What is the meaning of Numbers 7:22? one “one male goat for a sin offering” begins with the word “one,” highlighting singularity and sufficiency. • In the tabernacle dedication each tribe brought a single, complete set of offerings (Numbers 7:12–83). That “one” animal signified a focused act of worship, not a token gesture. • Scripture often pairs “one” with decisive atonement—“one sacrifice for sins for all time” (Hebrews 10:12) and “one Lamb of God” (John 1:29). • By presenting exactly one goat, the leader of the tribe of Simeon (Numbers 7:24–29) acknowledged that God prescribes the means of reconciliation; we don’t multiply offerings to gain extra favor (Micah 6:6–8). male goat A “male goat” (or buck goat) was the standard sin offering for leaders (Leviticus 4:22–23) and certain festivals (Numbers 28:15). • The goat’s strength and vigor picture substitution: an unblemished creature gives its life in place of the sinner (Leviticus 1:3; Hebrews 9:22). • Goats appear centrally on the Day of Atonement—one slain, one released (Leviticus 16:5–10). Both point forward to Christ, who both bears sin away and satisfies wrath (Hebrews 9:26). • Choosing a male rather than a female echoes Adam’s representative headship—sin entered through one man (Romans 5:12), and ultimately a male Redeemer would remove it (1 Timothy 2:5–6). for a sin offering The phrase “for a sin offering” identifies the purpose: atonement for unintended or inherent sin (Leviticus 4; Numbers 15:22–25). • A sin offering was not a gift to God but a requirement from God, underlining human guilt (Romans 3:23). • Blood from the goat was applied to the altar, symbolizing life given in exchange for life (Leviticus 17:11). • The burnt, grain, and fellowship offerings that accompanied the sin offering (Numbers 7:23) flowed out of forgiveness; cleansing comes first, fellowship follows (Isaiah 6:6–7, 1 John 1:7). • Ultimately, all Old Testament sin offerings foreshadow “Christ, who offered Himself without blemish to God” (Hebrews 9:14; 2 Corinthians 5:21). summary Numbers 7:22 records a single, vigorous male goat devoted entirely to the sin offering, underscoring God’s ordained, sufficient, and substitutionary means of dealing with sin. The solitary animal points to the solitary Savior, whose once-for-all sacrifice cleanses all who trust in Him and opens the way for joyful fellowship with God. |
    |