Drink Offering
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The drink offering, also known as a libation, is a significant element of the sacrificial system in the Old Testament, symbolizing the dedication and consecration of one's life to God. It is often mentioned alongside other offerings, such as burnt offerings and grain offerings, and serves as a complementary act of worship.

Biblical References and Description

The drink offering is first introduced in Genesis 35:14, where Jacob sets up a pillar at the place where God had spoken to him and pours out a drink offering on it. This act signifies Jacob's devotion and gratitude to God for His promises and protection.

In the Mosaic Law, the drink offering is more formally instituted as part of the sacrificial system. Numbers 15:5-10 provides specific instructions for the inclusion of a drink offering with burnt offerings and peace offerings: "With the burnt offering or sacrifice of each lamb, you are to prepare a quarter hin of wine as a drink offering" (Numbers 15:5). The amount of wine varies depending on the type of animal being sacrificed, with larger offerings requiring more wine.

The drink offering is also mentioned in the context of the daily offerings. In Exodus 29:40-41, the Lord commands that a drink offering of wine be poured out with the daily morning and evening sacrifices: "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" (Exodus 29:40).

Symbolism and Significance

The drink offering symbolizes the outpouring of one's life in service and devotion to God. It represents the total surrender and dedication of the worshiper, acknowledging God's sovereignty and grace. The pouring out of wine can be seen as a metaphor for the pouring out of one's soul and spirit in worship and obedience.

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 the Philippians to a drink offering, emphasizing his willingness to give his life for the sake of the Gospel.

Theological Implications

The drink offering underscores the importance of wholehearted devotion to God. It serves as a reminder that worship is not merely a ritualistic act but involves the complete dedication of one's life to the Lord. The inclusion of the drink offering with other sacrifices highlights the comprehensive nature of worship, involving both physical and spiritual elements.

Furthermore, the drink offering points to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, whose blood was poured out for the redemption of humanity. In this sense, the drink offering foreshadows the New Covenant, where believers are called to offer their lives as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God (Romans 12:1).

Conclusion

The drink offering, as part of the Old Testament sacrificial system, holds deep spiritual significance, symbolizing the outpouring of one's life in devotion to God. It serves as a powerful reminder of the call to wholehearted worship and the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, who poured out His life for the salvation of mankind.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Drink Offering

DRINK OFFERING

See SACRIFICE.

Greek
4689. spendo -- to pour out (as a drink offering), to make a ...
... to pour out (as a drink offering), to make a libation. Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: spendo Phonetic Spelling: (spen'-do) Short Definition: I pour out ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4689.htm - 7k
Strong's Hebrew
5262a. nesek -- a drink offering
nesek or nesek. 5262, 5262a. nesek or nesek. 5262b . a drink offering.
Transliteration: nesek or nesek Short Definition: offering. ...
/hebrew/5262a.htm - 5k

5261. nesak -- a drink offering
... 5260, 5261. nesak. 5262 . a drink offering. Transliteration: nesak Phonetic
Spelling: (nes-ak') Short Definition: offerings. ... drink offering. ...
/hebrew/5261.htm - 6k

5262. necek -- a drink offering
... 5261, 5262. necek. 5262a . a drink offering. Transliteration: necek Phonetic
Spelling: (neh'-sek) Short Definition: cover. cover, drink offering, molten image ...
/hebrew/5262.htm - 5k

4469. mimsak -- a mixed drink
... drink-offering, mixed wine. From macak; mixture, ie (specifically) wine mixed (with
water or spices) -- drink-offering, mixed wine. see HEBREW macak. ...
/hebrew/4469.htm - 6k

5257. nciyk -- a libation, molten image
... nciyk. 5257a . a libation, molten image. Transliteration: nciyk Phonetic Spelling:
(nes-eek') Short Definition: offering. drink offering, duke, principal ...
/hebrew/5257.htm - 5k

5257a. nasik -- a libation, molten image
... Word Origin from nasak Definition a libation, molten image NASB Word Usage drink
offering (1), metal images (1). 5257, 5257a. nasik. 5257b . Strong's Numbers
/hebrew/5257a.htm - 5k

4518. menaqqith -- a sacrificial bowl
... Word Origin from naqah Definition a sacrificial bowl NASB Word Usage bowls
(2), drink offering bowls (1), sacrificial bowls (1). bowl. ...
/hebrew/4518.htm - 6k

Library

Joel's Rhapsody of the Locust Plague
... youth! The meal offering and the drink offering Is cut off from the house
of the LORD: The priests, the LORD'S ministers, mourn. ...
/.../select masterpieces of biblical literature/joels rhapsody of the locust.htm

A Lamb was Offered at the Morning and Evening Sacrifice. ...
... the other lamb thou shalt offer at even, and a tenth part of fine flour mingled
with beaten oil, the fourth part of a hin; and for a drink-offering the fourth ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of john/33 a lamb was offered.htm

A Last Look-Out
... instructive. He here likens himself, in the Greek, not to an offering, but
to the drink-offering. Every Jew would know what that meant. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/a last look-out.htm

Separation to God.
... was a burnt-offering of a he-lamb morning and evening, with the corresponding
accompaniments of fine flour mingled with oil, and a drink-offering of wine. ...
/.../taylor/separation and service/part i separation to god.htm

