The term "slaughtereth" is an archaic form of the verb "slaughter," which means to kill, typically in a violent or brutal manner. In the context of the Bible, "slaughtereth" often refers to the act of killing animals for sacrifice or the destruction of enemies in battle. This term appears in various passages throughout the Scriptures, reflecting both the sacrificial practices of ancient Israel and the divine judgments executed upon nations.

Sacrificial Context

In the Old Testament, the act of slaughtering animals was central to the sacrificial system established by God for the Israelites. The priests were instructed to slaughter animals as offerings to atone for the sins of the people and to maintain a right relationship with God. Leviticus 1:5 states, "Then he shall slaughter the bull before the LORD, and Aaron’s sons the priests shall present the blood and sprinkle it on all sides of the altar at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting." This ritual act was a foreshadowing of the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who was referred to as the "Lamb of God" (John 1:29), signifying His role in taking away the sins of the world.

Judgment and Warfare

The term "slaughtereth" is also used in the context of divine judgment and warfare. In the historical narratives of the Old Testament, God often commanded the Israelites to engage in battle against pagan nations, resulting in the slaughter of their enemies. This was seen as a form of divine justice against those who opposed God's people and His covenant. For example, in 1 Samuel 15:3 , God commands Saul, "Now go and strike down Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have. Do not spare them, but put to death men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys."

Prophetic Imagery

The prophets frequently used the imagery of slaughter to convey messages of impending judgment and the seriousness of sin. Isaiah 34:2 declares, "The LORD is angry with all the nations and furious with all their armies. He will devote them to destruction; He will give them over to slaughter." Such passages emphasize the holiness of God and His intolerance of sin, serving as a warning to the nations and a call to repentance.

Theological Significance

The concept of slaughter in the Bible underscores the gravity of sin and the necessity of atonement. The sacrificial system, with its repeated acts of slaughter, pointed to the need for a perfect and final sacrifice, fulfilled in Jesus Christ. His death on the cross is seen as the ultimate act of atonement, rendering the old sacrificial system obsolete. Hebrews 10:10 affirms, "And by that will, we have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."

In summary, the term "slaughtereth" in the Bible encompasses themes of sacrifice, judgment, and redemption, reflecting the complex interplay between divine justice and mercy.Slaughtereth (13 Occurrences)

Leviticus 4:33
and he hath laid his hand on the head of the sin-offering, and hath slaughtered it for a sin-offering in the place where he slaughtereth the burnt-offering.
(YLT)

Leviticus 8:15
and 'one' slaughtereth, and Moses taketh the blood, and putteth on the horns of the altar round about with his finger, and cleanseth the altar, and the blood he hath poured out at the foundation of the altar, and sanctifieth it, to make atonement upon it.
(YLT)

Leviticus 8:19
and 'one' slaughtereth, and Moses sprinkleth the blood on the altar round about;
(YLT)

Leviticus 8:23
and 'one' slaughtereth, and Moses taketh of its blood, and putteth on the tip of the right ear of Aaron, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the great toe of his right foot;
(YLT)

Leviticus 9:8
And Aaron draweth near unto the altar, and slaughtereth the calf of the sin-offering, which 'is' for himself;
(YLT)

Leviticus 9:12
And he slaughtereth the burnt-offering, and the sons of Aaron have presented unto him the blood, and he sprinkleth it on the altar round about;
(YLT)

Leviticus 9:18
And he slaughtereth the bullock and the ram, a sacrifice of the peace-offerings, which 'are' for the people, and sons of Aaron present the blood unto him (and he sprinkleth it on the altar round about),
(YLT)

Leviticus 14:13
And he hath slaughtered the lamb in the place where he slaughtereth the sin-offering and the burnt-offering, in the holy place; for like the sin-offering the guilt-offering is to the priest; it 'is' most holy.
(YLT)

Leviticus 17:3
Every one of the house of Israel that slaughtereth an ox, or sheep, or goat, in the camp, or that slaughtereth it out of the camp,
(DBY YLT)

1 Samuel 28:24
And the woman hath a calf of the stall in the house, and she hasteth and slaughtereth it, and taketh flour, and kneadeth, and baketh it unleavened things,
(YLT)

Isaiah 66:3
He that slaughtereth an ox, smiteth a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, breaketh a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, it is as swine's blood; he that presenteth a memorial of incense, is as he that blesseth an idol. As they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations,
(DBY YLT)

Jeremiah 39:6
And the king of Babylon slaughtereth the sons of Zedekiah, in Riblah, before his eyes, yea, all the freemen of Judah hath the king of Babylon slaughtered.
(YLT)

Jeremiah 52:10
And the king of Babylon slaughtereth the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and also all the princes of Judah hath he slaughtered in Riblah;
(YLT)

Slaughtereth (13 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Slaughtereth (13 Occurrences). ... Leviticus 8:19 and 'one'
slaughtereth, and Moses sprinkleth the blood on the altar round about; (YLT). ...
/s/slaughtereth.htm - 10k

Sprinkleth (11 Occurrences)
... them; (YLT). Leviticus 8:19 and 'one' slaughtereth, and Moses sprinkleth
the blood on the altar round about; (YLT). Leviticus 8:24 ...
/s/sprinkleth.htm - 10k

Slaughters (3 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 17:3 Any man of the house of Israel who slaughtereth ox, or lamb, or goat,
in the camp, or who slaughtereth at the outside of the camp, (See NAS). ...
/s/slaughters.htm - 7k

Sow (61 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 66:3 Whoso slaughtereth the ox smiteth a man, Whoso sacrificeth the lamb
beheadeth a dog, Whoso is bringing up a present -- The blood of a sow, Whoso is ...
/s/sow.htm - 26k

Slaughtered (72 Occurrences)
... 4:33 and he hath laid his hand on the head of the sin-offering, and hath slaughtered
it for a sin-offering in the place where he slaughtereth the burnt-offering ...
/s/slaughtered.htm - 29k

Slaughtering (14 Occurrences)

/s/slaughtering.htm - 11k

Putteth (182 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 8:15 and 'one' slaughtereth, and Moses taketh the blood, and putteth on
the horns of the altar round about with his finger, and cleanseth the altar ...
/p/putteth.htm - 38k

Zedeki'ah (62 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 39:6 And the king of Babylon slaughtereth the sons of Zedekiah, in Riblah,
before his eyes, yea, all the freemen of Judah hath the king of Babylon ...
/z/zedeki'ah.htm - 25k

Kneadeth (2 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 28:24 And the woman hath a calf of the stall in the house, and she hasteth
and slaughtereth it, and taketh flour, and kneadeth, and baketh it ...
/k/kneadeth.htm - 7k

Freemen (17 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 39:6 And the king of Babylon slaughtereth the sons of Zedekiah, in Riblah,
before his eyes, yea, all the freemen of Judah hath the king of Babylon ...
/f/freemen.htm - 12k

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