In biblical terms, a votive refers to a vow or a solemn promise made to God, often accompanied by an offering or sacrifice. The concept of votive offerings is deeply rooted in the religious practices of the Israelites, as described in the Old Testament. These offerings were made in fulfillment of vows and were considered acts of devotion and gratitude towards God.

Old Testament Context

The practice of making vows and votive offerings is well-documented in the Old Testament. In Genesis 28:20-22, Jacob makes a vow to God, saying, "If God will be with me and watch over me on this journey, and if He will provide me with food to eat and clothes to wear, so that I may return safely to my father’s house, then the LORD will be my God. And this stone I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give You a tenth."

The Mosaic Law provided specific instructions regarding vows and votive offerings. In Leviticus 27, the Lord gives Moses detailed regulations about making vows, including the redemption of votive offerings. The chapter outlines the valuation of persons, animals, houses, and fields dedicated to the Lord, emphasizing the seriousness and binding nature of vows.

Numbers 30:2 underscores the importance of fulfilling vows: "When a man makes a vow to the LORD or swears an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word; he must do everything he has promised." This passage highlights the expectation that vows made to God are to be honored and fulfilled without exception.

Types of Votive Offerings

Votive offerings in the Old Testament could take various forms, including sacrifices, monetary gifts, or the dedication of objects or persons to the service of God. The peace offering, as described in Leviticus 7:16, could be made as a votive offering: "If, however, his offering is a vow or a freewill offering, it shall be eaten on the day he presents his sacrifice, but anything left over may be eaten on the next day."

Hannah's vow in 1 Samuel 1:11 is a notable example of a votive offering involving the dedication of a person. She prayed for a son and vowed to dedicate him to the Lord's service: "And she made a vow, saying, 'O LORD of Hosts, if only You will look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall ever come over his head.'"

New Testament Perspective

While the New Testament does not emphasize votive offerings to the same extent as the Old Testament, the concept of vows and promises to God remains significant. Jesus addresses the issue of vows in Matthew 5:33-37, urging His followers to speak truthfully without the need for oaths: "Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, 'Do not break your oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.' But I tell you not to swear at all... Let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.' For anything more comes from the evil one."

The Apostle Paul also made a vow, as recorded in Acts 18:18, where he "had his hair cut off at Cenchrea because of a vow he had taken." This indicates that the practice of making vows continued among early Christians, though the emphasis shifted towards a more internal and spiritual commitment to God.

Theological Significance

Votive offerings in the Bible underscore the importance of commitment and faithfulness in one's relationship with God. They serve as tangible expressions of devotion, gratitude, and reliance on divine providence. The biblical narrative consistently portrays vows as serious commitments that reflect the integrity and sincerity of the believer's heart.(a.) Consecrated by a vow; devoted; as, votive offerings; a votive tablet.331. anathema -- that which is laid up, ie a votive offering
... that which is laid up, ie a votive offering. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: anathema Phonetic Spelling: (an-ath'-em-ah) Short Definition: a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/331.htm - 7k

334. anathema -- a gift set up (in a temple)
... Word Origin from anatithemi Definition a gift set up (in a temple) NASB
Word Usage votive gifts (1). votive offering, gift. From ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/334.htm - 6k

2878. korban -- an offering
... Korbanas (kor-ban-as') of Hebrew and Chaldee origin respectively (qorban); a votive
offering and the offering; a consecrated present (to the Temple fund); by ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2878.htm - 6k

2171. euche -- a prayer
... prayer, vow. From euchomai; properly, a wish, expressed as a petition to God,
or in votive obligation -- prayer, vow. see GREEK euchomai. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2171.htm - 6k

5088. neder -- a vow
... Word Origin from nadar Definition a vow NASB Word Usage votive (3), votive offering
(1), votive offerings (5), vow (26), vows (24). vowed. ...
/hebrew/5088.htm - 6k

This is the Reason, Then, Why Christians are Counted Public ...
... Poor we, worthy of all condemnation! For why do we keep the votive days and high
rejoicings in honour of the C??sars with chastity, sobriety, and virtue? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/apology/chapter xxxv this is the.htm

