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Word Studies

עֹלָה (olah) -- H5930 -- Burnt Offering

Original: עֹלָה (or עוֹלָה) Transliteration: ʻôlâh Pronunciation: o-law Part of Speech: Feminine noun Definition: Feminine active participle of H5927 (alah, "to go up/ascend"); a step or (collectively, stairs, as ascending); usually a holocaust (as going up in smoke): ascent, burnt offering (sacrifice), go up to. Occurrences: 289 (BLB) / 302 total translation instances

Root Meaning

The word derives from the verb עלה (alah, "to go up, ascend"). The burnt offering is literally "the ascending one" -- it goes up entirely in smoke to God. This root meaning captures the essence: the offering ascends wholly to God, nothing kept back.

Translations

Overwhelmingly translated as "burnt offering" or "burnt sacrifice" in virtually all occurrences. Notable exception: "and his ascent" (1 Ki 10:5) and "to go up to it" (1x) -- preserving the root meaning.

LXX Greek Equivalents

  1. ὁλοκαύτωμα (holokautōma, G3646) -- "whole-burnt-offering" (163x, score 32.23) -- the primary LXX translation; Greek also captures the "whole" (holos) consumption
  2. ἀναφέρω (anapherō, G399) -- "to carry/offer up" (57x) -- used in Heb 7:27; 1 Pe 2:24
  3. θυσία (thysia, G2378) -- "sacrifice" (77x) -- generic sacrifice term
  4. ἀμνός (amnos, G286) -- "lamb" (35x) -- used in John 1:29,36; 1 Pe 1:19
  5. εὐωδία (euōdia, G2175) -- "fragrance" (22x) -- used in Eph 5:2 ("sweetsmelling savour")

Key Verses

  • Lev 1:3-4 -- The foundational passage: male without blemish, voluntary, hand-laying, acceptance, atonement
  • Lev 1:9,13,17 -- Triple repetition: "a sweet savour unto the LORD"
  • Lev 6:9-13 -- Perpetual fire on altar; burnt offering burned all night
  • Gen 22:2,13 -- Abraham and Isaac; the first great burnt offering narrative
  • Exo 29:38-42 -- The daily (tamid) burnt offering, morning and evening
  • Psa 40:6 -- "Burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required" (quoted Heb 10:6)
  • 1 Sa 15:22 -- "Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings...as in obeying?"
  • Isa 1:11 -- "I am full of the burnt offerings of rams"

Distinctive Characteristics

  • WHOLLY consumed on altar (burn ALL, Lev 1:9,13) -- nothing returned to offerer
  • Male only (Lev 1:3,10) -- unlike peace/sin offerings
  • "Sweet savour" (re'ach nichoach) -- the ascending fragrance
  • Blood sprinkled ROUND ABOUT the altar (Lev 1:5,11)
  • Result: "accepted for him to make atonement" (Lev 1:4) -- NOT the forgiveness formula (salach)

חַטָּאת (chattat) -- H2403 -- Sin / Sin Offering

Original: חַטָּאָה (chaṭṭâʼâh) or חַטָּאת (chaṭṭâʼth) Transliteration: chaṭṭâʼâh Pronunciation: khat-taw-aw Part of Speech: Feminine noun Definition: From H2398 (chata, "to miss the mark/sin"); an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiation; also (concretely) an offender: punishment (of sin), purifying(-fication for sin), sin(-ner, offering). Occurrences: 296 (BLB) / 306 total translation instances

The Double Meaning

This is the most theologically significant feature: THE SAME WORD means both: 1. "Sin" -- the problem (his sin, their sin, my sin: ~45% of occurrences) 2. "Sin offering" -- the solution (for a sin offering, the sin offering: ~25% of occurrences)

The word that names the disease also names the cure. In Lev 4:3 the same root (חטא) appears three times: the verb "to sin" (yecheta'), the noun "his sin" (chattatō), and the noun "for a sin offering" (lechattāt).

