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Leviticus 1:15 — Word Study

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WLCוְהִקְרִיב֤וֹ הַכֹּהֵן֙ אֶל־ הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ וּמָלַק֙ אֶת־ רֹאשׁ֔וֹ וְהִקְטִ֖יר הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חָה וְנִמְצָ֣ה דָמ֔וֹ עַ֖ל קִ֥יר הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃

BSAThen the priestkôhên [the one who serves God] shall bringqârab it toʼêl the altarmizbêach [the place of sacrifice] twist offmâlaq [wring, nip] its headrôʼsh and burnqâṭar [offer, make perfume] it on the altarmizbêach its blooddâm [the liquid that flows through the body, essential for life] should be drained outmâtsâh [poured, shed] onʻal the sideqîyr [the wall, the edge] of the altarmizbêach [the place where offerings are made to God]

Word
Listen & take awayLeviticus 1
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 15 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (ha.miz.Be.ach) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Leviticus 1:15quick helps
In a sentenceThe priest performs specific actions with a bird offering, including presenting it, nipping off its head, and burning it on the altar.
Who is speakingThe priest, who serves God in the sacrificial system.
Where we areInstructions for burnt offerings in the sacrificial system outlined in Leviticus.
The hard wordמָלַק
Take awayThe ritual emphasizes the importance of proper sacrifice and the role of the priest.
7 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbמָלַק The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.

Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — Leviticus 1:15

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — Instructions for Burnt Offeringsgenerated

14If, instead, one’s offering to the LORD is a burnt offering of birds, he is to present a turtledove or a young pigeon.
15Then the priest shall bring it to the altar, twist off its head, and burn it on the altar; its blood should be drained out on the side of the altar.
16And he is to remove the crop with its contents and throw it to the east side of the altar, in the place for ashes.
17He shall tear it open by its wings, without dividing the bird completely. And the priest is to burn it on the altar atop the burning wood. It is a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

Leviticus 1:15 provides detailed instructions on how a priest should handle a bird offering, including the actions of presenting, nipping off the head, and burning it on the altar. This process is part of the broader sacrificial system established in the Law, which emphasizes the holiness of God and the seriousness of sin. The rituals serve to maintain the covenant relationship between God and His people, as seen throughout the book of Leviticus.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Leviticus 5:8He is to bring them to the priest, who shall first present the one for the sin offering. He is to twist its head at the front of its neck without severing it;
2Psalm 22:1–21My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from saving me, so far from my words of groaning?
3Psalm 69:1–21Save me, O God, for the waters are up to my neck.
4Isaiah 53:4–5Surely He took on our infirmities and carried our sorrows; yet we considered Him stricken by God, struck down and afflicted.
5Matthew 26:1–27When Jesus had finished saying all these things, He told His disciples,

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 6 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word הִקְרִיב֤וֹ, ve.hik.ri.Vogenerated

The verb הִקְרִיב (hiqriv) is in the Hiphil stem, indicating a causative action, meaning 'to bring near' or 'to present.' It is often used in the context of offerings, highlighting the role of the priest in facilitating the approach to God.

This word conveys the sense of intention and purpose behind the act of presenting an offering, which is central to the worship practices outlined in the Torah.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

In this study, we refer to the Berean Standard Bible (BSB) for the wording of the verse.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb הִקְרִיב (hiqriv), meaning 'he will present,' governs the sentence, with multiple phrases detailing the actions performed by the priest. The structure emphasizes the sequence of actions taken during the sacrificial process.

The sentence includes several clauses: the priest presents the offering, nips off its head, and burns it on the altar, with additional details about the blood being drained out on the altar's side.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates הִקְרִיב as ἱερεὺς (priest), which emphasizes the role of the priest in the sacrificial system, consistent with the Hebrew text.

The Greek word ἀποκνίσει for מָלַק suggests a similar action of nipping or cutting, maintaining the original intent of the Hebrew.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Leviticus 1:15 describes how a priest should handle a bird offering. The priest presents the bird to the altar, nips off its head, and burns it on the altar while draining its blood on the side of the altar. This process is part of the sacrificial system that helps maintain the relationship between God and His people.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean for the priest to present the offering?

It means the priest is responsible for bringing the offering to God, signifying the worshiper's intent to seek atonement or express devotion.

Why is the head nipped off during the sacrifice?

Nipping off the head is part of the ritual to prepare the bird for sacrifice, ensuring it is done correctly according to the prescribed laws.

What is the significance of draining the blood?

Draining the blood symbolizes the life of the offering being given to God, as blood is often associated with life and atonement in biblical texts.

How does this verse connect to the overall sacrificial system?

This verse illustrates the specific procedures that priests must follow in making sacrifices, which are central to the worship practices and atonement rituals in the Israelite community.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How does understanding the role of the priest enhance your appreciation for the sacrificial system?
  2. In what ways can you apply the concept of presenting offerings in your own life?
  3. What does the act of draining blood symbolize in the context of sacrifice?
  4. How can the rituals described in Leviticus inform your understanding of worship today?

Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Leviticus 1:15 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And the priest shall bring it unto the altar,.... The southeast horn of it; near which was the place of the ashes, into which the crop and its feathers were cast (n): and wring off his head; by

Read John Gill on Leviticus 1 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And if the burnt sacrifice for his offering to the LORD be of fowls, then he shall bring his offering of turtledoves, or of young pigeons. If the burnt sacrifice ... be of fowls.

Read Robert Jamieson on Leviticus 1 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Wring off his head, to wit, from the rest of the body; as sufficiently appears, because this was to be burnt by itself, as it here follows, and the body afterwards, . And whereas it is said, , he shall wring off his head from his neck, but shall not divide it asunder, that is spoken not of the burnt-offering, as here, but of the sin-offering, in which there might be a differing rite.

Read Matthew Poole on Leviticus 1 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Leviticus 1:15 And the priest shall bring it unto the altar, and wring off his head, and burn [it] on the altar; and the blood thereof shall be wrung out at the side of the altar:Ver. 15. Wring off his head.] Or, Pinch it with his nail, that the blood might go out, without separating it from the rest of the body. This prefigured the death of Christ without either breaking a bone or dividing the Godhead from the manhood; as also the skill that should be in ministers, to cut or divide aright the word of truth.

Read John Trapp on Leviticus 1 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(15) And the priest.—It was probably out of consideration for the feelings of the poor offerer, and to increase the importance of the otherwise small offering, that the priest himself brought the victim to the altar and slew it instead of the worshipper performing these acts, as in the case of quadrupeds. The imposition of hands upon the victim was dispensed with, both because the bird was too small for this ceremony, and because the offerer brought it in his hands to the place of sacrifice, thus conveying by this act the idea involved in the imposition of hands. And wring off his head.—When the bird is handed to him, the priest is not to use any knife, but is to nip off its head with his…

Read Charles John Ellicott on Leviticus 1 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

15. wring off] Or, pinch off the head with the nail, as A.V. mg., a word used here and Leviticus 5:8 only. The head is burnt after being removed, and the remainder of the bird is burnt afterwards. This burning of the parts separately is in marked contrast with the burning of the whole together in the two preceding sections (Leviticus 1:9 and Leviticus 1:13). drained out on the side of the altar] The blood is too small in quantity to be treated as in the previous cases.

Read Cambridge on Leviticus 1 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

15. Wring off his head — Rather, pinch it off and lay it on the altar. The blood was then to be pressed out at the side of the altar.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Leviticus 1 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

Then the priest shall bring it to the altar, twist off its head, and burn it on the altar; its blood should be drained out on the side of the altar.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

The priest shall bring it to the altar, and wring off its head, and burn it on the altar; and its blood shall be drained out on the side of the altar;

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Then the priest shall bring it to the altar, twist off its head, and burn it on the altar; its blood should be drained out on the side of the altar.

NETBNew English Translation2006

The priest must present it at the altar, pinch off its head and offer the head up in smoke on the altar, and its blood must be drained out against the side of the altar.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And the priest shall bring it unto the altar, and wring off his head, and burn it on the altar; and the blood thereof shall be wrung out at the side of the altar:

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And the priest shall bring it unto the altar, and wring off its head, and burn it on the altar; and the blood thereof shall be drained out on the side of the altar;

RVARevised Version, American1894

And the priest shall bring it unto the altar, and wring off its head, and burn it on the altar; and the blood thereof shall be drained out on the side of the altar:

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And the priest shall bring it to the altar, and wring off its head, and burn it on the altar: and its blood shall be wrung out at the side of the altar:

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And the Priest shall bring it vnto the altar, and wring the necke of it asunder, and burne it on the altar: and the blood thereof shall bee shed vpon the side of the altar.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And the priest shall bring it near to the altar and pinch off its head and burn it on the altar; and its blood shall be pressed out at the side of the altar.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

and the priest hath brought it near unto the altar, and hath wrung off its head, and hath made perfume on the altar, and its blood hath been wrung out by the side of the altar;

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

and the priest has brought it near to the altar, and has wrung off its head, and has made incense on the altar, and its blood has been wrung out by the side of the altar;

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And the priest shall bring it near unto the altar, and pinch off its head, and burn it on the altar; and the blood thereof shall be wrung out on the wall of the altar.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

The priest must bring it to the altar, wring off its head, and burn it on the altar. Then its blood must be drained out on the side of the altar.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

The priest shall offer it at the altar: and twisting back the neck, and breaking the place of the wound, he shall make the blood run down upon the brim of the altar.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

The priest shall take it to the altar, twist off its head, and burn it on the altar. Its blood shall be drained out on the side of the altar.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And the priest is to take it to the altar, and after its head has been twisted off, it is to be burned on the altar, and its blood drained out on the side of the altar:

