A Brighter Day Begins with His Word.

BIBLE DICTIONARY + WORD STUDY

Sacrifice

Original Hebrew / Aramaic / Greek connected to this term

How to read this: there is rarely one magic “true meaning” hidden behind an English word. A lexicon records a word’s semantic range. The intended meaning is narrowed by grammar, sentence, author, historical usage and context.

HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H2077

זֶ֫בַח

ze.vach — sacrifice

1) sacrifice 1a) sacrifices of righteousness 1b) sacrifices of strife 1c) sacrifices to dead things 1d) the covenant sacrifice 1e) the passover 1f) annual sacrifice 1g) thank offering

147 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G2378

θυσία

thusia — sacrifice

θυσία, -ας, ἡ (θύω) [in LXX chiefly for מִנְחָה, זָבַח ;] 1. actively, an offering, sacrifice (Hdt., al.) 2. Objectively, that which is offered, a sacrifice: Mat.9:13 12:7" (LXX), Mrk.9:49 (WH, mg.), Eph.5:2, Heb.10:5, 26; pl. (as usually in cl.), Mrk.12:33, Luk.13:1, Heb.9:23 10:1, 8, (θ. καὶ προσφοράς); θ. ἀνάγειν, Act.7:41; ἀναφέρειν, Heb.7:27; προσφέρειν, Act.7:42, Heb.5:1 8:3 (δῶρά τε καὶ θ.) Heb.10:11-12 11:4; δοῦναι, Luk.2:24; pass., Heb.9:9; διὰ τῆς θ. αὐτοῦ, Heb.9:26; ἐσθίειν τὰς θ. (Lev.7:15 ff) 1Co.10:18. Metaphorical, Php.4:18, Heb.13:16; θ. πνευματικαί, 1Pe.2:5; θ. ζῶσα, Rom.12:1; θ. αἰνέσεως, Heb.13:15; θ. . . . τ. πίστεως, Php.2:17.† (AS)

28 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G4160

ποιέω

poieō — to do/make: do

ποιέω, -ῶ, [in LXX for a great variety of words, but chiefly for עשׂה ;] 1. to make, produce, create, cause: with accusative of thing(s), Mat.17:4, Mrk.9:5, Jhn.9:11, Act.9:39, Rom.9:20, al.; of God as Creator (with accusative of person(s) also), Mat.19:4, Mrk.10:6, Luk.11:40, Act.4:24, Heb.1:2, al.; like Heb. עשׂה, absol. = ἐργάζομαι, to work, Mat.20:12 (cf. Rut.2:19; so AV, but see infr.), Rev.13:5, R, mg. (but see infr.); σκάνδαλα, Rom.16:17; εἰρεήνην, Eph.2:15, Jas.3:18; ἐπίστασιν, Act.24:12; συστροφήν, Act.23:12; with accusative of thing(s) and dative of person(s), Luk.1:68, Act.15:3; with nouns expressing action or its accomplishment, forming a periphr. for the cogn. verb: ὁδόν π. (cl. ὁ ποιεῖσθαι), to go on, advance, Mrk.2:23; πόλεμον, Rev.11:7, al.; ἐκδίκησιν, Luk.18:7, 8; ἐνέδραν, Act.25:3; κρίσιν, Jhn.5:27, Ju 15; ἔργα, Jhn.5:36, al.; (σημεῖα), Jhn.2:23 and freq., Act.2:22, al.; so also mid. ποιεῖσθαι: μονήν, Jhn.14:23; πορείαν, Luk.13:22; κοινωνίαν, Rom.15:26; of food, to make ready, prepare: δεῖπνον, Mrk.6:21, al.; δοχήν, Luk.5:29 14:13; γάμους, Mat.22:2; of time, to spend (cl.): ὥραν, Mat.20:12, RV (but see supr. and cf. McN, in l.); μῆνας, Rev.13:5, R, txt. (cf. Swete, in l.; but see supr.); ἐνιαυτόν, Jas.4:13; with accusative before ἐκ, Jhn.2:15, al.; with accusative and accusative pred., Mat.3:3 12:16, Mrk.1:3 3:12, Jhn.5:11, al.; with adv., καλῶς, Mrk.7:37; ἑορτὴν π. (Dem., Exo.23:16, al.), Act.18:21, Rec.; πάσχα, Mat.26:18; to make or offer a sacrifice (Plat., Xen., al.; Job.42:8, 3Ki.11:33; so some understand τοῦτο ποιεῖτε, Luk.22:19, but see Abbott, Essays, 110ff.); before ἵνα (WM, 422f.; M, Pr., 228), Jhn.11:37, Col.4:16, Rev.3:9. 2. to do, perform, carry out, execute: absol., with adv., καλῶς π., Mat.12:12, 1Co.7:37, 38 Jas.2:19; id. before ptcp. (cl.; see M, Pr., 228), Act.10:33, Php.4:14, 2Pe.1:19, 3Jo.6; οὕτως, Mat.24:46, Luk.9:15, al.; ὡς (καθώς), Mat.1:24 2:16, al.; ὁμοίως, Luk.3:11; ὡσαύτως, Mat.20:5; with ptcp., ἀγνοῶν ἐποίησα, 1Ti.1:13; with accusative of thing(s): τί interrog., Mat.12:3, Mrk.2:25, Luk.6:2, al.; τοῦτο, Mat.13:28, Mrk.5:32, Luk.22:19 (WH om.; see supr., ref. to Abbott, Essays), Rom.7:20, al.; with nouns expressing command or regulation: τ. νόμον (not as in cl., to make a law), Jhn.7:19, Gal.5:3 (cf. in LXX, Jos.22:5, 1Ch.22:12, al.); τ. ἐντολάς, Mat.5:19; similarly with other nouns expressing conduct: τ. δικαιοσύνην, Mat.6:1, al.; τ. ἀλήθειαν, Jhn.3:21, al., etc.; with dupl. accusative, Mat.27:22, Mrk.15:12; with accusative of thing(s) and dative of person(s) (commod., incomm.; rare in cl.), Mat.7:12, Mrk.5:19, 20 Luk.1:49, Jhn.9:26, al. SYN.: πράσσω, which see The general distinction between the two words is that between particular action and its habitual performance (cf. Tr., Syn., §xcvi; Westc. on Jhn.3:21; ICC on Rom.1:32). (AS)

