Topical Bible: Sacrificing

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Definition and Purpose
Sacrificing, in the biblical context, refers to the act of offering something valuable to God as an expression of worship, atonement, thanksgiving, or dedication. The practice of sacrifice is deeply rooted in the religious life of ancient Israel and is a central theme throughout the Bible. Sacrifices were often made in the form of animals, grain, or other offerings, and were intended to maintain a right relationship with God.

Old Testament Sacrifices
The Old Testament provides detailed instructions on various types of sacrifices, primarily found in the books of Leviticus, Exodus, and Deuteronomy. These sacrifices were integral to the covenant relationship between God and His people, Israel.

1. Burnt Offerings (Leviticus 1:3-17): These were offerings of unblemished animals, completely consumed by fire, symbolizing total dedication to God. "If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to present an unblemished male. He must present it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, that he may be accepted by the LORD" (Leviticus 1:3).

2. Grain Offerings (Leviticus 2:1-16): These offerings consisted of fine flour, oil, and frankincense, representing the fruits of human labor and gratitude to God. "When anyone presents a grain offering to the LORD, his offering must consist of fine flour. He is to pour olive oil on it, put frankincense on it" (Leviticus 2:1).

3. Peace Offerings (Leviticus 3:1-17): Also known as fellowship offerings, these were voluntary acts of worship expressing thanksgiving and communal fellowship with God. "If his offering is a peace offering and he offers an animal from the herd, whether male or female, he must present it without blemish before the LORD" (Leviticus 3:1).

4. Sin Offerings (Leviticus 4:1-35): These were mandatory sacrifices for atonement of unintentional sins, emphasizing the need for purification and forgiveness. "If someone sins unintentionally against any of the LORD’s commandments and does what is forbidden, he is guilty" (Leviticus 4:2).

5. Guilt Offerings (Leviticus 5:14-19): These were required for specific transgressions, particularly those involving desecration of holy things or breach of trust. "If someone acts unfaithfully and sins unintentionally against any of the LORD’s holy things, he must bring his guilt offering to the LORD" (Leviticus 5:15).

New Testament Perspective
The New Testament reinterprets the concept of sacrifice in light of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus is portrayed as the ultimate and final sacrifice, fulfilling the sacrificial system of the Old Testament.

1. Christ as the Perfect Sacrifice: Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross is seen as the atonement for sin once and for all. "But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God" (Hebrews 10:12).

2. Spiritual Sacrifices: Believers are called to offer spiritual sacrifices, such as praise, good deeds, and self-giving, as acts of worship. "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess His name" (Hebrews 13:15).

3. Living Sacrifices: Christians are urged to present their bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, as a form of spiritual worship. "Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship" (Romans 12:1).

Theological Significance
Sacrificing in the Bible underscores the seriousness of sin, the holiness of God, and the necessity of atonement. It also highlights the themes of obedience, devotion, and the transformative power of God's grace. The transition from the Old Testament sacrificial system to the New Testament understanding of Christ's sacrifice marks a pivotal development in biblical theology, emphasizing the sufficiency of Christ's atonement and the call to live a life of sacrificial love and service.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

(p. pr. & vb. n.) of Sacrifice.

Strong's Hebrew

2076. zabach -- to slaughter for sacrifice
... sacrifice (1), offering (2), offering sacrifices (1), offers a sacrifice (2), sacrifice
(47), sacrificed (33), sacrifices (3), sacrificing (9), slaughter (3 ...
/hebrew/2076.htm - 6k

Library

What Licinius, While Sacrificing in a Grove, Said Concerning Idols ...
... Book II. Chapter V."What Licinius, while sacrificing in a Grove, said
concerning Idols, and concerning Christ. And when he was ...
/.../the life of constantine/chapter v what licinius while sacrificing.htm

Of Paradise, that it Can be Understood in a Spiritual Sense ...
... Chapter 21."Of Paradise, that It Can Be Understood in a Spiritual Sense Without
Sacrificing the Historic Truth of the Narrative Regarding The Real Place. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 21 of paradise that it.htm