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

וְandclauseverbהִקְרִיב֤heobjectוֹwill.present.itnoun phrase · subjectהַtheכֹּהֵן֙priestprepositional phrase · prepositionalאֶלtonoun phraseהַtheמִּזְבֵּ֔חַaltarוּandclauseverbמָלַק֙he.will.nip.offnoun phrase · objectאֶת(et)noun phraseרֹאשׁ֔headוֹitsוְandclauseverbהִקְטִ֖ירhe.will.make.[it].smokenoun phrase · prepositionalהַtonoun phraseמִּזְבֵּ֑חָtheהaltarוְandclauseverbנִמְצָ֣הit.will.be.drained.outnoun phrase · subjectדָמ֔bloodוֹitsprepositional phrase · prepositionalעַ֖לonnoun phraseקִ֥ירthe.sidenoun phraseהַofמִּזְבֵּֽחַthe.altar

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text aligns with the Septuagint in most respects, but the Samaritan Pentateuch differs slightly by using the word נמצא instead of נִמְצָ֣ה, indicating a different nuance in the action of draining the blood.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

וְהִקְרִיב֤וֹ הַכֹּהֵן֙ אֶל־ הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ וּמָלַק֙ אֶת־ רֹאשׁ֔וֹ וְהִקְטִ֖יר הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חָה וְנִמְצָ֣ה דָמ֔וֹ עַ֖ל קִ֥יר הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וְהִקְרִיב֤וֹαὐτὸהַכֹּהֵן֙ἱερεὺςאֶל־πρὸςהַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַθυσιαστήριονוּמָלַק֙ἀποκνίσειרֹאשׁ֔וֹκεφαλήνוְהִקְטִ֖ירἐπιθήσειהַמִּזְבֵּ֑חָהθυσιαστήριονוְנִמְצָ֣הστραγγιεῖדָמ֔וֹαἷμαעַ֖לπρὸςהַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃θυσιαστηρίου

12 of the 14 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Samaritan Pentateuchthe Torah as the Samaritan community kept it

והקריבו הכהן אל המזבח ומלק את ראשׁו והקטיר המזבחה ונמצא דמו אל קיר המזבח

1 word differs from the Masoretic Text: נמצא (find)

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q17a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[והקריב׳ו] [הכהן] אל המזבח [ומלק] [את] [ראש׳ו] [והקטיר] [המזבח׳ה] [ונמצה] [דמ׳ו] [על] [קיר] [המזבח]

1 word on the leather — 1 partly restored, 12 supplied entire by an editor.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q24a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[והקריב׳ו] הכהן אל המזבח ומלק את [ראש׳ו] [והקטיר] [המזבח׳ה] [ונמצה] [דמ׳ו] [על] [קיר] [המזבח]

5 words on the leather — 9 supplied entire by an editor.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

Leviticus 1:15קָרֵבand he willand he will preקָרֵבכֹּהֵןthe priestthe priestכֹּהֵןאֶלtotoאֶלמִזְבֵּחַthe altarthe altarמִזְבֵּחַמָלַקand he willand he will nipמָלַקאֵתthe object the object markאֵתרֹאשׁhead itshead itsרֹאשׁקָטַרand he willand he will makקָטַרמִזְבֵּחַthe altar tthe altar towarמִזְבֵּחַמָצָהand it willand it will be מָצָהדָּםblood itsblood itsדָּםעַלononעַלקִיר[the] side [the] side ofקִירמִזְבֵּחַthe altarthe altarמִזְבֵּחַזָבַחto sacrifito sacrificeזָבַחאוֹתsign: mirasign: miraculouאוֹתדָּמַםto silenceto silence: staדָּמַםקוּרto digto digקוּרכָּהַןto ministeto ministerכָּהַןקָטַרto encloseto encloseקָטַרעַלheightheightעַלקָטַרto offer: to offer: burnקָטַרעֹלָהburnt offeburnt offeringעֹלָהקָרְבָּןofferingofferingקָרְבָּןאִשֶּׁהfood offerfood offeringאִשֶּׁהאֶלְעָזָרEleazarEleazarאֶלְעָזָרצָדוֹקZadokZadokצָדוֹקפָּלַלto prayto prayפָּלַליִרְמְיָ֫הJeremiahJeremiahיִרְמְיָ֫המִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁעֲטָרָהcrowncrownעֲטָרָהנָשִׂיאleaderleaderנָשִׂיא
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in Leviticus 1:15

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

and he will present it the priest to the altar and he will nip off the object marker head its and he will make [it] smoke the altar towards and it will be drained out blood its on [the] side of the altar
וְהִקְרִיב֤וֹve.hik.ri.Vo and he will present it H7126 Verb hiphil sequential perfect third person masculine singular · suffix
280× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To approach or come near someone or something, often with a sense of purpose or intention, like Moses approaching the burning bush in Exodus 3:5. This word can also mean to bring someone or something near, as in presenting an offering to God.
Tyndale gloss
to present: come
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

קָרַב (qarab) is a Hebrew verb meaning to approach or come near, with various nuances including bringing or presenting something. It encompasses different forms such as Qal (to approach), Niphal (to be brought near), and Hiphil (to bring near). The term is often associated with offerings or dedications to God, particularly in the context of the book of Ezekiel.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[קָרֵב], קָרַב 279 vb. come near, approach

Qal 93 approach

Niph. he shall be brought unto God

Pi. cause to approach, bring near

Hiph.

