WG: Altar and Sacrifice
Overview
The altar/sacrifice concept in the NT involves a cluster of words centered on θυσιαστήριον (the place of sacrifice), the cognate noun θυσία (the sacrifice itself), and the root verb θύω (to sacrifice/slay), along with key associated terms for what is offered and what is shed at the altar.
Word Group Members
| Strong's |
Word |
Transliteration |
POS |
Occurrences |
Role in Concept |
Library Entry |
| G2379 |
θυσιαστήριον |
thysiastērion |
noun (n) |
23 |
The place (altar) |
G2379 |
| G2378 |
θυσία |
thysía |
noun (f) |
29 |
The offering (sacrifice) |
G2378-thysia.md |
| G2380 |
θύω |
thyō |
verb |
14 |
The action (to sacrifice/slay) |
TODO(need G2380 study) |
| G1041 |
βωμός |
bōmós |
noun (m) |
1 |
Pagan altar (contrast) |
TODO(need G1041 study) |
| G1435 |
δῶρον |
dōron |
noun (n) |
19 |
The gift brought to the altar |
TODO(need G1435 study) |
| G129 |
αἷμα |
haîma |
noun (n) |
99 |
The blood shed at the altar |
G129-haima.md |
Relationships
Shared Roots
- θυσιαστήριον (G2379), θυσία (G2378), θύω (G2380) — all from root θύω (to rush/breathe hard/smoke → to sacrifice)
Co-occurrence (appear in same verses)
| Word A |
Word B |
Shared Verses |
Typical Context |
| θυσιαστήριον (G2379) |
δῶρον (G1435) |
4x |
"bring thy gift to the altar" (Matt 5:23-24, 23:18-19) |
| θυσιαστήριον (G2379) |
αἷμα (G129) |
2x |
Blood shed near the altar (Matt 23:35, Luke 11:51) |
| θυσιαστήριον (G2379) |
θυσία (G2378) |
1x |
Sacrifices and the altar (1 Cor 10:18) |
| θυσία (G2378) |
δῶρον (G1435) |
4x |
Gifts and sacrifices offered |
| θυσία (G2378) |
αἷμα (G129) |
1x |
Sacrifice involving blood |
LXX Bridge
| Greek |
Primary Hebrew Source |
Notes |
| θυσιαστήριον (G2379) |
מִזְבֵּחַ mizbêach (H4196) |
299x mapping — dominant OT altar term |
| θυσία (G2378) |
זֶבַח zebach (H2077) |
OT sacrifice/slaughter |
| βωμός (G1041) |
(not used in LXX for Israelite worship) |
Reserved for pagan altars in classical Greek |
Roles in the Concept
- Place: θυσιαστήριον (G2379) — where sacrifice happens
- Offering: θυσία (G2378) — the sacrifice itself (act or victim)
- Action: θύω (G2380) — the act of sacrificing/slaying
- Gift: δῶρον (G1435) — what is brought to the altar
- Blood: αἷμα (G129) — the life-substance shed in sacrifice
- Contrast: βωμός (G1041) — pagan altar (only Acts 17:23)
Key Passages Where Multiple Group Words Appear Together
- Matt 5:23-24 — θυσιαστήριον + δῶρον: "bring thy gift to the altar"
- Matt 23:18-19 — θυσιαστήριον + δῶρον: "the altar that sanctifieth the gift"
- 1 Cor 10:18 — θυσιαστήριον + θυσία: "eat of the sacrifices, partakers of the altar"
- Matt 23:35 — θυσιαστήριον + αἷμα: "righteous blood... between the temple and the altar"
Generated from: search_strongs.py, co-occurrence queries, strongs_translations.db
Last updated: 2026-03-31