Grammar Analysis: Numbers 28:1-10 (Daily & Sabbath Tamid — with the שֵׁכָר Libation Clause)¶
Overview¶
Numbers 28:1-10 is YHWH's prescription of the tamid (continual) burnt-offering: the daily pair of lambs (vv.3-8) and the Sabbath supplement (vv.9-10). Every action-verb in the unit is an offering-verb (הקריב "bring near," עשׂה "make/prepare," נסך Hiphil "pour out [as libation]"). No verb of human consumption — no שׁתה "drink," no אכל "eat," no לקח "take" — occurs anywhere in the passage. The אִשֶּׁה / רֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ / לַיהוָה refrain (vv.2, 6, 8) frames every element as cultic material directed to YHWH, never to the worshipper.
The central exegetical crux is v.7b — בַּקֹּדֶשׁ הַסֵּךְ נֶסֶךְ שֵׁכָר לַיהוָה ("in the holy [place] pour out a libation of shekar to YHWH"). The ETCBC/BHSA parser and clause-analyzer resolve this unambiguously as a pouring-out libation directed to YHWH, not a command for human drinking.
Central verification (confirmed): - The only verb governing שֵׁכָר in the clause is הַסֵּךְ (Hiphil infinitive absolute of נסך "pour out"), the cultic libation-verb. - שֵׁכָר is in construct apposition to נֶסֶךְ — "a libation [consisting] of shekar" — it is the material poured, not an object of drinking. - The complement לַיהוָה ("to YHWH") marks the recipient of the pouring, exactly as לַיהוָה marks the recipient of the אִשֶּׁה fire-offering in vv.6 and 8. - The locative בַּקֹּדֶשׁ ("in the sanctuary") specifies that this pouring takes place at the altar, the domain of priestly sacrificial action, not a consumption-space. - No form of the drinking-verb שׁתה, the eating-verb אכל, or any consumption verb appears anywhere in Num 28:1-10.
Text (Hebrew + KJV)¶
v.1 — וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹר׃ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
v.2 — צַו אֶת־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵהֶם אֶת־קָרְבָּנִי לַחְמִי לְאִשַּׁי רֵיחַ נִיחֹחִי תִּשְׁמְרוּ לְהַקְרִיב לִי בְּמוֹעֲדוֹ׃ Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, My offering, [and] my bread for my sacrifices made by fire, [for] a sweet savour unto me, shall ye observe to offer unto me in their due season.
v.3 — וְאָמַרְתָּ לָהֶם זֶה הָאִשֶּׁה אֲשֶׁר תַּקְרִיבוּ לַיהוָה כְּבָשִׂים בְּנֵי־שָׁנָה תְמִימִם שְׁנַיִם לַיּוֹם עֹלָה תָמִיד׃ And thou shalt say unto them, This [is] the offering made by fire which ye shall offer unto the LORD; two lambs of the first year without spot day by day, [for] a continual burnt offering.
v.4 — אֶת־הַכֶּבֶשׂ אֶחָד תַּעֲשֶׂה בַבֹּקֶר וְאֵת הַכֶּבֶשׂ הַשֵּׁנִי תַּעֲשֶׂה בֵּין הָעַרְבָּיִם׃ The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning, and the other lamb shalt thou offer at even;
v.5 — וַעֲשִׂירִית הָאֵיפָה סֹלֶת לְמִנְחָה בְּלוּלָה בְּשֶׁמֶן כָּתִית רְבִיעִת הַהִין׃ And a tenth [part] of an ephah of flour for a meat offering, mingled with the fourth [part] of an hin of beaten oil.
v.6 — עֹלַת תָּמִיד הָעֲשֻׂיָה בְּהַר סִינַי לְרֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ אִשֶּׁה לַיהוָה׃ [It is] a continual burnt offering, which was ordained in mount Sinai for a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD.
v.7 — וְנִסְכּוֹ רְבִיעִת הַהִין לַכֶּבֶשׂ הָאֶחָד בַּקֹּדֶשׁ הַסֵּךְ נֶסֶךְ שֵׁכָר לַיהוָה׃ And the drink offering thereof [shall be] the fourth [part] of an hin for the one lamb: in the holy [place] shalt thou cause the strong wine to be poured unto the LORD [for] a drink offering.
