What does Numbers 28:3 mean?
What is the meaning of Numbers 28:3?

And tell them

The command begins with clear instruction. God speaks, Moses conveys.

• The phrase mirrors earlier moments when the LORD directed Moses to relay His words (Exodus 25:22; Deuteronomy 5:31).

• This reminds us that divine revelation is not vague suggestion but authoritative truth that must be passed along unchanged (Numbers 27:12-14).

• Because Scripture records these words, we receive them with the same seriousness today (2 Timothy 3:16).


that this is the food offering

God identifies the sacrifice as His “food offering,” picturing fellowship and satisfaction in what is given.

Leviticus 3:11 calls such offerings “food, an offering made by fire to the LORD,” underscoring that He delights in wholehearted gifts.

Malachi 1:7 rebukes Israel for treating this “food” with contempt, showing the importance of honoring even seemingly routine offerings.

• In the New Testament, believers become a “pleasing aroma” when we live sacrificially (Ephesians 5:2).


you are to present to the LORD

The direction of the offering is vertical, not horizontal.

Psalm 96:8 urges, “Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; bring an offering and enter His courts.”

Romans 12:1 echoes the principle: our own bodies are to be “presented” as living sacrifices.

• Offerings are not for appeasing neighbors or displaying piety; they are acts of worship aimed solely at God.


as a regular burnt offering each day

Consistency matters. God calls for daily, not sporadic, devotion.

Exodus 29:38-42 established the morning and evening lambs—uninterrupted worship marked Israel’s calendar.

Daniel 8:11 shows the gravity of interrupting the “regular sacrifice,” highlighting its centrality.

• For us, Jesus expects daily discipleship (Luke 9:23), and Hebrews 13:15 urges a “continual sacrifice of praise.”


two unblemished year-old male lambs

Specifics display God’s concern for quality and symbolism.

Exodus 12:5 required an unblemished lamb for Passover, foreshadowing Christ (1 Peter 1:19).

• A year-old lamb was in its prime—God deserves our best, not leftovers (Proverbs 3:9).

• The number two provided morning and evening coverage, hinting at complete devotion (Psalm 141:2).

• Ultimately, John 1:29 identifies Jesus as “the Lamb of God,” fulfilling every spotless sacrifice once for all (Hebrews 10:11-14).


summary

Numbers 28:3 lays out a daily rhythm of worship: God’s authoritative word, a pleasing offering, presented solely to Him, practiced consistently, and marked by flawless quality. The verse trains hearts toward steady, wholehearted devotion and points ahead to the perfect Lamb, Jesus, whose once-for-all sacrifice enables us to live each day in continual praise.

Why are specific offerings commanded in Numbers 28:2, and what do they symbolize?
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