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

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
(hatta'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

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

Ram (only)

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

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 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 . . .

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.