goat, a sin-offering; apart from the continual burnt-offering, its present, and its libation. |
| WEB | and one male goat for a sin offering; in addition to the continual burnt offering, its meal offering, and the drink offerings of it. |
| BBE | And one he-goat for a sin-offering; in addition to the regular burned offering, its meal offering, and its drink offerings. |
Where they part company is חַטָּ֖את — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence has a main clause with additional descriptive phrases detailing the offerings.
2 commentators on this verse
Jamieson, Whedon & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Numbers 29:31
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Festival Offerings in Numbersgenerated
Numbers 29:31 details the offerings required during the festival, emphasizing the inclusion of a male goat as a sin offering. This instruction is part of a larger set of guidelines for the sacrificial system, which outlines how the Israelites were to approach God through various offerings, including burnt offerings and grain offerings, as seen in the surrounding verses.
Cross References
The Key Word — חַטָּ֖את, cha.Tatgenerated
The Hebrew word חַטָּאת (cha.Tat) refers to sin, guilt, or the punishment for sin, and it also denotes the sacrifices made to atone for it. This term encompasses both the act of sinning and the means of purification from it, highlighting the seriousness of sin in the sacrificial system.
In this verse, it specifically indicates the male goat offered as a sin offering, which plays a vital role in the atonement process, symbolizing the need for forgiveness and reconciliation with God.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main clause of the verse centers around the finite verb וּשְׂעִ֥יר, and a male goat, which is the subject of the offering. The structure includes several noun phrases detailing the offerings: a sin offering, the burnt offering, and its accompanying grain and drink offerings.
The Hebrew word order emphasizes the male goat as the main subject, followed by the additional offerings, highlighting the significance of each component in the sacrificial system.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the word חַטָּ֖את is rendered as ἁμαρτίας, which carries a similar meaning of sin or guilt. This choice indicates a consistent understanding of the term across both Hebrew and Greek texts.
The Greek term reflects the same sacrificial concept, maintaining the focus on atonement and the seriousness of sin within the context of offerings.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Numbers 29:31 instructs the Israelites to include one male goat as a sin offering during the festival, in addition to the regular burnt offering, grain offering, and drink offering. This highlights the importance of atonement in their worship.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The male goat symbolizes atonement for sin, serving as a means to reconcile the people with God.
The various offerings represent different aspects of worship and atonement, each fulfilling a specific role in the sacrificial system.
This verse illustrates the structured approach to sacrifices, emphasizing the need for regular offerings to maintain a right relationship with God.
The term 'sin offering' indicates a specific type of sacrifice aimed at addressing guilt and seeking forgiveness for transgressions.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What does the inclusion of a sin offering teach us about the nature of sin and atonement?
- How can we apply the principles of sacrifice and atonement in our own lives today?
- In what ways can we ensure that our approach to God remains sincere and meaningful?
- What role does confession and repentance play in our understanding of sin offerings?
Commentators on this verse — 2 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Numbers 29:31 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd on the fifteenth day of the seventh month ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work, and ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: On the fifteenth day - was to be held
Read Robert Jamieson on Numbers 29 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the BibleTHE FEAST OF — , Numbers 29:12-40.The cycle of Jewish feasts culminated in this, the grandest and most joyful of all.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Numbers 29 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.
and one male goat for a sin offering; in addition to the continual burnt offering, its meal offering, and the drink offerings of it.
Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.
along with one male goat for a purification offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering with its grain offering and its drink offering.
Tyndale line
And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering.
and one he-goat for a sin-offering; besides the continual burnt-offering, the meal-offering thereof, and the drink-offerings thereof.
and one he-goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, the meal offering thereof, and the drink offerings thereof.
And one goat for a sin-offering; besides the continual burnt-offering, its meat-offering, and its drink-offering.
And an hee goat for a sinne offring, beside the continuall burnt offring, his meate offring and his drinke offrings.
Strictly literal
and one he-goat for a sin-offering, — besides the continual burnt-offering, its oblation and its drink-offerings.
and one goat, a sin-offering; apart from the continual burnt-offering, its present, and its libation.
and one goat [for] a sin-offering, apart from the continual burnt-offering, its present, and its drink-offering.
