The Church Fathers on this verse

Numbers 28:12Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

And three tenths of flour tempered with oil in sacrifice for every calf: and two tenths of flour tempered with oil for every ram:

Douay-Rheims

וּשְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה עֶשְׂרֹנִ֗ים סֹ֤לֶת מִנְחָה֙ בְּלוּלָ֣ה בַשֶּׁ֔מֶן לַפָּ֖ר הָאֶחָ֑ד וּשְׁנֵ֣י עֶשְׂרֹנִ֗ים סֹ֤לֶת מִנְחָה֙ בְּלוּלָ֣ה בַשֶּׁ֔מֶן לָאַ֖יִל הָֽאֶחָֽד׃

Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

One Church Father comments on this verse

Cyrill of Alexandria

5th centuryChurch Father

It is important to recognize that for the offering of a bullock, there were designated three tithes of wheat flour and half a guin, which amounts to six xestos of both oil and wine. In the case of a ram, the offering included two tithes of flour and a third of a guin for the libations. Each lamb was sacrificed with a tithe of flour, while the accompanying libation, which consisted of oil and wine, was measured as one-fourth part of a hin. God, the just Judge, will determine the portion of eternal life in glory and joy each person receives, corresponding to their efforts and the strength of their moral character, along with the richness bestowed by Him and the level of spiritual joy they experience. For we often express that wheat flour symbolizes vitality, oil represents abundance, and wine embodies spiritual joy. Thus, it is indeed quite accurate.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.