Slaughtering in the biblical context primarily refers to the ritualistic killing of animals for sacrificial purposes, as well as for food consumption. This practice is deeply rooted in the religious and cultural life of the Israelites and is extensively detailed in the Old Testament. The act of slaughtering is not merely a physical act but is imbued with spiritual significance, symbolizing atonement, thanksgiving, and covenantal relationship with God.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the practice of slaughtering animals is closely associated with the sacrificial system instituted by God. The Book of Leviticus provides comprehensive instructions on various types of sacrifices, including burnt offerings, peace offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings. Each type of offering required specific animals and methods of slaughtering, reflecting the holiness and orderliness expected in worship.

Leviticus 1:3-5 describes the process for a burnt offering: "If one's offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to offer an unblemished male. He must present it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, so that he may be accepted by the LORD. He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, so that it may be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him. Then he shall slaughter the young 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."

The act of laying hands on the animal before slaughtering it symbolized the transfer of sin from the individual to the animal, which would then be sacrificed to atone for those sins. The blood of the animal, considered the life force, was sprinkled on the altar as a vital part of the atonement process.

Dietary Laws and Slaughtering

In addition to sacrificial purposes, slaughtering was also regulated by dietary laws. The Israelites were permitted to eat certain animals, but they had to be slaughtered in a specific manner to be considered clean. Deuteronomy 12:21 states, "If the place where the LORD your God chooses to put His Name is too far from you, you may slaughter any of your herd or flock that the LORD has given you, as I have commanded you, and you may eat within your gates whatever you want."

The method of slaughtering was crucial to ensure that the blood was properly drained from the animal, as consuming blood was strictly prohibited (Leviticus 17:10-14). This prohibition underscored the sanctity of life and the belief that life belongs to God.

Symbolism and Prophetic Imagery

Slaughtering also carries symbolic and prophetic imagery throughout the Scriptures. The Passover lamb, which was slaughtered and its blood applied to the doorposts of the Israelites' homes, served as a sign for the angel of death to pass over them during the final plague in Egypt (Exodus 12:21-23). This event prefigures the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, whose blood brings salvation and deliverance from sin.

Isaiah 53:7 prophetically speaks of the Messiah, "He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth." This imagery highlights the sacrificial nature of Christ's atoning work on the cross.

New Testament Perspective

In the New Testament, the concept of slaughtering transitions from the physical act to its fulfillment in Christ's sacrifice. Hebrews 10:10 declares, "And by that will, we have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." The sacrificial system, with its repeated acts of slaughtering, finds its completion in the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus, rendering the old system obsolete.

The Apostle Paul also uses the imagery of slaughtering to describe the persecution and suffering of believers, as seen in Romans 8:36 : "As it is written: 'For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.'" This reflects the cost of discipleship and the believer's identification with Christ's sufferings.

In summary, slaughtering in the biblical narrative is a multifaceted concept that encompasses ritual, dietary, symbolic, and prophetic dimensions, ultimately pointing to the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.(p. pr. & vb. n.) of Slaughter.2874. tebach -- slaughtering, slaughter
... 2873, 2874. tebach. 2875 . slaughtering, slaughter. Transliteration: tebach
Phonetic Spelling: (teh'-bakh) Short Definition: slaughter. ...
/hebrew/2874.htm - 6k

4293. matbeach -- a slaughtering place
... 4292, 4293. matbeach. 4294 . a slaughtering place. Transliteration: matbeach
Phonetic Spelling: (mat-bay'-akh) Short Definition: slaughter. ...
/hebrew/4293.htm - 6k

7821a. shachatah -- perhaps slaughtering
... 7821, 7821a. shachatah. 7821b . perhaps slaughtering. Transliteration:
shachatah Short Definition: depravity. Word Origin from shachat ...
/hebrew/7821a.htm - 5k

7821. shchiytah -- perhaps slaughtering
... 7820, 7821. shchiytah. 7821a . perhaps slaughtering. Transliteration: shchiytah
Phonetic Spelling: (shekh-ee-taw') Short Definition: killing. killing ...
/hebrew/7821.htm - 5k

2876. tabbach -- cook, guardsman
... From tabach; properly, a butcher; hence, a lifeguardsman (because he was acting
as an executioner); also a cook (usually slaughtering the animal for food ...
/hebrew/2876.htm - 6k

7819. shachat -- to slaughter, beat
... NASB Word Usage beaten (5), deadly (1), kill (2), killed (1), kills (1), offer
(1), slain (5), slaughter (17), slaughtered (28), slaughtering (1), slaughters ( ...
/hebrew/7819.htm - 6k

