Jump to: ATS • ISBE • Easton's • Webster's • Concordance • Thesaurus • Greek • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms Topical Encyclopedia Definition and Purpose In the biblical context, an offering refers to a gift or sacrifice presented to God as an act of worship, thanksgiving, or atonement. Offerings are a central theme throughout the Scriptures, symbolizing devotion, obedience, and the acknowledgment of God's sovereignty and provision. Old Testament Offerings The Old Testament outlines various types of offerings, each with specific purposes and regulations. These offerings were integral to the worship practices of the Israelites and were primarily conducted at the Tabernacle and later the Temple. 1. Burnt Offering (Olah): The burnt offering was a voluntary act of worship, symbolizing the complete surrender to God. It involved the entire animal being consumed by fire on the altar. Leviticus 1:3-4 states, "If one's offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to present an unblemished male. He must present it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, that he may be accepted by the LORD." 2. Grain Offering (Minchah): This offering consisted of fine flour, oil, and frankincense, representing the fruit of human labor and dedication to God. Leviticus 2:1 describes, "When anyone presents a grain offering to the LORD, his offering must consist of fine flour. He is to pour oil on it, put frankincense on it." 3. Peace Offering (Zebach Shelamim): A voluntary offering expressing thanksgiving and fellowship, part of which was eaten by the offerer. Leviticus 3:1-2 explains, "If one's offering is a peace offering and he offers an animal from the herd, whether male or female, he must present it without blemish before the LORD." 4. Sin Offering (Chatat): This offering was mandatory for atonement of unintentional sins, emphasizing purification and forgiveness. Leviticus 4:2-3 instructs, "Speak to the Israelites and say, 'When anyone sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the LORD's commands... he must bring to the LORD a young bull without blemish as a sin offering.'" 5. Guilt Offering (Asham): Similar to the sin offering, the guilt offering addressed specific transgressions and required restitution. Leviticus 5:15 states, "If someone acts unfaithfully and sins unintentionally against any of the LORD's holy things, he must bring his guilt offering to the LORD: an unblemished ram from the flock." New Testament Perspective With the advent of Jesus Christ, the New Testament redefines the concept of offerings. Christ's sacrificial death is seen as the ultimate offering, fulfilling the requirements of the Old Testament sacrifices. 1. Christ as the Ultimate Offering: Hebrews 10:10-12 declares, "And by that will, we have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Every priest stands daily to minister and to offer again and again the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this Priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God." 2. Spiritual Offerings: Believers are encouraged to offer themselves as living sacrifices, dedicating their lives to God's service. Romans 12:1 exhorts, "Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship." 3. Offerings of Praise and Good Works: Hebrews 13:15-16 emphasizes offerings of praise and good deeds, "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess His name. And do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased." Conclusion The concept of offering in the Bible evolves from the ritualistic sacrifices of the Old Testament to the spiritual and personal sacrifices in the New Testament, culminating in the perfect offering of Jesus Christ. Offerings remain a vital expression of faith, gratitude, and commitment to God. ATS Bible Dictionary OfferingIn the Hebrew, an offering, minchah, is distinguished from a sacrifice, zebah, as being bloodless. In our