Offering, Offering up
Offering, Offering up
There were two distinct actions connected with the sacrifices. Any Israelite could bring an offering, or offer a gift, or a sacrifice; but only the priest could offer up the sacrifice on the altar to God. In the N.T. there are two Greek words translated ‘to offer.’ One is , ‘to bring to ,’ ‘present.’ This is used in Mat 2:11, of the wise men who ‘presented’ their gifts unto the Lord. So too vinegar was ‘offered’ to the Lord on the cross. Luk 23:36. The word is referred to the Lord in Heb 9:14; Heb 9:25; Heb 9:28; Heb 10:12. The other word is , ‘to bring up,’ and hence ‘to offer up .’ In Mat 17:1, Jesus, ‘bringeth up’ Peter, etc.; and in Luk 24:51 the Lord was ‘carried up’ into heaven. This word is employed in Heb 7:27, both as to the high priest ‘offering up’ sacrifices and to Jesus who ‘offered up’ Himself. It occurs also in Mar 9:2; Heb 9:28; Heb 13:15; Jam 2:21; 1Pe 2:5; 1Pe 2:24.
In the LXX the word is mostly a translation of qarab, ‘to draw near,’ which constantly occurs in Leviticus and Numbers in the laws respecting the offering of sacrifices, and is translated ‘to offer.’ On the other hand is chiefly the rendering adopted for alah, ‘to ascend, to make to ascend.’ The word alah is frequently translated ‘to offer,’ but only twice in Leviticus (Lev 14:20; Lev 17:8); and four times in Numbers (Num 23:2; Num 23:4; Num 23:14; Num 23:30), when Balaam and Balak offered up sacrifices. Both Greek words are applied to Christ as to the offering of Himself. Heb 9:14; Heb 7:27. They are both also used of Abraham offering Isaac; he gave Isaac, and as a priest virtually offered him up. Heb 11:17; Jam 2:21.