Topical Bible: Drink-Offering

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Topical Encyclopedia

The drink-offering, also known as a libation, is a significant element in the sacrificial system of ancient Israel as outlined in the Old Testament. It is a liquid offering, typically consisting of wine, that is poured out in conjunction with other sacrifices, such as burnt offerings and grain offerings. The drink-offering symbolizes the dedication and consecration of the worshiper to God, representing a complete pouring out of oneself in devotion and service.

Biblical References and Instructions

The drink-offering is first mentioned in Genesis 35:14, where Jacob sets up a pillar at the place where God had spoken to him and pours out a drink-offering on it. This act signifies Jacob's worship and gratitude to God for His promises and protection.

In the Mosaic Law, the drink-offering is systematically incorporated into the sacrificial rituals. Numbers 15:5-10 provides specific instructions regarding the quantities of wine to be used in drink-offerings, which vary depending on the type of animal sacrifice being offered. For example, a lamb requires a quarter of a hin of wine, while a ram requires a third of a hin, and a bull requires half a hin.

The drink-offering is also mentioned in Exodus 29:40-41 as part of the daily offerings: "With the first lamb, offer a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with a quarter hin of oil from pressed olives, and a quarter hin of wine as a drink offering. Offer the second lamb at twilight with the same grain offering and drink offering as in the morning. It is a pleasing aroma, an offering made by fire to the LORD."

Symbolism and Significance

The drink-offering holds deep symbolic meaning within the context of Israelite worship. It represents the outpouring of life and the fullness of joy and gratitude towards God. The act of pouring out wine signifies the worshiper's acknowledgment of God's sovereignty and provision, as well as a commitment to live a life fully devoted to Him.

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul uses the imagery of the drink-offering to describe his own life and ministry. In Philippians 2:17, he writes, "But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you." Here, Paul likens his sacrificial service to a drink-offering, emphasizing his willingness to give his life for the sake of the Gospel and the faith of others.

Theological Implications

The drink-offering underscores the principle of total surrender and dedication to God. It serves as a reminder that worship is not merely a ritualistic act but a heartfelt expression of love and devotion. The integration of the drink-offering with other sacrifices highlights the holistic nature of worship, where every aspect of life is offered to God.

Furthermore, the drink-offering points to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, whose blood was poured out for the redemption of humanity. In this sense, the drink-offering foreshadows the New Covenant, where believers are called to offer themselves as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God (Romans 12:1).

Conclusion

The drink-offering, as an integral part of the sacrificial system, reflects the depth of commitment and devotion expected of God's people. It serves as a powerful symbol of the worshiper's total surrender and the joy found in serving the Lord. Through the lens of the New Testament, it gains further significance as a precursor to the sacrificial love demonstrated by Christ and the call for believers to live lives poured out in service to God and others.

ATS Bible Dictionary

Drink-Offering

A small quantity of wine, part of which was to be poured on the sacrifice or meat offering, and the residue given to the priests, Exodus 29:40; Le 23:18; Numbers 15:5,7. It may have been appointed as an acknowledgment that all the blessings of the earth are from God, Genesis 35:14.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Consisted of wine (Numbers 15:5; Hosea 9:4) poured around the altar (Exodus 30:9). Joined with meat-offerings (Numbers 6:15, 17; 2 Kings 16:13; Joel 1:9, 13; 2:14), presented daily (Exodus 29:40), on the Sabbath (Numbers 28:9), and on feast-days (28:14). One-fourth of an hin of wine was required for one lamb, one-third for a ram, and one-half for a bullock (Numbers 15:5; 28:7, 14). "Drink offerings of blood" (Psalm 16:4) is used in allusion to the heathen practice of mingling the blood of animals sacrificed with wine or water, and pouring out the mixture in the worship of the gods, and the idea conveyed is that the psalmist would not partake of the abominations of the heathen.

