Topical Bible: Drink-offerings

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Topical Encyclopedia

Drink-offerings, also known as libations, are a significant aspect of the sacrificial system in the Old Testament, serving as a complementary offering to burnt offerings and grain offerings. The Hebrew term for drink-offering is "nesek," which refers to the act of pouring out a liquid, typically wine, as an offering to the Lord. This practice is rooted in the ancient Near Eastern customs and is integrated into the worship and sacrificial rituals prescribed by God to the Israelites.

Biblical Instructions and Significance

The instructions for drink-offerings are primarily found in the Pentateuch, particularly in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers. In Exodus 29:40-41, the drink-offering is described as part of the daily burnt offering: "With the first lamb, offer a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with a quarter hin of oil from pressed olives, and a quarter hin of wine as a drink offering. Offer the second lamb at twilight with the same grain offering and drink offering as in the morning. It is a pleasing aroma, an offering made by fire to the LORD."

The drink-offering was typically composed of wine, which was poured out on the altar as a symbol of dedication and consecration to God. It was often presented alongside other offerings, such as the burnt offering and grain offering, to complete the sacrificial ritual. Numbers 15:5-10 provides further details on the quantities of wine to be used in drink-offerings, which varied depending on the type of animal being sacrificed.

Symbolism and Theological Implications

The drink-offering holds rich symbolic meaning within the context of Israelite worship. It represents the outpouring of one's life and resources in devotion to God. The act of pouring out wine signifies the worshiper's acknowledgment of God's sovereignty and provision, as well as a commitment to live a life pleasing to Him. The drink-offering, as part of the sacrificial system, underscores the importance of wholehearted worship and the recognition of God's holiness.

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul uses the imagery of a drink-offering to describe his own life and ministry. In Philippians 2:17, he writes, "But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you." Here, Paul likens his sacrificial service to a drink-offering, emphasizing his willingness to give his life for the sake of the Gospel and the faith of others.

Cultural and Historical Context

In the broader cultural and historical context of the ancient Near East, drink-offerings were a common practice among various peoples and religions. However, the Israelite practice was distinct in its monotheistic focus and its integration into the covenantal relationship between God and His people. The drink-offering, as part of the prescribed sacrificial system, was a means by which the Israelites could express their gratitude, seek atonement, and maintain fellowship with God.

Conclusion

While the practice of offering drink-offerings ceased with the destruction of the Second Temple and the end of the sacrificial system, its theological and symbolic significance continues to resonate within the Christian faith. The concept of pouring out one's life in service to God and others remains a powerful expression of devotion and commitment, reflecting the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who poured out His life for the redemption of humanity.

Strong's Hebrew

5258a. nasak -- to pour out
... root Definition to pour out NASB Word Usage cast (1), casts (1), drink offerings
(2), pour (5), pour out drink offerings (2), pour drink offerings (1), poured ...
/hebrew/5258a.htm - 5k

5261. nesak -- a drink offering
... offerings. Word Origin (Aramaic) corresponding to nesek Definition a drink
offering NASB Word Usage drink offerings (1). drink offering. ...
/hebrew/5261.htm - 6k

5262a. nesek -- a drink offering
... Word Origin from nasak Definition a drink offering NASB Word Usage drink (1), drink
offering (29), drink offerings (29), libations (1). 5262, 5262a. ...
/hebrew/5262a.htm - 5k

Library

The Unity of God
... Their sorrows shall be multiplied, that hasten after another god; their drink-offerings
of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.' Psalm ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/11 the unity of god.htm

Separation to God.
... of unleavened bread, cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, and wafers of unleavened
bread anointed with oil, and their meat-offering, and their drink-offerings ...
/.../taylor/separation and service/part i separation to god.htm

The Way to the Kingdom
... Whatsoever, therefore, they found written therein, either concerning meat and drink
offerings, or the distinction between clean and unclean meats, they not ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 7 the way to.htm

What is God's Threatening against those who Sacrifice to Idols?
... mean man was bowed down, and the great man was humbled: and I will not forgive them."
[3717] And again: "To them hast thou poured out drink-offerings, and to ...
/.../cyprian/the treatises of cyprian/3 what is gods threatening.htm

