Fire-offerings, also known as burnt offerings, hold a significant place in the sacrificial system of ancient Israel as outlined in the Old Testament. These offerings were a central aspect of worship and atonement, symbolizing the complete surrender and dedication of the worshiper to God. The Hebrew term for burnt offering is "olah," which means "that which goes up," referring to the smoke that ascends to heaven as the offering is consumed by fire.

Biblical Foundation

The practice of fire-offerings is first introduced in the book of Genesis. Noah, after the flood, offered burnt offerings to the Lord, and the Lord was pleased with the aroma (Genesis 8:20-21). This act of worship set a precedent for future generations, establishing the burnt offering as a means of seeking favor and communion with God.

The detailed regulations for fire-offerings are provided in the book of Leviticus. Leviticus 1:3-9 describes the procedure for offering a burnt offering from the herd: "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."

Purpose and Significance

Fire-offerings served multiple purposes in the religious life of Israel. Primarily, they were acts of atonement, symbolizing the purification and reconciliation of the worshiper with God. The complete consumption of the offering by fire represented the total surrender of the individual to the divine will, acknowledging God's sovereignty and holiness.

Moreover, fire-offerings were expressions of devotion and thanksgiving. They were voluntary acts of worship, demonstrating the worshiper's desire to honor God and seek His favor. The pleasing aroma of the burnt offering, as mentioned in Leviticus 1:9 , "an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the LORD," signifies God's acceptance and pleasure in the sincere devotion of His people.

Types of Fire-offerings

The Old Testament outlines various types of fire-offerings, each with specific regulations and purposes:

1. Daily Burnt Offerings: These were offered every morning and evening as a continual reminder of Israel's dependence on God (Exodus 29:38-42).

2. Sabbath and Festival Offerings: Additional burnt offerings were prescribed for the Sabbath and various festivals, such as Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles, to commemorate God's provision and deliverance (Numbers 28-29).

3. Votive and Freewill Offerings: These were voluntary offerings made in fulfillment of a vow or as an expression of gratitude and devotion (Leviticus 22:18-20).

Symbolism and Fulfillment

The fire-offerings of the Old Testament foreshadow the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who offered Himself as a perfect and complete atonement 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 sacrificial system, with its emphasis on unblemished offerings and the shedding of blood, pointed to the necessity of a perfect sacrifice to fully reconcile humanity with God.

In the New Testament, believers are called to offer themselves as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God (Romans 12:1). This spiritual act of worship reflects the principles of the fire-offerings, emphasizing total dedication and surrender to God's will.Fire-offerings (18 Occurrences)

Leviticus 2:3
and the remnant of the present 'is' for Aaron and for his sons, most holy, of the fire-offerings of Jehovah.
(YLT)

Leviticus 2:10
and the remnant of the present 'is' for Aaron and for his sons, most holy, of the fire-offerings of Jehovah.
(YLT)

Leviticus 4:35
and all its fat he turneth aside, as the fat of the sheep is turned aside from the sacrifice of the peace-offerings, and the priest hath made them a perfume on the altar, according to the fire-offerings of Jehovah, and the priest hath made atonement for him, for his sin which he hath sinned, and it hath been forgiven him.
(YLT)

Leviticus 5:12
and he hath brought it in unto the priest, and the priest hath taken a handful from it -- the fulness of his hand -- its memorial -- and hath made perfume on the altar, according to the fire-offerings of Jehovah; it 'is' a sin-offering.
(YLT)

Leviticus 6:17
It is not baken 'with' any thing fermented, their portion I have given it, out of My fire-offerings; it 'is' most holy, like the sin-offering, and like the guilt-offering.
(YLT)

Leviticus 6:18
Every male among the sons of Aaron doth eat it -- a statute age-during to your generations, out of the fire-offerings of Jehovah: all that cometh against them is holy.'
(YLT)

Leviticus 7:30
his own hands do bring in the fire-offerings of Jehovah, the fat beside the breast, it he doth bring in with the breast, to wave it -- a wave-offering before Jehovah.
(YLT)

Leviticus 7:35
This 'is' the anointing of Aaron, and the anointing of his sons out of the fire-offerings of Jehovah, in the day he hath brought them near to act as priest to Jehovah,
(YLT)