Greek

4689. spendo -- to pour out (as a drink offering), to make a ...
... to pour out (as a drink offering), to make a libation. Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: spendo Phonetic Spelling: (spen'-do) Short Definition: I pour out ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4689.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew

5262a. nesek -- a drink offering
nesek or nesek. 5262, 5262a. nesek or nesek. 5262b . a drink offering.
Transliteration: nesek or nesek Short Definition: offering. ...
/hebrew/5262a.htm - 5k

5261. nesak -- a drink offering
... 5260, 5261. nesak. 5262 . a drink offering. Transliteration: nesak Phonetic
Spelling: (nes-ak') Short Definition: offerings. ... drink offering. ...
/hebrew/5261.htm - 6k

5262. necek -- a drink offering
... 5261, 5262. necek. 5262a . a drink offering. Transliteration: necek Phonetic
Spelling: (neh'-sek) Short Definition: cover. cover, drink offering, molten image ...
/hebrew/5262.htm - 5k

4469. mimsak -- a mixed drink
... drink-offering, mixed wine. From macak; mixture, ie (specifically) wine mixed (with
water or spices) -- drink-offering, mixed wine. see HEBREW macak. ...
/hebrew/4469.htm - 6k

5257. nciyk -- a libation, molten image
... nciyk. 5257a . a libation, molten image. Transliteration: nciyk Phonetic Spelling:
(nes-eek') Short Definition: offering. drink offering, duke, principal ...
/hebrew/5257.htm - 5k

5257a. nasik -- a libation, molten image
... Word Origin from nasak Definition a libation, molten image NASB Word Usage drink
offering (1), metal images (1). 5257, 5257a. nasik. 5257b . Strong's Numbers
/hebrew/5257a.htm - 5k

4518. menaqqith -- a sacrificial bowl
... Word Origin from naqah Definition a sacrificial bowl NASB Word Usage bowls
(2), drink offering bowls (1), sacrificial bowls (1). bowl. ...
/hebrew/4518.htm - 6k

Library

Joel's Rhapsody of the Locust Plague
... youth! The meal offering and the drink offering Is cut off from the house
of the LORD: The priests, the LORD'S ministers, mourn. ...
/.../select masterpieces of biblical literature/joels rhapsody of the locust.htm

A Lamb was Offered at the Morning and Evening Sacrifice. ...
... the other lamb thou shalt offer at even, and a tenth part of fine flour mingled
with beaten oil, the fourth part of a hin; and for a drink-offering the fourth ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of john/33 a lamb was offered.htm

A Last Look-Out
... But the original is far more instructive. He here likens himself, in the
Greek, not to an offering, but to the drink-offering. Every ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/a last look-out.htm

Separation to God.
... was a burnt-offering of a he-lamb morning and evening, with the corresponding
accompaniments of fine flour mingled with oil, and a drink-offering of wine. ...
/.../taylor/separation and service/part i separation to god.htm

Epistle Lxiii. To Epictetus and to the Congregation of Assur?? ...
... the battle, teaches those who are conquered and prostrate not even to ask for pardon;
although the Lord says, "To them have ye poured a drink-offering, and to ...
/.../cyprian/the epistles of cyprian/epistle lxiii to epictetus and.htm

In the Last, the Great Day of the Feast'
... Here he was joined by another Priest, who carried the wine for the drink-offering.
The two Priests ascended the rise' of the altar, and turned to the left. ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter vii in the last.htm

The Locust-Swarms
... them a desolate wilderness; {162} till there was not enough left to supply the daily
sacrifices, and the meat offering and the drink offering were withheld ...
/.../kingsley/the good news of god/sermon xx the locust-swarms.htm

Sikera, a Manufactured and Spurious Wine, yet Intoxicating; Things ...
... Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt-sacrifices nor meat-offering;
neither shall ye pour drink-offering thereon.". Footnotes: ...
/.../chapter vi sikera a manufactured and.htm

2 Timothy iii. 16, 17
... my sacrifice; but, what is much more, "of my being poured out." For the whole of
the sacrifice was not offered to God, but the whole of the drink-offering was. ...
/.../homily ix 2 timothy iii.htm

Thy Chastening Is, as a Mother of Our Infancy: --Her Rebuke is ...
... through, and cast down, the watch tower wherein I had triumphed."Iniquity has dared
to set up, a temple wherein I am shamed: its drink-offering chokes me. ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn xi thy chastening is.htm

