King James Version

What Does Numbers 7:72 Mean?

Numbers 7:72 in the King James Version says “On the eleventh day Pagiel the son of Ocran, prince of the children of Asher, offered:” — study this verse from Numbers chapter 7 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“On the eleventh day Pagiel the son of Ocran, prince of the children of Asher, offered:”

Numbers 7:72 · KJV

Context

70

One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

71

And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.

72

On the eleventh day Pagiel the son of Ocran, prince of the children of Asher, offered:

73

His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

74

One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
On the eleventh day Pagiel the son of Ocran, prince of the children of Asher, offered—Asher (אָשֵׁר, 'happy/blessed') was Leah's son through her maidservant Zilpah (Genesis 30:12-13). Leah's exclamation 'Happy am I!' (בְּאָשְׁרִי, be-oshri) reflects the blessing of fullness and satisfaction. Pagiel ('God meets/encounters,' פַּגְעִיאֵל, Pag'i'el) suggests divine visitation or intervention. Ocran ('troubler/disturber,' עָכְרָן, Okran) contrasts sharply with Asher's blessing—perhaps indicating struggles overcome or troubles turned to joy.

Asher's tribal blessing promised richness: 'his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties' (Genesis 49:20). Moses blessed Asher with abundant oil: 'let him dip his foot in oil' (Deuteronomy 33:24). This material prosperity, sanctified through tabernacle worship, demonstrates that wealth rightly used honors God. The eleventh-day position (penultimate) suggests Asher's offering stood between Dan's (tenth) and Naphtali's concluding offering (twelfth), completing the northern tribes' participation.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Asher's territory in northwestern Israel included the fertile Mediterranean coastal plain and extended to Phoenicia. The tribe's wealth derived from olive groves (fulfilling the oil blessing), grain production, and maritime trade. Despite prosperity, Asher failed to drive out Canaanite inhabitants (Judges 1:31-32), demonstrating that material blessing without spiritual vigilance leads to compromise. The prophetess Anna descended from Asher (Luke 2:36-38), showing God preserved a faithful remnant.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does Asher's material prosperity, when offered back to God in worship, challenge both ascetic rejection of wealth and materialistic hoarding of resources?
  2. What is the relationship between Pagiel's name ('God encounters') and authentic worship—where does God promise to meet His people (Exodus 25:22, Matthew 18:20)?
  3. How can believers today 'dip their foot in oil' (Deuteronomy 33:24)—living in spiritual abundance and anointing—while avoiding Asher's compromises with surrounding culture?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 10 words
י֔וֹם1 of 10

“day”

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

עַשְׁתֵּ֣י2 of 10

“On the eleventh”

H6249

eleven or (ordinal) eleventh

עָשָׂ֣ר3 of 10
H6240

ten (only in combination), i.e., -teen; also (ordinal) -teenth

י֔וֹם4 of 10

“day”

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

נָשִׂ֖יא5 of 10

“prince”

H5387

properly, an exalted one, i.e., a king or sheik; also a rising mist

בֶּן6 of 10

“of the children”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

אָשֵׁ֑ר7 of 10

“of Asher”

H836

asher, a son of jacob, and the tribe descended from him, with its territory; also a place in palestine

פַּגְעִיאֵ֖ל8 of 10

“Pagiel”

H6295

pagiel, an israelite

בֶּן9 of 10

“of the children”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

עָכְרָֽן׃10 of 10

“of Ocran”

H5918

okran, an israelite

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Numbers. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Numbers 7:72 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Numbers 7:72 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Numbers 1:13Numbers 2:27

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