And one goat for a sin-offering: besides the continual burnt-offering, its meat-offering, and its drink-offerings.
You must offer one male goat as a sin offering in addition to the regular burnt offering, its grain offering, and their drink offerings.
From the Latin
And a buck goat for sin, besides the perpetual holocaust, and the sacrifice and the libation thereof.
Simplified
Also present a male goat as a sin offering in addition to the continual burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.
And one he-goat for a sin-offering; in addition to the regular burned offering, its meal offering, and its drink offerings.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text is supported by the Septuagint, which matches seven of the eight words. The Samaritan Pentateuch differs by using the word עזים (goat) instead of the term used in the Masoretic Text, indicating a slight variation in the tradition.
וּשְׂעִ֥יר חַטָּ֖את אֶחָ֑ד מִלְּבַד֙ עֹלַ֣ת הַתָּמִ֔יד מִנְחָתָ֖הּ וּנְסָכֶֽיהָ׃ פ
7 of the 8 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
ושׂעיר עזים אחד לחטאת מלבד עלת התמיד ומנחתה ונסכיה
1 word differs from the Masoretic Text: עזים (goat)
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Numbers 29:31
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
שָׂעִר (sa`iyr) means 'hairy' and refers to a he-goat or buck, often in a sacrificial context. It can also denote a satyr or demon, suggesting a creature with goat-like features. The word is built from the root meaning 'shaggy' and appears in various contexts, including references to demonic beings.
שָׂעִר adj. hairy
base
שָׂעִיר 63 n.m. he-goat, buck (hairy one)
base
שָׂעִיר n.m. satyr, demon (with he-goat’s form, or feet)
base
H8163a שָׂעִר hairy H8163b שָׂעִיר he-goat, buck H8163c שָׂעִיר satyr, demon
8163 sa`iyr saw-eer'
or sabir {saw-eer'}; from 8175; shaggy; as noun, a he-goat;
by analogy, a faun:--devil, goat, hairy, kid, rough, satyr.
see HEBREW for 08175
שָׂעִר (sa.ir) — hairy.
adj
hairy
שָׂעִיר (sa.ir) — he-goat.
1) he-goat, buck
1a) as sacrificial animal
שָׂעִיר (sa.ir) — satyr.
satyr, may refer to a demon possessed goat like the swine of Gadara (Mt 8:30-32)
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular constructHC/Ncmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
חַטָּאָה (chatta'ah) refers to sin and encompasses various aspects such as the condition of sin, guilt, punishment, and sin-offering. It can denote both the act of sinning and the consequences, including purification from ceremonial uncleanness. The term is built from the root word for offense and is used in contexts relating to sin and its expiation.
H2403a חַטָּאָה sin, sin-offering(?) . sin
. sin-offering
H2403b חַטָּאת sin, sin-offering . sin
. condition of sin, guilt of sin
. punishment for sin
. sin-offering
. purification from sins of ceremonial uncleanness
2403 chatta'ah khat-taw-aw'
or chattacth {khat-tawth'}; from 2398; an offence (sometimes
habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or
expiation; also (concretely) an offender:--punishment (of
sin), purifying(-fication for sin), sin(-ner, offering).
see HEBREW for 02398
חַטָּאָה (chat.ta.ah) — sin.
sin, sinful thing
חַטָּאת (chat.tat) — sin.
: sin
1) sin, sin offering
1a) sin
1b) condition of sin, guilt of sin
1c) punishment for sin
1d) sin-offering
1e) purification from sins of ceremonial uncleanness
חַטָּאת (chat.tat) — sin: sin offering.
: sin_offering
1) sin, sin offering
1a) sin
1b) condition of sin, guilt of sin
1c) punishment for sin
1d) sin-offering
1e) purification from sins of ceremonial uncleanness
חַטָּאת (chat.tat) — sin: punishment.
