Burnt Offering

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

'olah , "what ascends" in smoke to God, being wholly consumed to ashes. Also kaliyl , "perfect." Part of every offering was burnt in the sacred fire, the symbol of God's presence; but this was wholly burnt, as a "whole burnt offering." In  Genesis 8:20 is the first mention of it; Throughout Genesis it is seemingly the only sacrifice ( Genesis 15:9;  Genesis 15:17;  Genesis 22:2;  Genesis 22:7-8;  Genesis 22:13). It was the highest of gifts to God (eucharistic, prosforai , "offerings," Hebrew minchsh ), representing entire, unreserved dedication of the offerer, body, soul, spirit, will, to God ( Psalms 40:8-9;  Hebrews 10:5-6). The other kind of "sacrifices," namely, propitiatory (thusiai ) and sin offerings, are distinct ( Hebrews 10:8-9; compare  Exodus 10:25;  1 Samuel 15:22).

Other "gifts" to God were of a lower kind, only a part being given; as the meat (not flesh, but flour, etc.) offering, which was unbloody, and the peace offering, a thank offering ( 1 Kings 3:15;  1 Kings 8:64;  Psalms 51:17;  Psalms 51:19). The most perfect surrender of human will to God's is that of Jesus in the temptation, and agony, and on Calvary; the antitype to the whole burnt offering ( Hebrews 5:1-8). This could only be offered by one free from sin; therefore the sin offering always came first ( Exodus 29:36-38;  Leviticus 8:14;  Leviticus 8:18;  Leviticus 9:8;  Leviticus 9:12;  Leviticus 16:3;  Leviticus 16:5). So, only when we are first reconciled by Christ's atonement for our sin to God, can we "present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God" ( Romans 12:1).

A "meat offering" (flour and oil, fruits of the earth) accompanied the burnt offering; for when men dedicated themselves wholly to God they also dedicated the earthly gifts which He had given them ( Leviticus 9:16-17). It was to be brought of the offerer's own free will, and slain by himself, after he had laid his hands on its head, to mark it as his representative; a young bullock, or he goat, era turtle dove, or pigeon (if the person was poor), not to be divided in offering it. The skin alone was reserved.

There was a daily burnt offering, a lamb of the first year, every morning and evening ( Exodus 29:38-42); that for the sabbath double the daily one; the offering at the new moon of the three great feasts, Passover, pentecost, and tabernacles; also on the great day of atonement and the feast of trumpets; private burnt offerings at the consecration of a priest, etc., etc. ( Exodus 29:15) They were offered in vast numbers at Solomon's dedication of the temple; but ordinarily were restricted in extent by God, to preclude the idea of man's buying His favor by costly gifts. Jephthah's vow was without divine warrant, and due to the half paganism of his early life ( Judges 11:4).

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Olah   Genesis 4:3,4 Minhah   Genesis 8:20 Genesis 22:2,7,8,13 Exodus 10:25

The law of Moses afterwards prescribed the occasions and the manner in which burnt sacrifices were to be offered. There were "the continual burnt offering" ( Exodus 29:38-42;  Leviticus 6:9-13 ), "the burnt offering of every sabbath," which was double the daily one ( Numbers 28:9,10 ), "the burnt offering of every month" (28:11-15), the offerings at the Passover (19-23), at Pentecost ( Leviticus 23:16 ), the feast of Trumpets (23:23-25), and on the day of Atonement ( Leviticus 16 ).

On other occasions special sacrifices were offered, as at the consecration of Aaron ( Exodus 29 ) and the dedication of the temple ( 1 Kings 8:5,62-64 ).

Free-will burnt offerings were also permitted ( Leviticus 1:13 ), and were offered at the accession of Solomon to the throne ( 1 Chronicles 29:21 ), and at the reformation brought about by Hezekiah ( 2 Chronicles 29 ::  3135-35 ).

These offerings signified the complete dedication of the offerers unto God. This is referred to in  Romans 12:1 . (See ALTAR, Sacrifice .)

Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types

 Genesis 8:20 (c) This offering represents the perfect life and the perfect person of the Lord Jesus offered up to GOD in the place of and instead of our imperfect character and unholy life.

 Leviticus 1:4 (c) The offering in this Scripture is the first in the five offerings. It represents our entire self being acceptable to GOD in the person of the perfect Lord JESUS CHRIST. He makes us acceptable to GOD by the sacrifice of Himself, and then our service can be acceptable to GOD. Christ had to die for our character as well as our conduct.

 Ezra 3:2 (c) Here this offering represents the person and work of the Lord JESUS, offered to GOD for the nation of Israel. By this sacrifice the nation would be acceptable to GOD in the new enterprise of rebuilding Jerusalem.

 Psalm 51:19 (c) By this means David indicated that after confession and cleansing he would be acceptable to GOD - this is typical of the perfection of the Saviour offered in our stead.

 Isaiah 40:16 (c) If all the thousands of animals on the broad slopes of Lebanon were gathered together to make a burnt offering to GOD, this tremendous sacrifice would not be sufficient to put away one sin, nor would it equal the offering of the Lord JESUS CHRIST for our sins. (See also OFFERING).

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Burnt Offering. The word is applied to the offering which was wholly consumed, by fire on the altar, and the whole of which, except the refuse ashes, "ascended" in the smoke to God.

The meaning of the whole Burnt Offering was that which is the original idea of all sacrifice, the offering by the sacrificer of himself, soul and body, to God - the submission of his will to the will of the Lord. The ceremonies of the Burnt Offering are given in detail, in the book of Leviticus. See Sacrifice .

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Burnt Offering.  Genesis 8:20. See Sacrifice.

Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology

See Offerings And Sacrifices