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Book of Numbers - Chapter 29 - Verse 16

29:16
And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering.

Meaning

In this verse, the practice of offering a sin offering is described as part of the ritual in the tabernacle. The sin offering was a significant part of ancient Hebrew worship, as it allowed the people to seek forgiveness for their sins and restore their relationship with God. The offering of a kid of the goats symbolized the transfer of the people's sins onto the animal, which was then sacrificed to atone for their wrongdoing. This act served as a way for the people to acknowledge their sins, seek forgiveness, and pledge to live in accordance with God's laws. Alongside the sin offering, the verse also mentions the continual burnt offering, meat offering, and drink offering, indicating the holistic nature of the worship practices prescribed in the tabernacle. Each offering had its own significance and purpose, contributing to the symbolic and spiritual elements of worship in ancient Israel.

Theological Overview

In this verse, the mention of a sin offering of a goat holds significance in the theological context of sacrifice and atonement in the Old Testament. The offering of a kid of the goat for a sin offering was a ritual prescribed by the Mosaic Law to make amends for sins committed unintentionally or through ignorance. It symbolized the transferring of sin from the penitent individual to the innocent animal, thus cleansing the petitioner of guilt and restoring their relationship with God. The continual burnt offering, meat offering, and drink offering mentioned alongside the sin offering were also essential components of the sacrificial system, each with their own symbolic meanings and requirements. Through these offerings, the Israelites sought to express their devotion, seek forgiveness, and maintain a covenantal relationship with God.

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