version, however, the word offering is often used for a sacrifice, as in the case of peace offerings, sin offerings, etc. Of the proper offerings, that is, the unbloody offerings, some accompanied the sacrifices, as flour, wine, salt; others were not connected with any sacrifices. Like the sacrifices, some, as the first fruits and tenths, were obligatory; other were voluntary offerings of devotion. Various sorts of offerings are enumerated in the books of Moses. Among these are, 1. Fine flour, or meal; 2. Cakes baked in an oven; 3. Cakes baked on a plate or shallow pan; 4. Cakes cooked in deep vessel by frying in oil, (English version, "frying pan," though some understand here a gridiron or a plate with holes;) 5. First fruits of the new corn, either in the simple state or prepared by parching or roasting in the ear, or out of the ear. The cakes were kneaded with olive oil, or fried in a pan, or only dipped in oil after they were baked. The bread offered for the altar was without leaven; for leaven was never offered on the altar, nor with the sacrifices, Le 2:11-12. But they might make presents of common bread to the priests and ministers of the temple. Honey was never offered with the sacrifices, but it might be presented alone, as first fruits, Le 2:11-12. Those who offered living victims were not excused from giving meal, wine, and salt, together with the greater sacrifices. Those who offered only oblations of bread or of meal offered also oil, incense, salt, and wine, which were in a manner their seasoning. The priest in waiting received the offerings from the hand of him who brought them, laid a part on the altar, and reserved the rest for his own subsistence as a minister of the Lord. Nothing was wholly burned up but the incense, of which the priest retained none. See Le 2:2,13 Numbers 15:4-5. In some cases the law required only offerings of corn or bread, as when they offered the first fruits of harvest, whether offered solemnly by the nation, or as the devotion of private persons. The unbloody offerings signified, in general, not so much expiation, which was the peculiar meaning of the sacrifices, as the consecration of the offerer, and all that he had to Jehovah. Only in the case of the poor man, who could not afford the expense of sacrificing an animal, was an unbloody offering accepted in its stead, Le 5:11. See SACRIFICES. Easton's Bible Dictionary An oblation, dedicated to God. Thus Cain consecrated to God of the first-fruits of the earth, and Abel of the firstlings of the flock (Genesis 4:3, 4). Under the Levitical system different kinds of offerings are specified, and laws laid down as to their presentation. These are described under their distinctive names. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Offer.2. (n.) The act of an offerer; a proffering. 3. (n.) That which is offered, esp. in divine service; that which is presented as an expiation or atonement for sin, or as a free gift; a sacrifice; an oblation; as, sin offering. 4. (n.) A sum of money offered, as in church service; as, a missionary offering. Specif.: (Ch. of Eng.) Personal tithes payable according to custom, either at certain seasons as Christmas or Easter, or on certain occasions as marriages or christenings. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia BURNT OFFERINGSee SACRIFICE. DAILY OFFERING; DAILY SACRIFICE See SACRIFICE. DRINK OFFERING See SACRIFICE. FREEWILL OFFERING fre'-wil of'-er-ing. See SACRIFICE. GUILT OFFERING See SACRIFICE. HEAVE OFFERING hev of'-er-ing. MEAL OFFERING See SACRIFICE. MEAT OFFERING See SACRIFICE. OFFER; OFFERING of'-er, of'-er-ing. PEACE OFFERING See SACRIFICE. SIN 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 3646. holokautoma -- a whole burnt offering 4376. prosphora -- an offering 2878. korban -- an offering 331. anathema -- that which is laid up, ie a votive offering 2878a. korban -- an offering 334. anathema -- a gift set up (in a temple) 1435. doron -- a gift, present, spec. a sacrifice 2435. hilasterion -- propitiatory 3083. lutron -- a ransom Strong's Hebrew 8573. tenuphah -- a swinging, waving, wave offering, offering... tenuphah. 