What Does Numbers 29:6 Mean in the King James?
Beside the burnt offering of the month, and his meat offering, and the daily burnt offering, and his meat offering, and their drink offerings, according unto their manner, for a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire 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 daily and monthly offerings rise together, and what English calls a “sweet savour” is described in Hebrew as an aroma of rest.
THE MEANING
This verse holds sacred time in layers: the month’s offering stands beside the daily one, with grain and drink offerings each in their appointed manner. The whole arrangement rises as a pleasing, restful aroma before the LORD.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the idea that a special sacred moment replaces the daily rhythm: here the month’s offering is added alongside it.
THE ROOT
נִיחֹחַ
nichoach
GROWS FROM
נוח
To rest, settle, or come to rest.
English “sweet savour” can sound like simple pleasantness, but נִיחֹחַ is associated with נוח, the language of rest and settling. The offering is pictured as a pleasing aroma of rest before the LORD.
ALSO GROWS
nuach: To rest, settle, or come to rest.
נוּחַ
This verb carries the same root idea that gives the aroma its restful quality.
menuchah: Rest or a resting place.
מְנוּחָה
The same root can name a place of rest, bringing out the sense of settledness beneath “savour.”
עֹלָה
olah
GROWS FROM
עלה
To ascend or go up.
“burnt offering” in this verse is olah. The offering’s Hebrew name belongs to the language of ascent. Because the monthly and daily offerings are both עֹלָה, the verse presents the appointed feast as another ascent alongside the daily one.
ALSO GROWS
alah: To ascend or go up.
עָלָה
This verb makes the upward image within עֹלָה visible.
maalah: An ascent, step, or degree.
מַעֲלָה
This noun from the same root names an upward movement, echoing the offering’s ascent-language.
THE PATTERN
Scripture portrays offerings placed before God as rising and becoming a pleasing aroma.
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.But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.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.Genesis uses the same Hebrew phrase רֵיחַ הַנִּיחֹחַ (reiach ha-nichoach, pleasing aroma) after Noah’s burnt offering. The aroma’s root-language of rest also echoes Noah’s name, נֹחַ (Noach, rest), gathering the offering, the aroma, and the name around one image.
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