Thesaurus

Drinkoffering

/d/drinkoffering.htm - 7k

Drink-offering (33 Occurrences)
Drink-offering. Drinkoffering, Drink-offering. Drink-offerings . Easton's Bible
Dictionary ... Drinkoffering, Drink-offering. Drink-offerings . Reference Bible
/d/drink-offering.htm - 18k

Continual (55 Occurrences)
... Numbers 28:10 this is the burnt offering of every Sabbath, besides the
continual burnt offering, and the drinkoffering of it. (WEB ...
/c/continual.htm - 25k

Hin (19 Occurrences)
... the one lamb a tenth part of an ephah of fine flour mixed with the fourth part of
a hin of beaten oil, and the fourth part of a hin of wine for a drinkoffering...
/h/hin.htm - 13k

He-goat (23 Occurrences)
... shall offer one young bullock for a burnt-offering, for a sweet savor unto Jehovah,
with the meal-offering thereof, and the drink-offering thereof, according ...
/h/he-goat.htm - 13k

Soothing (40 Occurrences)
... 29:41 The other lamb you shall offer at evening, and shall do to it according to
the meal offering of the morning, and according to its drinkoffering, for a ...
/s/soothing.htm - 18k

Quarter (33 Occurrences)
... the one lamb a tenth part of an ephah of fine flour mixed with the fourth part of
a hin of beaten oil, and the fourth part of a hin of wine for a drinkoffering...
/q/quarter.htm - 21k

Buck (23 Occurrences)
... that the whole assembly shall offer one young bullock for a burnt-offering, for
a sweet odour to Jehovah, and its oblation and its drink-offering according to ...
/b/buck.htm - 13k

Addition (112 Occurrences)
... (BBE NAS NIV). Numbers 28:10 This is the burned offering for every Sabbath day,
in addition to the regular burned offering, and its drinkoffering. ...
/a/addition.htm - 37k

Pleasant (119 Occurrences)
... 29:41 The other lamb you shall offer at evening, and shall do to it according to
the meal offering of the morning, and according to its drinkoffering, for a ...
/p/pleasant.htm - 37k

Resources

What is a drink offering? | GotQuestions.org

What were the various sacrifices in the Old Testament? | GotQuestions.org

What is a free will offering / freewill offering? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Drink-offering (33 Occurrences)

2 Timothy 4:6
I for my part am like a drink-offering which is already being poured out; and the time for my departure is now close at hand.
(WEY)

Genesis 35:14
And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he spake with him, a pillar of stone: and he poured out a drink-offering thereon, and poured oil thereon.
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

Exodus 29:40
and with the one lamb a tenth part of an ephah of fine flour mingled with the fourth part of a hin of beaten oil, and the fourth part of a hin of wine for a drink-offering.
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

Exodus 29:41
And the other lamb thou shalt offer at even, and shalt do thereto according to the meal-offering of the morning, and according to the drink-offering thereof, for a sweet savor, an offering made by fire unto Jehovah.
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

Exodus 30:9
Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt-offering, nor meal-offering; and ye shall pour no drink-offering thereon.
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

Leviticus 23:13
And the meal-offering thereof shall be two tenth parts of an ephah of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering made by fire unto Jehovah for a sweet savor; and the drink-offering thereof shall be of wine, the fourth part of a hin.
(ASV DBY JPS WBS YLT)

Numbers 4:7
And upon the table of shewbread they shall spread a cloth of blue; and put thereon the dishes, and the cups, and the bowls, and goblets of the drink-offering; and the continual bread shall be thereon.
(DBY)

Numbers 6:17
and he shall offer the ram for a sacrifice of peace-offerings unto Jehovah, with the basket of unleavened bread: the priest shall offer also the meal-offering thereof, and the drink-offering thereof.
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

Numbers 15:5
and wine for the drink-offering, the fourth part of a hin, shalt thou prepare with the burnt-offering, or for the sacrifice, for each lamb.
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

Numbers 15:7
and for the drink-offering thou shalt offer the third part of a hin of wine, of a sweet savor unto Jehovah.
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

Numbers 15:10
and thou shalt offer for the drink-offering half a hin of wine, for an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto Jehovah.
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

