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 Lev 1; 6:8-13; 8:18-21; 16:24 |
To propitiate for sin in general, original sin; a means of approach by unholy people to a holy God | Male, unblemished: ox, sheep, goat, or dove (according to wealth) | Entire animal (hence called kalil, whole burnt offering) | Nothing | Nothing |
|
2. Sin
Offering Lev 4:1-5:13; 6:24-30; 8:14-17; 16:3-22 |
To atone for specific transgressions where no restitution was possible |
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 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 | Ram (only) | Fatty portions (fat covering inwards; kidneys, liver, caul) | All the remainder (had to be eaten within court of tabernacle) | Nothing |
|
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 worshipper ate. In fact, they were a communion meal. In a symbolic sense everyone ate together: God, priest, worshipper, and others in the faith community. There were actually three types of Peace Offerings. They are . . . |
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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 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 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. |
These Old Testament offerings show us a lot about our salvation from God. Salvation must deal with our original sin (our sinfulness), our specific sins, and our need for legal satisfaction. Then we can rejoice in our peace relationship with God and have fellowship with Him and others.
P.S. -- There were also grain and drink offerings (Leviticus 2; 6:14-23). These grain and drink offerings usually accompanied the burnt offerings and peace offerings.
From Jon Gary Williams material