v.8 — וְאֵת הַכֶּבֶשׂ הַשֵּׁנִי תַּעֲשֶׂה בֵּין הָעַרְבָּיִם כְּמִנְחַת הַבֹּקֶר וּכְנִסְכּוֹ תַּעֲשֶׂה אִשֵּׁה רֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ לַיהוָה׃ And the other lamb shalt thou offer at even: as the meat offering of the morning, and as the drink offering thereof, thou shalt offer [it], a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
v.9 — וּבְיוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת שְׁנֵי־כְבָשִׂים בְּנֵי־שָׁנָה תְּמִימִם וּשְׁנֵי עֶשְׂרֹנִים סֹלֶת מִנְחָה בְּלוּלָה בַשֶּׁמֶן וְנִסְכּוֹ׃ And on the sabbath day two lambs of the first year without spot, and two tenth deals of flour [for] a meat offering, mingled with oil, and the drink offering thereof:
v.10 — עֹלַת שַׁבַּת בְּשַׁבַּתּוֹ עַל־עֹלַת הַתָּמִיד וְנִסְכָּהּ׃ [This is] the burnt offering of every sabbath, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.
Word-by-Word Parsing (from hebrew_parser.py)¶
v.1 — Speech-frame (wayyiqtol opener)¶
| # | Word | Lemma | Parsing | Gloss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | וַ | ו | Conj | and |
| 2 | יְדַבֵּר | דבר | Verb.Piel.Wayq.3ms | speak |
| 3 | יְהוָה | יהוה | PropN.ms | YHWH |
| 4 | אֶל | אל | Prep | to |
| 5 | מֹשֶׁה | משׁה | PropN.ms | Moses |
| 6 | לֵּאמֹר | אמר | Verb.Qal.InfCon | to say |
v.2 — Opening command + mission statement¶
| # | Word | Lemma | Parsing | Gloss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | צַו | צוה | Verb.Piel.Impv.2ms | command |
| 2 | אֶת־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל | בן / ישׂראל | Objc | the children of Israel |
| 3 | וְאָמַרְתָּ | אמר | Verb.Qal.Perf.2ms (weqatal) | and you shall say |
| 4 | אֲלֵהֶם | אל | Prep.+3mp | to them |
| 5 | אֶת־קָרְבָּנִי | קרבן | Noun.ms.Abs.+1cs | my offering (object) |
| 6 | לַחְמִי | לחם | Noun.s.+1cs | my bread |
| 7 | לְאִשַּׁי | אשׁה | Prep+Noun.mp.+1cs | for my fire-offerings |
| 8 | רֵיחַ נִיחֹחִי | ריח / ניחח | Cst+Noun.+1cs | scent of my appeasement |
| 9 | תִּשְׁמְרוּ | שׁמר | Verb.Qal.Impf.2mp | you (pl.) shall observe |
| 10 | לְהַקְרִיב | קרב | Verb.Hiphil.InfCon | to bring near / offer |
| 11 | לִי | ל | Prep.+1cs | to me |
| 12 | בְּמוֹעֲדוֹ | מועד | Noun.ms.+3ms | in its appointed-time |
v.3 — Prescription headline¶
| # | Word | Lemma | Parsing | Gloss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | וְאָמַרְתָּ | אמר | Verb.Qal.Perf.2ms (weqatal) | and you shall say |
| 2 | לָהֶם | ל | Prep.+3mp | to them |
| 3 | זֶה | זה | DemPron.ms | this |
| 4 | הָאִשֶּׁה | אשׁה | Art+Noun.ms | [is] the fire-offering |
| 5 | אֲשֶׁר | אשׁר | Rel | which |
| 6 | תַּקְרִיבוּ | קרב | Verb.Hiphil.Impf.2mp | you (pl.) shall bring near / offer |
| 7 | לַיהוָה | יהוה | Prep+PropN | to YHWH |
| 8 | כְּבָשִׂים בְּנֵי־שָׁנָה | כבשׂ / בן / שׁנה | Noun.mp.Abs + Cst | young rams, sons of a year |
| 9 | תְמִימִם | תמים | Adj.mp | complete/unblemished |
