Topical Bible: Savour

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Topical Encyclopedia

In biblical terminology, the term "savour" refers to the quality or characteristic of a scent or taste, often used metaphorically to describe the spiritual or moral quality of an action, offering, or life. The concept of savour is deeply embedded in the sacrificial system of the Old Testament and extends into the New Testament as a metaphor for the Christian life and witness.

Old Testament Usage

In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word often translated as "savour" is "reach," which denotes a smell or aroma. This term is frequently associated with sacrifices offered to God. For example, in Genesis 8:21 , after Noah's sacrifice following the flood, it is written, "When the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, He said in His heart, 'Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from his youth. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.'" Here, the "pleasing aroma" signifies God's acceptance of Noah's offering.

The Levitical laws also emphasize the importance of a "pleasing aroma" in sacrifices. Leviticus 1:9 states, "The entrails and legs he shall wash with water, and the priest shall burn all of it on the altar as a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the LORD." The repetition of this phrase throughout Leviticus underscores the idea that sacrifices, when offered in obedience and faith, are acceptable and pleasing to God.

New Testament Usage

In the New Testament, the concept of savour is expanded to describe the life and witness of believers. The Greek word "osme" is used to convey this idea. In 2 Corinthians 2:14-15 , Paul writes, "But thanks be to God, who always leads us triumphantly as captives in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. For we are to God the sweet aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing."

This passage illustrates that Christians, through their lives and testimony, are to be a "sweet aroma" to God, reflecting the character and knowledge of Christ. The metaphor of fragrance here suggests that the influence of a believer's life should be evident and impactful, drawing others to the knowledge of God.

Spiritual Implications

The concept of savour in the Bible carries significant spiritual implications. It suggests that just as a physical aroma can be pleasing or displeasing, so can the spiritual aroma of one's life. In Ephesians 5:2 , believers are exhorted to "walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God." This indicates that a life characterized by love and sacrifice is pleasing to God, much like the offerings of old.

Furthermore, Jesus uses the metaphor of salt to describe the savour of a believer's life in Matthew 5:13 : "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its savor, with what will it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men." Here, savour represents the preserving and purifying influence Christians are to have in the world. Losing this savour implies a loss of effectiveness and purpose in one's spiritual life.

Conclusion

The biblical concept of savour encompasses both the literal and metaphorical, serving as a powerful symbol of acceptance, obedience, and influence. Whether through the sacrificial offerings of the Old Testament or the lives of believers in the New Testament, savour represents the quality of being pleasing to God and impactful in the world.

Greek

3744. osme -- a smell
... a smell, aroma, fragrance. From ozo; fragrance (literally or figuratively) -- odour,
savour. see GREEK ozo. (osme) -- 2 Occurrences. (osmen) -- 3 Occurrences. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3744.htm - 6k

3471. moraino -- to be foolish
... make foolish, lose savor. From moros; to become insipid; figuratively, to make
(passively, act) as a simpleton -- become fool, make foolish, lose savour. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3471.htm - 7k

5426. phroneo -- to have understanding, to think
... in (with concern or obedience) -- set the affection on, (be) care(-ful), (be like-, +
be of one, + be of the same, + let this) mind(-ed), regard, savour, think ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5426.htm - 8k

2175. euodia -- fragrance
... sweet smelling. From a compound of eu and a derivative of ozo; good-scentedness,
ie Fragrance -- sweet savour (smell, -smelling). see GREEK eu. see GREEK ozo. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2175.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

7381. reyach -- to smell, perceive odor
... 7380, 7381. reyach. 7381a . to smell, perceive odor. Transliteration: reyach
Phonetic Spelling: (ray'-akh) Short Definition: savour. savour, scent, smell ...
/hebrew/7381.htm - 5k

6709. tsachanah -- a stench
... smell (1). ill savour. From an unused root meaning to putrefy; stench -- ill
savour. 6708, 6709. tsachanah. 6710 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/6709.htm - 5k