515 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G40

ἅγιος

hagios — holy

ἅγιος, -α, ον (τό ἅγός, religious awe; ἅζω, to venerate), [in LXX chiefly for קֹ֫דֶשׁ ;] primarily, dedicated to the gods, sacred (Hdt.; rare in Att., never in Hom., Hes. and Trag., who use ἁγνός), hence, holy, characteristic of God, separated to God, worthy of veneration. 1. Its highest application is to God himself, in his purity, majesty, and glory: Luk.1:49, Jhn.17:11, Rev.4:8. Hence (a) of things and places which have a claim to reverence as sacred to God, e.g. the Temple: Mat.24:15, Heb.9:1; (b) of persons employed by him, as angels: 1Th.3:13; prophets, Luk.1:70; apostles, Eph.3:5. 2. Applied to persons as separated to God's service: (a) of Christ, Mrk.1:24, Jhn.6:69, Act.4:30; (b) of Christians, Act.9:13, Rom.1:7, Heb.6:10, Rev.5:8. 3. In the moral sense of sharing God's purity: Mrk.6:20, Jhn.17:11, Act.3:14, Rev.3:7. 4. Of pure, clean sacrifices and offerings: 1Co.7:14, Eph.1:4. SYN.: ἁγνός, pure, both in ceremonial and spiritual sense; ἱερός (sacer), sacred, that which is inviolable because of its (external) relation to God; ὅσιος (sanctus as opposite to nefas), that which is based on everlasting ordinances of right. (Cf. Tr., Syn., §lxxxviii; DB, ii, 399 f.; Cremer, 34, 594-601; MM, VGT, see word) (AS)

212 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H4503

מִנְחָה

min.chah — offering

: offering/sacrifice 1) gift, tribute, offering, present, oblation, sacrifice, meat offering 1a) gift, present 1b) tribute 1c) offering (to God) 1d) grain offering

179 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H352

אַ֫יִל

a.yil — ram

1) ram 1a) ram (as food) 1b) ram (as sacrifice) 1c) ram (skin dyed red, for tabernacle)

139 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H2076

זָבַח

za.vach — to sacrifice

1) to slaughter, kill, sacrifice, slaughter for sacrifice 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to slaughter for sacrifice 1a2) to slaughter for eating 1a3) to slaughter in divine judgment 1b) (Piel) to sacrifice, offer sacrifice Aramaic equivalent: de.vach (דְּבַח "to sacrifice" H1684)