| 10 | שְׁנַיִם | שׁנים | Noun.d | two |
| 11 | לַיּוֹם | יום | Prep+Noun | per day |
| 12 | עֹלָה תָמִיד | עלה / תמיד | Noun.fs + Noun | continual burnt-offering |
v.4 — Morning/evening split¶
| # | Word | Lemma | Parsing | Gloss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | אֶת־הַכֶּבֶשׂ אֶחָד | את / כבשׂ / אחד | Obj+Art+Noun | the one lamb |
| 2 | תַּעֲשֶׂה | עשׂה | Verb.Qal.Impf.2ms | you shall make/prepare |
| 3 | בַבֹּקֶר | בקר | Prep+Art+Noun | in the morning |
| 4 | וְאֵת הַכֶּבֶשׂ הַשֵּׁנִי | כבשׂ / שׁני | Obj+Art+Noun+Adj | and the second lamb |
| 5 | תַּעֲשֶׂה | עשׂה | Verb.Qal.Impf.2ms | you shall make/prepare |
| 6 | בֵּין הָעַרְבָּיִם | בין / ערב | Cst+Art+Noun.du | between the two evenings |
v.5 — Grain offering (מנחה)¶
| # | Word | Lemma | Parsing | Gloss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | וַעֲשִׂירִית הָאֵיפָה | עשׂירי / איפה | Cst+Art+Noun | and a tenth of the ephah |
| 2 | סֹלֶת | סלת | Noun.fs | of fine flour |
| 3 | לְמִנְחָה | מנחה | Prep+Noun | for a grain-offering |
| 4 | בְּלוּלָה | בלל | Verb.Qal.Ptcp.fs | mingled |
| 5 | בְּשֶׁמֶן כָּתִית | שׁמן / כתית | Prep+Noun.Cst+Adj | with beaten oil |
| 6 | רְבִיעִת הַהִין | רביעי / הין | Cst+Art+Noun | a fourth of the hin |
v.6 — Summary formula¶
| # | Word | Lemma | Parsing | Gloss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | עֹלַת תָּמִיד | עלה / תמיד | Cst+Noun | a continual burnt-offering |
| 2 | הָעֲשֻׂיָה | עשׂה | Art+Verb.Qal.Ptcp.fs | the one made (rel. ptcp.) |
| 3 | בְּהַר סִינַי | הר / סיני | Prep+Noun.Cst+PropN | in Mount Sinai |
| 4 | לְרֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ | ריח / ניחח | Prep+Cst+Noun | for a scent of appeasement |
| 5 | אִשֶּׁה | אשׁה | Noun.ms | a fire-offering |
| 6 | לַיהוָה | יהוה | Prep+PropN | to YHWH (recipient) |
v.7 — The nesek-shekar clause (central analysis)¶
| # | Word | Lemma | Parsing | Gloss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | וְנִסְכּוֹ | נסך | Noun.ms.Abs.+3ms | and its libation (poss. = "of it [the lamb]") |
| 2 | רְבִיעִת הַהִין | רביעי / הין | Cst+Art+Noun | a fourth of the hin |
| 3 | לַכֶּבֶשׂ הָאֶחָד | כבשׂ / אחד | Prep+Art+Noun+Adj | for the one lamb |
| 4 | בַּקֹּדֶשׁ | קדשׁ | Prep+Art+Noun | in the sanctuary (Locative) |
| 5 | הַסֵּךְ | נסך | Verb.Hiphil.InfAbs | pour out! (Hiphil inf. absolute as imperatival) |
| 6 | נֶסֶךְ | נסך | Noun.ms.Cst | a libation (construct head) |
| 7 | שֵׁכָר | שׁכר | Noun.ms.Abs | of strong-drink (absolute, filling construct chain) |
| 8 | לַיהוָה | יהוה | Prep+PropN | to YHWH (Complement — recipient) |
v.8 — Evening repetition¶
| # | Word | Lemma | Parsing | Gloss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | וְאֵת הַכֶּבֶשׂ הַשֵּׁנִי | כבשׂ / שׁני | Obj+Art+Noun+Adj | and the second lamb |
| 2 | תַּעֲשֶׂה | עשׂה | Verb.Qal.Impf.2ms | you shall make/prepare |