5208. nichoach -- soothing, tranquilizing
... sweet odor, savor. (Aramaic) or (shorter) niychoach (Aramaic) {nee-kho'-akh};
corresponding to nichowach; pleasure -- sweet odour (savour). see HEBREW nichowach ...
/hebrew/5208.htm - 6k

887. baash -- to have a bad smell, to stink
... bad; figuratively, to be offensive morally -- (make to) be abhorred (had in abomination,
loathsome, odious), (cause a, make to) stink(-ing savour), X utterly. ...
/hebrew/887.htm - 6k

Library

Salt Without Savour
... ST. MATTHEW Chaps. I to VIII SALT WITHOUT SAVOUR. 'Ye are the salt of the earth:
but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/salt without savour.htm

Christ with Chrism, Lo!
... 15. As for the anointing of Saul to be king; the sweeter was its savour, so much
fouler was the savour of his heart. The Spirit struck him and fled. ...
/.../hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn iii christ with chrism.htm

Further Apostolic Testimonies.
... But attend to what he adds, saying, "Now thanks be unto God, who always causes us
to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of His knowledge by us ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 41 further apostolic testimonies.htm

On the Use of Ointments and Crowns.
... Then the ointment breathed on them its fragrance, and the work of sweet savour reaching
to all was proclaimed; for the passion of the Lord has filled us with ...
/.../clement/the instructor paedagogus/chapter viii on the use of.htm

Although the Jew, Then, May Offer no Defence for Himself in the ...
... heaven, and that giveth life unto the world; and so also a sense of smelling, which
scents such things as leads Paul to say that he is a sweet savour of Christ ...
/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter xlviii although the jew.htm

Those Persons Prove Themselves Senseless who Exaggerate the Mercy ...
... For the apostle does also say in the Second [Epistle] to the Corinthians: "For we
are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them which are saved, and in them ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xxviii those persons prove themselves.htm

Wherefore it is Better to Take Entent to the Love of God than to ...
... undoing. Be our souls therefore strong in the taking of hard labours for
God; and be they wise with heavenly, not worldly, savour. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/rolle/the fire of love/chapter v wherefore it is.htm

Prayers and Praise from a Pure Mind, Ceaselessly Offered, Far ...
... The bile, the bones uneatable, they set. Before the gods; the rest themselves consume.".
For is not the savour of the holocausts avoided by the beasts? ...
/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter vi prayers and praise from.htm

"For they that are after the Flesh do Mind,"
... is born of the flesh is flesh." Every man as he comes out of the womb, is degenerated
and fallen down into this brutish estate, to mind, to savour, to relish ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xviii for they that.htm

O Thou who Art Made Priest after Thy Master, the Illustrious after ...
... 2. The fruit wherein its tree is painted, bears witness concerning the root.
Hitherto there has not failed us, the savour of his sweetness. ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn xviii o thou who.htm

Thesaurus

Savour (52 Occurrences)
...Savour (52 Occurrences). Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if
the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? ...
/s/savour.htm - 22k

Wherewith (182 Occurrences)
... Wherewith (182 Occurrences). Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if
the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? ...
/w/wherewith.htm - 38k

Ointment (29 Occurrences)
... Ecclesiastes 10:1 Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth
a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom ...
/o/ointment.htm - 18k

Savory (7 Occurrences)

/s/savory.htm - 8k

Offered (320 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 3:16 And the priest shall make them smoke upon the altar; it is the food
of the offering made by fire, for a sweet savour; all the fat is the LORD'S. ...
/o/offered.htm - 37k

Ointments (9 Occurrences)
... Song of Songs 1:3 Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment
poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee. (KJV JPS DBY WBS). ...
/o/ointments.htm - 9k

Lost (85 Occurrences)
... self. (WEY YLT). Luke 14:34 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his
savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? (KJV ASV WBS RSV). ...
/l/lost.htm - 32k

Lose (59 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Lose (59 Occurrences). Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of
the land, but if the salt may lose savour, in what shall it be salted? ...
/l/lose.htm - 24k

Loses (17 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Loses (17 Occurrences). Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of
the land, but if the salt may lose savour, in what shall it be salted? ...
/l/loses.htm - 10k

