Numbers 7:87 Meaning and Explanation
“All the oxen for the burnt offering were twelve bullocks, the rams twelve, the lambs of the first year twelve, with their meat offering: and the kids of the goats for sin offering twelve. And all the oxen for the sacrifice of the peace offerings were twenty and four bullocks, the rams sixty, the he goats sixty, the lambs of the first year sixty. This was the dedication of the altar, after that it was anointed.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The final tally: twelve bullocks, twelve rams, and twelve lambs for burnt offerings; twelve goats for sin offerings; and twenty-four bullocks, sixty rams, sixty goats, and sixty lambs for peace offerings.
The Context of Numbers 7:87
The animal totals emphasize completeness and the ceremony's vast scale.
What Does Numbers 7:87 Mean?
The animal totals were equally vast. Twelve of each type of animal for the burnt offering (matching the twelve tribes), twelve goats for sin offerings, and peace offerings numbering: 24 bullocks (2 per tribe), 60 rams (5 per tribe), 60 male goats (5 per tribe), and 60 lambs (5 per tribe). Every number was perfectly divisible by twelve, reflecting complete representation and equality.
These totals revealed the ceremony's scope: a massive, coordinated offering by all Israel, requiring three days just to consume the sacrifices. The dedication was not perfunctory but lavish, elaborate, and all-consuming.
Frequently Asked Questions About Numbers 7:87
What does Numbers 7:87 mean?
The final tally: twelve bullocks, twelve rams, and twelve lambs for burnt offerings; twelve goats for sin offerings; and twenty-four bullocks, sixty rams, sixty goats, and sixty lambs for peace offerings.
What is the context of Numbers 7:87?
The animal totals emphasize completeness and the ceremony's vast scale.