What Does Numbers 29:17 Mean in the King James?

And on the second day ye shall offer twelve young bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of the first year without spot:

Numbers 29:17 · 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.

THE KEY

The lambs are temimim, complete and sound, so the offering’s measure includes wholeness alongside exact count.

THE MEANING

The day’s offering has a measured shape: twelve bulls, two rams, and fourteen first-year lambs. The lambs are described as whole and sound, joining exact number with wholeness in what is brought.

THE ROOT

תְּמִימִם

temimim

GROWS FROM

תמם

To be complete, whole, or brought to its full form.

The verse’s “without spot” comes from tamim, from tamam: to be complete and sound. The same root can describe a person as whole and blameless, and integrity as completeness, joining bodily soundness to an undivided life.

ALSO GROWS

tam: Whole; blameless; complete.

תָּם

This related form shows that the same root can describe a person as whole, as well as an animal without defect.

tom: Integrity; completeness.

תֹּם

This noun carries wholeness into the sense of integrity, revealing a wider range beneath “without spot.”

THE PATTERN

Wholeness is expressed as soundness in what is offered and integrity in the life that stands before God.

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

Genesis 17:1 · KJVThe word translated “perfect” is tamim, the same word used for the lambs’ soundness here.

A Psalm of David. Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide.

Psalm 26:1 · KJV“Integrity” translates tom, a related form from the same root of completeness and wholeness.

But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

James 1:4 · KJVThe verse describes a life made complete and whole, echoing the pattern of soundness expressed by tamim.

THE THREAD

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

Genesis 17:1 · KJV

Numbers calls the lambs temimim, “whole” or “sound”; Genesis uses the same form when God says, “be thou perfect.” The shared root joins an animal’s bodily soundness with the completeness of a person’s walk before God.

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