What Does Numbers 29:14 Mean in the King James?

And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals unto every bullock of the thirteen bullocks, two tenth deals to each ram of the two rams,

Numbers 29:14 · 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 measured in relation to the creature it accompanies: three tenths for each bull, two for each ram.

THE MEANING

The verse gives the flour and oil a precise measure beside each animal. The portions differ with what is presented, making the offering specific rather than an undefined amount.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The assumption that every offering has one uniform measure falls away: this verse assigns different portions to bulls and rams.

THE ROOT

עֶשְׂרֹנִים

ʿesronim

GROWS FROM

עשר

ʿ-ś-r

Ten; counting or reckoning by tens.

“tenth deals” in this verse is ʿesronim. The measured portions belong to the same word family as the tithe, ⁨מַעֲשֵׂר⁩ (maʿaser). The verse makes the offering’s measure explicit: the share is named and counted, not left as an unspecified gift.

ALSO GROWS

ʿeser: Ten.

עֶשֶׂר

This is the number carried in the root of the measured portions.

maʿaser: Tithe, a tenth portion.

מַעֲשֵׂר

It shows the same root shaping a counted share given from a larger whole.

שֶׁמֶן

shemen

GROWS FROM

שמן

sh-m-n

To be fat or rich; richness and abundance.

The word for oil shares its root with words for fatness and richness. Here the flour is mingled with oil, so the measure describes a joined provision rather than flour standing alone.

ALSO GROWS

shamen: Fat, rich.

שָׁמֵן

It carries the same sense of richness present in the name for oil.

mishmannim: Rich foods, fatness.

מִשְׁמַנִּים

This branch preserves the root’s association with richness as nourishment.

THE PATTERN

What is offered is given a measured portion that corresponds to what it accompanies.

And three tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, for one bullock; and two tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, for one ram;

Numbers 28:12 · KJVThe flour and oil are measured in different portions for the bullock and the ram, matching the pattern here.

And with the one lamb a tenth deal of flour mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil; and the fourth part of an hin of wine for a drink offering.

Exodus 29:40 · KJVThe grain, oil, and wine are stated in measured portions alongside the lamb.

For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

2 Corinthians 8:12 · KJVThe offering is received in relation to what is actually present to give.

THE THREAD

Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.

Deuteronomy 14:22 · KJV

The Hebrew for “tenth deals” comes from ⁨עשר⁩ (ʿ-ś-r), the same root in ⁨מַעֲשֵׂר⁩ (maʿaser), “tithe.” Both verses make an offering a counted share of what is present.

Read the SDV Bible.

Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.

Get Selah Verse

The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.

Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us