177

bring near, bring, present

of time

as term techn. (c. 158 t.), chiefly Ez HP, bring near, of presenting, dedicating, or offering to י׳

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7126 קָרֵב, קָרַב come near, approach .approach

. he shall be brought unto God

. cause to approach, bring near

. . . bring near, bring, present

. of time

. as term techn. (c. 158 t.), chiefly Ez HP, bring near, of presenting, dedicating, or offering to י׳

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7126 qarab kaw-rab'

a primitive root; to approach (causatively, bring near) for

whatever purpose:--(cause to) approach, (cause to) bring

(forth, near), (cause to) come (near, nigh), (cause to) draw

near (nigh), go (near), be at hand, join, be near, offer,

present, produce, make ready, stand, take.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קָרַב (qa.rav) — to present: come.

: come/approach

1) to come near, approach, enter into, draw near

1a) (Qal) to approach, draw near

1b) (Niphal) to be brought near

1c) (Piel) to cause to approach, bring near, cause to draw near

1d) (Hiphil) to bring near, bring, present

קָרַב (qa.rav) — to present: bring.

: bring/offer

1) to come near, approach, enter into, draw near

1a) (Qal) to approach, draw near

1b) (Niphal) to be brought near

1c) (Piel) to cause to approach, bring near, cause to draw near

1d) (Hiphil) to bring near, bring, present

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Hiphil-3ms | Suff — Verb hiphil sequential perfect third person masculine singular · suffix
Hc/Vhq3ms/Sp3ms
and he will present it the priest to the altar and he will nip off the object marker head its and he will make [it] smoke the altar towards and it will be drained out blood its on [the] side of the altar
הַכֹּהֵן֙ha.ko.Hen the priest H3548 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
750× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, a priest is a person who serves God and leads others in worship, like the Levitical priests in Exodus. They were responsible for making sacrifices and following God's laws. This term is also used to describe Jesus as a priest-king.
Amplified meaning
the one who serves God
Tyndale gloss
priest
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כֹּהֵן (kohen) means 'priest' and is derived from the active participle of a related root. It encompasses various types of priests, including Levitical, Aaronic, and even pagan priests, as well as chief rulers or principal officers. The term is used in contexts referring to both Jewish and non-Jewish priestly roles.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֹּהֵן 750 n.m. priest

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3548 כֹּהֵן priest

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3548 kohen ko-hane'

active participle of 3547; literally, one officiating, a

priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a

layman):--chief ruler, X own, priest, prince, principal

officer.

see HEBREW for 03547

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֹּהֵן (ko.hen) — priest.

1) priest, principal officer or chief ruler

1a) priest-king (Melchizedek, Messiah)

1b) pagan priests

1c) priests of Jehovah

1d) Levitical priests

1e) Zadokite priests

1f) Aaronic priests

1g) the high priest

Aramaic equivalent: ka.hen (כָּהֵן "priest" H3549)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
HTd/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

prest (kohen, "priest," "prince," "minister"; hiereus archiereus; for hiereus megas, of Heb 10:21, see Thayer's Lexicon, under the word hiereus:

I. NATURE OF THE PRIESTLY OFFICE

1. Implies Divine Choice

2. Implies Representation

3. Implies Offering Sacrifice

4. Implies Intercession

II. THE TWO GREAT PRIESTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, MELCHIZEDEK AND AARON

III. PRIESTLY FUNCTIONS AND CHARACTER

1. A Strictly Religious Order

2. Priestism Denied

3. The High Priest's Qualifications

4. Symbolism of Aaron's Rod

IV. CONSECRATION OF AARON AND HIS SONS (EXODUS 29; LEVITICUS 8)

1. Symbolism of Consecration

2. Type and Archetype

LITERATURE

A priest is one who is duly authorized to minister in sacred things, particularly to offer sacrifices at the altar, and who acts as mediator between men and God. In the New Testament the term is applied to priests of the Gentiles…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Priest

The Heb. kohen, Gr. hierus, Lat. sacerdos, always denote one who offers sacrifices.

At first every man was his own priest, and presented his own sacrifices before God. Afterwards that office devolved on the head of the family, as in the cases of Noah (Gen. 8:20), Abraham (12:7; 13:4), Isaac (26:25), Jacob (31:54), and Job (Job 1:5).

The name first occurs as applied to Melchizedek (Gen. 14:18). Under the Levitical arrangements the office of the priesthood was limited to the tribe of Levi, and to only one family of that tribe, the family of Aaron. Certain laws respecting the qualifications of priests are given in Lev. 21:16-23. There are ordinances also regarding the…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

The English word is derived from the Greek presbyter , signifying an "elder" (Heb. cohen). Origin. --The idea of a priesthood connects itself in all its forms, pure or corrupted, with the consciousness, more or less distinct of sin. Men feel that they have broken a law. The power above them is holier than they are, and they dare not approach it. They crave for the intervention of some one of whom they can think as likely to be more acceptable than themselves. He must offer up their prayers, thanksgivings, sacrifices. He becomes their representative in "things pertaining unto God." He may become also (though this does not always follow) the representative of God to man. The functions of the priest and prophet may exist in the same person. No trace of a hereditary or caste priesthood meets us in the worship of the patriarchal age. Once and once only does the word cohen meet us as…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

