Topical Encyclopedia In the biblical context, the sense of smell is often associated with the offering of sacrifices and the presence of God. The act of smelling is frequently mentioned in relation to God perceiving the aroma of sacrifices, which is symbolic of His acceptance and pleasure in the offerings made by His people.Old Testament References 1. Noah's Sacrifice: One of the earliest mentions of God smelling a pleasing aroma is found in Genesis 8:21. After the flood, Noah built an altar and offered burnt offerings to the LORD. The Berean Standard Bible states, "When the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, He said in His heart, 'Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from his youth. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.'" This passage highlights the significance of a pleasing aroma in the context of divine acceptance and covenant. 2. Levitical Offerings: The book of Leviticus contains numerous references to offerings that produce a pleasing aroma to the LORD. For example, Leviticus 1:9 describes the burnt offering: "The priest is to burn all of it on the altar as a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the LORD." The repeated emphasis on the aroma underscores the importance of ritual purity and obedience in worship. 3. Prophetic Imagery: In the prophetic literature, the sense of smell is sometimes used metaphorically to describe the spiritual state of Israel. In Amos 5:21-22, God expresses His displeasure with insincere worship: "I hate, I despise your feasts! I cannot stand the stench of your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer Me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; I will have no regard for your peace offerings of fattened cattle." Here, the "stench" contrasts with the "pleasing aroma," indicating that God values the heart behind the offering more than the ritual itself. New Testament References 1. Christ's Sacrifice: The New Testament also uses the imagery of a pleasing aroma to describe the sacrifice of Christ. Ephesians 5:2 states, "And walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God." This passage connects the Old Testament concept of a pleasing aroma with the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, emphasizing His role as the fulfillment of the sacrificial system. 2. Believers' Lives: The apostle Paul extends the metaphor to the lives of believers. In 2 Corinthians 2:14-15, he writes, "But thanks be to God, who always leads us triumphantly as captives in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. For we are to God the sweet aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing." Here, the aroma represents the witness of Christians, which is pleasing to God and impactful to the world. Theological Implications The concept of smell in the Bible is deeply intertwined with the themes of sacrifice, worship, and divine acceptance. It serves as a reminder of the importance of sincerity and purity in one's relationship with God. The pleasing aroma of sacrifices in the Old Testament foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, whose life and death are described as a fragrant offering. Believers are called to emulate this by living lives that are a sweet aroma to God, reflecting the transformative power of the Gospel. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (imp. & p. p.) of Smell.Strong's Hebrew 7381a. riach -- to smell, perceive odor... Origin denominative verb from reach Definition to smell, perceive odor NASB Word Usage accept (1), delight (2), scents (1), smell (3), smelled (2), touches (1 ... /hebrew/7381a.htm - 5k Library 'Clear Shining after Rain' Covenanting Enforced by the Grant of Covenant Signs and Seals. Argument. --And That, Although Scripture Often Changes the Divine ... A Hint from a Caribou The Fourfold Message. Jacob, a Prince of God. Concerning Images . Head of the Lord The Brazen Serpent and the Golden Cherubim were not violations of ... Defects Ascribed to God. Thesaurus Smelled (3 Occurrences)... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Smell. Multi-Version Concordance Smelled (3 Occurrences). Genesis 8:21 Yahweh smelled the pleasant aroma. ... /s/smelled.htm - 7k Savor (51 Occurrences) Smell (77 Occurrences) Youth (169 Occurrences) Kissed (26 Occurrences) Odour (43 Occurrences) Odor (46 Occurrences) Imagination (20 Occurrences) Intent (37 Occurrences) Inclination (3 Occurrences) Resources Who was Jehoiada in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is Gehenna? | GotQuestions.org Do the news reports of rivers turning blood red have anything to do with the end times? | GotQuestions.org Smelled: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Smelled (3 Occurrences)Genesis 8:21 Genesis 27:27 Exodus 7:21 Subtopics Related Terms |
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