In the biblical context, the term "slaughters" often refers to the act of killing, typically in a large-scale or violent manner. This term can be applied to both human and animal contexts within the Scriptures, and it carries significant theological and moral implications.

Old Testament Context

1. Animal Sacrifices: The concept of slaughter is deeply embedded in the sacrificial system of the Old Testament. The Israelites were commanded to offer animal sacrifices as a means of atonement for sin. Leviticus 1:5 states, "Then he shall slaughter the young bull before the LORD, and Aaron’s sons the priests shall present the blood and sprinkle it on all sides of the altar at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting." These sacrifices were a foreshadowing of the ultimate sacrifice of Christ.

2. Judgment and Warfare: Slaughter is also depicted as a form of divine judgment or warfare. In the conquest narratives, the Israelites were often commanded to utterly destroy their enemies as an act of divine justice. For example, in 1 Samuel 15:3 , God commands Saul, "Now go and strike down Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have. Do not spare them, but put to death men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys."

3. Prophetic Imagery: The prophets frequently used the imagery of slaughter to describe the coming judgment upon Israel and the nations. Isaiah 34:2 declares, "The LORD is angry with all the nations and furious with all their armies. He will devote them to destruction; He will give them over to slaughter."

New Testament Context

1. Christ's Sacrifice: The New Testament reinterprets the concept of slaughter through the lens of Christ's sacrificial death. Jesus is described as the Lamb who was slain for the sins of the world. Revelation 5:6 portrays this imagery: "Then I saw a Lamb who appeared to have been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders."

2. Persecution of Believers: The New Testament also speaks of the slaughter of believers as a form of persecution. Romans 8:36 quotes Psalm 44:22, "As it is written: 'For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.'" This reflects the early church's experience of suffering for the sake of Christ.

3. Eschatological Judgment: The theme of slaughter is present in the eschatological visions of Revelation, where it symbolizes the final judgment upon the wicked. Revelation 19:21 describes the fate of those who oppose Christ: "The rest were killed with the sword that proceeded from the mouth of the One seated on the horse. And all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh."

Theological Implications

The concept of slaughter in the Bible serves as a powerful reminder of the seriousness of sin and the holiness of God. It underscores the necessity of atonement and the reality of divine justice. While the Old Testament often depicts physical slaughter as a means of judgment, the New Testament shifts the focus to the spiritual realm, emphasizing the ultimate sacrifice of Christ and the spiritual warfare faced by believers.7819. shachat -- to slaughter, beat
... Usage beaten (5), deadly (1), kill (2), killed (1), kills (1), offer (1), slain
(5), slaughter (17), slaughtered (28), slaughtering (1), slaughters (2), slay ...
/hebrew/7819.htm - 6k

2873. tabach -- to slaughter, butcher, slay
... root Definition to slaughter, butcher, slay NASB Word Usage make (1), prepared
(1), slaughter (3), slaughtered (3), slaughters (1), slay (2). ...
/hebrew/2873.htm - 6k

The Great Slaughters and Sacrilege that were in Jerusalem.
... CHAPTER 13. The Great Slaughters And Sacrilege That Were In Jerusalem.
1. Accordingly Simon would not suffer Matthias, by whose ...
/.../chapter 13 the great slaughters.htm

The Calamities and Slaughters that came Upon the Jews.
... CHAPTER 18. The Calamities And Slaughters That Came Upon The Jews. 1. Now
the people of Cesarea had slain the Jews that were among ...
/.../chapter 18 the calamities and.htm

The Mouth of the Beast.
... and the small number that remained after the devastation of their fields, the
conflagration of their cities, and the promiscuous slaughters to which they were ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the mouth of the beast.htm

Matt. x. 16
... Surely fair is the peace (is it not?) which we are to bring into men's houses and
give them, while we are filling those houses with so many slaughters. ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily xxxiii matt x 16.htm

The Wars of the Jews or History of the Destruction of Jerusalem
... CHAPTER 18. The Calamities And Slaughters That Came Upon The Jews. CHAPTER 19. ... CHAPTER
13. The Great Slaughters And Sacrilege That Were In Jerusalem. BOOK VI. ...
/.../josephus/the wars of the jews or history of the destruction of jerusalem/

Brother Hugh
... continues. Then our lord Alexander returns to Rome, and the Emperor slaughters
the Romans and beseiges their city and enthrones Pascal. ...
/.../marson/hugh bishop of lincoln/chapter ii brother hugh.htm

Of God, and his Anger and Affections.
... But, on the contrary, others are daring [1735] and wicked, who pollute all things
with their lusts, harass with slaughters, practice fraud, plunder, commit ...
/.../a treatise on the anger of god addressed to donatus/chap xvi of god and his.htm

Inconsistency of those who Accuse the Christians.
... as Zeus and Apollo; the Thasians Theagenes, a man who committed murder at the Olympic
games; the Samians Lysander, notwithstanding all the slaughters and all ...
/.../a plea for the christians/chapter xiv inconsistency of those who.htm

Argument: nor Can it be Said that the Christians Conceal what they ...
... who cultivates justice makes offerings to God; he who abstains from fraudulent
practices propitiates God; he who snatches man from danger slaughters the most ...
/.../felix/the octavius of minucius felix/chapter xxxii argument nor can it.htm

Epistle xiii. --To Hierax, a Bishop in Egypt.
... 2. But now it always flows onward, polluted with blood and slaughters and the drowning
struggles of men, just as it did of old, when on Pharaoh's account it ...
/.../dionysius/the works of dionysius/epistle xiii to hierax a bishop.htm

Slaughters (3 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Slaughters (3 Occurrences). Exodus 22:1 When a
man doth steal an ox or sheep, and hath slaughtered it or ...
/s/slaughters.htm - 7k

Slaughtering (14 Occurrences)

/s/slaughtering.htm - 11k

Butcher (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) One who slaughters animals, or dresses their flesh
for market; one whose occupation it is to kill animals for food. ...
/b/butcher.htm - 7k

Slaughter-weapon (1 Occurrence)
Slaughter-weapon. Slaughters, Slaughter-weapon. Slave . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(WBS YLT). Slaughters, Slaughter-weapon. Slave . Reference Bible.
/s/slaughter-weapon.htm - 6k

Jesus (10891 Occurrences)
... of faction, intrigue, wars, murders, massacres, of growing degeneracy of rulers
and nation, of repeated sackings of Jerusalem and terrible slaughters-till Herod ...
/j/jesus.htm - 101k

Christ (573 Occurrences)

/c/christ.htm - 101k

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