| 3 | בֵּין הָעַרְבָּיִם | בין / ערב | Cst+Art+Noun.du | between the two evenings |
| 4 | כְּמִנְחַת הַבֹּקֶר | מנחה / בקר | Prep+Cst+Art+Noun | like the morning's grain-offering |
| 5 | וּכְנִסְכּוֹ | נסך | Prep+Noun.+3ms | and like its libation |
| 6 | תַּעֲשֶׂה | עשׂה | Verb.Qal.Impf.2ms | you shall make/prepare |
| 7 | אִשֵּׁה | אשׁה | Noun.ms.Cst | a fire-offering of |
| 8 | רֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ | ריח / ניחח | Cst+Noun | scent of appeasement |
| 9 | לַיהוָה | יהוה | Prep+PropN | to YHWH (recipient) |
v.9 — Sabbath supplement¶
| # | Word | Lemma | Parsing | Gloss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | וּבְיוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת | יום / שׁבת | Cst+Art+Noun | and on the day of the Sabbath |
| 2 | שְׁנֵי־כְבָשִׂים | שׁנים / כבשׂ | Cst+Noun.mp | two lambs |
| 3 | בְּנֵי־שָׁנָה | בן / שׁנה | Cst+Noun | sons of a year |
| 4 | תְּמִימִם | תמים | Adj.mp | unblemished |
| 5 | וּשְׁנֵי עֶשְׂרֹנִים | שׁנים / עשׂרון | Cst+Noun.mp | and two tenth-parts |
| 6 | סֹלֶת מִנְחָה | סלת / מנחה | Noun+Noun | fine flour as grain-offering |
| 7 | בְּלוּלָה בַשֶּׁמֶן | בלל / שׁמן | Ptcp.fs + Prep+Noun | mingled in the oil |
| 8 | וְנִסְכּוֹ | נסך | Noun.ms.+3ms | and its libation |
v.10 — Closing rubric¶
| # | Word | Lemma | Parsing | Gloss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | עֹלַת שַׁבַּת | עלה / שׁבת | Cst+Noun.Cst | burnt-offering of a Sabbath |
| 2 | בְּשַׁבַּתּוֹ | שׁבת | Prep+Noun.+3ms | in its [appointed] Sabbath |
| 3 | עַל־עֹלַת הַתָּמִיד | על / עלה / תמיד | Prep+Cst+Art+Noun | in addition to the continual burnt-offering |
| 4 | וְנִסְכָּהּ | נסך | Noun.ms.+3fs | and its libation |
Central Deliverable: Verification of "וְנֵסֶךְ שֵׁכָר" as Libation-Offering, Not Human-Consumption Command¶
1. The verb is הַסֵּךְ — Hiphil of נסך "pour out" (cultic libation-verb)¶
The parser assigns הַסֵּךְ to lemma נסך (Strong's H5258), stem Hiphil, form infinitive absolute:
הַסֵּךְ — Verb.Hiphil.InfAbs — "pour"
This is the causative stem of the root נסך whose Qal/Hiphil uses are morphologically and semantically the pouring-out of liquid as a ritual offering onto or beside the altar. Every BHSA-tagged occurrence of the verb in the Pentateuch is a libation-pouring context:
| Reference | Form | Parsing | Semantic Field |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 35:14 | וַיַּסֵּךְ | Hiphil.Wayq.3ms | Jacob pours libation on pillar |
| Exod 25:29 | יֻסַּךְ | Hophal.Impf.3ms | passive: libation-vessels |
| Exod 30:9 | תִסְּכוּ | Qal.Impf.2mp | "you shall not pour" (on incense altar) |
| Exod 37:16 | יֻסַּךְ | Hophal.Impf.3ms | libation-vessels |
| Num 28:7 | הַסֵּךְ | Hiphil.InfAbs | pour libation |
The verb never means "give to drink" or "drink" in sacrificial contexts. The verb of human consumption is שׁתה (shatah), which appears nowhere in Num 28:1-10.