One who officiated in the public worship of God, especially in making expiation for sin, being "ordained for men in things pertaining to God, to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins." In the Old Testament, the priesthood was not annexed to a certain family till after the promulgation of the law by Moses. Before that time, the firstborn of each family, the fathers, the princes, the kings, were priests in their own cities and in their own houses. Cain and Abel, Noah, Abraham, and Job, Abimelech and Laban, Isaac and Jacob offered personally their own sacrifices. In the solemnity of the covenant made by the Lord with his people, at the foot of Mount Sinai, Moses performed the office of mediator, and young men were chosen from among Israel to perform the office of priests, Ex 24:5. But after the Lord had chosen the tribe of Levi to…

and he will present it the priest to the altar and he will nip off the object marker head its and he will make [it] smoke the altar towards and it will be drained out blood its on [the] side of the altar
אֶל־'el- to H413 Preposition
5,518× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means 'to' or 'toward', showing direction or movement. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, to indicate where someone is going. The KJV translates it in various ways, like 'about', 'according to', or 'against'.
Tyndale gloss
to(wards)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֶל (el) is primarily a preposition indicating motion towards or direction to a person or place. It can also imply entering a limit, presence at a location, or a hostile direction (against). Additionally, it may express concepts such as concerning, in addition to, or according to. The entries highlight its versatility in both physical and metaphorical contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph),

prep. denoting motion to or direction towards (whether physical or mental).of motion to or unto a person or place

Where the limit is actually entered, into

Of direction towards anything

Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against

Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to

Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of

Of rule or standard according to (rare)

Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion

Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H413 אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph), . of motion to or unto a person or place

. Where the limit is actually entered, into

. Of direction towards anything

. Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against

. Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to

. Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of

. Of rule or standard according to (rare)

. Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion

. Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

413 'el ale

(but only used in the shortened constructive form sel {el});

a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but

occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or

among; often in general, to:--about, according to ,after,

against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and,

by, concerning, for, from, X hath, in(- to), near, (out) of,

over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether,

with(-in).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶל (el) — to(wards).

1) to, toward, unto (of motion)

2) into (limit is actually entered)

2a) in among

3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion)

4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character)

5) in addition to, to

6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of

7) according to (rule or standard)

8) at, by, against (of one's presence)

9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Preposition
HR
and he will present it the priest to the altar and he will nip off the object marker head its and he will make [it] smoke the altar towards and it will be drained out blood its on [the] side of the altar
הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַha.miz.Be.ach the altar H4196 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
401× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
An altar is a place of sacrifice, where offerings are made to God, as seen in the Bible's description of the tabernacle and temple. It was a central part of Israel's worship. The altar played a key role in the priestly rituals.
Amplified meaning
the place of sacrifice
Tyndale gloss
altar
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מִזְבֵּחַ (mizbeach) means 'altar' in Hebrew. It is derived from the root word meaning to slay or kill, indicating its use in sacrificial contexts. The term is consistently used throughout the Old Testament to refer to places of sacrifice and worship.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִזְבֵּחַ 401 n.m. altar

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4196 מִזְבֵּחַ altar

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4196 mizbeach miz-bay'-akh

from 2076; an altar:--altar.

see HEBREW for 02076

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִזְבֵּחַ (miz.be.ach) — altar.

altar

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
HTd/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ol'-ter (mizbeach, literally, "place of slaughter or sacrifice," from zabhach, which is found in both senses; bomos, (only in Ac 17:23), thusiasterion):

I. CLASSIFICATION OF HEBREW ALTARS

Importance of the Distinction

II. LAY ALTARS

1. Pre-Mosaic

2. In the Mosaic Age

3. Dangers of the Custom

4. The Mosaic Provisions

III. HORNED ALTARS OF BURNT OFFERING

1. The Tabernacle Altar

2. The Altar of Jos 22

3. The Altar till Solomon

4. The Horned Altar in Use

5. The Temple of Solomon

6. The Altar of Ahaz

7. Ezekiel

8. The Post-exilic Altar

9. Idolatrous and Unlawful Altars

10. The Horns

IV. ALTARS OF INCENSE

V. RECENT ARCHAEOLOGICAL MATERIALS 1. A Gezer Altar

2. The Taanach Altar of Incense

LITERATURE

A. CRITICAL

I. Classification of Hebrew Altars.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Altar

(Heb. mizbe’ah, from a word meaning “to slay”), any structure of earth (Ex. 20:24) or unwrought stone (20:25) on which sacrifices were offered. Altars were generally erected in conspicuous places (Gen. 22:9; Ezek. 6:3; 2 Kings 23:12; 16:4; 23:8; Acts 14:13). The word is used in Heb. 13:10 for the sacrifice offered upon it—the sacrifice Christ offered.