5221. nakah -- to smite
... kills (10), made (1), overthrown (1), pin (2), ruined (2), shoot (1), shot (1),
slain (11), slapped (1), slaughter (1), slaughtered (1), slaughtering (2), slay ...
/hebrew/5221.htm - 7k

Blinded Protestants Think they have the Glory of Slaughtering ...
... Address 184: Blinded Protestants think they have the glory of slaughtering
blind papists? Blinded Protestants think they have ...
/.../address 184 0 0 blinded protestants think.htm

England's Strength
... There we see these terrible Assyrian conquerors defeating their enemies, torturing
and slaughtering their prisoners, swimming rivers, beating down castles ...
/.../kingsley/sermons for the times/sermon xiv englands strength.htm

The Immaculate Conception
... the like. [32] Joachim was led by priests near the slaughtering-place through
a little door into this passage. The priests turned ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/ii the immaculate conception.htm

The Woman Taken in Adultery.
... Setting traps and digging pitfalls are illegitimate methods even of
slaughtering wild animals, and the sportsman disdains them. ...
/.../the expositors bible the gospel of st john vol i/xvii the woman taken in.htm

The God of Peace
... even styled himself the Lord, mighty in battle, yet his holy mind abhors bloodshed
and strife; his gracious spirit loves not to see men slaughtering one another ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/the god of peace.htm

A New Order of Priests and Levites
... with their trade or upon their farm, the Levites were attending to the tabernacle
or temple, and the priests in their courts were slaughtering bullocks and ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/a new order of priests.htm

Can the Duelist, who had Rather Sheathe his Sword in the Bowels of ...
... second, meeting his adversary with sword and pistol behind a hedge, or a house,
and two kingdoms with their high-spirited regiments slaughtering one another in ...
/.../address 187 0 0 can the duelist.htm

Sacrifices.
... [988] He then who at the first was displeased with the slaughtering of animals,
not wishing them to be slain, did not ordain sacrifices as desiring them; nor ...
/.../unknown/the clementine homilies/chapter xlv sacrifices.htm

For the Epiphany
... In the fifteenth year, let the lamb of the gluttons praise Him: since our Lord was
so far from slaughtering it as Moses did, that He even redeemed mankind with ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn xiii for the epiphany.htm

Desolation of the Earth.
... cry for all the abominations that be done." Now the angel of death goes forth,
represented in Ezekiel's vision by the men with the slaughtering weapons, to ...
/.../the great controversy between christ and satan /41 desolation of the earth.htm

Slaughtering (14 Occurrences)
...Slaughtering (14 Occurrences). ... Isaiah 57:5 Who are inflamed among oaks, under every
green tree, Slaughtering the children in valleys, Under clefts of the rocks. ...
/s/slaughtering.htm - 11k

Knife (10 Occurrences)
... Ezek. 26:9). (2.) Hebrews maakeleth, a large knife for slaughtering and cutting
up food (Genesis 22:6, 10; Proverbs 30:14). (3.) Hebrews ...
/k/knife.htm - 13k

Slaughtereth (13 Occurrences)

/s/slaughtereth.htm - 10k

Inflamed (8 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Isaiah 57:5 Who are inflamed among oaks, under every green tree,
Slaughtering the children in valleys, Under clefts of the rocks. (YLT). ...
/i/inflamed.htm - 9k

Passover-lambs (1 Occurrence)
... 2 Chronicles 30:17 For there were many in the congregation that were not hallowed;
therefore the Levites had the charge of the slaughtering of the passover ...
/p/passover-lambs.htm - 6k

Passover-offerings (4 Occurrences)
... 2 Chronicles 30:17 for many 'are' in the assembly who have not sanctified themselves,
and the Levites 'are' over the slaughtering of the passover-offerings for ...
/p/passover-offerings.htm - 8k

Crime (45 Occurrences)
... use (Exodus 30:32, 33); (7) using the same for perfume (Exodus 30:38); (8) neglect
of purification in general (Numbers 19:13, 10); (9) slaughtering an animal ...
/c/crime.htm - 51k

Crimes (22 Occurrences)
... use (Exodus 30:32, 33); (7) using the same for perfume (Exodus 30:38); (8) neglect
of purification in general (Numbers 19:13, 10); (9) slaughtering an animal ...
/c/crimes.htm - 44k

Scatterings (2 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 25:34 Howl, ye shepherds, and cry, And roll yourselves, ye honourable of
the flock, For full have been your days, For slaughtering, and 'for' your ...
/s/scatterings.htm - 7k

Slaughters (3 Occurrences)

/s/slaughters.htm - 7k

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