Whether a Suitable Cause Can be Assigned for the Ceremonies which ...
... the blood and eat the fat of the victims, according to Dt.32:38: "Of whose victims
they eat the fat, and drank the wine of their drink-offerings." Secondly, in ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether a suitable cause can.htm

The So-Called Gods of one Place are Used as victims in Another.
... For those who are considered gods by some are offered as sacrifices and drink-offerings
to the so-called gods of others, and the victims of some are conversely ...
/.../select works and letters or athanasius/section 24 the so-called gods.htm

The Same Continued.
... If He is fond of fat, and sacrifices, and offerings, and drink-offerings, who
then is without need, and who is holy, and pure, and perfect? ...
/.../unknown/the clementine homilies/chapter xliv the same continued.htm

The Consecration of Joy
... to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord, a burnt
offering, and a meat offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, every thing ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the consecration of joy.htm

The Purification of the virgin and the Presentation in the Temple
... The Temple-price of the meat-and drink-offerings was fixed once a month; and special
officials instructed the intending offerers, and provided them with what ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter vii the purification of.htm

Joel
... But the temple has been rebuilt; there are numerous allusions to priests and to
meal and drink offerings, i.9, 13, ii.14,17, and an assembly is summoned to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/joel.htm

Thesaurus

Drink-offerings (31 Occurrences)
Drink-offerings. Drink-offering, Drink-offerings. Drinks .
Multi-Version Concordance Drink-offerings (31 Occurrences). ...
/d/drink-offerings.htm - 18k

Specified (9 Occurrences)
... Numbers 29:18 and their meal offering and their drinkofferings for the bulls, for
the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance ...
/s/specified.htm - 9k

Bullocks (50 Occurrences)
... Numbers 29:18 And their meat offering and their drinkofferings for the bullocks,
for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after ...
/b/bullocks.htm - 23k

Draining (20 Occurrences)
... 44:17 But we will certainly do every word which has gone out of our mouths, burning
perfumes to the queen of heaven and draining out drinkofferings to her as ...
/d/draining.htm - 13k

Bulls (68 Occurrences)
... Numbers 29:18 and their meal offering and their drinkofferings for the bulls, for
the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance ...
/b/bulls.htm - 27k

Continual (55 Occurrences)
... 28:31 Besides the continual burnt offering, and the meal offering of it, you shall
offer them (they shall be to you without blemish), and their drinkofferings...
/c/continual.htm - 25k

Drained (38 Occurrences)
... children go for wood, the fathers get the fire burning, the women are working the
paste to make cakes for the queen of heaven, and drinkofferings are drained ...
/d/drained.htm - 18k

Drink-offering (33 Occurrences)
Drink-offering. Drinkoffering, Drink-offering. Drink-offerings . ... (ASV DBY JPS
WBS). Drinkoffering, Drink-offering. Drink-offerings . Reference Bible.
/d/drink-offering.htm - 18k

Meal-offerings (9 Occurrences)
... your set feasts, besides your vows, and your freewill-offerings, for your
burnt-offerings, and for your meal-offerings, and for your drink-offerings, and ...
/m/meal-offerings.htm - 9k

Meat-offerings (10 Occurrences)
... your set feasts, besides your vows, and your free-will-offerings, for your
burnt-offerings, and for your meat-offerings, and for your drink-offerings, and ...
/m/meat-offerings.htm - 10k

Resources

What is a drink offering? | GotQuestions.org

What is a free will offering / freewill offering? | GotQuestions.org

What were the various sacrifices in the Old Testament? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Drink-offerings (31 Occurrences)

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.
(ASV DBY JPS)

Leviticus 23:37
These are the set feasts of Jehovah, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto Jehovah, a burnt-offering, and a meal-offering, a sacrifice, and drink-offerings, each on its own day;
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

Numbers 6:15
and a basket of unleavened bread, cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and their meal-offering, and their drink-offerings.
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

Numbers 28:14
And their drink-offerings shall be half a hin of wine for a bullock, and the third part of a hin for the ram, and the fourth part of a hin for a lamb: this is the burnt-offering of every month throughout the months of the year.
(ASV DBY JPS)

Numbers 28:31
Besides the continual burnt-offering, and the meal-offering thereof, ye shall offer them ( they shall be unto you without blemish ), and their drink-offerings.
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

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.
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

Numbers 29:18
and their meal-offering and their drink-offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

