Definition: One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Numbers 7:51 together. It’s a really important and somewhat surprising passage about sacrifice in ancient Israel. Here's what it means, explained simply: The Basic Idea: This verse describes a ritual sacrifice – a burning offering – made to God. The key is that the animal being offered was brand new and young . It’s a very specific type of offering. Let’s unpack it piece by piece: “One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year…” This tells us we’re talking about animals that were just born – they haven't lived long enough to age and become fully mature. These animals are considered “young” because they haven’t had a chance to develop their full characteristics. “…for a burnt offering:” This is the crucial part. "Burnt" means it was deliberately set on fire. What does this all mean practically? This wasn't just any old animal. It was a specific animal, chosen for its purpose – to offer up as a sacrifice to God. Here’s what it likely signified: A Pure Offering: This verse highlights the idea that offerings were meant to be pure and untainted by anything earthly or imperfect. The young animal represented something fresh and new – a way of showing reverence and trust to God. Symbolic Offering: The burning was a symbolic act - it wasn't just about the animal itself, but also about the believer’s willingness to offer up their own life and spirit to God. It was a declaration of faith and devotion. Important Context (A Little Background): This verse appears in the Book of Numbers. It was part of a larger pattern of sacrifices in ancient Israel. The purpose of these offerings was to maintain a relationship with God, to seek His favor, and to demonstrate obedience. In short: It’s telling us that this particular animal was offered as a sacred, new offering – a symbolic representation of trust and devotion to God. --- Do you want me to: Explain another verse? Discuss the significance of this verse in a broader context (like ancient Israelite religious practices)?