Paul found among the many altars erected in Athens one bearing the inscription, “To the unknown God” (Acts 17:23), or rather “to an [i.e., some]…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

The first altar of which we have any account is that built by Noah when he left the ark. (Genesis 8:20) In the early times altars were usually built in certain spots hallowed by religious associations, e.g., where God appeared. (Genesis 12:7; 13:18; 26:25; 35:1) Though generally erected for the offering of sacrifice, in some instances they appear to have been only memorials. (Genesis 12:7; Exodus 17:15,16) Altars were most probably originally made of earth. The law of Moses allowed them to be made of either earth or unhewn stones. (Exodus 20:24,25) I. The Altar of Burnt Offering . It differed in construction at…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A table-like structure, on which sacrifices and incense were offered, built of various materials, usually of stone, but sometimes of brass, etc. It is evident that sacrifices were offered long before the flood; but the first mention of an altar in Scripture is when Noah left the ark. Mention is made of altars reared by Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses. The latter was commanded to build an altar of earth, Ex 20:24. If stone was employed, it must be rough and unhewn, probably lest the practice of sculpture should lead them to violate the second commandment. It was not to be furnished with steps, De 27:2-6.

The altars in the Jewish tabernacle, and in the temple at Jerusalem, were the following: 1. The altar of burnt offerings. 2. The altar of incense. 3. The table of showbread, for…

and he will present it the priest to the altar and he will nip off the object marker head its and he will make [it] smoke the altar towards and it will be drained out blood its on [the] side of the altar
וּמָלַק֙u.ma.Lak and he will nip off H4454 Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person masculine singular
2× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to quickly snap or crack something, like wringing a bird's neck. It is used in Leviticus 5:8 to describe preparing a bird for sacrifice.
Amplified meaning
wring, nip
Tyndale gloss
to nip
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָלַק (malaq) is a primitive root meaning to crack a joint or to nip, specifically referring to wringing the neck of a fowl without completely separating it from the body. The entries emphasize its usage in the context of birds, particularly in the act of nipping off their heads.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מָלַק vb. nip, nip off (head of bird; without necessarily severing it fr. body)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4454 מָלַק

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4454 malaq maw-lak'

a primitive root; to crack a joint; by implication, to wring

the neck of a fowl (without separating it):--wring off.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָלַק (ma.laq) — to nip.

(Qal) to nip, nip off (head of a bird)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqq3ms
and he will present it the priest to the altar and he will nip off the object marker head its and he will make [it] smoke the altar towards and it will be drained out blood its on [the] side of the altar
אֶת־'et- the object marker H853 Particle
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

853 'eth ayth

apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of

entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more

definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or

namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).

see HEBREW for 0226

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — [Obj.].

sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative

Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTo — Particle
HTo
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he will present it the priest to the altar and he will nip off the object marker head its and he will make [it] smoke the altar towards and it will be drained out blood its on [the] side of the altar
רֹאשׁ֔וֹro.Sho head its H7218 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
600× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means chief or prince, and is used to describe leaders in the Bible, such as in the book of 1 Samuel. It signifies a position of authority and importance.
Tyndale gloss
head
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רֹאשׁ (ro'sh) means 'head' and encompasses various meanings related to position and rank. It can refer to the head of a person or animal, the top of a mountain, or a chief in various contexts, such as a city or nation. The word also signifies beginnings and sums, appearing in phrases related to enumeration. Additionally, it serves as a proper noun for 'Rosh,' a title for a chief or prince.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רֹאשׁ 599 n.m.

(c. 230 t.) head, of human being

head, of animals

top (88 t.)

height, of stars

head = chief (man)

= chief (city)

chief nation

= chief (place, position)

= chief priest

= head of a family

head = front, leader's place

of time, beginning, of night watch

of things, river-heads

chief, choicest, best, of spices

head = division of army, company, band

= sum, esp. in phr. take sum of, enumerate

other phr.

base

רֹאשׁ n.pr.gent. Rôsh

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7218a רֹאשׁ . . (c. 230 t.) head, of human being

. head, of animals

. . top (88 t.)

. height, of stars

. . head = chief (man)

. = chief (city)

. chief nation

. = chief (place, position)

. = chief priest

. = head of a family

. . head = front, leader's place

. of time, beginning, of night watch

. of things, river-heads

. chief, choicest, best, of spices

. head = division of army, company, band

. = sum, esp. in phr. take sum of, enumerate

. other phr.

H7218b רֹאשׁ n. pr. gent. Rôsh

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7218 ro'sh roshe

from an unused root apparently meaning to shake; the head (as

most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many

applications, of place, time, rank, itc.):--band, beginning,

captain, chapiter, chief(-est place, man, things), company,

end, X every (man), excellent, first, forefront, ((be-))head,

height, (on) high(-est part, (priest)), X lead, X poor,

principal, ruler, sum, top.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רֹאשׁ (rosh) — head.

: head

1) head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning

1a) head (of man, animals)

1b) top, tip (of mountain)

1c) height (of stars)

1d) chief, head (of man, city, nation, place, family, priest)

1e) head, front, beginning

1f) chief, choicest, best

1g) head, division, company, band

1h) sum

רֹאשׁ (rosh) — prince.