Numbers 29:19
and one he-goat for a sin-offering; besides the continual burnt-offering, and the meal-offering thereof, and their drink-offerings.
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

Numbers 29:21
and their meal-offering and their drink-offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

Numbers 29:24
their meal-offering and their drink-offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

Numbers 29:27
and their meal-offering and their drink-offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

Numbers 29:30
and their meal-offering and their drink-offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

Numbers 29:31
and one he-goat for a sin-offering; besides the continual burnt-offering, the meal-offering thereof, and the drink-offerings thereof.
(ASV DBY JPS)

Numbers 29:33
and their meal-offering and their drink-offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

Numbers 29:37
their meal-offering and their drink-offerings for the bullock, for the ram, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the ordinance:
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

Numbers 29:39
These ye shall offer unto Jehovah in your set feasts, besides your vows, and your freewill-offerings, for your burnt-offerings, and for your meal-offerings, and for your drink-offerings, and for your peace-offerings.
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

Deuteronomy 32:38
Which ate the fat of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink-offerings? let them rise up and help you, and be your protection.
(WBS)

2 Kings 16:15
And king Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, Upon the great altar burn the morning burnt-offering, and the evening meal-offering, and the king's burnt-offering, and his meal-offering, with the burnt-offering of all the people of the land, and their meal-offering, and their drink-offerings; and sprinkle upon it all the blood of the burnt-offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice: but the brazen altar shall be for me to inquire by.
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

1 Chronicles 29:21
And they sacrificed sacrifices unto Jehovah, and offered burnt-offerings unto Jehovah, on the morrow after that day, even a thousand bullocks, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, with their drink-offerings, and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel,
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

2 Chronicles 29:35
And also the burnt-offerings were in abundance, with the fat of the peace-offerings, and with the drink-offerings for every burnt-offering. So the service of the house of Jehovah was set in order.
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

Ezra 7:17
therefore thou shalt with all diligence buy with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meal-offerings and their drink-offerings, and shalt offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

Psalms 16:4
Their sorrows shall be multiplied that give gifts for another god: Their drink-offerings of blood will I not offer, Nor take their names upon my lips.
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

Jeremiah 7:18
The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead the dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink-offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

Jeremiah 19:13
and the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses of the kings of Judah, which are defiled, shall be as the place of Topheth, even all the houses upon whose roofs they have burned incense unto all the host of heaven, and have poured out drink-offerings unto other gods.
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

Jeremiah 32:29
and the Chaldeans, that fight against this city, shall come and set this city on fire, and burn it, with the houses, upon whose roofs they have offered incense unto Baal, and poured out drink-offerings unto other gods, to provoke me to anger.
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

Jeremiah 44:17
But we will certainly perform every word that is gone forth out of our mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink-offerings unto her, as we have done, we and our fathers, our kings and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem; for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil.
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

Jeremiah 44:18
But since we left off burning incense to the queen of heaven, and pouring out drink-offerings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine.
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

Jeremiah 44:19
And when we burned incense to the queen of heaven, and poured out drink-offerings unto her, did we make her cakes to worship her, and pour out drink-offerings unto her, without our husbands?
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

Jeremiah 44:25
Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, Ye and your wives have both spoken with your mouths, and with your hands have fulfilled it, saying, We will surely perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink-offerings unto her: establish then your vows, and perform your vows.
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

Ezekiel 20:28
For when I had brought them into the land, which I sware to give unto them, then they saw every high hill, and every thick tree, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering; there also they made their sweet savor, and they poured out there their drink-offerings.
(ASV DBY JPS WBS)

Ezekiel 45:17
And it shall be the prince's part to give the burnt-offerings, and the meal-offerings, and the drink-offerings, in the feasts, and on the new moons, and on the sabbaths, in all the appointed feasts of the house of Israel: he shall prepare the sin-offering, and the meal-offering, and the burnt-offering, and the peace-offerings, to make atonement for the house of Israel.
(ASV JPS WBS)

Subtopics

Drink-offerings

Related Terms

Strong (736 Occurrences)

Eats (57 Occurrences)

Unworthy (8 Occurrences)

Drinker (6 Occurrences)

Fails (35 Occurrences)

Thirst (40 Occurrences)

Drink (414 Occurrences)

Recognizing (10 Occurrences)

Rightly (45 Occurrences)