LXX Greek Equivalents

  1. ἁμαρτία (hamartia, G266) -- "sin" (242x) -- the primary LXX translation; SAME double meaning appears in 2 Cor 5:21 where hamartia can mean "sin" or "sin offering"
  2. περί (peri, G4012) -- "concerning" (96x) -- in the phrase "peri hamartias" (= "concerning sin" / "for sin offering")

Key Verses

  • Lev 4:3 -- "for his sin (chattat) which he hath sinned...for a sin offering (chattat)" -- double usage in one verse
  • Lev 4:20,26,31,35 -- The forgiveness formula: "the priest shall make atonement...and it shall be FORGIVEN (salach)"
  • 2 Cor 5:21 -- "He made him who knew no sin (hamartia) to be sin (hamartia) for us" -- exact NT parallel of the double meaning
  • Gen 4:7 -- Earliest occurrence: "sin (chattat) lieth at the door" -- could also mean "a sin offering is crouching at the door"

Graduated System (Lev 4)

Offerer Animal Blood Destination
Anointed Priest Young bullock 7x before veil + incense altar horns
Whole Congregation Young bullock 7x before veil + incense altar horns
Ruler Male kid of goats Horns of burnt offering altar
Common Person Female kid/lamb Horns of burnt offering altar

אָשָׁם (asham) -- H817 -- Guilt / Trespass Offering

Original: אָשָׁם (ʼâshâm) Transliteration: ʼâshâm Pronunciation: aw-shawm Part of Speech: Masculine noun Definition: From H816 (asham verb, "to be guilty"); guilt; by implication, a fault; also a sin-offering: guiltiness, (offering for) sin, trespass (offering). Occurrences: 46 (BLB) / 47 total translation instances

Word Family

  • H816 אָשַׁם (asham verb) -- "to be guilty, to offend, to be punished"
  • H817 אָשָׁם (asham noun) -- "guilt, trespass offering"
  • H818 אָשֵׁם (ashem) -- "guilty, one who presents a guilt offering"
  • H819 אַשְׁמָה (ashmah) -- "guiltiness, the fault itself"

What Distinguishes It from Sin Offering

  1. Addresses SPECIFIC, quantifiable violations (not general sinfulness)
  2. Requires RESTITUTION: principal + one-fifth (20%) to the wronged party
  3. Not graduated by economic status -- always a ram
  4. Two categories: against holy things (Lev 5:14-16) and against neighbors (Lev 6:1-7)

The Isaiah 53:10 Connection

"When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin [ASHAM]"

This is H817 specifically -- NOT chattat. The Servant of Isaiah 53 is the guilt/trespass offering. This is profoundly significant because the asham requires restitution of MORE than what was taken (principal + 20%). Christ as asham does not merely cancel sin but RESTORES MORE than what sin destroyed.

Key Verses

  • Lev 5:14-16 -- Trespass against holy things + restitution + one-fifth
  • Lev 6:1-7 -- Trespass against neighbor: lying, stealing, deception; requires restitution + one-fifth + ram
  • Lev 7:1-7 -- "Most holy"; eaten by priests in holy place
  • Isa 53:10 -- The Servant's soul as ASHAM (guilt offering specifically)
  • 1 Sa 6:3-4 -- Philistines send asham with the ark (even pagan nations sense the need for guilt offering)
  • Ezr 10:19 -- Post-exilic community offers asham

שֶׁלֶם (shelem) -- H8002 -- Peace Offering

Original: שֶׁלֶם (shelem) Transliteration: shelem Pronunciation: sheh-lem Part of Speech: Masculine noun Definition: From H7999 (shalam, "to be complete/in peace"); properly, requital, i.e. a (voluntary) sacrifice in thanks: peace offering. Occurrences: 87 (BLB) / 88 total translation instances

Root Connection to Shalom

The word derives from the same root as שָׁלוֹם (shalom, "peace, completeness, welfare"). The peace offering is about COMPLETED relationship -- the restoration of fellowship, wholeness, and well-being between God, priest, and worshiper.

The Shared Meal -- Unique Feature

The peace offering is the ONLY sacrifice where the offerer eats part: - God receives: the fat (burned on altar, Lev 3:3-5,9-11,14-16) - Priest receives: the breast (wave) and right shoulder (heave), Lev 7:31-34 - Worshiper eats: the remainder of the flesh

This makes it a communion meal -- all three parties share the same sacrifice.

Three Subtypes (Lev 7:11-16)

  1. Thanksgiving (todah, H8426) -- eaten same day (Lev 7:15)
  2. Vow -- eaten same day and next day (Lev 7:16)
  3. Freewill -- eaten same day and next day (Lev 7:16)

Key Verses

  • Lev 3:1-17 -- Core chapter: blood sprinkled round about; fat burned; "food of the offering"
  • Lev 7:11-34 -- Three subtypes; priest's portions; eating rules
  • Lev 9:18,22 -- In consecration order: LAST offering (after sin and burnt)
  • Eph 2:14 -- "He is our peace" (eirēnē, the Greek equivalent of shalom)
  • 1 Cor 10:16-18 -- Communion as shared meal: "are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?"

NT Fulfillment

The Lord's Supper fulfills the peace offering typology: a shared meal where God, Christ (the priest), and believers all participate. "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?" (1 Cor 10:16).

