The concept of the burnt sacrifice, also known as the burnt offering, is a significant element in the religious practices of ancient Israel as described in the Old Testament. The Hebrew term for burnt offering is "olah," which means "that which goes up," referring to the smoke that ascends to God when the offering is burned on the altar. This type of sacrifice is primarily detailed in the book of Leviticus and is a central aspect of the sacrificial system instituted by God for the Israelites.

Biblical Instructions and Purpose

The burnt offering is first introduced in Genesis 8:20 when Noah, after the flood, builds an altar to the Lord and offers burnt offerings of clean animals and birds. This act of worship and thanksgiving is met with God's promise never to curse the ground again because of man.

The formal instructions for burnt offerings are given in Leviticus 1. The offering could be a bull, a sheep, a goat, or a bird, depending on the offerer's economic status. Leviticus 1:3-4 states, "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."

The primary purpose of the burnt offering was atonement for sin and expression of devotion to God. The act of laying hands on the animal symbolized the transfer of the offerer's sins to the animal, which was then sacrificed in their place. The entire animal was consumed by fire on the altar, signifying total surrender to God.

Symbolism and Significance

The burnt offering holds deep symbolic meaning. It represents complete dedication and consecration to God, as the entire offering is consumed by fire. This total consumption signifies the offerer's desire to wholly dedicate themselves to the Lord. The aroma of the burnt offering is described as "a pleasing aroma to the LORD" (Leviticus 1:9), indicating God's acceptance and satisfaction with the offering.

The burnt offering also prefigures the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ. In the New Testament, Christ is described as the perfect and final sacrifice for sin. Hebrews 10:10 states, "And by that will, we have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." The complete and unblemished nature of the burnt offering foreshadows Christ's sinless life and His total offering of Himself on the cross.

Cultural and Historical Context

In the ancient Near Eastern context, burnt offerings were not unique to Israel. Many surrounding cultures practiced similar rituals, offering sacrifices to their deities. However, the Israelite practice was distinct in its monotheistic focus and its covenantal relationship with Yahweh. The burnt offering was a key component of the Mosaic Law, serving as a daily, weekly, and festival sacrifice, as well as a personal offering for individuals seeking atonement and fellowship with God.

Conclusion

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

BURNT SACRIFICE

See SACRIFICE.

3646. holokautoma -- a whole burnt offering
... From a derivative of a compound of holos and a derivative of kaio; a wholly-consumed
sacrifice ("holocaust") -- (whole) burnt offering. see GREEK holos. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3646.htm - 7k5930. olah -- whole burnt offering
... participle of alah; a step or (collectively, stairs, as ascending); usually a holocaust
(as going up in smoke) -- ascent, burnt offering (sacrifice), go up to. ...
/hebrew/5930.htm - 5k

3632. kalil -- entire, whole, a holocaust
... 1). all, every whit, flame, perfection, utterly, whole burnt offering
sacrifice, wholly. From kalal; complete; as noun, the 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

6999. qatar -- to make sacrifices smoke
... 3), burning incense (4), burning sacrifices (5), burns incense (1), burnt incense
(1 ... burn incense, sacrifice upon, altar for incense, kindle, offer incense, a ...
/hebrew/6999.htm - 6k

The Burnt Offering a Picture and a Prophecy
... is upon the altar: 9. But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the
priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the burnt offering a picture.htm

Sacrifice Renewed
... its scathing repudiation of 'the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed beasts,'
suggests that he did not think the restoration of sacrifice so important ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/sacrifice renewed.htm

A Last Look-Out
... Every Jew would know what that meant. When there was a burnt-sacrifice offered,
the bullock or the victim then slain was the main part of the sacrifice. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/a last look-out.htm

The Cruelty of the Sacrifices to the Gods.
... The Phoc??ans also (for I will not pass over such as they are), Pythocles informs
us in his third book, On Concord, offer a man as a burnt-sacrifice to the ...
/.../clement/exhortation to the heathen/chapter iii the cruelty of the.htm

The Trial of Saul.
... Before Saul went to battle, it was necessary to offer a burnt sacrifice to
the Lord, and to beg of Him a blessing on the arms of Israel. ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol viii/sermon iii the trial of.htm

David and Araunah.
... David went. He purchased the threshing-floor of Araunah, also oxen and wood and
offered a burnt sacrifice to God. The following verses describe the scene:" ...
/.../anonymous/mother stories from the old testament/david and araunah.htm

The Trial by Fire
... the wood in order, and cut the bullock in nieces, and laid him on the wood, and
said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the trial by fire.htm

Some Helpful Thoughts on Consecration
... this yielding up must be as real as though our loved ones and every cherished treasure
of earth were laid upon the altar, to be offered up a burnt sacrifice. ...
/.../byers/sanctification/chapter xi some helpful thoughts.htm

Abraham --The Father of the Faithful.
... to offer to the Lord; but one day the Lord told Abraham to take his only son Isaac
and offer him upon a mountain called Moriah as a burnt sacrifice to God. ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter iii abrahamthe father of.htm

And we must Carefully Attend to the Circumstance of Time. ...
... on sacrifices, because they knew that by sacrifice all prayers were ratified: "
Remember all thy offerings," says David, "and accept thy burnt sacrifice" (Ps.20 ...
/.../calvin/of prayer--a perpetual exercise of faith/chapter 18 and we must.htm

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