What Does Numbers 28:27 Mean in the King James?

But ye shall offer the burnt offering for a sweet savour unto the LORD; two young bullocks, one ram, seven lambs of the first year;

Numbers 28:27 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

The offering is named for its ascent, and its fragrance bears the language of settling into rest.

THE MEANING

This verse sets before you a whole offering rising to the LORD, with its aroma described as pleasing and settling. Its exact animals and count make the image concrete and ordered, not abstract.

THE ROOT

עֹלָה

ʿōlāh

GROWS FROM

עלה

ʿ-l-h

⁨עלה⁩ (ʿālāh) means to go up or ascend.

The Hebrew name for the burnt offering is ⁨עֹלָה⁩ (ʿōlāh), an ascent offering. English names what happens to it by fire; the Hebrew also names its upward movement toward the LORD.

ALSO GROWS

ʿālāh: to go up, ascend

עָלָה

This verb gives the offering its image of rising.

maʿălāh: ascent, step

מַעֲלָה

This noun preserves the root’s sense of upward movement.

ʿōlāh: burnt offering; ascent offering

עֹלָה

This is the word used here, carrying the idea of ascent within the name of the offering.

רֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ

rēaḥ nîḥōaḥ

GROWS FROM

נוח

n-w-ḥ

⁨נוח⁩ (nûaḥ) means to rest, settle, or come to rest.

“sweet savour” in this verse is rēaḥ nîḥōaḥ. The phrase ⁨רֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ⁩ (rēaḥ nîḥōaḥ) means a pleasing or soothing aroma. ⁨נִיחֹחַ⁩ is linked with ⁨נוח⁩ (nûaḥ), “to rest, settle,” adding the image of fragrance that soothes or comes to rest before the LORD.

ALSO GROWS

nûaḥ: to rest, settle

נוּחַ

The verb carries the settling sense echoed in ⁨נִיחֹחַ⁩.

menûḥāh: rest, resting place

מְנוּחָה

This noun shows the root’s movement from settling into a state or place of rest.

THE PATTERN

Scripture pictures an offering rising before the LORD as an aroma received with pleasure and rest.

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.

Genesis 8:21 · KJVThe same aroma language appears as the LORD receives Noah’s offering and speaks of restraint.

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.

Leviticus 1:9 · KJVThe verse holds the whole burnt offering and its pleasing aroma together, as Numbers does.

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.

Ephesians 5:2 · KJVThe aroma image appears with self-giving love offered to God.

THE THREAD

And thou shalt burn the whole ram upon the altar: it is a burnt offering unto the LORD: it is a sweet savour, an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

Exodus 29:18 · KJV

Here, as in Numbers 28:27, ⁨עֹלָה⁩ (ʿōlāh) means an ascent offering, and ⁨רֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ⁩ (rēaḥ nîḥōaḥ) means a pleasing, soothing aroma. Exodus places both images in one line: the offering rises, and its fragrance carries the language of rest.

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