Thank-offering
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The thank-offering, also known as the "thanksgiving offering," is a specific type of sacrifice described in the Old Testament, primarily within the Levitical law. It is a subset of the peace offerings, which were voluntary sacrifices made by the Israelites to express gratitude and fellowship with God. The thank-offering is distinct in its purpose of expressing thanks to God for His blessings and deliverance.

Biblical Foundation

The primary scriptural basis for the thank-offering is found in Leviticus 7:11-15. The Berean Standard Bible states:

> "Now this is the law of the peace offering that one may present to the LORD: If he offers it as an expression of thankfulness, then along with the thank offering he is to present unleavened cakes mixed with oil, unleavened wafers coated with oil, and well-kneaded cakes of fine flour mixed with oil. Along with his peace offering of thanksgiving, he is to present an offering with cakes of leavened bread. From the cakes he must present one portion as a contribution to the LORD; it belongs to the priest who sprinkles the blood of the peace offering. The meat of the peace offering of thanksgiving must be eaten on the day it is offered; none of it may be left until morning."

This passage outlines the specific elements and procedures associated with the thank-offering. It includes both unleavened and leavened bread, symbolizing purity and the everyday sustenance of life, respectively. The offering is to be consumed on the same day, emphasizing the immediacy and sincerity of the gratitude expressed.

Purpose and Significance

The thank-offering served multiple purposes within the Israelite community. It was a tangible expression of gratitude to God for His provision, protection, and deliverance. This offering was often made in response to specific acts of divine intervention or blessing, such as recovery from illness, safe return from a journey, or deliverance from enemies.

The thank-offering also fostered a sense of community and fellowship. As a peace offering, it was shared among the offerer, the priests, and the community, symbolizing reconciliation and unity with God and others. The communal meal aspect of the thank-offering highlighted the importance of sharing God's blessings with others and acknowledging His role as the provider of all good things.

New Testament Reflection

While the specific practice of thank-offerings as described in Levitical law is not carried over into New Testament worship, the principle of thanksgiving remains central to Christian life. The Apostle Paul frequently exhorts believers to give thanks in all circumstances. For instance, in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 , Paul writes:

> "Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."

The thank-offering finds its ultimate fulfillment in the life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who embodies the perfect expression of gratitude and obedience to the Father. Through Christ, believers are invited into a life of continual thanksgiving, not through ritual sacrifices, but through a heart transformed by grace.

Conclusion

The thank-offering, as part of the peace offerings, played a vital role in the religious life of ancient Israel, providing a structured means of expressing gratitude to God. While the specific rituals are no longer practiced, the underlying principles of thanksgiving and community remain integral to Christian worship and life.
Greek
133. ainesis -- praise
... praise. From aineo; a praising (the act), ie (specially) a thank(-offering) -- praise.
see GREEK aineo. (aineseos) -- 1 Occurrence. 132, 133. ainesis. 134 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/133.htm - 6k
Strong's Hebrew
8426. todah -- thanksgiving
... NASB Word Usage choir (1), choirs (2), confession (1), hymns of thanksgiving (1),
praise (1), sacrifices of thanksgiving (1), thank offering (2), thank ...
/hebrew/8426.htm - 6k

8018. Shelemyah -- "friend of Yah," the name of several Israelites
... Shelemiah. Or Shelemyahuw {shel-em-yaw'-hoo}; from shelem and Yahh; thank-offering
of Jah; Shelemjah, the name of nine Israelites -- Shelemiah. ...
/hebrew/8018.htm - 6k

Library

How when King Penda was Slain, the Province of the Mercians ...
... province of the Mercians received the faith of Christ, and Oswy gave possessions
and territories to God, for building monasteries, as a thank offering for the ...
/.../bede/bedes ecclesiastical history of england/chap xxiv how when king.htm

The Manner of Our Offering Sacrifices.
... In the one case, what is slain is burnt, as a whole burnt-offering, whence that
name is given to it; but the other is a thank-offering, and is designed for ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 9 the manner of.htm

What Life May be Made
... 'Thou shalt pay thy vows.' All life may become a thank-offering to God for
the benefits that have flowed unceasing from His hands. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/what life may be made.htm

Public Spirit
... You owe a thank-offering for the cessation of the cholera; a thank-offering
for the sparing of your own lives;"pay it now. You ...
/.../kingsley/sermons for the times/sermon xxii public spirit.htm

Love and Service.
... If therefore we are to present our whole life to Him as a living thank-offering;
if we are bound to show that He has sanctified our souls, by our making some ...
/.../schleiermacher/selected sermons of schleiermacher/xi love and service.htm

Family Prayer.
... been consecrated by a father's blessing, baptized by a mother's tears, and borne
up to heaven upon their joint petitions, as a voluntary thank-offering to God. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/philips/the christian home/chapter xv family prayer.htm

New Village Chapel.
... And he resolved to erect a school-room at his own expense, and give it to the Mission,
as a thank-offering to the Lord for a good harvest; for by this time he ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hodson/old daniel/chapter twenty four new village.htm