121 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H6999

קָטַר

qa.tar — to offer: burn

: burn v 1) to sacrifice, burn incense, burn sacrifices, make sacrifices smoke 1a) (Piel) 1a1) to make sacrifices smoke 1a2) to sacrifice 1b) (Pual) to smoke a sacrifice 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to make sacrifices smoke 1c2) to cause incense to smoke, offer incense 1c3) to make smoke upon 1d) (Hophal) to be made to smoke

111 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H8002

שֶׁ֫לֶם

she.lem — peace offering

1) peace offering, requital, sacrifice for alliance or friendship 1a) voluntary sacrifice of thanks

79 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H2220

זְרוֹעַ

ze.ro.a — arm

1) arm, forearm, shoulder, strength 1a) arm 1b) arm (as symbol of strength) 1c) forces (political and military) 1d) shoulder (of animal sacrificed)

73 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H7794

שׁוֹר

shor — cattle

1) ox, bull, a head of cattle 1a) for plowing, for food, as sacrifice Aramaic equivalent: tor (תּוֹר "bullock" H8450)

68 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G2411

ἱερόν

hieros — temple

ἱερός, -ά, όν [in LXX: Eze.28:18 (מִקְדָּשׁ); τό ἱ, 1Ch.29:4 (בַּיִת), Eze.45:19 (עֲזָרָה); very frequently in I Est.1:1-58 -4 Mac ;] 1. in Hom., marvellous, mighty, divine. 2. (Also in Hom, and later cl.) consecrated to the deity, sacred: pl., ἱ. γράμματα, 2Ti.3:15. 3. As subst., (a) (so in Hom.), τὰ ἱ., sacrifices, sacred rites, sacred things: 1Co.9:13; (b) later, τὸ ἱ.,., a consecrated or sacred place, a temple: τ. Ἀρτέμιδος, Act.19:27; of the temple at Jerusalem, i.e. the entire precincts or some part thereof (as distinct from ὁ ναός, which see, the Sanctuary proper): 1Co.9:13, and frequently in Gosp. and esp. in Ac, Mat.12:6, Mrk.13:3, Act.4:1, al. (on the use of ἱ. in Imperial Iuser., see Deiss., LAE, 380 f.) (AS)

67 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H7819

שָׁחַט

sha.chat — to slaughter

v 1) to kill, slaughter, beat 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to slaughter 1a1a) beast for food 1a1b) sacrifice 1a1c) person in human sacrifice 1a1d) beaten, hammered (of shekels) 1b) (Niphal) to be slaughtered, be slain (of food or sacrifice) Also means: sha.chat (שָׁחוּט "beaten" H7820)

64 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H7004

קְטֹ֫רֶת

qe.to.ret — incense

1) incense, smoke, odour of (burning) sacrifice 1a) sweet smoke of sacrifice 1b) incense 1c) perfume

55 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H7381

רֵיחַ

re.ach — aroma

1) scent, fragrance, aroma, odour 1a) scent, odour 1b) odour of soothing (technical term for sacrifice to God) Aramaic equivalent: re.ach (רֵיחַ "smell" H7382)

51 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H2282

חַג

chag — feast

1) festival, feast, festival-gathering, pilgrim-feast 1a) feast 1b) festival sacrifice

50 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G4374

προσφέρω

prospherō — to bring to

προσ-φέρω [in LXX chiefly for קָרַב hi. ;] 1. to bring to, lead to: with accusative and dative of person(s), Mat.4:24 8:16 9:2, 32 14:35 17:16, Mrk.2:4 (WH, R, txt.; sc. αὐτόν) Mrk.10:13, Luk.18:15 23:14; pass., Mat.12:22 (act., WH, txt.) Mat.18:24 (προσήχθη, WH) Mat.19:13; with accusative of thing(s), Mat.25:20; id. with dative of person(s), Mat.22:19, Luk.23:36; τ. στόματι, Jhn.19:29; metaphorically, with dative of person(s), to deal with, Heb.12:7 (cl.). 2. to offer: Mat.2:11, Act.8:18; esp. (as frequently in LXX; cf. FlJ, Ant., iii, 9, 3) sacrifices, gifts and prayers to God: absol., before περί (ὑπέρ), Mrk.1:44, Luk.5:14, Heb.5:1, 3 9:7 10:12; pass., Act.21:26; with accusative of thing(s) (δῶρον, θυσίαν, λυτρείαν, προσφοράν), Mat.5:23-24 (aoristic pres.; M, Pr., 247) Mat.8:4, Jhn.16:2, Act.7:42 21:26, Heb.5:1 8:3-4 9:7, 9 10:1-2, 8 10:11-12; δεήσεις τε κ. ἱκετηρίας, Heb.5:7; with accusative of person(s), Heb.11:17 (conative impf.; M, Pr., 129); of Christ, Heb.7:27 (ἀνενέγκας, WH, txt.) Heb.9:14, 25 9:28.† (AS)