מִנְחָה (minchah) -- H4503 -- Grain/Meat Offering, Present, Tribute

Original: מִנְחָה (minchâh) Transliteration: minchâh Pronunciation: min-khaw Part of Speech: Feminine noun Definition: From an unused root meaning to apportion/bestow; a donation; euphemistically, tribute; specifically a sacrificial offering (usually bloodless and voluntary): gift, oblation, (meat) offering, present, sacrifice. Occurrences: 211 (BLB) / 221 total translation instances

Non-Cultic Uses (Significant)

The word has a broader meaning than just "grain offering": - Gen 4:3-5 -- Cain's minchah (the FIRST minchah in Scripture -- and it was rejected) - Gen 32:14,19,21 -- Jacob's "present" to Esau (a gift to appease) - Gen 43:11,15,25,26 -- "Present" for the ruler of Egypt - Jdg 3:15-18 -- Ehud's "present" to the king of Moab (tribute) - 1 Sa 10:27 -- "Presents" brought to the newly anointed king - 2 Sam 8:2,6 -- "Gifts/tribute" from subject nations

The basic meaning is "gift" or "tribute" -- an expression of allegiance, gratitude, or homage. In the cultic context, it is the worshiper's gift of the fruit of their labor.

The Bloodless Offering

This is the ONLY major offering category with no blood. It represents: - Human labor and livelihood (fine flour = processed grain) - Dedication of life's work to God - NOT substitutionary death, but consecration of daily life

Ingredients and Prohibitions

  • Fine flour (soleth, H5560) -- wheat, ground and sifted
  • Oil (shemen) -- olive oil poured on it
  • Frankincense (levonah) -- aromatic resin placed on top
  • NO leaven (Lev 2:11) -- leaven = corruption/sin (cf. 1 Cor 5:6-8)
  • NO honey (Lev 2:11) -- natural sweetness, perhaps representing earthly pleasure
  • ALWAYS salt (Lev 2:13) -- "the salt of the covenant of thy God"

Key Verses

  • Lev 2:1-16 -- Core chapter
  • Lev 2:2,9,16 -- The azkarah (memorial portion) burned on altar
  • Lev 6:14-23 -- Priest's grain offering wholly burned (not eaten)

סָלַח (salach) -- H5545 -- To Forgive, Pardon

Original: סָלַח (çâlach) Transliteration: çâlach Pronunciation: saw-lakh Part of Speech: Verb Definition: A primitive root; to forgive: forgive, pardon, spare. Occurrences: 46 (BLB) / 49 total translation instances

The Levitical Forgiveness Formula

The most significant cluster of this word appears in the Levitical sacrificial texts as a formulaic result clause: "and it shall be forgiven" (venislach):

Verse Context Offering Type
Lev 4:20 Congregation sin offering Sin offering (chattat)
Lev 4:26 Ruler sin offering Sin offering (chattat)
Lev 4:31 Common person sin offering Sin offering (chattat)
Lev 4:35 Common person (lamb) Sin offering (chattat)
Lev 5:10 Poor person's substitute Sin offering (birds)
Lev 5:13 Poorest person's substitute Sin offering (flour)
Lev 5:16 Trespass against holy things Trespass offering (asham)
Lev 5:18 Uncertain sin Trespass offering (asham)
Lev 19:22 Sexual trespass Trespass offering (asham)
Num 15:25,26,28 Congregational/individual sin Sin offering

What NEVER Produces Salach

  • The BURNT offering (olah) -- result is "accepted" (ratsah) and "atonement" (kaphar), NOT "forgiven" (salach)
  • The PEACE offering (shelamim) -- no result clause at all; it celebrates existing fellowship
  • The GRAIN offering (minchah) -- no forgiveness language

Grammatical Note

In the Levitical formula, salach appears as a Niphal perfect (venislach) -- passive voice. The one who forgives is GOD, not the priest. The priest makes atonement (kipper, Piel active); God forgives (salach, Niphal passive). The divine passive: forgiveness is received, not achieved.