Numbers 15:24
then it shall be, if it be done unwittingly, without the knowledge of the congregation, that all the congregation shall offer one young bullock for a burnt-offering, for a sweet savor unto Jehovah, with the meal-offering thereof, and the drink-offering thereof, according to the ordinance, and one he-goat for a sin-offering.
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

Numbers 28:7
And the drink-offering thereof shall be the fourth part of a hin for the one lamb: in the holy place shalt thou pour out a drink-offering of strong drink unto Jehovah.
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

Numbers 28:8
And the other lamb shalt thou offer at even: as the meal-offering of the morning, and as the drink-offering thereof, thou shalt offer it, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto Jehovah.
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

Numbers 28:9
And on the sabbath day two he-lambs a year old without blemish, and two tenth parts of an ephah of fine flour for a meal-offering, mingled with oil, and the drink-offering thereof:
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

Numbers 28:10
this is the burnt-offering of every sabbath, besides the continual burnt-offering, and the drink-offering thereof.
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

Numbers 28:14
And their drink-offerings shall be half a hin of wine for a bullock, and the third part of a hin for the ram, and the fourth part of a hin for a lamb. This is the burnt-offering of every new moon throughout the months of the year.
(Root in JPS ASV DBY WBS)

Numbers 28:15
And one he-goat for a sin-offering unto Jehovah; it shall be offered besides the continual burnt-offering, and the drink-offering thereof.
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

Numbers 29:16
and one he-goat for a sin-offering, besides the continual burnt-offering, the meal-offering thereof, and the drink-offering thereof.
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

Numbers 29:22
and one he-goat for a sin-offering; besides the continual burnt-offering, and the meal-offering thereof, and the drink-offering thereof.
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

Numbers 29:25
and one he-goat for a sin-offering; besides the continual burnt-offering, the meal-offering thereof, and the drink-offering thereof.
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

Numbers 29:28
and one he-goat for a sin-offering, besides the continual burnt-offering, and the meal-offering thereof, and the drink-offering thereof.
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

Numbers 29:31
and one he-goat for a sin-offering; beside the continual burnt-offering, the meal-offering thereof, and the drink-offerings thereof.
(Root in JPS ASV DBY WBS)

Numbers 29:34
and one he-goat for a sin-offering; besides the continual burnt-offering, the meal-offering thereof, and the drink-offering thereof.
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

Numbers 29:38
and one he-goat for a sin-offering, besides the continual burnt-offering, and the meal-offering thereof, and the drink-offering thereof.
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

Deuteronomy 32:38
Which did eat the fat of their sacrifices, And drank the wine of their drink-offering? Let them rise up and help you, Let them be your protection.
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

2 Kings 16:13
And he burnt his burnt-offering and his meal-offering, and poured his drink-offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace-offerings, upon the altar.
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

Isaiah 57:6
Among the smooth'stones of the valley is thy portion; they, they are thy lot; even to them hast thou poured a drink-offering, thou hast offered an oblation. Shall I be appeased for these things?
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

Isaiah 65:11
But ye are they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink-offering to that number.
(WBS)

Ezekiel 45:17
And it shall be the prince's part to give the burnt-offerings, and the meal-offerings, and the drink-offerings, in the feasts, and in the new moons, and in the sabbaths, in all the appointed seasons of the house of Israel; he shall prepare the sin-offering, and the meal-offering, and the burnt-offering, and the peace-offerings, to make atonement for the house of Israel.
(Root in JPS ASV DBY WBS)

Joel 1:9
The meal-offering and the drink-offering are cut off from the house of Jehovah; the priests, Jehovah's ministers, mourn.
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

Joel 1:13
Gird yourselves with sackcloth, and lament, ye priests; wail, ye ministers of the altar; come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: for the meal-offering and the drink-offering are withholden from the house of your God.
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

Joel 2:14
Who knoweth whether he will not turn and repent, and leave a blessing behind him, even a meal-offering and a drink-offering unto Jehovah your God?
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

Subtopics

Drink-Offering

Related Terms

Specified (9 Occurrences)

Bullocks (50 Occurrences)

Draining (20 Occurrences)

Bulls (68 Occurrences)

Continual (55 Occurrences)

Drained (38 Occurrences)

Drink-offering (33 Occurrences)

Meal-offerings (9 Occurrences)

Meat-offerings (10 Occurrences)