Two-tenths (11 Occurrences)
... meal-offering thereof shall be two tenth parts of an ephah of fine flour mingled
with oil, an offering made by fire unto the LORD for a sweet savour; and the ...
/t/two-tenths.htm - 9k

Resources

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Concordance

Savour (52 Occurrences)

Matthew 5:13
Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
(KJV YLT)

Luke 14:34
Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
(KJV DBY)

2 Corinthians 2:14
Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
(KJV)

2 Corinthians 2:15
For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
(KJV)

2 Corinthians 2:16
To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?
(KJV)

Ephesians 5:2
And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
(KJV DBY)

Philippians 4:18
But I have all things in full supply and abound; I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things sent from you, an odour of sweet savour, an acceptable sacrifice, agreeable to God.
(DBY)

Genesis 8:21
And Jehovah smelled the sweet savor; and Jehovah said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake, for that the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more everything living, as I have done.
(See JPS)

Exodus 5:21
and they said unto them, Jehovah look upon you, and judge: because ye have made our savor to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us.
(See JPS)

Exodus 29:18
And thou shalt burn the whole ram upon the altar: it is a burnt-offering unto Jehovah; it is a sweet savor, an offering made by fire unto Jehovah.
(See JPS)

Exodus 29:25
And thou shalt take them from their hands, and burn them on the altar upon the burnt-offering, for a sweet savor before Jehovah: it is an offering made by fire unto Jehovah.
(See JPS)

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.
(See JPS)

Leviticus 1:9
but its inwards and its legs shall he wash with water: and the priest shall burn the whole on the altar, for a burnt-offering, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto Jehovah.
(See JPS)

Leviticus 1:17
and he shall rend it by the wings thereof, but'shall not divide it asunder; and the priest shall burn it upon the altar, upon the wood that is upon the fire: it is a burnt-offering, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto Jehovah.
(See JPS)

Leviticus 2:2
and he shall bring it to Aaron's sons the priests; and he shall take thereout his handful of the fine flour thereof, and of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof; and the priest shall burn it as the memorial thereof upon the altar, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto Jehovah:
(See JPS)

Leviticus 2:9
And the priest shall take up from the meal-offering the memorial thereof, and shall burn it upon the altar, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto Jehovah.
(See JPS)

Leviticus 2:12
As an oblation of first - fruits ye shall offer them unto Jehovah: but they shall not come up for a sweet savor on the altar.
(See JPS)

Leviticus 3:5
And Aaron's sons shall burn it on the altar upon the burnt-offering, which is upon the wood that is on the fire: it is an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto Jehovah.
(See JPS)

Leviticus 3:16
And the priest shall burn them upon the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire, for a sweet savor; all the fat is Jehovah's.
(See JPS)

Leviticus 4:31
And all the fat thereof shall he take away, as the fat is taken away from off the sacrifice of peace-offerings; and the priest shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savor unto Jehovah; and the priest shall make atonement for him, and he shall be forgiven.
(See JPS)

Leviticus 6:15
And he shall take up therefrom his handful, of the fine flour of the meal-offering, and of the oil thereof, and all the frankincense which is upon the meal-offering, and shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savor, as the memorial thereof, unto Jehovah.
(See JPS)

Leviticus 6:21
On a baking-pan it shall be made with oil; when it is soaked, thou shalt bring it in: in baken pieces shalt thou offer the meal-offering for a sweet savor unto Jehovah.
(See JPS)

Leviticus 8:21
And he washed the inwards and the legs with water; and Moses burnt the whole ram upon the altar: it was a burnt-offering for a sweet savor: it was an offering made by fire unto Jehovah; as Jehovah commanded Moses.
(See JPS)

Leviticus 8:28
And Moses took them from off their hands, and burnt them on the altar upon the burnt-offering: they were a consecration for a sweet savor: it was an offering made by fire unto Jehovah.
(See JPS)

Leviticus 17:6
And the priest shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar of Jehovah at the door of the tent of meeting, and burn the fat for a sweet savor unto Jehovah.
(See JPS)

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.
(See JPS)