Non-Levitical Occurrences

  • Jer 31:34 -- "I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more" (the new covenant promise)
  • Psa 103:3 -- "Who forgiveth all thine iniquities"
  • Isa 55:7 -- "Let him return unto the LORD...for he will abundantly pardon"
  • Dan 9:19 -- "O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive"
  • 2 Chr 7:14 -- "If my people...I will...forgive their sin"

כָּלִיל (kalil) -- H3632 -- Wholly Consumed, Complete

Original: כָּלִיל (kâlîyl) Transliteration: kâlîyl Pronunciation: kaw-leel Part of Speech: Adjective/adverb/substantive Definition: From H3634; complete; as noun, the whole (specifically, a sacrifice entirely consumed); as adverb, fully: all, every whit, flame, perfect(-ion), utterly, whole burnt offering (sacrifice), wholly. Occurrences: 15

Key Verses

  • Lev 6:22 -- "It is a statute for ever unto the LORD; it shall be wholly (kalil) burnt"
  • 1 Sam 7:9 -- "Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a whole (kalil) burnt offering"
  • Psa 51:19 -- "Then shalt thou be pleased...with burnt offering and whole (kalil) burnt offering"
  • Deu 33:10 -- "They shall put incense before thee, and whole (kalil) burnt sacrifice upon thine altar"

Significance

Reinforces the TOTAL consumption nature of the burnt offering. The kalil is the sacrifice that holds nothing back -- completely consumed, entirely given to God.

אַזְכָּרָה (azkarah) -- H234 -- Memorial Offering

Original: אַזְכָּרָה (ʼazkârâh) Transliteration: ʼazkârâh Pronunciation: az-kaw-raw Part of Speech: Feminine noun Definition: From H2142 (zakar, "to remember"); a reminder; specifically remembrance-offering: memorial. Occurrences: 7

All Occurrences

  • Lev 2:2 -- The handful of flour + oil + all frankincense = "the memorial" burned on altar
  • Lev 2:9 -- Memorial of the grain offering burned as sweet savour
  • Lev 2:16 -- Memorial of firstfruits grain offering
  • Lev 5:12 -- Flour sin offering substitute: handful as memorial
  • Lev 6:15 -- Priest's grain offering memorial
  • Lev 24:7 -- Frankincense on the showbread "for a memorial"
  • Num 5:26 -- Jealousy offering: handful as memorial

Significance

The memorial portion is the representative part that ascends to God on behalf of the whole. It functions as a "reminder" before God -- not that God forgets, but as a formal presentation before the divine presence. Only a handful is burned; the rest goes to the priests. This principle of the representative part standing for the whole has typological significance.

ἱλαστήριον (hilasterion) -- G2435 -- Propitiation / Mercy Seat

Original: ἱλαστήριον (hilastērion) Transliteration: hilastḗrion Pronunciation: hil-as-tay-ree-on Part of Speech: Neuter noun Definition: Neuter of a derivative of G2433 (hilaskomai, "to be propitious/make atonement"); an expiatory place or thing. Occurrences: 2 (NT) + multiple in LXX

NT Occurrences

  1. Rom 3:25 -- "Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation (hilasterion) through faith in his blood"
  2. Heb 9:5 -- "And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat (hilasterion)"

LXX Background

In the Septuagint, hilasterion translates H3727 כַּפֹּרֶת (kapporeth) -- the "mercy seat," the gold lid of the ark of the covenant where atoning blood was sprinkled on the Day of Atonement (Lev 16:14-15). LXX occurrences: Exo 25:17,18; 37:6; 38:7; Lev 16:2.

Theological Bridge

The SAME Greek word means both: - The PLACE where atonement happens (the mercy seat, Heb 9:5) - The PERSON through whom atonement happens (Christ, Rom 3:25)

Christ IS the mercy seat -- the meeting place between God's justice and human sin. Where the high priest sprinkled blood on the kapporeth once a year, God "set forth" Christ as the hilasterion -- the permanent, public mercy seat.

  • G2643 καταλλαγή (katallagē) -- "reconciliation/exchange" -- the ONLY word translated "atonement" in KJV NT (Rom 5:11)
  • G286 ἀμνός (amnos) -- "sacrificial lamb" (John 1:29,36; Acts 8:32; 1 Pet 1:19)
  • G721 ἀρνίον (arnion) -- "triumphant lamb" (30x in Revelation)
  • G1793 ἐντυγχάνω (entugchanō) -- "to intercede" (Rom 8:27,34; Heb 7:25)

Greek Sacrifice Vocabulary from Hebrews 10:5-8

The Psalm 40 quotation in Hebrews maps Greek to Hebrew sacrifice types: 1. θυσία (thysia) = "sacrifice" -- general slain offering (zebach) 2. προσφορά (prosphora) = "offering" -- broader term (qorban/minchah) 3. ὁλοκαύτωμα (holokautōma) = "whole-burnt-offering" -- olah 4. περὶ ἁμαρτίας (peri hamartias) = "concerning sin" -- chattat (sin offering)

All four are declared insufficient; replaced by "a body thou hast prepared me" (Heb 10:5) and "the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all" (Heb 10:10).