Rosh, a tite for a chief or prince

רֹאשׁ (rosh) — head: leader.

: leader

1) head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning

1a) head (of man, animals)

1b) top, tip (of mountain)

1c) height (of stars)

1d) chief, head (of man, city, nation, place, family, priest)

1e) head, front, beginning

1f) chief, choicest, best

1g) head, division, company, band

1h) sum

רֹאשׁ (rosh) — head: top.

: top/best

1) head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning

1a) head (of man, animals)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp3ms
and he will present it the priest to the altar and he will nip off the object marker head its and he will make [it] smoke the altar towards and it will be drained out blood its on [the] side of the altar
וְהִקְטִ֖ירve.hik.Tir and he will make [it] smoke H6999 Verb · Hiphil · sequential perfect third person masculine singular
116× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to the act of burning incense as an act of worship, often using a special altar. It involves turning something into a fragrant smoke, and is an important part of Old Testament rituals and sacrifices.
Amplified meaning
offer, make perfume
Tyndale gloss
to offer: burn
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word קָטַר (*qatar*) is a verb meaning to smoke or burn, particularly in the context of sacrifices and incense. It has various forms, including nouns for incense (מֻקְטָר, *muqtar*) and incense-altar (מְקַטֵרָה, *meqaterah*). The entries indicate its use in worship practices, with a focus on creating fragrance through fire.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[קָטַר] 116 vb. denom. Pi. Hiph. make sacrifices smoke, send them up in smoke

Pi. make sacrifices smoke, offer them by burning

Pu. fumigated with myrrh

Hiph.

make sacrifices smoke

cause incense to smoke, offer incense

make smoke upon

Hoph. be made to smoke as a sacrifice

base

מֻקְטָר n.m. incense;—abs. Mal 1:11

ref

[מְקַטֵרָה] n.f. incense-altar;—pl. abs. 2 Ch 30:14.

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6999a קָטַר vb. denom. Pi. Hiph. make sacrifices smoke, send them up in smoke H6999b מֻקְטָר incense H6999c מְקַטֵרָה incense-altar

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6999 qatar kaw-tar'

a primitive root (identical with 7000 through the idea of

fumigation in a close place and perhaps thus driving out the

occupants); to smoke, i.e. turn into fragrance by fire

(especially as an act of worship):--burn (incense, sacrifice)

(upon), (altar for) incense, kindle, offer (incense, a

sacrifice).

see HEBREW for 07000

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קָטַר (qa.tar) — to offer: burn.

: burn

v

1) to sacrifice, burn incense, burn sacrifices, make sacrifices smoke

1a) (Piel)

1a1) to make sacrifices smoke

1a2) to sacrifice

1b) (Pual) to smoke a sacrifice

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to make sacrifices smoke

1c2) to cause incense to smoke, offer incense

1c3) to make smoke upon

1d) (Hophal) to be made to smoke

מֻקְטָר (muq.tar) — incense.

v

incense

מְקַטֵרָה (me.qa.te.rah) — incense-altar.

incense-altar

קָטַר (qa.tar) — to offer: offer.

: offer

v

1) to sacrifice, burn incense, burn sacrifices, make sacrifices smoke

1a) (Piel)

1a1) to make sacrifices smoke

1a2) to sacrifice

1b) (Pual) to smoke a sacrifice

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to make sacrifices smoke

1c2) to cause incense to smoke, offer incense

1c3) to make smoke upon

1d) (Hophal) to be made to smoke

קָטַר (qa.tar) — to offer: to perfume.

: perfume

v

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Hiphil-3ms — Verb · Hiphil · sequential perfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vhq3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

smok: Used figuratively of the divine jealousy (De 29:20) and anger (Ps 74:1); symbolic of the glory of the divine holiness (Isa 4:5; 6:4; Re 15:8).

Nave's Topical Bible

→ FIGURATIVE Isa 6:4; Ho 13:3

and he will present it the priest to the altar and he will nip off the object marker head its and he will make [it] smoke the altar towards and it will be drained out blood its on [the] side of the altar
הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חָהha.miz.Be.chah the altar towards H4196 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute · suffix
401× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
An altar is a place of sacrifice, where offerings are made to God, as seen in the Bible's description of the tabernacle and temple. It was a central part of Israel's worship. The altar played a key role in the priestly rituals.
Tyndale gloss
altar
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מִזְבֵּחַ (mizbeach) means 'altar' in Hebrew. It is derived from the root word meaning to slay or kill, indicating its use in sacrificial contexts. The term is consistently used throughout the Old Testament to refer to places of sacrifice and worship.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִזְבֵּחַ 401 n.m. altar

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4196 מִזְבֵּחַ altar

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4196 mizbeach miz-bay'-akh

from 2076; an altar:--altar.

see HEBREW for 02076

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִזְבֵּחַ (miz.be.ach) — altar.

