Topical Encyclopedia In the biblical tradition, the lamb holds significant symbolic and ritualistic importance, particularly in the context of sacrificial offerings. The requirement for a lamb to be offered at a year old is rooted in the Old Testament, where it is prescribed as part of the sacrificial system established by God for the Israelites.Biblical Prescription The instruction for offering a lamb at a year old is found in several passages within the Pentateuch. In Exodus 12:5, during the institution of the Passover, God commands the Israelites: "Your lamb must be an unblemished year-old male, and you may take it from the sheep or the goats." . This requirement underscores the importance of purity and maturity in sacrificial offerings, as a year-old lamb would be in its prime, symbolizing the best of what the offerer could present to God. Symbolism and Significance The lamb, particularly a year-old lamb, is emblematic of innocence, purity, and submission. In the sacrificial system, it serves as a substitute for the sinner, bearing the penalty of sin and restoring the relationship between the worshiper and God. The age of the lamb signifies its readiness and completeness, reflecting the perfection required in offerings to a holy God. Ritual Context The offering of a year-old lamb is not limited to the Passover. It is also specified in other sacrificial contexts, such as the daily offerings. Numbers 28:3-4 states: "And you shall say to them: This is the offering made by fire that you are to present to the LORD: two unblemished year-old male lambs each day, as a regular burnt offering. Offer one lamb in the morning and the other at twilight." . This daily sacrifice underscores the continual need for atonement and the perpetual nature of worship. Typology and Fulfillment In Christian theology, the sacrificial lamb is seen as a type of Christ, the "Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). Jesus, in His sinless perfection, fulfills the typology of the year-old lamb, offering Himself as the ultimate sacrifice for humanity's sins. The age and condition of the lamb in the Old Testament foreshadow the completeness and sufficiency of Christ's atoning work on the cross. Conclusion The offering of a year-old lamb in sacrifice is a profound element of the Old Testament sacrificial system, rich with theological significance and typological foreshadowing. It highlights the principles of purity, substitution, and atonement that are central to the biblical narrative and find their ultimate expression in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Torrey's Topical Textbook Exodus 12:5Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: you shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: Torrey's Topical Textbook Numbers 6:14 Library The Manner of Our Offering Sacrifices. Abraham --The Father of the Faithful. Whether the Effect of Christ's Priesthood is the Expiation of Sins ... On the Sacrifice of the Mass The Lamb of God in Scripture Whether the Priesthood of Christ Endures for Ever? The God of the Old Testament is the God of the New The Only Atoning Priest Whether the Paschal Lamb was the Chief Figure of this Sacrament? The New Covenant. Resources What is the Passover Lamb? How is Jesus our Passover Lamb? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean that Jesus is the Lamb of God? | GotQuestions.org How should we understand the Lion and the Lamb passage? | GotQuestions.org Lamb: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Lamb: Not to be Seethed (Boiled) in Its own Mother's Milk The Lamb of Any Thing Dear or Cherished The Lamb of Christ As a Sacrifice The Lamb: (Among Wolves) of Ministers Among the Ungodly The Lamb: (Brought to Slaughter) of the Wicked Under Judgments The Lamb: (Consumed in Sacrifice) of Complete Destruction of The The Lamb: (Deserted and Exposed) of Israel Deprived of God's The Lamb: (Patience of) the Patience of Christ The Lamb: An Extensive Commerce In The Lamb: Considered a Great Delicacy The Lamb: Covenants Confirmed by Gift of The Lamb: Exposed to Danger from Wild Beasts The Lamb: Numbers of, Given by Josiah to the People for Sacrifice The Lamb: Offered in Sacrifice by the Wicked not Accepted The Lamb: Offered in Sacrifice: At a Year Old The Lamb: Offered in Sacrifice: At the Passover The Lamb: Offered in Sacrifice: Every Morning and Evening The Lamb: Offered in Sacrifice: Females The Lamb: Offered in Sacrifice: from the Earliest Times The Lamb: Offered in Sacrifice: Males The Lamb: Offered in Sacrifice: While Sucking The Lamb: The First Born of an Donkey to be Redeemed With The Lamb: The Image of, Was the First Impression of on Money The Lamb: The Shepherd's Care For The Lamb: The Young of the Flock The Lamb: Tribute often Paid In Related Terms The-not-beloved (1 Occurrence) Kir'iath-je'arim (18 Occurrences) Kirjathjearim (17 Occurrences) Vine-dressers (18 Occurrences) Kirjath-jearim (17 Occurrences) Kibroth-hattaavah (5 Occurrences) |
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