Numbers 7:87

All the livestock for the burnt offering totaled twelve bulls, twelve rams, and twelve male lambs a year old—together with their grain offerings—and twelve male goats for the sin offering.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The narrator records that the twelve tribal princes contributed identical livestock totals for the altar's dedication. The text places this inventory immediately after the measurement of the gold incense dishes and before the accounting of the peace offerings.

The words — The opening phrase כָּל־בָּקָר לָעֹלָה (kol-bāqār lā-ʿōlā, "all the cattle for the burnt offering") names the sacrifice type, while שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר (šənê ʿāśār, "twelve") quantifies the bulls, rams, and lambs.

The thread — This exact livestock count repeats in Numbers 7:88 for the peace offerings and follows the same structural formula as Leviticus 9:3-4. The twelve-fold distribution pattern reappears in Ezekiel 46:20-24 regarding altar provisions.

Why it lands — The text states the precise quantities of animals offered without commentary or embellishment. It requires the reader to observe that covenant worship operates through exact replication rather than personal preference.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

King James Version

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.