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The Four Blood Sacrifices in the Old Testament

Many people miss the significance of the different kind of sacrifices in the Old Testament. These sacrifices are described in the beginning chapters of Leviticus and show up again and again in the Bible. For example, when the Psalms refers to David giving the Lord a Thank Offering, this tells us that David had experienced an unexpected deliverance. When we read about Peace Offerings we know that some of the offering was shared with the community (like a huge pot luck meal)!

There are four types of sacrifices. There are: (1) Burnt Offerings, (2) Sin Offerings, (3) Trespass Offerings, and (4) Peace Offerings. Here are the four blood sacrifices in the Old Testament . . .


NAME


PURPOSE


VICTIM


GOD'S PORTION

PRIEST'S PORTION

OFFERER'S PORTION

1. Burnt Offering
('olah)

Lev 1; 6:8-13; 8:18-21; 16:24

Offering of consecration

Male, unblemished: ox, sheep, goat, or dove (according to wealth)


Entire animal (hence called kalil, whole burnt offering)


Nothing

Nothing

2. Sin Offering
(Shatta't)

Lev 4:1-5:13; 6:24-30; 8:14-17; 16:3-22

To atone for specific transgressions where no restitution was possible

Applicable to the first five of the 10 commandments

Priest or congregation: bullock

Ruler: he-goat

Commoner: she-goat

Fatty portions (fat covering inwards; kidneys, liver, (caul)


All the remainder (had to be eaten within court of tabernacle

Nothing

3. Trespass Offering -- also called a Guilt Offering
('asham)

Lev 5:14-6:7; 7:1-6

To atone for specific transgressions

where restitution was possible, damages computed at six-fifths payable in advance. Legal satisfaction

Applicable to the second 5 of the 10 commandments.

Ram (only)

Fatty portions (fat covering inwards; kidneys, liver)

All the remainder (had to be eaten within court of tabernacle)

Nothing

4. Peace Offering (shelamin)

Peace Offerings are also called Fellowship Offerings in some translations of the Bible. You can read more about them in Leviticus 3. These offerings represented fellowship with God and with other believers. Peace Offerings were the only offering that the worshiper ate. In fact, they were a communion meal. In a symbolic sense everyone ate together: God, priest, worshiper, and others in the faith community.

There were actually three types of Peace Offerings. They are . . .

a. Thank Offering (towdah)

Lev 7:12-15

For an unexpected blessing or deliverance already granted by God

Unblemished male or female ox/sheep/goat

Fatty portions


1. Wave offering; breast--to high priest

2. Heave offering; right foreleg--to officiating priest (to be eaten in any clean place)

Remainder (eaten in court, the same day) -- this was a community meal eaten with others.

b. Votive Offering
(neder)

Lev 7:16

For blessing or deliverance already granted, when a vow had been made in support of the petition


Unblemished male or female ox/sheep/goat


Fatty portions


1. Wave offering; breast--to high priest

2. Heave offering; right foreleg--to officiating priest (to be eaten in any clean place)

Remainder (eaten in court, first or second day) -- this was a community meal eaten with others.

c. Freewill Offering
nedabah

Lev 7:16

To express general thankfulness and love toward God, without regard to specific blessings


Male or female ox/sheep/goat (minor imperfections permitted)


Fatty portions

1. Wave offering; breast--to high priest

2. Heave offering; right foreleg--to officiating priest (to be eaten in any clean place)

Remainder eaten in court, first or second day -- this was a community meal eaten with others.

06/24/08 10:23:58 AM Warren Rogers