The Hiphil infinitive absolute used imperativally is a sharp, formulaic cultic command — see hebrew/infinitive-absolute-intensification.md. Its function here is the same as in Lev 6:14 parallels: a non-finite impersonal directive, marking the act as a priestly prescription, not a personal action of the addressee-qua-consumer.
2. שֵׁכָר is the material of the libation, in construct apposition to נֶסֶךְ¶
The parser identifies a construct chain:
Construct Chain Found: נֶסֶךְ (libation) — CONSTRUCT שֵׁכָר (strong drink) — ABSOLUTE
נֶסֶךְ שֵׁכָר = "a libation [consisting] of shekar" — an appositional/material genitive.
Here שֵׁכָר functions as the content-specifier of the libation-noun. Grammatically it is a noun in the absolute state answering "what substance is the libation composed of?" — not an object of any drinking-verb. שֵׁכָר here does not stand free as an object of consumption; it is embedded inside the construct phrase that names the offering.
The parallel construction appears in Num 15:5, 15:7, 15:10 where נֶסֶךְ יַיִן ("libation of wine") uses exactly the same grammatical pattern: libation-noun + material-absolute.
3. לַיהוָה marks the recipient of the pouring¶
The clause-analyzer assigns לַיהוָה as the Cmpl (Complement) of the pouring clause:
Clause 2 (InfA): [Loca] בַּקֹּדֶשׁ — "in the sanctuary" [Pred] הַסֵּךְ — "pour" [Objc] נֶסֶךְ שֵׁכָר — "a libation of shekar" [Cmpl] לַיהוָה — "to YHWH"
The preposition לְ here is the lamed of directed offering / dative of recipient — the same role לַיהוָה plays three other times in this very passage:
- v.3 — תַּקְרִיבוּ לַיהוָה — "you shall offer to YHWH"
- v.6 — אִשֶּׁה לַיהוָה — "a fire-offering to YHWH"
- v.7 — נֶסֶךְ שֵׁכָר לַיהוָה — "a libation of shekar to YHWH"
- v.8 — רֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ לַיהוָה — "a scent of appeasement to YHWH"
The absolute parallelism between v.6's אִשֶּׁה לַיהוָה ("fire-offering to YHWH" — where no human eats it; it is burnt up) and v.7's נֶסֶךְ שֵׁכָר לַיהוָה ("libation of shekar to YHWH") is structurally decisive: the shekar goes to the same addressee, in the same way, as the burning flesh. It is not handed to a worshipper; it is poured out at the altar.
4. בַּקֹּדֶשׁ localizes the action to the sanctuary¶
The locative בַּקֹּדֶשׁ ("in the holy [place]") situates the pouring spatially at the sanctuary — the domain of sacrificial activity, not a domestic or festal eating-drinking setting. The preposition ב + הַקֹּדֶשׁ fronted before the verb is the clause-analyzer's [Loca] role. This is the grammatical equivalent of "at the altar," placing the act squarely inside priestly-cultic space.
5. No verb commanding human drinking/eating occurs in the passage¶
Exhaustive inventory of the verbs in Num 28:1-10 (from the parser):
| Verse | Verb | Lemma | Stem | Semantic category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| v.1 | וַיְדַבֵּר | דבר | Piel (wayq) | speech-act |
| v.1 | לֵּאמֹר | אמר | Qal (InfCon) | speech-act |
| v.2 | צַו | צוה | Piel (impv) | command |
| v.2 | וְאָמַרְתָּ | אמר | Qal (weqatal) | speech-act |
| v.2 | תִּשְׁמְרוּ | שׁמר | Qal (impf) | observe/keep |
| v.2 | לְהַקְרִיב | קרב | Hiphil (InfCon) | bring near / offer |
| v.3 | וְאָמַרְתָּ | אמר | Qal (weqatal) | speech-act |
| v.3 | תַּקְרִיבוּ | קרב | Hiphil (impf) | bring near / offer |
| v.4 | תַּעֲשֶׂה (×2) | עשׂה | Qal (impf) | make/prepare (sacrifice) |
| v.5 | בְּלוּלָה | בלל | Qal (ptcp.) | mingle (flour + oil) |
| v.6 | הָעֲשֻׂיָה | עשׂה | Qal (ptcp.) | which was made/offered |
| v.7 | הַסֵּךְ | נסך | Hiphil (InfAbs) | pour out (libation) |
| v.8 | תַּעֲשֶׂה (×2) | עשׂה | Qal (impf) | make/prepare (sacrifice) |
| v.9 | בְּלוּלָה | בלל | Qal (ptcp.) | mingle |
The verbal inventory is entirely sacrificial-action + speech-frame. Every transitive action-verb describes either speaking the command (דבר, אמר, צוה), observing the calendar (שׁמר), or performing the offering (קרב "bring near," עשׂה "prepare-as-sacrifice," בלל "mingle," נסך "pour-out-libation").