: punishment/purification
1) sin, sin offering
1a) sin
1b) condition of sin, guilt of sin
1c) punishment for sin
1d) sin-offering
1e) purification from sins of ceremonial uncleanness
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
Sin-offering
(Heb. hattath), the law of, is given in detail in Lev. 4-6:13; 9:7-11, 22-24; 12:6-8; 15:2, 14, 25-30; 14:19, 31; Num. 6:10-14. On the day of Atonement it was made with special solemnity (Lev. 16:5, 11, 15). The blood was then carried into the holy of holies and sprinkled on the mercy-seat. Sin-offerings were also presented at the five annual festivals (Num. 28, 29), and on the occasion of the consecration of the priests (Ex. 29:10-14, 36). As each individual, even the most private member of the congregation, as well as the congregation at large, and the high priest, was obliged, on being convicted by his conscience of any particular sin, to come with a sin-offering, we see thus impressively disclosed the need in…
אֶחָד (echad) means 'one' and is derived from a numeral. It encompasses meanings such as each, every, a certain, and can serve as an indefinite article. It is also used as an ordinal to denote 'first' and appears in various combinations, including eleven. The entries consistently emphasize its numerical and qualitative aspects.
אֶחָד 972 adj.num. one
one
= each, every
= a certain
= indef. art.
only, & (fem.) once
one … another, one … the other
as ordinal first
in combin.
base
H259 אֶחָד one . one
. = each, every
. = a certain
. = indef. art.
. only, & (fem.) once
. one … another, one … the other
. as ordinal first
. in combin.
259 'echad ekh-awd'
a numeral from 258; properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an
ordinal) first:--a, alike, alone, altogether, and,
any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-)ly, each (one), +
eleven, every, few, first, + highway, a man, once, one, only,
other, some, together,
see HEBREW for 0258
אֶחָד (e.chad) — one.
1) one (number)
1a) one (number)
1b) each, every
1c) a certain
1d) an (indefinite article)
1e) only, once, once for all
1f) one...another, the one...the other, one after another, one by one
1g) first
1h) eleven (in combination), eleventh (ordinal)
Adj — AdjHAcfsa
wun.
See NUMBER.
בַּד (bad) refers to separation or being alone, often indicating a part or branch of something. It can denote physical separation, such as limbs or bars, as well as figurative uses like 'chief of a city.' The entries consistently highlight meanings related to being apart or alone, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.
בַּד, בָּ֑ד n.m. separation, concr. part
prop. in a state of separation, alone, by itself
concr. part
parts, specif. extended from something
base
H905 בַּד, בָּ֑ד separation, concr. part . prop. in a state of separation, alone, by itself
. concr. part
. parts, specif. extended from something
905 bad bad
from 909; properly, separation; by implication, a part of the
body, branch of a tree, bar for carrying; figuratively, chief
of a city; especially (with prepositional prefix) as an
adverb, apart, only, besides:--alone, apart, bar, besides,
branch, by self, of each alike, except, only, part, staff,
strength.
see HEBREW for 0909
בַּד (bad) — alone: pole.
: pole
1) alone, by itself, besides, a part, separation, being alone
1a) separation, alone, by itself
1a1) only (adv)
1a2) apart from, besides (prep)
1b) part
1c) parts (eg limbs, shoots), bars
בַּד (bad) — alone.
: alone
1) alone, by itself, besides, a part, separation, being alone
1a) separation, alone, by itself
1a1) only (adv)
1a2) apart from, besides (prep)
1b) part
1c) parts (eg limbs, shoots), bars
בַּד (bad) — alone: each.
: each
1) alone, by itself, besides, a part, separation, being alone
1a) separation, alone, by itself
1a1) only (adv)
1a2) apart from, besides (prep)
1b) part
1c) parts (eg limbs, shoots), bars
בַּד (bad) — alone: besides.
