What Does Numbers 15:7 Mean in the King James?
And for a drink offering thou shalt offer the third part of an hin of wine, for a sweet savour unto the LORD.
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
The word behind “sweet” grows from the root for rest, so this wine offering is pictured as an aroma that settles before the LORD.
THE MEANING
A third of an hin of wine is specified for the drink offering; approach takes a measured, material form. Its aroma is named with a word tied to settling and rest, so what comes near is pictured as soothing before the LORD.
THE ROOT
נִיחֹחַ
nîḥōaḥ
GROWS FROM
נוח
n-w-ḥ
To rest, settle, or come to rest.
The word translated “sweet” carries the sense of soothing or settling. English leaves that rest beneath the phrase “sweet savour,” while the Hebrew joins the aroma to the language of coming to rest.
ALSO GROWS
nûaḥ: To rest or settle.
נוּחַ
This verb makes the root’s sense of settling audible beneath the offering’s aroma.
menûḥāh: Rest or a resting place.
מְנוּחָה
This branch gives rest a tangible form, echoing the settling quality carried by “sweet.”
תַּקְרִיב
taqrîb
GROWS FROM
קרב
q-r-b
To approach or come near.
The verb translated “offer” is built from the language of nearness. The wine is brought near to the LORD, and its aroma carries the accompanying image of rest.
ALSO GROWS
qorbān: An offering; something brought near.
קָרְבָּן
This related word makes explicit the approach already present in the verb “offer.”
qārōb: Near or close.
קָרוֹב
The same root links the act of offering with nearness to the LORD.
THE PATTERN
When an offering is brought near, Scripture pictures its reception as an aroma that pleases the LORD.
And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.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.THE THREAD
And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.The phrase רֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ (rēaḥ nîḥōaḥ, “aroma of soothing rest”) appears for Noah’s offering too. Its shared word for “sweet” belongs to נוח (n-w-ḥ), the root of resting and settling, opening the drink offering’s aroma as a received, settling fragrance.
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