- The consumption-verb שׁתה ("drink") — does not appear.
- The consumption-verb אכל ("eat") — does not appear.
- The consumption-verb טעם ("taste") — does not appear.
The passage contains zero commands for humans to drink anything. The only pouring-verb is directed by the preposition לַיהוָה to YHWH as recipient.
Key Grammatical Features¶
1. הַסֵּךְ — Hiphil infinitive absolute of נסך (v.7)¶
- Form: Verb.Hiphil.InfAbs of נסך "pour out (as libation)"
- Function: Infinitive absolute used imperativally/prescriptively — a standard Pentateuchal cultic formula. The Hiphil of נסך = "cause [liquid] to be poured out [as offering]."
- Significance: This is the dedicated libation-verb of the Hebrew sacrificial lexicon. It never denotes human consumption; it denotes the priestly act of emptying a liquid vessel at the altar. (Cf. Gen 35:14 וַיַּסֵּךְ עָלֶיהָ נֶסֶךְ — Jacob pours a libation on the stone.)
- Cross-reference: Word study
word-studies/H5258-nasak.md; grammar entryhebrew/stem-hiphil.md;hebrew/infinitive-absolute-intensification.md.
2. נֶסֶךְ שֵׁכָר — construct chain "libation of shekar" (v.7)¶
- Form: Noun.ms.Cst (נֶסֶךְ) + Noun.ms.Abs (שֵׁכָר) — classic construct chain.
- Function: Appositional/material genitive — the absolute noun specifies the substance of the construct. "A libation [made of] shekar."
- Significance: שֵׁכָר is not an object of drinking; it is embedded as the content-term inside the name of the offering. Grammatically identical to נֶסֶךְ יַיִן ("libation of wine") in Num 15:5, 7, 10.
- Cross-reference: Word study
word-studies/H5262-necek.md(the libation-noun);word-studies/H7941-shekar.md(the material-noun).
3. לַיהוָה — lamed of recipient / dative of offering (vv.3, 6, 7, 8)¶
- Form: Prep לְ + proper noun YHWH (with definite assimilation לַ + יהוה).
- Function: Marks the addressee/recipient of the sacrificial action. Classified by the clause-analyzer as Cmpl (Complement) in v.7.
- Significance: The four-fold refrain in vv.3, 6, 7, 8 (לַיהוָה at the tail of each prescribed act) puts the libation of shekar in the same syntactic slot as the burnt offering and the fire offering. Grammar alone forbids re-interpreting v.7's לַיהוָה as anything other than "to YHWH as recipient."
4. בַּקֹּדֶשׁ — locative fronting (v.7)¶
- Form: Prep בְּ + Art הַ + Noun קֹדֶשׁ ("the holy [place] / sanctuary").
- Function: [Loca] (locative) constituent, fronted before the verb הַסֵּךְ — an emphatic topicalization of the place of the act.
- Significance: The fronted locative confines the action to sanctuary-space. This is a priestly altar-action, not a domestic or banquet action. It seals the cultic interpretation.
5. תַּעֲשֶׂה — Qal imperfect 2ms of עשׂה, the technical sacrificial "make/prepare" (vv.4, 8)¶
- Form: Verb.Qal.Impf.2ms of עשׂה.
- Function: In sacrificial legislation, עשׂה + accusative-of-offering is the technical idiom for "to prepare / offer (a sacrifice)" — not general "make/do." (Cf. Lev 9:7, 16:9.)
- Significance: Every 2ms verb directed at the worshipper in this passage is a sacrifice-preparation verb (עשׂה, הקריב, נסך). None is a consumption verb.