Epistle Lxiii. To Epictetus and to the Congregation of Assur?? ...
... the battle, teaches those who are conquered and prostrate not even to ask for pardon;
although the Lord says, "To them have ye poured a drink-offering, and to ...
/.../cyprian/the epistles of cyprian/epistle lxiii to epictetus and.htm

In the Last, the Great Day of the Feast'
... Here he was joined by another Priest, who carried the wine for the drink-offering.
The two Priests ascended the rise' of the altar, and turned to the left. ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter vii in the last.htm

The Locust-Swarms
... them a desolate wilderness; {162} till there was not enough left to supply the daily
sacrifices, and the meat offering and the drink offering were withheld ...
/.../kingsley/the good news of god/sermon xx the locust-swarms.htm

Sikera, a Manufactured and Spurious Wine, yet Intoxicating; Things ...
... Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt-sacrifices nor meat-offering;
neither shall ye pour drink-offering thereon.". Footnotes: ...
/.../chapter vi sikera a manufactured and.htm

2 Timothy iii. 16, 17
... my sacrifice; but, what is much more, "of my being poured out." For the whole of
the sacrifice was not offered to God, but the whole of the drink-offering was. ...
/.../homily ix 2 timothy iii.htm

Thy Chastening Is, as a Mother of Our Infancy: --Her Rebuke is ...
... through, and cast down, the watch tower wherein I had triumphed."Iniquity has dared
to set up, a temple wherein I am shamed: its drink-offering chokes me. ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn xi thy chastening is.htm

Resources
Did Jesus drink wine/alcohol? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about drinking alcohol / wine? Is it a sin for a Christian to drink alcohol / wine? | GotQuestions.org

Is it a sin to drink alcohol? | GotQuestions.org

Drink: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Subtopics

Drink

Drink Offering

Drink offering for Public Sacrifices Provided by the State

Drink offering: Antiquity of

Drink offering: Idolaters often Used Blood For

Drink offering: Idolatrous Jews: Offered to the Queen of Heaven

Drink offering: Idolatrous Jews: Reproved for offering, to Idols

Drink offering: Illustrative of The: Devotedness of Ministers

Drink offering: Illustrative of The: Offering of Christ

Drink offering: Illustrative of The: Pouring out of the Spirit

Drink offering: Not Poured on the Altar of Incense

Drink offering: Omission of, Caused by Bad Vintage

Drink offering: Quantity Appointed to be Used for Each Kind of Sacrifice

Drink offering: Sacrifices Accompanied By

Drink offering: Vanity of offering, to Idols

Tea

Related Terms

Drink-offering (33 Occurrences)

Drink-offerings (31 Occurrences)

Pitcher (16 Occurrences)

Vinegar (11 Occurrences)

Beer (15 Occurrences)

Stagger (20 Occurrences)

Camels (52 Occurrences)

Continual (55 Occurrences)

Specified (9 Occurrences)

Quarter (33 Occurrences)

Quaff (1 Occurrence)

Addition (112 Occurrences)

Buck (23 Occurrences)

Sour (15 Occurrences)

Soothing (40 Occurrences)

Carouse (3 Occurrences)

Abstain (13 Occurrences)

Anew (10 Occurrences)

Baptized (52 Occurrences)

Sacrificial (12 Occurrences)

Shihor (5 Occurrences)

Asking (111 Occurrences)

Pleasant (119 Occurrences)

Conceive (23 Occurrences)

Bullocks (50 Occurrences)

Aroma (50 Occurrences)

Anxiety (24 Occurrences)

Kid (42 Occurrences)

Baptised (46 Occurrences)

Savour (52 Occurrences)

Besides (178 Occurrences)

Couldn't (6 Occurrences)

Solemnly (62 Occurrences)

Bulls (68 Occurrences)

Bottle (28 Occurrences)

Visions (43 Occurrences)

Pertain (9 Occurrences)

Pertained (18 Occurrences)

Poureth (28 Occurrences)

Poisoned (7 Occurrences)

Befuddled (1 Occurrence)

Bait (3 Occurrences)

Cereal (124 Occurrences)

Clothing (288 Occurrences)

Confused (13 Occurrences)

Athirst (6 Occurrences)

Allowance (11 Occurrences)

Anxious (40 Occurrences)

Sup (3 Occurrences)

Sentenced (7 Occurrences)

Steadfast (194 Occurrences)

Satisfaction (15 Occurrences)

Sip (1 Occurrence)

Produce (140 Occurrences)

Shoulder (72 Occurrences)

Strong (736 Occurrences)

Stumbled (47 Occurrences)

Pouring (21 Occurrences)

Vineyards (55 Occurrences)

Cup (86 Occurrences)

Camest (27 Occurrences)

Savor (51 Occurrences)

Abstinence (2 Occurrences)

Poured (155 Occurrences)

Yours (226 Occurrences)

Kindly (57 Occurrences)

Quickly (254 Occurrences)

Clothe (52 Occurrences)

Abundantly (73 Occurrences)

Please (324 Occurrences)

Perfumes (69 Occurrences)

Swallowed (43 Occurrences)

Beth-lehem (49 Occurrences)

Pomegranate (11 Occurrences)

Able (730 Occurrences)

Bitter (203 Occurrences)

Marked (163 Occurrences)

Poison (17 Occurrences)

Vineyard (69 Occurrences)

Drink
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