What Does Numbers 29:23 Mean in the King James?

And on the fourth day ten bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish:

Numbers 29:23 · 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 offering is both counted and called complete, so its number and wholeness belong together.

THE MEANING

The offering before you is set out with exact measure: ten bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year. The lambs are described as whole, holding count and completeness together.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The number alone defines what is brought; its condition does not matter.

THE ROOT

תְּמִימִם

temimim

GROWS FROM

תָּמַם

tamam

To be complete or whole; to reach completion.

The word rendered “without blemish” comes from a root of completeness, so it names the lambs as whole. The same word-family appears in Genesis 17:1 as “perfect,” connecting the wholeness of an offering with the shape of a life before God.

ALSO GROWS

tamam: To be complete; to come to completion.

תָּמַם

The verb gives the seed sense of the lambs being described as whole.

tom: Integrity; completeness.

תֹּם

This branch carries the root’s sense of wholeness into the character of a person.

tamim: Whole, complete, sound; also rendered “perfect.”

תָּמִים

This is the singular form of the word-family used for the lambs, and it appears in Genesis 17:1 to describe Abram’s walk.

THE PATTERN

Within the language of offering, the gift is named by both its measure and its wholeness.

And whosoever offereth a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD to accomplish his vow, or a freewill offering in beeves or sheep, it shall be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no blemish therein.

Leviticus 22:21 · KJVThe peace offering is described as both acceptable and free of blemish, pairing the gift with wholeness.

But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

1 Peter 1:19 · KJVThe image of a lamb is again bound to being without blemish, making wholeness part of how the offering is described.

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 describes the lambs as “without blemish,” while Genesis uses the same Hebrew word-family for Abram’s “perfect” walk. The shared root connects the wholeness of an offering with the completeness of a life before God.

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