Leviticus 23:18
And ye shall present with the bread seven lambs without blemish a year old, and one young bullock, and two rams: they shall be a burnt-offering unto Jehovah, with their meal-offering, and their drink-offerings, even an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto Jehovah.
(See JPS)

Leviticus 26:31
And I will make your cities a waste, and will bring your sanctuaries unto desolation, and I will not smell the savor of your sweet odors.
(See JPS)

Numbers 15:3
and will make an offering by fire unto Jehovah, a burnt-offering, or a sacrifice, to accomplish a vow, or as a freewill-offering, or in your set feasts, to make a sweet savor unto Jehovah, of the herd, or of the flock;
(See JPS)

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.
(See JPS)

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.
(See JPS)

Numbers 15:13
All that are home-born shall do these things after this manner, in offering an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto Jehovah.
(See JPS)

Numbers 15:14
And if a stranger sojourn with you, or whosoever may be among you throughout your generations, and will offer an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto Jehovah; as ye do, so he shall do.
(See JPS)

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.
(See JPS)

Numbers 18:17
But the firstling of a cow, or the firstling of a sheep, or the firstling of a goat, thou shalt not redeem; they are holy: thou shalt sprinkle their blood upon the altar, and shalt burn their fat for an offering made by fire, for a sweet savor unto Jehovah.
(See JPS)

Numbers 28:2
Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, My oblation, my food for my offerings made by fire, of a sweet savor unto me, shall ye observe to offer unto me in their due season.
(See JPS)

Numbers 28:6
It is a continual burnt-offering, which was ordained in mount Sinai for a sweet savor, an offering made by fire unto Jehovah.
(See JPS)

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.
(See JPS)

Numbers 28:13
and a tenth part of fine flour mingled with oil for a meal-offering unto every lamb; for a burnt-offering of a sweet savor, an offering made by fire unto Jehovah.
(See JPS)

Numbers 28:27
but ye shall offer a burnt-offering for a sweet savor unto Jehovah: two young bullocks, one ram, seven he-lambs a year old;
(See JPS)

Numbers 29:2
And ye shall offer a burnt-offering for a sweet savor unto Jehovah: one young bullock, one ram, seven he-lambs a year old without blemish;
(See JPS)

Numbers 29:6
besides the burnt-offering of the new moon, and the meal-offering thereof, and the continual burnt-offering and the meal-offering thereof, and their drink-offerings, according unto their ordinance, for a sweet savor, an offering made by fire unto Jehovah.
(See JPS)

Numbers 29:8
but ye shall offer a burnt-offering unto Jehovah for a sweet savor: one young bullock, one ram, seven he-lambs a year old; they shall be unto you without blemish;
(See JPS)

Numbers 29:13
and ye shall offer a burnt-offering, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto Jehovah; thirteen young bullocks, two rams, fourteen he-lambs a year old; they shall be without blemish;
(See JPS)

Ezra 6:10
That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.
(Root in KJV JPS YLT)

Job 6:6
Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
(Root in KJV JPS)

Ecclesiastes 10:1
Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.
(KJV)

Song of Songs 1:3
Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.
(KJV DBY)

Ezekiel 6:13
Then shall ye know that I am the LORD, when their slain men shall be among their idols round about their altars, upon every high hill, in all the tops of the mountains, and under every green tree, and under every thick oak, the place where they did offer sweet savour to all their idols.
(KJV JPS DBY)

Ezekiel 16:19
My meat also which I gave thee, fine flour, and oil, and honey, wherewith I fed thee, thou hast even set it before them for a sweet savour: and thus it was, saith the Lord GOD.
(KJV JPS DBY)

Ezekiel 20:28
For when I had brought them into the land, for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to them, then they saw every high hill, and all the thick trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering: there also they made their sweet savour, and poured out there their drink offerings.
(KJV JPS DBY)

Ezekiel 20:41
I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen.
(KJV JPS DBY)

Subtopics

Savour

Related Terms

Savor (51 Occurrences)

Savourless (1 Occurrence)

Savour (52 Occurrences)

Offence (27 Occurrences)