8574 . a swinging, waving, wave offering, offering. Transliteration: tenuphah Phonetic Spelling: (ten-oo-faw') Short Definition: offering. ... /hebrew/8573.htm - 6k 5071. nedabah -- voluntariness, freewill offering 4503. minchah -- a gift, tribute, offering 8641. terumah -- contribution, offering (for sacred uses) 4504. minchah -- a gift, offering 5928. alah -- a burnt offering 2409. chattaya -- sin offering 801. ishsheh -- an offering made by fire 7133a. qorban -- offering, oblation 8002. shelem -- a sacrifice for alliance or friendship, peace ... Library The Sin-Offering The Eating of the Peace-Offering Whether Offering a Sacrifice to God is of the Law of Nature? The Eighth Chapter: the Offering of Christ on the Cross; Our ... Of Sacrifice, and of an Offering Worthy of God, and of the Form of ... Whether the Offering of Sacrifice is a Special Act of virtue? The Burnt Offering a Picture and a Prophecy The Manner of Our Offering Sacrifices. An Evening Offering. The Offering of Chastity a Great Gift. Thesaurus Sin-offering (115 Occurrences)Sin-offering. Sinoffering, Sin-offering. Sin-offerings . Easton's Bible Dictionary (Hebrews hattath), the law of, is given in detail ... /s/sin-offering.htm - 38k Trespass-offering (34 Occurrences) Will-offering (1 Occurrence) Offering (850 Occurrences) Freewill-offering (14 Occurrences) Wave-offering (22 Occurrences) Free-will-offering (9 Occurrences) Willing-offering (6 Occurrences) Drink-offering (33 Occurrences) Guilt-offering (34 Occurrences) Resources What is a heave offering? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is a peace offering / fellowship offering? | GotQuestions.org What is a grain offering? | GotQuestions.org Offering: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Offering (850 Occurrences)Matthew 5:23 Matthew 5:24 Matthew 8:4 Matthew 15:5 Matthew 23:18 Matthew 23:19 Mark 1:44 Mark 11:15 Luke 1:10 Luke 2:24 Luke 5:14 Luke 21:4 Luke 23:36 John 16:2 John 18:1 Acts 2:40 Acts 7:41 Acts 8:18 Acts 10:4 Acts 10:30 Acts 11:5 Acts 14:13 Acts 14:18 Acts 21:26 Romans 8:3 Romans 12:1 Romans 15:16 1 Corinthians 4:14 1 Corinthians 10:28 2 Corinthians 8:19 2 Corinthians 9:1 Ephesians 5:2 Philippians 1:4 Philippians 2:16 Philippians 2:17 Philippians 4:17 Philippians 4:18 1 Timothy 2:6 2 Timothy 4:6 Hebrews 1:3 Hebrews 7:27 Hebrews 8:3 Hebrews 8:4 Hebrews 9:7 Hebrews 9:14 Hebrews 9:25 Hebrews 9:26 Hebrews 10:5 Hebrews 10:8 Hebrews 10:10 Hebrews 10:11 Hebrews 10:12 Hebrews 10:14 Hebrews 10:18 Hebrews 10:26 Hebrews 11:4 Hebrews 11:17 Hebrews 13:11 James 2:21 1 Peter 2:5 1 John 2:2 1 John 4:10 Genesis 4:3 Genesis 4:4 Genesis 4:5 Genesis 22:2 Genesis 22:3 Genesis 22:6 Genesis 22:7 Genesis 22:8 Genesis 22:13 Genesis 31:54 Genesis 32:13 Genesis 32:18 Genesis 32:20 Genesis 33:8 Genesis 33:11 Genesis 35:14 Exodus 3:18 Exodus 5:3 Exodus 5:8 Exodus 5:17 Exodus 8:8 Exodus 8:25 Exodus 8:27 Exodus 8:28 Exodus 10:26 Exodus 12:27 Exodus 18:12 Exodus 20:24 Exodus 22:29 Exodus 23:15 Exodus 23:18 Exodus 25:2 Exodus 25:3 Exodus 28:38 Exodus 29:14 Exodus 29:18 Exodus 29:22 Exodus 29:24 Subtopics Related Terms Trespass-offerings (2 Occurrences) Meat-offerings (10 Occurrences) Meal-offerings (9 Occurrences) Fire-offerings (18 Occurrences) Freewill-offerings (8 Occurrences) Free-will-offerings (6 Occurrences) Voluntary-offerings (4 Occurrences) Drink-offerings (31 Occurrences) Praise-offerings (2 Occurrences) Thank-offerings (3 Occurrences) Passover-offerings (4 Occurrences) Willing-offerings (2 Occurrences) Free-offerings (2 Occurrences) Feast-offerings (1 Occurrence) Peace-offerings (82 Occurrences) Burnt-offerings (86 Occurrences) Heave-offerings (13 Occurrences) Contributions (19 Occurrences) Peace-offering (46 Occurrences) |