1 John ii. 8
... old command as standing already at the head of the ten commandments; it was the
new command as actualized and made new by Christ's self-sacrificing love for ...
//christianbookshelf.org/neander/the first epistle of john/1 john ii 8.htm

Of the Principles Which, According to the Platonists, Regulate the ...
... by divine oracles that we are not purified by any sacrifices [416] to sun or moon,
meaning it to be inferred that we are not purified by sacrificing to any gods ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 23 of the principles which.htm

The Destruction of the Churches.
... that the officers of the church, under the terms of the second edict, were thrown
into prison without any option being given them in the matter of sacrificing. ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter ii the destruction of the.htm

The Sick Person Ought Now to Send for Some Godly and Religious ...
... (2 Corinthians 5:20.) [136] But Christ never ordained, in the New Testament, any
order of sacrificing priests; neither is the name of hiereus, which properly ...
/.../bayly/the practice of piety/the sick person ought now.htm

[Greek: En Toyto Nika]
... That God knows the law which keeps all heaven and earth in order, though you do
not; and that that law is charity,"self-sacrificing love, which shines out ...
/.../kingsley/town and country sermons/sermon xxxiv greek en toyto.htm

Sonship
... Himself, and took on Him the form of a slave, and though He is a Son, yet learned
obedience by the things which He suffered; sacrificing Himself utterly and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/sermons for the times/sermon viii sonship.htm

The Cases of Servants and Other Officials. What Offices a ...
... But what shall believing servants or children [291] do? officials likewise, when
attending on their lords, or patrons, or superiors, when sacrificing? ...
/.../tertullian/on idolatry/chapter xvii the cases of servants.htm

The Golden Calf
... These are no worshippers of Jehovah who are howling and dancing below there.
They are 'worshipping it, and sacrificing to it,' not to Him. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the golden calf.htm

Thesaurus

Sacrificing (39 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Sacrificing (39 Occurrences). Acts 14:18 And saying these
things, they with difficulty kept the crowds from sacrificing to them. ...
/s/sacrificing.htm - 19k

Sacrificial (12 Occurrences)
... the bird -- every wing, and to every beast of the field: Be assembled and come in,
Be gathered from round about, For My sacrifice that I am sacrificing for you ...
/s/sacrificial.htm - 10k

Boiled (15 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 2:13 And the custom of the priests with the people 'is': any man sacrificing
a sacrifice -- then hath the servant of the priest come in when the flesh ...
/b/boiled.htm - 11k

Swearing (17 Occurrences)
... is' as to the whole; one event is to the righteous and to the wicked, to the good,
and to the clean, and to the unclean, and to him who is sacrificing, and to ...
/s/swearing.htm - 12k

Fearing (107 Occurrences)
... is' as to the whole; one event is to the righteous and to the wicked, to the good,
and to the clean, and to the unclean, and to him who is sacrificing, and to ...
/f/fearing.htm - 35k

Opening (242 Occurrences)
... Jehovah doth slay every first-born in the land of Egypt, from the first-born of
man even unto the first-born of beast; therefore I am sacrificing to Jehovah ...
/o/opening.htm - 37k

Vowing (4 Occurrences)
... Malachi 1:14 And cursed 'is' a deceiver, who hath in his drove a male, And is vowing,
and is sacrificing a marred thing to the Lord, For a great king 'am' I ...
/v/vowing.htm - 7k

Joyfully (37 Occurrences)
... offered up Isaac. Yes, he who had joyfully welcomed the promises was on
the point of sacrificing his only son (WEY). Hebrews 13:17 ...
/j/joyfully.htm - 16k

Leviticus (1 Occurrence)
... 1) The Argument from Silence (2) Attitude of Prophets toward Sacrificial System
(3) The People's Disobedience (4) Indiscriminate Sacrificing (5) Deuteronomy ...
/l/leviticus.htm - 42k

