complete verse (Numbers 15:3)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Numbers 15:3:

  • Kupsabiny: “You (plur.) may take out/select a cow, sheep or goat and make to God sacrifices that are burned completely or other sacrifices. A person may do like that if he wants to do a sacrifice to God for something he has vowed. He may also take one of those animals to be a gift that he is giving out of his love only to present to God, or to be something which is used to do a sacrifice during a feast. The sacrifices of those animals smell sweet and they will make him happy.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “When you give a special gift or a fragrant burnt offering to please the LORD, it may be from the herd or from the flock. In the same way, when [you] offer a sacrifice [in fulfillment] of a vow to offer, a freewill offering or a festival sacrifice,” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “you (plur.) will-offer to me offerings from your (plur.) animals. You (plur.) burnt offerings, offerings to fulfill a vow, free-will offerings or offerings at the time of the feasts. The pleasant-odor/aroma of these offerings by-means of fire will-cause- me -to-be-glad/to-be-pleased.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “you must offer to me special sacrifices which will be pleasing to me when the priest burns them on the altar. Some of them may be offerings that will be completely burned on the altar. Some of them may be to indicate that you have made a solemn promise to me. Some of them may be offerings that you yourselves have decided to make. Some of them may be offerings at one of the festivals that you celebrate each year. These offerings may be taken from your herds of cattle or from your flocks of sheep and goats.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Numbers 15:1 - 15:3

Verses 1-3 introduce the general situation for which the specific instructions are given in the verses that follow. In the Hebrew and in Revised Standard Version verses 2-5 form one long sentence. Good News Translation has helpfully divided it into a number of separate sentences.

The LORD said to Moses, “Say to the people of Israel: This introductory divine speech formula occurs three times in chapter 15, on each occasion at the beginning of a new subsection or paragraph (verses 1-2a, 17-18a, 37-38a). It will be helpful to translate this formula consistently. For The LORD said to Moses, see 1.1. Both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation omit the Hebrew waw conjunction (literally “And”) at the beginning of this clause, but New Living Translation renders it “Then” to indicate that it introduces the next event. However, the conjunction “Then” is misleading since this section does not seem to stand in a chronological relationship with the previous one. Rather, as suggested in the introductory comments above, there is a thematic reason for the inclusion of the laws about sacrifices and offerings at this point. For this reason we recommend omitting the Hebrew waw conjunction here. Say to the people of Israel introduces what the LORD wants Moses to tell the people on his behalf in verses 2b-16. Good News Translation changes the embedded quotation after this quote frame into indirect speech. But in some languages the embedded speech here is not unnatural; in fact, it would be the most appropriate way for God to give instructions to his people. Good News Translation keeps the direct speech of the LORD in verses 38b-41 by rendering verses 37-38a as “The LORD commanded Moses to say to the people of Israel.” This model is recommended here and for verses 17-18a as well.

When you come into the land you are to inhabit, which I give you: The Hebrew pronouns for you are plural, referring to the Israelites. Here God renews his promise to give them the land of Canaan (see 13.2).

And you offer to the LORD from the herd or from the flock an offering by fire or a burnt offering or a sacrifice: Since the LORD is speaking here, some languages may prefer to refer to him in the first person rather than in the third person; for example, Contemporary English Version changes the LORD to “me.” The herd refers to cattle (bulls and cows), and the flock refers to goats and sheep (see the comments on 11.22). Good News Translation makes this clear by saying “A bull, a ram, a sheep, or goat,” which other languages may find helpful. The regulation here applies in the case of animals in general. The phrase an offering by fire or a burnt offering or a sacrifice wrongly suggests that the Hebrew speaks about three different types of offerings. However, the Hebrew word for offering by fire (ʾishsheh) is a general term for any sacrifice, while the words for burnt offering and sacrifice refer to two specific types of sacrifice. New Revised Standard Version makes this clear by beginning verse 3 with “and you make an offering by fire to the LORD from the herd or from the flock—whether a burnt offering or a sacrifice” (see also the model below). The exact meaning of the Hebrew word rendered offering by fire is unknown. Good News Translation translates it “food offerings,” which we do not recommend. Many translations express it in the same or similar way as Revised Standard Version. For burnt offering, which Revised English Bible translates “whole-offerings,” see 6.11. The Hebrew word for sacrifice is zevach, which refers to any sacrifice of a slaughtered animal.

To fulfil a vow or as a freewill offering: As A Handbook on Leviticus explains at Lev 7.16, a “votive offering” and a “freewill offering” always go together. The “votive offering” is the result of a vow or promise made, and the “freewill offering” is due to a spontaneous desire on the part of the worshiper. Freewill offering may be rendered “offering from the heart” or “offering from one’s own desire.” These two offerings may be translated “required or voluntary offerings.” Some languages may find it more natural to mention voluntary offerings before those required by a vow or promise.

Or at your appointed feasts refers to sacrifices made at the Israelites’ annual festivals. See the comments on 10.10.

To make a pleasing odor to the LORD is literally “to make an odor of soothing to the LORD.” This expression reflects the ancient idea of the gods smelling sacrifices and being satisfied with them. This clause may be rendered “to make a pleasant odor that the LORD accepts gladly,” “to make a smell in which the LORD takes pleasure and therefore accepts,” or simply “to make a smell that pleases the LORD.” This anthropomorphic expression also occurs in verses 7, 10 and 14, thus underscoring that these sacrifices restore the relationship between God and his people.

New Revised Standard Version connects the clauses in verse 3 more accurately as follows:

• and you make an offering by fire to the LORD from the herd or from the flock—whether a burnt offering or a sacrifice, to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering or at your appointed festivals—to make a pleasing odor for the LORD….

In some languages this verse will be easier to read if the last clause is placed earlier in the verse. A model that does this is:

• and you make an offering by fire to the LORD from the herd or from the flock—whether a whole-offering or any sacrifice—to make a pleasing odor for the LORD, whether to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering or at your appointed festivals….

New International Readers Version provides a helpful model for this verse that breaks it up into several sentences as follows:

• When you do, you will give offerings that are made to the LORD with fire. The animals must come from your herd or flock. The offerings will give a smell that is pleasant to the LORD. They can be either burnt offerings or sacrifices. They can be either for special promises or for feast offerings. Or they can be for offerings you choose to give.

Quoted with permission from de Regt, Lénart J. and Wendland, Ernst R. A Handbook on Numbers. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .