In biblical terms, a libation refers to a liquid offering poured out as a sacrifice to God. This practice is rooted in ancient customs and is frequently mentioned in the Old Testament as part of the sacrificial system instituted by God for the Israelites. Libations were typically composed of wine and were poured out on the altar as an act of worship and dedication.

Old Testament Context

The concept of libation 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. The Berean Standard Bible states: "So Jacob set up a pillar in the place where God had spoken with him—a stone marker—and he poured out a drink offering on it and anointed it with oil."

In the Mosaic Law, libations were an integral part of the sacrificial offerings. Numbers 15:5-10 outlines the specific instructions for drink offerings that were to accompany burnt offerings and grain offerings. The BSB records: "With the burnt offering or sacrifice of each lamb, you are to prepare a quarter hin of wine as a drink offering."

Libations were also part of the daily offerings in the Tabernacle and later in the Temple. Exodus 29:40-41 describes the daily offerings: "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."

Symbolism and Significance

The pouring out of a libation symbolized the complete dedication and surrender of the offerer to God. It was an act of worship that acknowledged God's sovereignty and provision. The libation, as part of the sacrificial system, pointed to the need for atonement and the ultimate sacrifice that would be fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

New Testament References

While the New Testament does not prescribe libations as part of Christian worship, the Apostle Paul uses the imagery of a drink offering to describe his own life and ministry. In Philippians 2:17 , Paul 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 libation, emphasizing his willingness to give his life for the sake of the Gospel.

Similarly, in 2 Timothy 4:6 , Paul reflects on his impending martyrdom: "For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand." This metaphor underscores Paul's complete dedication to Christ and his readiness to lay down his life in service to the Lord.

Conclusion

The practice of libation in the Bible serves as a powerful symbol of devotion, sacrifice, and worship. It reflects the heart of the worshiper who seeks to honor God with the best of what they have, acknowledging His lordship and grace. Through the imagery of libation, believers are reminded of the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who poured out His life for the redemption of humanity.(n.) The act of pouring a liquid or liquor, usually wine, either on the ground or on a victim in sacrifice, in honor of some deity; also, the wine or liquid thus poured out.LIBATION

li-ba'-shun.

See SACRIFICE.

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

786. aspondos -- without libation, ie without truce, hence ...
... without libation, ie without truce, hence admitting of no truce. Part of Speech:
Adjective Transliteration: aspondos Phonetic Spelling: (as'-pon-dos) Short ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/786.htm - 7k

3047. lips -- the southwest wind
... southwest. Probably from leibo (to pour a "libation"); the south(- west) wind (as
bringing rain, ie (by extension) the south quarter) -- southwest. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3047.htm - 6k

4541a. massekah -- a libation, molten metal or image
... 4541, 4541a. massekah. 4541b . a libation, molten metal or image.
Transliteration: massekah Short Definition: images. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/4541a.htm - 5k

5257a. nasik -- a libation, molten image
... 5257, 5257a. nasik. 5257b . a libation, molten image. Transliteration:
nasik Short Definition: offering. Word Origin from nasak ...
/hebrew/5257a.htm - 5k

4541. maccekah -- a libation, molten metal or image
... 4540, 4541. maccekah. 4541a . a libation, molten metal or image. Transliteration:
maccekah Phonetic Spelling: (mas-say-kaw') Short Definition: covering. ...
/hebrew/4541.htm - 5k

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

8210. shaphak -- to pour out, pour
... A primitive root; to spill forth (blood, a libation, liquid metal; or even a solid,
ie To mound up); also (figuratively) to expend (life, soul, complaint, money ...
/hebrew/8210.htm - 6k

5262. necek -- a drink offering
... cover, drink offering, molten image Or necek {nay'-sek}; from nacak; a libation;
also a cast idol -- cover, drink offering, molten image. see HEBREW nacak. ...
/hebrew/5262.htm - 5k

5260. nesak -- to pour out
... offer. (Aramaic) corresponding to nacak; to pour out a libation -- offer. see
HEBREW nacak. 5259, 5260. nesak. 5261 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/5260.htm - 6k

5258. nacak -- to pour out
... A primitive root; to pour out, especially a libation, or to cast (metal); by analogy,
to anoint a king -- cover, melt, offer, (cause to) pour (out), set (up). ...
/hebrew/5258.htm - 5k

5261. nesak -- a drink offering
... drink offering. (Aramaic) corresponding to necek; a libation -- drink offering.
see HEBREW necek. 5260, 5261. nesak. 5262 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/5261.htm - 6k