Leviticus 10:12
And Moses speaketh unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar, and unto Ithamar his sons, who are left, 'Take ye the present that is left from the fire-offerings of Jehovah, and eat it unleavened near the altar, for it 'is' most holy,
(YLT)

Leviticus 10:13
and ye have eaten it in the holy place, for it 'is' thy portion, and the portion of thy sons, from the fire-offerings of Jehovah; for so I have been commanded.
(YLT)

Leviticus 10:15
the leg of the heave-offering, and breast of the wave-offering, besides fire-offerings of the fat, they do bring in to wave a wave-offering before Jehovah, and it hath been to thee, and to thy sons with thee, by a statute age-during, as Jehovah hath commanded.'
(YLT)

Leviticus 21:6
they are holy to their God, and they pollute not the name of their God, for the fire-offerings of Jehovah, bread of their God, they are bringing near, and have been holy.
(YLT)

Leviticus 21:21
No man in whom is blemish (of the seed of Aaron the priest) doth come nigh to bring near the fire-offerings of Jehovah; blemish 'is' in him; the bread of his God he doth not come nigh to bring near.
(YLT)

Leviticus 24:9
and it hath been to Aaron, and to his sons, and they have eaten it in the holy place, for it 'is' most holy to him, from the fire-offerings of Jehovah -- a statute age-during.'
(YLT)

Numbers 28:2
Command the sons of Israel, and thou hast said unto them, My offering, My bread for My fire-offerings, My sweet fragrance, ye take heed to bring near to Me in its appointed season.
(YLT)

Deuteronomy 18:1
There is not to the priests the Levites -- all the tribe of Levi -- a portion and inheritance with Israel; fire-offerings of Jehovah, even His inheritance, they eat,
(YLT)

Joshua 13:14
Only, to the tribe of Levi he hath not given an inheritance; fire-offerings of Jehovah, God of Israel, is its inheritance, as He hath spoken to it.
(YLT)

1 Samuel 2:28
even to choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to Me for a priest, to go up on Mine altar, to make a perfume, to bear an ephod before Me, and I give to the house of thy father all the fire-offerings of the sons of Israel?
(YLT)

Fire-offerings (18 Occurrences)
Fire-offerings. Fire-offering, Fire-offerings. Firepan .
Multi-Version Concordance Fire-offerings (18 Occurrences). ...
/f/fire-offerings.htm - 12k

Firepan (2 Occurrences)

/f/firepan.htm - 9k

Age-during (167 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 6:18 Every male among the sons of Aaron doth eat it -- a statute age-during
to your generations, out of the fire-offerings of Jehovah: all that ...
/a/age-during.htm - 36k

Fire-offering (45 Occurrences)
Fire-offering. Firelight, Fire-offering. Fire-offerings . Multi-Version
Concordance ... (BBE). Firelight, Fire-offering. Fire-offerings . Reference Bible.
/f/fire-offering.htm - 21k

Perfume (202 Occurrences)
... is turned aside from the sacrifice of the peace-offerings, and the priest hath made
them a perfume on the altar, according to the fire-offerings of Jehovah ...
/p/perfume.htm - 38k

Fermented (23 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 6:17 It is not baken 'with' any thing fermented, their portion I have
given it, out of My fire-offerings; it 'is' most holy, like the sin-offering ...
/f/fermented.htm - 13k

Damaged (44 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 21:21 No man of the offspring of Aaron whose body is damaged in any way
may come near to give the fireofferings of the Lord: he is damaged, he may ...
/d/damaged.htm - 20k

Pollute (42 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 21:6 they are holy to their God, and they pollute not the name of their
God, for the fire-offerings of Jehovah, bread of their God, they are bringing ...
/p/pollute.htm - 19k

Remnant (157 Occurrences)
... (KJV WBS YLT). Leviticus 2:10 and the remnant of the present 'is' for Aaron and
for his sons, most holy, of the fire-offerings of Jehovah. (YLT). ...
/r/remnant.htm - 43k

Eaten (211 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 10:13 and ye have eaten it in the holy place, for it 'is' thy portion,
and the portion of thy sons, from the fire-offerings of Jehovah; for so I have ...
/e/eaten.htm - 37k

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