What Does Numbers 28:27 Mean?

But you shall bring near the ascending offering, a fragrance of rest to the LORD; two young bulls, one ram, seven lambs of the first year;

Numbers 28:27 · SDV

Key words are shown with the Hebrew or Greek and what each word meant.

Selah Decoded Version The Selah Decoded Version renders what the Hebrew and Greek words meant to the people who first heard them.

This verse in the King James

King James wording

King James Version

But ye shall offer the burnt offering for a sweet savour unto the LORD; two young bullocks, one ram, seven lambs of the first year;

THE KEY

The offering is named for its ascent, and its fragrance bears the language of settling into rest.

THE MEANING

This verse sets before you a whole offering rising to the LORD, with its aroma described as pleasing and settling. Its exact animals and count make the image concrete and ordered, not abstract.

THE ROOT

עֹלָה

ʿōlāh

GROWS FROM

עלה

ʿ-l-h

⁨עלה⁩ (ʿālāh) means to go up or ascend.

“ascending offering” in this verse is ʿōlāh. The Hebrew name for the burnt offering is ⁨עֹלָה⁩ (ʿōlāh), an ascent offering. English names what happens to it by fire; the Hebrew also names its upward movement toward the LORD.

ALSO GROWS

ʿālāh: to go up, ascend

עָלָה

This verb gives the offering its image of rising.

maʿălāh: ascent, step

מַעֲלָה

This noun preserves the root’s sense of upward movement.

ʿōlāh: burnt offering; ascent offering

עֹלָה

This is the word used here, carrying the idea of ascent within the name of the offering.

רֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ

rēaḥ nîḥōaḥ

GROWS FROM

נוח

n-w-ḥ

⁨נוח⁩ (nûaḥ) means to rest, settle, or come to rest.

“fragrance of rest” in this verse is rēaḥ nîḥōaḥ. The phrase ⁨רֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ⁩ (rēaḥ nîḥōaḥ) means a pleasing or soothing aroma. ⁨נִיחֹחַ⁩ is linked with ⁨נוח⁩ (nûaḥ), “to rest, settle,” adding the image of fragrance that soothes or comes to rest before the LORD.

ALSO GROWS

nûaḥ: to rest, settle

נוּחַ

The verb carries the settling sense echoed in ⁨נִיחֹחַ⁩.

menûḥāh: rest, resting place

מְנוּחָה

This noun shows the root’s movement from settling into a state or place of rest.

THE PATTERN

Scripture pictures an offering rising before the LORD as an aroma received with pleasure and rest.

And the LORD smelled the fragrance of rest, and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground for man's sake, for the shaping of man's heart is evil from his youth, and I will not again strike down every living thing, as I have done.

Genesis 8:21 · SDVThe same aroma language appears as the LORD receives Noah’s offering and speaks of restraint.

And its inward parts and its legs he shall wash in water, and the priest shall send all of it up in smoke upon the altar, a rising offering, an offering of fire, a fragrance that settles to the LORD.

Leviticus 1:9 · SDVThe verse holds the whole burnt offering and its pleasing aroma together, as Numbers does.

And walk in love, as the Anointed One also loved us and handed himself over for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God, a fragrance that settles sweetly.

Ephesians 5:2 · SDVThe aroma image appears with self-giving love offered to God.

THE THREAD

You send the whole ram up in smoke upon the altar. It is a rising offering to the LORD, a scent that settles, an offering made by fire to the LORD.

Exodus 29:18 · SDV

Here, as in Numbers 28:27, ⁨עֹלָה⁩ (ʿōlāh) means an ascent offering, and ⁨רֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ⁩ (rēaḥ nîḥōaḥ) means a pleasing, soothing aroma. Exodus places both images in one line: the offering rises, and its fragrance carries the language of rest.

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