A Libation to Jehovah
... THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL A LIBATION TO JEHOVAH. ... The sparkling water was too sacred
to be taken for any baser use than as a libation to Jehovah. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/a libation to jehovah.htm

Epistle cxxii. To Rechared, King of the visigoths .
... Chronicles 11:19). And, because he poured it out and would not drink it, it
is written, He offered it a libation to the Lord. If, then ...
/.../the epistles of saint gregory the great/epistle cxxii to rechared king.htm

Chapter xxxv
... And Jacob erected a pillar in the place where God spoke with him, a pillar of
stone, and poured a libation on it and also poured oil upon it. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxxv.htm

The Use of the Symbolic Style by Poets and Philosophers.
... Thespis the tragic poet says that something else was signified by these, writing
thus: "Lo, I offer to thee a libation of white Cnaxzbi, having pressed it from ...
/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter viii the use of the.htm

The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Philippians
... With wonderful cheerfulness he says that he is glad if his blood is to be offered
like a libation poured over the living sacrifice of the souls and bodies ...
/.../pullan/the books of the new testament/chapter xvi the epistle of.htm

What a Sacrifice Is, and what are the Species of Sacrifice.
... In Num.28, 4 f. three parts of that daily sacrifice are represented, the burning
of the lamb, the libation, and the oblation of wheat flour. ...
/.../melanchthon/the apology of the augsburg confession/part 30 what a sacrifice.htm

Philippians ii. 16-Dec
... sake. I am become, he says, as it were a libation and a sacrifice. O blessed
soul! His bringing them to God he calls a sacrifice. ...
/.../homily viii philippians ii 16-dec.htm

Epistle of Paul to the Philippians.
... to God. It was customary, moreover, to pour out wine upon the altar, a
so-called libation, as a seal of the offering. Paul, foreseeing ...
/.../epistle of paul to the.htm

Expositions of Holy Scripture
... DAVID'S HYMN OF VICTORY. THE DYING KING'S LAST VISION AND PSALM. THE ROYAL JUBILEE.
A LIBATION TO JEHOVAH. THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. DAVID APPOINTING SOLOMON. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/

The Apology of Aristides as it is Preserved in the History of ...
... Through Him too all things consist. He requires not sacrifice and libation nor anyone
of the things that appear to sense; but all men stand in need of Him. II. ...
/.../kay/the apology of aristides the philosopher/the apology of aristides as.htm

Libation (29 Occurrences)
... out. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. LIBATION. li-ba'-shun. See SACRIFICE.
Multi-Version Concordance Libation (29 Occurrences). Philippians ...
/l/libation.htm - 15k

Fragrance (63 Occurrences)
... Exodus 29:41 And the second lamb thou dost prepare between the evenings; according
to the present of the morning, and according to its libation, thou dost ...
/f/fragrance.htm - 27k

Fire-offering (45 Occurrences)
... Exodus 29:41 And the second lamb thou dost prepare between the evenings; according
to the present of the morning, and according to its libation, thou dost ...
/f/fire-offering.htm - 21k

Trucebkeaker
... troos'-brak-er: The King James Version rendering in 2 Timothy 3:3 of aspondos,
literally, "without a libation." As a libation always accompanied the making of ...
/t/trucebkeaker.htm - 6k

Ministrants (18 Occurrences)
... Joel 1:9 Cut off hath been present and libation from the house of Jehovah,
Mourned have the priests, ministrants of Jehovah. (YLT). ...
/m/ministrants.htm - 11k

Prepared (246 Occurrences)
... the company have prepared one bullock, a son of the herd, for a burnt-offering,
for sweet fragrance to Jehovah, and its present, and its libation, according to ...
/p/prepared.htm - 37k

Libations (29 Occurrences)

/l/libations.htm - 16k

Prepare (199 Occurrences)
... Exodus 29:41 And the second lamb thou dost prepare between the evenings; according
to the present of the morning, and according to its libation, thou dost ...
/p/prepare.htm - 36k

Libanus
Libanus. Liars, Libanus. Libation . Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia LIBANUS.
lib'-a-nus. See LEBANON. Liars, Libanus. Libation . Reference Bible.
/l/libanus.htm - 6k

Last (1087 Occurrences)
... On it the libation of water made on other days was not made; hence, the allusion
of Jesus to Himself as the Giver of the living water. James Orr. JUDGMENT, LAST ...
/l/last.htm - 18k

What is an oblation? | GotQuestions.org

Libation: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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