Resources

What is collective salvation? | GotQuestions.org

If God is love, why does He condemn homosexuality? | GotQuestions.org

I am a Hindu, why should I consider becoming a Christian? | GotQuestions.org

Sacrificing: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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

Concordance

Sacrificing (39 Occurrences)

Acts 14:18
And saying these things, they with difficulty kept the crowds from sacrificing to them.
(DBY YLT NIV)

Hebrews 11:17
Through faith Abraham, as soon as God put him to the test, offered up Isaac. Yes, he who had joyfully welcomed the promises was on the point of sacrificing his only son
(WEY)

Exodus 13:15
yea, it cometh to pass, when Pharaoh hath been pained to send us away, that Jehovah doth slay every first-born in the land of Egypt, from the first-born of man even unto the first-born of beast; therefore I am sacrificing to Jehovah all opening a womb who 'are' males, and every first-born of my sons I ransom;
(YLT)

Exodus 22:20
He who is sacrificing to a god, save to Jehovah alone, is devoted.
(YLT)

Leviticus 17:5
so that the sons of Israel do bring in their sacrifices which they are sacrificing on the face of the field, yea, they have brought them in to Jehovah, unto the opening of the tent of meeting, unto the priest, and they have sacrificed sacrifices of peace-offerings to Jehovah with them.
(YLT NAS)

Leviticus 19:6
in the day of your sacrificing it is eaten, and on the morrow, and that which is left unto the third day with fire is burnt,
(YLT)

Deuteronomy 18:3
And this is the priest's right from the people, from those sacrificing a sacrifice, whether ox or sheep, he hath even given to the priest the leg, and the two cheeks, and the stomach;
(YLT)

1 Samuel 2:13
And the custom of the priests with the people 'is': any man sacrificing a sacrifice -- then hath the servant of the priest come in when the flesh is boiling, and the hook of three teeth in his hand,
(YLT)

1 Samuel 2:15
Also before they make perfume with the fat -- then hath the priest's servant come in, and said to the man who is sacrificing, 'Give flesh to roast for the priest, and he doth not take of thee flesh boiled, but raw;'
(YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 7:10
As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel; but Yahweh thundered with a great thunder on that day on the Philistines, and confused them; and they were struck down before Israel.
(See NIV)

2 Samuel 6:18
When David had made an end of offering the burnt offering and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of Yahweh of Armies.
(See NIV)

1 Kings 3:2
Only, the people are sacrificing in high places, for there hath not been built a house for the name of Jehovah till those days.
(YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Kings 3:3
And Solomon loveth Jehovah, to walk in the statutes of David his father -- only, in high places he is sacrificing and making perfume --
(YLT)

1 Kings 8:5
King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who were assembled to him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and cattle, that could not be counted nor numbered for multitude.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Kings 8:62
And the king and all Israel with him are sacrificing a sacrifice before Jehovah;
(YLT)

1 Kings 11:8
and so he hath done for all his strange women, who are perfuming and sacrificing to their gods.
(YLT)

1 Kings 12:32
Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like the feast that is in Judah, and he went up to the altar; so did he in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places that he had made.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

1 Kings 22:43
And he walketh in all the way of Asa his father, he hath not turned aside from it, to do that which 'is' right in the eyes of Jehovah; only the high places have not turned aside, yet are the people sacrificing and making perfume in high places.
(YLT)

2 Kings 12:3
only, the high places have not turned aside, still are the people sacrificing and making perfume in high places.
(YLT)

2 Kings 14:4
only, the high places have not turned aside -- yet are the people sacrificing and making perfume in high places.
(YLT)

2 Kings 15:4
only, the high places have not turned aside -- yet are the people sacrificing and making perfume in high places.
(YLT)

2 Kings 15:35
Only, the high places have not turned aside -- yet are the people sacrificing and making perfume in high places; he hath built the high gate of the house of Jehovah.
(YLT)

