The burnt offering, known in Hebrew as "olah," meaning "that which goes up," is one of the oldest and most significant forms of sacrifice in the Bible. It is a central element of the sacrificial system instituted by God for the Israelites and is detailed extensively in the Pentateuch, particularly in the book of Leviticus.

Biblical Origins and Instructions

The concept of the burnt offering is first introduced in Genesis 8:20, where Noah offers burnt sacrifices to the Lord after the flood. This act of worship and thanksgiving sets a precedent for future offerings. The formal instructions for burnt offerings are given in Leviticus 1:3-17. The offering could be from the herd or flock, specifically a bull, sheep, or goat, and it had to be a male without blemish. The offerer was to lay his hand on the head of the animal, symbolically transferring his sins to the sacrifice, and then slaughter it at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting.

The priest would then sprinkle the blood around the altar and arrange the pieces of the animal on the altar to be completely consumed by fire. The burning of the entire animal signified total dedication and surrender to God. Leviticus 1:9 states, "The priest is to burn all of it on the altar as a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the LORD."

Purpose and Significance

The burnt offering served multiple purposes. Primarily, it was an act of atonement for sin, as indicated in Leviticus 1:4: "He shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him." It also symbolized the worshiper's complete devotion and submission to God, as the entire offering was consumed by fire, leaving nothing for the offerer.

Additionally, the burnt offering was a daily ritual in the Tabernacle and later in the Temple, as described in Exodus 29:38-42. It was offered every morning and evening, signifying the continual need for atonement and the constant dedication of the people to God.

Typology and Fulfillment in Christ

From a typological perspective, the burnt offering foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Hebrews 10:10-14 explains that Christ's sacrifice was once for all, fulfilling the need for continual offerings. Jesus, the sinless Lamb of God, offered Himself wholly to God, providing complete atonement for sin. Ephesians 5:2 reflects this, stating, "And walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God."

Cultural and Historical Context

In the ancient Near East, burnt offerings were not unique to Israel. Many surrounding cultures practiced similar rituals, but the Israelite burnt offering was distinct in its theological significance and its role in the covenant relationship between God and His people. Unlike pagan sacrifices, which often sought to appease capricious deities, the burnt offering in Israel was a response to the covenantal love and holiness of Yahweh.

Conclusion

The burnt offering is a profound expression of worship, atonement, and dedication in the Old Testament. It underscores the seriousness of sin, the necessity of atonement, and the call to complete devotion to God. Through the lens of the New Testament, it points to the perfect and final sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who fulfills and transcends the sacrificial system of the Old Covenant.Burnt Offering

BURNT OFFERING

See SACRIFICE.

Burnt Offering

The word is applied to the offering which was wholly consumed by fire on the altar, and the whole of which, except the refuse ashes "ascended" in the smoke to God. The meaning of the whole burnt offering was that which is the original idea of all sacrifice, the offering by the sacrificer of himself, soul and body, to God--the submission of his will to the will of the Lord. The ceremonies of the burnt offering are given in detail in the book of Leviticus. [SACRIFICE]

3646. holokautoma -- a whole burnt offering
... a whole burnt offering. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: holokautoma
Phonetic Spelling: (hol-ok-ow'-to-mah) Short Definition: a whole burnt ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3646.htm - 7k5928. alah -- a burnt offering
... 5927, 5928. alah or alath. 5929 . a burnt offering. Transliteration: alah or
alath Phonetic Spelling: (al-law') Short Definition: offering. ... burnt offering. ...
/hebrew/5928.htm - 6k

5930a. olah -- whole burnt offering
olah or olah. 5930, 5930a. olah or olah. 5930b . whole burnt offering.
Transliteration: olah or olah Short Definition: offering. ...
/hebrew/5930a.htm - 5k

5930. olah -- whole burnt offering
... 5929, 5930. olah. 5930a . whole burnt offering. Transliteration: olah Phonetic
Spelling: (o-law') Short Definition: ascent. ascent, go up to ...
/hebrew/5930.htm - 5k

3632. kalil -- entire, whole, a holocaust
... NASB Word Usage all (2), burned entirely (1), completely (1), entirely (1), perfect
(3), perfection (1), pure (1), whole (2), whole burnt offering (2), whole ...
/hebrew/3632.htm - 6k

801. ishsheh -- an offering made by fire
... The same as 'eshshah, but used in a liturgical sense; properly, a burnt-offering;
but occasionally of any sacrifice -- (offering, sacrifice), (made) by fire. ...
/hebrew/801.htm - 6k

2025. harel -- altar
... altar From har and 'el; mount of God; figuratively, the altar of burnt-offering --
altar. Compare 'ariy'el. see HEBREW har. see HEBREW 'el. see HEBREW 'ariy'el. ...
/hebrew/2025.htm - 6k

6999. qatar -- to make sacrifices smoke
... burning incense (4), burning sacrifices (5), burns incense (1), burnt incense (1 ...
2), offered incense (1), offered sacrifices (1), offered* (1), offering up in ...
/hebrew/6999.htm - 6k

5927. alah -- to go up, ascend, climb
... them back (1), bringing (2), brings (1), brought (66), burn (2), burnt offerings
(1 ... 2), mount (9), mounted (2), offer (29), offered (34), offering (10), offers ...
/hebrew/5927.htm - 8k

The Burnt Offering a Picture and a Prophecy
... THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS THE BURNT OFFERING A PICTURE AND A PROPHECY. ... The 'burnt
offering' stands first in Leviticus for several reasons. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the burnt offering a picture.htm

The Manner of Our Offering Sacrifices.
... In the one case, what is slain is burnt, as a whole burnt-offering, whence that
name is given to it; but the other is a thank-offering, and is designed for ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 9 the manner of.htm

Abraham's Loyalty to God
... Here am I." Jehovah said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and
go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt-offering on one of ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/abrahams loyalty to god.htm

Abraham's Offering up his Son Isaac
... this only son, this Isaac, the son of his love, must be taken now, even now, without
delay, and be offered up by his own father, for a burnt offering, upon one ...
/.../selected sermons of george whitefield/abrahams offering up his son.htm

Sacrifice Renewed
... And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt-offering upon the altar. ... Then
followed in this parabolic ceremonial the burnt offering. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/sacrifice renewed.htm

The Blood of Sprinkling
... For more than two thousand years, during the ages of the patriarchs, there
was but one great sacrifice, - the burnt offering. This ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bonar/gods way of peace/chapter v the blood of.htm

The Story of Abraham and Isaac
... And Abraham said, "My son, God will provide himself a Lamb for a burnt offering.". ...
[Illustration: "God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering"]. ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of abraham and.htm

A Last Look-Out
... sacrifice"a little oil and a little wine were poured on to the altar or the bullock,
and thus a drink-offering was said to be added to the burnt-offering. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/a last look-out.htm

Leviticus
... viii. I. LAWS OF SACRIFICE (i.-vii.). (a) For worshippers, i.-vi.7. Laws for the
burnt offering of the herd, of the flock, and of fowls (i.). Laws for the ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/leviticus.htm

Concerning the Festivals; and How Each Day of Such Festival is to ...
... kidneys, and the fat, with the lobe of the liver, upon the altar. The high
priest likewise presents a ram to God as a burnt-offering. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 10 concerning the festivals.htm

Why was the fire in the altar to burn continuously (Leviticus 6:13)? | GotQuestions.org

Why did God command Abraham to sacrifice Isaac? | GotQuestions.org

Why was it wrong for Saul to offer a sacrifice? | GotQuestions.org

Burnt: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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