The Gospels in General
... use. In the older Greek authors it signified a reward for bringing good
tidings; also, a thankoffering for good tidings brought. ...
/.../drummond/introduction to the new testament/the gospels in general.htm

Some Clever Men Imagine that the Lord's Supper was Instituted for ...
... use it. The sacrifice [thank-offering or thanksgiving] also is added. For
there are several ends for one object. After conscience ...
/.../melanchthon/the apology of the augsburg confession/part 32 some clever men.htm

The Fifth Day in Passion-Week - Make Ready the Passover!'
... But there could be little real danger of this, since, by way of public notification,
two desecrated thankoffering cakes were laid on a bench in the Temple, the ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter ix the fifth day.htm

Thesaurus
Thank-offering (5 Occurrences)
Thank-offering. Thankless, Thank-offering. Thank-offerings .
Multi-Version Concordance Thank-offering (5 Occurrences). ...
/t/thank-offering.htm - 8k

Canaan (102 Occurrences)
... According to these tariffs the sacrifices and offerings were of two kinds,
the zau`at or sin offering and the shelem or thank-offering. ...
/c/canaan.htm - 64k

Canaanites (63 Occurrences)
... According to these tariffs the sacrifices and offerings were of two kinds,
the zau`at or sin offering and the shelem or thank-offering. ...
/c/canaanites.htm - 55k

Nebushazban (2 Occurrences)
...THANKOFFERING. See SACRIFICE. TRESPASS OFFERING. See SACRIFICE. WAVE OFFERING.
wav of'-er-ing. See SACRIFICE. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/n/nebushazban.htm - 8k

Leaven (24 Occurrences)
... Two exceptions to this rule should be noted (Leviticus 7:13; compare Amos 4:5):
"leavened bread" was an accompaniment of the thankoffering as leavened loaves ...
/l/leaven.htm - 21k

Gift (148 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary. (1.) An gratuity (Proverbs 19:6) to secure favour
(18:16; 21:14), a thank-offering (Numbers 18:11), or a dowry (Genesis 34:12). ...
/g/gift.htm - 59k

Fermented (23 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 7:13 besides the cakes, fermented bread he doth bring near 'with' his
offering, besides the sacrifice of thank-offering of his peace-offerings; (YLT). ...
/f/fermented.htm - 13k

Thank (68 Occurrences)
... margin "grace." Burton Scott Easton. THANKOFFERING. See SACRIFICE.
Multi-Version Concordance Thank (68 Occurrences). Matthew 11:25 At ...
/t/thank.htm - 27k

Thank-offerings (3 Occurrences)
Thank-offerings. Thank-offering, Thank-offerings. Thanks . Multi-Version
Concordance ... (See JPS ASV YLT). Thank-offering, Thank-offerings. Thanks . ...
/t/thank-offerings.htm - 7k

Thankless (1 Occurrence)

/t/thankless.htm - 7k

Resources
What is a peace offering / fellowship offering? | GotQuestions.org

How do I convert to Christianity? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean to praise the Lord? | GotQuestions.org

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Thank-offering (5 Occurrences)

Leviticus 7:12
if for a thank-offering he bring it near, then he hath brought near with the sacrifice of thank-offering unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and thin unleavened cakes anointed with oil, and of fried flour cakes mixed with oil;
(YLT)

Leviticus 7:13
besides the cakes, fermented bread he doth bring near 'with' his offering, besides the sacrifice of thank-offering of his peace-offerings;
(YLT)

Leviticus 7:15
as to the flesh of the sacrifice of the thank-offering of his peace-offerings, in the day of his offering it is eaten; he doth not leave of it till morning.
(YLT)

2 Chronicles 33:16
And he reinstated the altar of Jehovah, and sacrificed on it peace-offerings and thank-offerings, and commanded Judah to serve Jehovah the God of Israel.
(Root in DBY WBS YLT)

Amos 4:5
and burn a thank-offering with leaven, and proclaim, publish, voluntary offerings: for this pleaseth you, children of Israel, saith the Lord Jehovah.
(DBY YLT)

Subtopics

Thank-offering

Related Terms

Willing-hearted (3 Occurrences)

Thank-offering (5 Occurrences)

Thank (68 Occurrences)

Dedicated (37 Occurrences)

Hezeki'ah (120 Occurrences)

Monthly (11 Occurrences)

Burnt-offerings (86 Occurrences)

Consecrated (101 Occurrences)

Answereth (144 Occurrences)

Leviticus (1 Occurrence)

Lip (20 Occurrences)

Repaired (46 Occurrences)

Reinstated (1 Occurrence)

Bless (174 Occurrences)

Binding (23 Occurrences)

Vows (38 Occurrences)

Sacrifice (300 Occurrences)

Repay (79 Occurrences)

Heave (25 Occurrences)

Thanks (151 Occurrences)

Hezekiah (124 Occurrences)

Sodomite (1 Occurrence)

Sacrificed (112 Occurrences)

Prayer (406 Occurrences)

Thankless
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