What is a…
burnt offering
Hebrew olah; i.e., “ascending”
A burnt offering is one that is consumed by fire, and regarded as ascending to God while being consumed.
Part of every offering was burnt in the sacred fire, but this was wholly burnt, a “whole burnt offering.” It was the most frequent form of sacrifice, and apparently the only one mentioned in the book of Genesis.
Such were the sacrifices offered by Abel (Genesis 4:3-4, here called minhah; i.e., “a gift”), Noah (Genesis 8:20), Abraham (Genesis 22:2, 7-8, 13), and by the Hebrews in Egypt (Exodus 10:25).
The law of Moses afterwards prescribed the occasions and the manner in which burnt sacrifices were to be offered. There were…
- the continual burnt offering — “two lambs of the first year day by day continually. The one lamb thou shalt offer in the morning; and the other lamb thou shalt offer at even” (Exodus 29:38-42 excerpt; Leviticus 6:9-13)
- “the burnt offering of every sabbath,” which was double the daily one (Numbers 28:9-10)
- “the burnt offering of every month” (28:11-15
- the offerings at the Passover (19-23)
- the offerings at Pentecost (Leviticus 23:16)
- the offerings at the feast of Trumpets (23:23-25)
- the offerings at the day of Atonement (Leviticus 16)
On other occasions special sacrifices were offered, as at the consecration of Aaron (Exodus 29) and the dedication of the temple (1 Kings 8:5, 62-64).
Free-will burnt offerings were also permitted (Leviticus 1:13), and were offered at the accession of Solomon to the throne (1 Chronicles 29:21), and at the reformation brought about by Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 29:31-35).
These offerings signified the complete dedication of the offerers unto God. In the New Testament, such worshipful dedication to God is referred to by the Apostle Paul in the book of Romans.
Therefore I exhort you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice—living, holy, and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. in Romans 12:1.
Burnt offerings for sin are no longer required of God’s people under His new covenant begun at when Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose again.
More information
- atonement
- sacrifice
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- altar
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