Numbers 29:7 - “‘On the tenth day of this seventh month you shall have a holy convocation. You shall afflict your souls. You shall do no kind of work;

Generated Verse: Numbers 29:7

What does "Numbers 29:7" mean?


Numbers 29:7 outlines the requirements for the observance of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Let's break down each part of the verse:

"On the tenth day of this seventh month...": This specifies the exact date for this observance: the tenth day of the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar, which is traditionally called Tishrei. This corresponds to late September or early October in the Gregorian calendar.

"...you shall have a holy convocation...": A "holy convocation" means a sacred assembly or gathering. It calls for the people to come together for a religious purpose, emphasizing communal worship and shared observance.

"...you shall afflict your souls...": This is a key phrase. "Afflicting your souls" generally means to deny oneself physical comforts and pleasures as a sign of repentance and sorrow for sins. Traditionally, this is understood to mean fasting (abstaining from food and drink) and refraining from other physical pleasures (like bathing or wearing comfortable clothes). The goal is to focus on spiritual reflection, confession, and seeking atonement.

"...You shall do no kind of work;": This reinforces the solemnity of the day. All work, including daily labor, is forbidden. This allows the people to dedicate the entire day to prayer, reflection, and seeking God's forgiveness.

In Summary:

The verse instructs the Israelites (and by extension, Jewish people today) to observe Yom Kippur on the tenth day of the seventh month (Tishrei). This observance involves a sacred gathering, a period of self-denial (traditionally fasting), and the abstaining from all forms of work. The purpose is to create an environment conducive to repentance, seeking atonement for sins, and deepening one's relationship with God.