: besides/apart from
1) alone, by itself, besides, a part, separation, being alone
1a) separation, alone, by itself
1a1) only (adv)
1a2) apart from, besides (prep)
1b) part
1c) parts (eg limbs, shoots), bars
Prep | Prep | N-ms — Preposition · preposition · noun common masculine singular constructHR/R/Ncmsc
עֹלָה (olah) refers to both a whole burnt-offering and an ascent or stairway. It is derived from a feminine active participle of the root meaning to go up. The term is used in contexts related to sacrifices, particularly in the Old Testament, where it signifies offerings that ascend in smoke. The entries consistently highlight its dual meaning without significant disagreement.
ref
H5930a עֹלָה whole burnt-offering H5930b עֹלָה ascent, stairway
5930 `olah o-law'
or mowlah {o-law'}; feminine active participle of 5927; a
step or (collectively, stairs, as ascending); usually a
holocaust (as going up in smoke):--ascent, burnt offering
(sacrifice), go up to. See also 5766.
see HEBREW for 05927
see HEBREW for 05766
עֹלָה (o.lah) — burnt offering.
whole burnt offering
Aramaic equivalent: a.lah (עֲלָת "burnt offering" H5928)
עֹלָה (o.lah) — ascent.
ascent, stairway, steps
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular constructHNcfsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
תָּמִיד (tamiyd) refers to continuity or perpetuity, often used adverbially to mean continually or constantly. It is derived from a root meaning to stretch, indicating indefinite extension. The term is also associated with the regular daily sacrifice in the Old Testament, emphasizing its constant nature.
תָּמִיד n.m. continuity
earliest and oftenest as adv., continually
as subst.
base
H8548 תָּמִיד continuity . earliest and oftenest as adv., continually
. as subst.
8548 tamiyd taw-meed'
from an unused root meaning to stretch; properly, continuance
(as indefinite extension); but used only (attributively as
adjective) constant (or adverbially, constantly); ellipt. the
regular (daily) sacrifice:--alway(-s), continual
(employment, -ly), daily, ((n-))ever(-more), perpetual.
תָּמִיד (ta.mid) — continually.
1) continuity, perpetuity, to stretch
1a) continually, continuously (as adverb)
1b) continuity (subst)
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absoluteHTd/Ncmsa
מִנְחָה (minchah) refers to a gift or offering, particularly in a religious context. It encompasses a range of meanings including tribute, voluntary offerings, and specifically bloodless sacrifices, often grain offerings. The term is derived from a root meaning to apportion or bestow, indicating a donation or present, especially to God.
מִנְחָה 153 n.f. gift, tribute, offering
gift, present
tribute
offering made to God, of any kind, whether grain or animals
grain offering
grain-offering, always with this meaning in P
vbs. of offering are
base
H4503 מִנְחָה gift, tribute, offering
4503 minchah min-khaw'
from an unused root meaning to apportion, i.e. bestow; a
donation; euphemistically, tribute; specifically a sacrificial
offering (usually bloodless and voluntary):--gift, oblation,
(meat) offering, present, sacrifice.
מִנְחָה (min.chah) — offering.
: offering/sacrifice
1) gift, tribute, offering, present, oblation, sacrifice, meat offering
1a) gift, present
1b) tribute
1c) offering (to God)
1d) grain offering
מִנְחָה (min.chah) — offering: gift.
: gift
1) gift, tribute, offering, present, oblation, sacrifice, meat offering
1a) gift, present
1b) tribute
1c) offering (to God)
1d) grain offering
מִנְחָה (min.chah) — offering: tribute.
: tribute
1) gift, tribute, offering, present, oblation, sacrifice, meat offering
1a) gift, present
1b) tribute
1c) offering (to God)
1d) grain offering
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHNcfsc/Sp3fs
The Hebrew word נֶ֫סֶךְ (*necek*) primarily means 'drink offering' or 'libation,' referring to a ritual pouring of liquid. It can also denote 'molten images' or 'cast idols.' The word is derived from a root meaning to pour out, and its Aramaic equivalent is noted as well.
נֶ֫סֶךְ n.m. drink-offering
drink-offering
molten images
base
H5262 נֶ֫סֶךְ drink-offering . drink-offering
. molten images
5262 necek neh'-sek
or necek {nay'-sek}; from 5258; a libation; also a cast
idol:--cover, drink offering, molten image.
see HEBREW for 05258
נֶ֫סֶךְ (ne.sekh) — drink offering.
1) drink offering, libation, molten image, something poured out
1a) drink offering
1b) molten images
Aramaic equivalent: ne.sakh (נְסַךְ "drink offering" H5261)
Conj | N-mp | Suff — Conjunction · noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHC/Ncmpc/Sp3fs