The Conclusion an Examination and Comparison of Each of the Three ...
... of man under the law of sin. (7.) In the distorted meaning given to the
votive exclamation. (8.) In assigning to a regenerate man ...
/.../the works of james arminius vol 2/the conclusion an examination and.htm

The Cavils of the Pharisees Concerning Purification, and the ...
... Still, we feel as if this were not all. Was there any special instance in view,
in which the Rabbinic law about votive offerings had led to such abuse? ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxxi the cavils of.htm

List of Illustrations.
... FRAGMENT OF A LAMP INSCRIBED WITH THE NAME OF MINERVA 63. VOTIVE HEAD 63. THE
CLIFFS UNDER THE CITADEL OF VEII (NOW CALLED PIAZZA D'ARMI) 65. ...
/.../lanciani/pagan and christian rome/list of illustrations.htm

Letter vi. In My Last Two Letters I have Given the State of the ...
... More confident still will he be, if, by the wayside, he should find, here and there,
ancient monuments, each with its votive lamp, and on each the name of some ...
/.../coleridge/confessions of an inquiring spirit etc/letter vi in my last.htm

Of the Respect Due to "Human Authority;" and of the Charges of " ...
... having been commanded by God to man, have constituted this practice legally binding;
some, offered by man to God, have discharged some votive obligation. ...
/.../on fasting in opposition to the psychics/chapter xi of the respect due.htm

Last Journey of Jesus to Jerusalem.
... than he, wished him to notice the beauty of the buildings of the temple, the admirable
choice of materials, and the richness of the votive offerings that ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/renan/the life of jesus/chapter xxi last journey of.htm

David's Dying Prayer
... The lowing of the cattle, the singing of the birds, the leaping of the fishes, and
the delights of animal creation, are still acceptable as votive offerings to ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/davids dying prayer.htm

Teaching in the Temple on the Octave of the Feast of Tabernacles.
... the so-called Shopharoth, or trumpets' - were placed, [4034] or one of the two chambers'
in which, respectively, secret gifts [4035] and votive offerings [4036 ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter viii teaching in the.htm

The Connection of the Seventh Chapter with the Sixth
... verses.20. A votive exclamation for the deliverance of a man who is under
the law, occurs in the twenty-fourth verse.21. An answer ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 2/the connection of the seventh.htm

Votive (13 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Consecrated by a vow; devoted; as, votive offerings;
a votive tablet. Multi-Version Concordance Votive (13 Occurrences). ...
/v/votive.htm - 10k

Babylonia (17 Occurrences)
... Babylonia was carried into the country, either by man or by inundations, still in
certain periods it was used freely for statues, steles, votive objects, and ...
/b/babylonia.htm - 75k

Writing (194 Occurrences)
... magic, the medicine bag, the prayer stick, pillars, meteoric stones, etc., for worship,
collections of liturgical objects, fetishes, votive offerings, trophies ...
/w/writing.htm - 70k

Monthly (11 Occurrences)
... sacrifice of peace offerings"; zebhach ha-todhah, "thank offerings"; zebhach nedhabhah,
"free-will offerings"; zebhach nedher, "votive offerings"; tenuphah ...
/m/monthly.htm - 93k

Voted (1 Occurrence)

/v/voted.htm - 6k

Vouch (1 Occurrence)

/v/vouch.htm - 7k

Unknown (15 Occurrences)
... could not have this meaning. Perhaps a votive inscription is meant, where the
worshipper did not know which god to thank for some benefit received. ...
/u/unknown.htm - 13k

Emerods (8 Occurrences)
... it the word techorim, a term which occurs in the next chapter in the description
of the golden models of these swellings that were made as votive offerings (1 ...
/e/emerods.htm - 11k

Corban (2 Occurrences)
... Anything dedicated to the temple by pronouncing the votive word "Corban" forthwith
belonged to the temple, but only ideally; actually it might remain in the ...
/c/corban.htm - 9k

Ahimelech (17 Occurrences)
... Men deposited votive offerings there, the sword of Goliath, for example (1 Samuel
21:9). There seems to have been some kind of police authority, whereby a ...
/a/ahimelech.htm - 20k

Is it allowable to use candles in connection with prayer? | GotQuestions.org

Votive: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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