6. אִשֶּׁה רֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ לַיהוָה — formulaic offering-refrain (vv.2, 6, 8)¶
- Form: Noun.ms (אִשֶּׁה "fire-offering") + Cst-phrase רֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ ("scent of appeasement") + לַיהוָה.
- Function: The standard Pentateuchal terminus-formula marking a sacrifice as consumed by fire and ascending to YHWH — never eaten/drunk by humans.
- Significance: v.6 joins this formula to v.7's libation by structural equivalence. What applies to the אִשֶּׁה applies to the נֶסֶךְ: destined for YHWH, not for the priest's or worshipper's consumption.
Clause Structure (v.7, from hebrew_parser.py --clause)¶
Clause 1 — Nominal Clause (NmCl): - [Conj] וְ - [Subj] נִסְכּוֹ — "and its libation" - [PreC] רְבִיעִת הַהִין לַכֶּבֶשׂ הָאֶחָד — "[shall be] a fourth of the hin for the one lamb" (→ verbless clause defining the quantity of the libation)
Clause 2 — Infinitive-Absolute Clause (InfA): - [Loca] בַּקֹּדֶשׁ — "in the sanctuary" - [Pred] הַסֵּךְ — "pour out!" (Hiphil inf. absolute as imperatival/prescriptive) - [Objc] נֶסֶךְ שֵׁכָר — "a libation of shekar" (construct chain) - [Cmpl] לַיהוָה — "to YHWH" (recipient)
The clause-analyzer's structural verdict is unambiguous: - The verb is pouring (הַסֵּךְ). - The object is the libation-phrase (נֶסֶךְ שֵׁכָר). - The recipient is YHWH (לַיהוָה). - The location is the sanctuary (בַּקֹּדֶשׁ).
There is no syntactic slot for a human drinker, nor any verb of drinking. The clause is a sacrificial libation-prescription, full stop.
Cross-References¶
Word Studies¶
word-studies/H5258-nasak.md— the verb נסך "pour out (libation)" (the verb of v.7)word-studies/H5262-necek.md— the noun נֶסֶךְ "libation" (used 6× in vv.7, 8, 9, 10 with suffixes)word-studies/H7941-shekar.md— the noun שֵׁכָר "strong-drink" (the material of the libation)
Grammar Reference¶
hebrew/stem-hiphil.md— Hiphil causative-factitive stem (for הַסֵּךְ)hebrew/infinitive-absolute-intensification.md— Hiphil infinitive absolute functioning as imperatival/prescriptive in cultic legislationhebrew/syntax-waw-conjunction.md— the waw-linkage of the libation-clause to the preceding offering
Related Passage Analyses¶
passages/jhn-2-1-11.md— the Cana miracle, for the consumption-contrast: at Cana Jesus is addressed as hosting a wedding-feast with literal drinking-verbs (πίνω, μεθύω); Num 28:7 is the opposite speech-situation, with zero drinking-verbs and an altar-libation-verb.passages/mat-26-29-mrk-14-25-luk-22-18-fruit-of-the-vine.md— another libation/consumption distinction.
Summary Conclusion¶
Morphologically, syntactically, and semantically, Num 28:7 commands a priestly act of pouring out fermented drink at the altar as an offering to YHWH. The verb is נסך Hiphil (the dedicated libation-verb of the Pentateuchal cult). The noun-phrase is the construct chain נֶסֶךְ שֵׁכָר ("a libation of shekar"), where שֵׁכָר is the material specifier of the offering, not the direct object of any consumption-verb. The complement לַיהוָה marks YHWH as recipient of the pouring, paralleling the identical לַיהוָה at the tail of the fire-offering in vv.3, 6, and 8. The locative בַּקֹּדֶשׁ fixes the action to sanctuary space.
No verb in Num 28:1-10 commands, permits, or depicts a human drinking, eating, or tasting of anything. The passage's entire verbal inventory is sacrificial preparation and priestly pouring.
The text is grammatically incapable of supporting a reading of v.7 as a directive for human consumption of shekar. It prescribes a libation — a liquid offering poured out at the altar and belonging entirely to YHWH.