What Does Numbers 15:3 Mean in the King James?
And will make an offering by fire unto the LORD, a burnt offering, or a sacrifice in performing a vow, or in a freewill offering, or in your solemn feasts, to make a sweet savour unto the LORD, of the herd, or of the flock:
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
Several kinds of offering converge in a pleasing approach to the LORD, and the burnt offering is literally named as an ascent.
THE MEANING
Your offering may come as a vow, a free choice, or part of a feast, and the verse gathers these forms as a pleasing approach to the LORD. The burnt offering is named as an ascent, and “sweet savour” carries the image of rest: what rises becomes a soothing reception.
THE ROOT
עֹלָה
olah
GROWS FROM
עלה
Rise, go up.
The verse names the burnt offering by its upward movement: an olah is an ascent. English gives the offering’s ritual form, while the Hebrew name also pictures what it does, rises toward the LORD.
ALSO GROWS
aliyah: Ascent, going up.
עֲלִיָּה
The shared root makes the offering’s upward movement audible in another word for ascent.
ma'aleh: An ascent or rising place.
מַעֲלֶה
This branch carries the same upward motion that is compressed into the name olah.
נְדָבָה
nedavah
GROWS FROM
נדב
Be willing, volunteer, give freely.
The word for a freewill offering carries willingness in its root. Its related words describe a willing or generous person, linking the gift with the giver’s free response.
ALSO GROWS
nadiv: Willing, generous, or noble.
נָדִיב
The related word describes the quality of freely giving that the offering embodies.
hitnadev: Volunteer, offer oneself willingly.
הִתְנַדֵּב
This verbal branch shows the root as a chosen act of giving.
רֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ
reiach nichoach
GROWS FROM
נוח
Settle, rest, come to rest.
“sweet savour” in this verse is reiach nichoach. The phrase’s second word, nichoach, is tied to the root for rest, so the aroma is more than a pleasant smell: it carries the sense of a soothing rest. The verse’s image moves from what rises to what is received as pleasing.
ALSO GROWS
Noach: Rest; Noah’s name.
נֹחַ
The name carries the same rest-root that gives depth to nichoach.
menuchah: Resting place, repose.
מְנוּחָה
This related word makes clear how the root’s idea of rest resonates in the offering’s aroma.
THE PATTERN
What is offered to the LORD is portrayed as a pleasing aroma, whether it takes the form of sacrifice, self-giving, or material sharing.
But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.THE THREAD
And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.Numbers 15:3’s עֹלָה (olah, ascent) and Genesis 8:20’s עֹלוֹת (olot, burnt offerings) share the root עלה, meaning “rise.” Genesis makes the image in the name visible: the offering is called by its ascent.
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