What Does Numbers 7:69 Mean in the King James?

One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

Numbers 7:69 · 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 Hebrew name for the burnt offering means “that which goes up,” so the verse makes ascent visible in the fire.

THE MEANING

The verse presents a bull, a ram, and a yearling lamb together as an offering that rises toward God. What is given takes the shape of ascent.

THE ROOT

עֹלָה

ʿōlāh

GROWS FROM

עלה

to go up, ascend

“burnt offering” in this verse is ʿōlāh. English calls attention to burning; the Hebrew name, ⁨עֹלָה⁩ (ʿōlāh), means “that which goes up.” Its root also forms the ordinary verb for ascending, holding the offering and its upward movement together in one word.

ALSO GROWS

ʿālāh: to go up, ascend

עָלָה

This verb is the root itself: the offering’s name carries the action of rising.

maʿălāh: ascent, step upward

מַעֲלָה

This branch makes the root’s upward movement concrete, as a rise from one level to another.

ʿăliyyāh: ascent, upward movement

עֲלִיָּה

It echoes the offering’s name in describing movement upward.

THE PATTERN

An offering is pictured as something ascending toward God.

And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

Genesis 8:20 · KJVThe burnt offerings carry the same Hebrew name of ascent.

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 offering rises through fire, joining the act of giving with the language of ascent.

Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

Psalm 141:2 · KJVPrayer, incense, and lifted hands all take the form of what rises toward God.

THE THREAD

And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

Genesis 8:20 · KJV

“Burnt offerings” translates the same Hebrew word, ⁨עֹלָה⁩ (ʿōlāh), from ⁨עלה⁩, “to ascend.” The shared root lets both verses name the offering through its upward movement.

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