Sacrifice — Meaning in the Bible
Something offered to God, often an animal or food, given at an altar. The law describes several kinds of sacrifices; the New Testament speaks of Jesus' death as a sacrifice.
What it means
Leviticus describes burnt offerings, grain offerings, peace offerings, sin offerings and guilt offerings, each with its purpose. The prophets warned that sacrifice without justice and obedience was empty. Leviticus 1:1–4Leviticus 4:27–311 Samuel 15:22Hosea 6:6
Hebrews describes Christ's offering of himself once for all. Paul urges believers to offer themselves as a living sacrifice, and Hebrews calls praise a sacrifice. Hebrews 9:26Hebrews 10:10–14Romans 12:1Hebrews 13:15
Key passages
- Genesis 22:1–14 — God provides a ram.
- Leviticus 1:1–9 — The burnt offering.
- 1 Samuel 15:22 — To obey is better than sacrifice.
- Psalm 51:16–17 — A broken spirit.
- Hebrews 10:1–14 — One sacrifice for sins.
- Romans 12:1 — A living sacrifice.
Different senses
- Offerings at the altar
- Animal and grain offerings in Israel's worship. Leviticus 1:2
- Christ's sacrifice
- Jesus' death understood as an offering for sins. Hebrews 9:26
- Life and praise
- Believers' lives and praise offered to God. Romans 12:1Hebrews 13:15
Original language
קׇרְבָּן qor.ban
Hebrew · Strong’s H7133a · gloss: “offering”
The Hebrew word qorban, offering, "something brought near". Leviticus 1:2
A Strong’s number is a reference identifier, not a complete definition: what a word means in a passage depends on its context. Lexical data: STEPBible.org, based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).
Study further
- Genesis 22:1–19 Abraham and Isaac.
- Psalm 51 What God desires.
- Hebrews 10:1–18 Once for all.