45 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H6453

פֶּ֫סַח

pe.sach — Passover

Passover, 1a) sacrifice of passover 1b) animal victim of the passover 1c) festival of the passover Also named: pascha (πάσχα "Passover lamb" G3957)

45 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H3611

כֶּ֫לֶב

ke.lev — dog

1) dog 1a) dog (literal) 1b) contempt or abasement (fig.) 1c) of pagan sacrifice 1d) of male cult prostitute (fig.)

31 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H8426

תּוֹדָה

to.dah — thanksgiving

1) confession, praise, thanksgiving 1a) give praise to God 1b) thanksgiving in songs of liturgical worship, hymn of praise 1c) thanksgiving choir or procession or line or company 1d) thank-offering, sacrifice of thanksgiving 1e) confession

29 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H4541

מַסֵּכָה

mas.se.khah — liquid

1) a pouring, libation, molten metal, cast image, drink offering 1a) libation (with covenant sacrifice) 1b) molten metal, molten image, molten gods

28 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H8573

תְּנוּפָה

te.nu.phah — wave offering

1) swinging, waving, wave offering, offering 1a) a swinging, brandishing 1a1) of God's hand, weapons 1b) waving, wave-offering (technical term of sacrifice) 1c) offering (of gold or brass)

28 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G2379

θυσιαστήριον

thusiastērion — altar

θυσιαστήριον, -ου, τό (θυσιάζω, to sacrifice), [in LXX (where the word first appears) very freq., nearly always for מַדְבַּח ;] an altar: (a) generally, Jas.2:21; pl., Rom.11:3 (LXX); metaphorically, Heb.13:10 (see Westc., in l, and esp. his add, note on the history of the word, 455 ff.); (b) of the altar of burnt-offering in the Temple, Mat.5:23-24 23:18-20, 35, Luk.11:51, 1Co.9:13 10:18, Heb.7:13, Rev.11:1; (with) of the altar of incense in the sanctuary (Exo.30:1, al.), Luk.1:11; symbolically in Heaven, Rev.6:9 8:3 9:13 14:18 16:7 (Cremer, 292).† (AS)

21 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

Historical dictionary entry

The offering up of sacrifices is to be regarded as a divine institution. It did not originate with man. God himself appointed it as the mode in which acceptable worship was to be offered to him by guilty man. The language and the idea of sacrifice pervade the whole Bible. Sacrifices were offered in the ante-diluvian age. The Lord clothed Adam and Eve with the skins of animals, which in all probability had been offered in sacrifice (Gen. 3:21). Abel offered a sacrifice “of the firstlings of his flock” (4:4; Heb. 11:4). A distinction also was made between clean and unclean animals, which there is every reason to believe had reference to the offering up of sacrifices (Gen. 7:2, 8), because animals were not given to man as food till after the Flood. The same practice is continued down through the patriarchal age (Gen. 8:20; 12:7; 13:4, 18; 15:9-11; 22:1-18, etc.). In the Mosaic period of Old Testament history definite laws were prescribed by God regarding the different kinds of sacrifices that were to be offered and the manner in which the offering was to be made. The offering of stated sacrifices became indeed a prominent and distinctive feature of the whole period (Ex. 12:3-27; Lev. 23:5-8; Num. 9:2-14). (See ALTAR.) We learn from the Epistle to the Hebrews that sacrifices had in themselves no value or efficacy. They were only the “shadow of good things to come,” and pointed the worshippers forward to the coming of the great High Priest, who, in the fullness of the time, “was offered once for all to bear the sin of many.” Sacrifices belonged to a temporary economy, to a system of types and emblems which served their purposes and have now passed away. The “one sacrifice for sins” hath “perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” Sacrifices were of two kinds: 1. Unbloody, such as (1) first-fruits and tithes; (2) meat and drink-offerings; and (3) incense. 2. Bloody, such as (1) burnt-offerings; (2) peace-offerings; and (3) sin and trespass offerings. (See OFFERINGS.)

Scripture references

Source: Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897). Historical dictionary wording reflects the scholarship and language of its era.

Compare other reference traditions

Look up Sacrifice in Smith’s Bible Dictionary and ISBE →