Topical Bible: Sacrifices: Consisted of Clean Animals or Bloody Sacrifices

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In the biblical context, sacrifices were a central aspect of worship and covenantal relationship between God and His people. The practice of offering sacrifices is deeply rooted in the Old Testament and is characterized by the use of clean animals, often referred to as bloody sacrifices due to the shedding of blood involved.

Clean Animals in Sacrifices

The term "clean animals" refers to those animals deemed acceptable for sacrifice according to the Mosaic Law. These animals were considered ritually pure and suitable for offerings to God. The criteria for clean animals are outlined in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14, where God provides specific guidelines on which animals are clean and unclean. Clean animals typically included cattle, sheep, goats, and certain birds.

The significance of using clean animals in sacrifices is underscored in Genesis 8:20, where Noah, after the flood, builds an altar and offers burnt offerings of every clean animal and bird. This act of worship was pleasing to the Lord, as indicated in Genesis 8:21 : "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.'"

Bloody Sacrifices

Bloody sacrifices, involving the shedding of blood, were integral to the sacrificial system established in the Old Testament. The shedding of blood symbolized atonement for sin, as life is in the blood (Leviticus 17:11). The blood of the sacrifice was a crucial element in the process of reconciliation between God and humanity.

The Passover lamb is a prime example of a bloody sacrifice. In Exodus 12, God instructs the Israelites to sacrifice a lamb without blemish and apply its blood to the doorposts of their homes. This act served as a sign for the Lord to "pass over" their houses during the final plague in Egypt, sparing the firstborn of Israel. Exodus 12:13 states, "The blood on the houses where you are staying will distinguish them; when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No plague will fall on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt."

The Day of Atonement, described in Leviticus 16, further illustrates the importance of bloody sacrifices. On this day, the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies to offer the blood of a bull and a goat as atonement for the sins of the people. Leviticus 16:15-16 explains, "Then he shall slaughter the goat for the sin offering for the people and take its blood behind the veil. He is to do with this blood as he did with the blood of the bull: He is to sprinkle it against the mercy seat and in front of it. In this way he will make atonement for the Most Holy Place because of the uncleanness and rebellion of the Israelites, whatever their sins have been."

Theological Significance

The sacrificial system foreshadowed the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). The New Testament reveals that the sacrifices of the Old Testament were a shadow of the good things to come, pointing to the perfect and final sacrifice of Christ. Hebrews 9:12 declares, "He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption."

In summary, sacrifices consisting of clean animals and involving the shedding of blood were foundational to the worship and atonement practices in the Old Testament. They served as a means of maintaining a covenant relationship with God and pointed forward to the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Genesis 8:20
And Noah built an altar to the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Deputation from Jerusalem - the Three Sects of the Pharisees ...
... or Elders of the Priesthood,' [1487] which consisted of the ... and, in the case of
Levitically clean animals which had ... the cost of the daily Sacrifices should be ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter ii the deputation from.htm

The Political Constitution of Egypt
... They consisted also of short sentences, by which the royal ... to this, there were the
daily sacrifices, the despatch ... appear to us as stormy and as bloody as that ...
/.../chapter ithe political constitution of.htm

The Mystery
... of the elders and of the animals a Lamb ... the temple of God, and his sacrifices, are
called ... prophetical or pseudo-ecclesiastical beast, which consisted, as we ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mede/a key to the apocalypse/the mystery 2.htm

The Iranian Conquest
... to him the orthodox prayers and sacrifices, to be ... pious deeds: to exterminate noxious
animals, the creatures ... The recognised offering consisted of flowers, bread ...
/.../chapter ithe iranian conquest.htm

The Saints' Privilege and Profit;
... acceptable approach to God; for by him as priest our spiritual sacrifices are accepted ...
join himself, or be joined, to the church, which then consisted of the ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the saints privilege and profit.htm

An Exposition on the First Ten Chapters of Genesis, and Part of ...
... Besides, no man must conceive of God, as if he consisted of these attributes, as ...
it seems that darkness and light began the quarrel, before that bloody bout of ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/an exposition on the first.htm

The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
... like a movable bulwark; their weapons consisted of a ... of Roman times, the Scythians
made a clean sweep of ... not extended to those places where sacrifices were no ...
/.../chapter iiithe medes and the.htm