1 Chronicles 16:2
When David had made an end of offering the burnt offering and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of Yahweh.
(See NIV)

2 Chronicles 5:6
King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, that were assembled to him, were before the ark, sacrificing sheep and cattle, that could not be counted nor numbered for multitude.
(WEB JPS ASV YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 7:4
And the king and all the people are sacrificing a sacrifice before Jehovah,
(YLT)

2 Chronicles 30:22
And Hezekiah spoke consolingly to all the Levites that had understanding in the good knowledge of Jehovah; and they ate the feast-offerings the seven days, sacrificing peace-offerings, and extolling Jehovah the God of their fathers.
(DBY YLT NAS RSV)

2 Chronicles 33:17
but still the people are sacrificing in high places, only -- to Jehovah their God.
(YLT)

2 Chronicles 34:4
And they break down before him the altars of the Baalim, and the images that 'are' on high above them he hath cut down, and the shrines, and the graven images, and the molten images, he hath broken and beaten small, and streweth on the surface of the graves of those sacrificing to them,
(YLT)

2 Chronicles 35:14
Afterward they prepared for themselves, and for the priests, because the priests the sons of Aaron were busied in offering the burnt offerings and the fat until night: therefore the Levites prepared for themselves, and for the priests the sons of Aaron.
(See NIV)

Ezra 4:2
and they draw nigh unto Zerubbabel, and unto heads of the fathers, and say to them, 'Let us build with you; for, like you, we seek to your God, and we are not sacrificing since the days of Esar-Haddon king of Asshur, who brought us up hither.'
(YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezra 6:3
In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king hath made a decree concerning the house of God in Jerusalem: the house let be builded in the place where they are sacrificing sacrifices, and its foundations strongly laid; its height sixty cubits, its breadth sixty cubits;
(YLT)

Psalms 50:23
He who is sacrificing praise honoureth Me, As to him who maketh a way, I cause him to look on the salvation of God!
(YLT)

Ecclesiastes 9:2
The whole 'is' as to the whole; one event is to the righteous and to the wicked, to the good, and to the clean, and to the unclean, and to him who is sacrificing, and to him who is not sacrificing; as 'is' the good, so 'is' the sinner, he who is swearing as he who is fearing an oath.
(YLT)

Isaiah 65:3
a people who provoke me to my face continually, sacrificing in gardens, and burning incense on bricks;
(WEB ASV DBY YLT RSV)

Ezekiel 39:17
And thou, son of man, thus said the Lord Jehovah: Say to the bird -- every wing, and to every beast of the field: Be assembled and come in, Be gathered from round about, For My sacrifice that I am sacrificing for you, A great sacrifice on mountains of Israel, And ye have eaten flesh, and drunk blood.
(YLT)

Ezekiel 43:18
He said to me, Son of man, thus says the Lord Yahweh: These are the ordinances of the altar in the day when they shall make it, to offer burnt offerings thereon, and to sprinkle blood thereon.
(See NIV)

Hosea 11:2
They have called to them rightly, They have gone from before them, To lords they do sacrifice, And to graven images they make perfume.
(See NAS RSV)

Zechariah 14:21
And every pot in Jerusalem, and in Judah, Have been holy to Jehovah of Hosts, And all those sacrificing have come in, And have taken of them, and boiled in them, And there is no merchant any more in the house of Jehovah of Hosts in that day!
(YLT)

Malachi 1:14
And cursed 'is' a deceiver, who hath in his drove a male, And is vowing, and is sacrificing a marred thing to the Lord, For a great king 'am' I, said Jehovah of Hosts, And My name 'is' revered among nations!
(YLT)

Subtopics

Sacrificing

Related Terms

Sacrilegious (1 Occurrence)

Temples (17 Occurrences)

Robbers (21 Occurrences)

Sacrificing (39 Occurrences)

Robbery (18 Occurrences)

Menelaus

Mehetabeel

Mehetabel (3 Occurrences)

Ban (12 Occurrences)