What About
Sacrifices and Offerings?
Page 6
What does sacrifice mean? In English literature sacrifice means “giving up something valued” for any reason, thus describing “yielding or giving up” anything you now possess and consider important. Of the 259 times sacrifice appears in the K.J.V. Old Testament, 45 uses are implied without a Hebrew word in the texts. Of the remaining 214 translations of sacrifice, 203 are translated from zebach [H2077, 155 uses] and its primary root verb zabach [H2076, 48 uses]. James Strong says zebach [H2077] properly means “a slaughter; that is, the flesh of an animal; by implication, a sacrifice (the victim or the act).” He says the primary root verb zabach [H2076] means “to slaughter an animal (usually in sacrifice).” Really? James Strong derives his definitions of Hebrew words from the way in they are used in the translation [which is essentially the same way all dictionaries are developed], but such derivation is founded on the assumption that the translation is correct. Is it? Brown, Driver, and Briggs, in their Lexicon (pp. 256-258), follow the same course. Dare we challenge these resources? Absolutely! Step back and consider the wider picture this Hebrew word presents. To kill (sacrifice or slaughter) something is simply to bring to a complete end. Thus, if you sacrifice or slaughter (kill) something, you finish it, you stop its activity, you overpower and ruin it, or you destroy it. The opposite of slaughtering is reviving, restoring, renewing.
What is an offering? Offering is from minchah [H4503], meaning “a donation, something given freely; tribute, something required or demanded; specifically, a sacrificial offering (usually bloodless and voluntary),” from an unused root meaning “to apportion, to bestow.” An offering is anything which is given away: contribution, gift, present, something surrendered.
Pulling these insights together, we have the following truths: the true Scriptural sacrificial system is Yehuveh’s practical purpose that we bring our self-cherished ways [“inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit”] to a complete end by yielding them to His instruction. This clarification carries to every Old Testament discussion of blood-sacrifices, literally life-sacrifices. In every case, the righteous give up their own cherished ways of life [their own wisdom, understanding, and knowledge] to receive Yehuveh’s life [sound wisdom, understanding, knowledge]. “Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.” “For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life.” “He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.” “Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.” Jeremiah 16:17; Proverbs 4:13; 6:23; 10:17; 16:22.
These pieces completely change all the apparent Old Testament allusions to blood sacrifices listed above: Cain’s and Abel’s offerings [Genesis 4:3-4]; Abraham’s alleged sacrifice of Isaac [Genesis 22:1-18]; the blood sprinkled on the doorposts for the Passover night slaughter of the firstborn sons of Egypt [Exodus 12:22]; the detailed instructions regarding sacrifices throughout Exodus and Leviticus. Each are discussed in detail in the links.
What are Altars?
Altar is from mizbeach [H4196], which is simply the prefix ? [mem] meaning “from,” joined to the word sacrifice, zebach [H2077] discussed above. An altar is simply any place or circumstance in which you make a sacrifice, any situation in which you “give up something valued” for any reason. An altar is any place where we make full surrender, either of ourselves, our values, our possessions, or anything else which influences us. Upon leaving the ark after a year of confinement and protection, “Noah builded an altar unto Yehuveh; . . . and offered burnt offerings on the altar.” That is, Noah acknowledged Yehuveh’s awesome care by making that very place a location for offering up his “sacrifice of thanksgiving” and his “sacrifice of praise” to Yehuveh! Genesis 8:20; Psalms 116:17 [Amos 4:5]; Jeremiah 33:11.
Gael Bataman
Originally Written: 15 October 2008
Latest Update: 4 June 2010
Return to Zadok Home Continue . . . Return One Page Go to Section 4: Beliefs
Go to Historical Calendar Go to Daniel 11-12 Go to Revelation Go to Years of Returning (Darius)