altar

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-ms | Suff — Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute · suffix
HTd/Ncmsa/Sd
and he will present it the priest to the altar and he will nip off the object marker head its and he will make [it] smoke the altar towards and it will be drained out blood its on [the] side of the altar
וְנִמְצָ֣הve.nim.Tzah and it will be drained out H4680 Verb · Niphal · sequential perfect third person masculine singular
7× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To drain or suck out something, like water from a container, as seen in the instructions for the Passover in Exodus 12:15. It involves removing liquid from a source.
Amplified meaning
poured, shed
Tyndale gloss
to drain
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָצָה (matsah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to drain or drain out. It is a primitive root that can imply sucking out or squeezing out, with forms in both Qal (to drain) and Niphal (to be drained out). The entries indicate its use in contexts involving liquids, such as blood or water.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[מָצָה] vb. drain, drain out

Qal drain, drain out

Niph. and the blood (of the bird) shall be drained out; water of abundance is drained (i.e. drunk) by them

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4680 מָצָה drain, drain out

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4680 matsah maw-tsaw'

a primitive root; to suck out; by implication, to drain, to

squeeze out:--suck, wring (out).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָצָה (ma.tsah) — to drain.

1) to drain, drain out

1a) (Qal) to drain, drain out

1b) (Niphal) to be drained out

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Niphal-3ms — Verb · Niphal · sequential perfect third person masculine singular
Hc/VNq3ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he will present it the priest to the altar and he will nip off the object marker head its and he will make [it] smoke the altar towards and it will be drained out blood its on [the] side of the altar
דָמ֔וֹda.Mo blood its H1818 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
360× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Blood refers to the liquid that flows through the body, essential for life. In the Bible, blood is often used to symbolize life, guilt, or sacrifice, as seen in the story of Jesus' crucifixion.
Amplified meaning
the liquid that flows through the body, essential for life
Tyndale gloss
blood
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דָּם (dam) means 'blood' and refers to the blood of both humans and animals. It is often associated with death, particularly when shed, and can also figuratively denote the juice of grapes or bloodshed. The term carries religious significance and is used in various contexts, including references to guilt and innocence.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דָּם 300 n.m. blood

blood of man or animal

usually blood become visible

blood used with religious significance

fig. of wine

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1818 דָּם blood

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1818 dam dawm

from 1826 (compare 119); blood (as that which when shed

causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of

the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshed

(i.e. drops of blood):--blood(-y, -guiltiness, (-thirsty), +

innocent.

see HEBREW for 01826

see HEBREW for 0119

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דָּם (dam) — blood.

1) blood

1a) of wine (fig.)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp3ms
and he will present it the priest to the altar and he will nip off the object marker head its and he will make [it] smoke the altar towards and it will be drained out blood its on [the] side of the altar
עַ֖ל'al on H5921 Preposition
5,774× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Tyndale gloss
upon
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עַל (*al*) is a preposition meaning 'upon' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including 'on account of,' 'beside,' 'above,' and 'against.' It can indicate physical placement, emotional burdens, or duties imposed on a person. The entries also note its use in idiomatic expressions and with verbs of motion. There is a mention of its function as a conjunction in certain contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

עַל, עָ֑ל

subst. height

As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed

of clothing, etc., which any one wears

With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5921a עַל, עָ֑ל . As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against . Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed . — . of clothing, etc., which any one wears

. With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

. על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5921 `al al

properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the

singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a

particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always

in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great

variety of applications (as follow):--above, according

to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because

of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both

and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in

(that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than,

through(-out), to, touching, X with.

see HEBREW for 05920

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַל (al) — upon.

prep

1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards

1b) above, beyond, over (of excess)

1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)

1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)

1e) over (of suspension or extension)

1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)

1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)

1h) to (as a dative)

[כִּי] עַל [כֵּן] ([ki] al [ken]) — as.

conj

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Preposition
HR
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

On

Light; the sun, (Gen. 41:45, 50), the great seat of sun-worship, called also Bethshemesh (Jer. 43:13) and Aven (Ezek. 30:17), stood on the east bank of the Nile, a few miles north of Memphis, and near Cairo, in the north-east. The Vulgate and the LXX. Versions have “Heliopolis” (“city of the sun”) instead of On in Genesis and of Aven in Ezekiel. The “city of destruction” Isaiah speaks of (19:18, marg. “of Heres;” Heb. ‘Ir-ha-heres, which some MSS. read Ir-ha-heres, i.e., “city of the sun”) may be the name given to On, the prophecy being that the time will come when that city which was known as the “city of the sun-god” shall become the “city of destruction” of the sun-god, i.e., when idolatry shall cease, and the worship…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(abode or city of the sun), a town of lower Egypt, called BETH-SHEMESH in (Jeremiah 43:13) On is better known under its Greek name Heliopolis. It was situated on the east side of the Pelusiac branch of the Nile, just below the point of the Delta, and about twenty miles northeast of Memphis. The chief object of worship at Heliopolis was the sun, whose temple, described by Strabo, is now only represented by the single beautiful obelisk, of red granite so feet 2 inches high above the pedestal which has stood for more than 4000 years, having been erected by Usirtesen, the second king of the twelfth dynasty. Heliopolis was anciently famous for its learning, and Eudoxus and Plato studied under its priests. The first mention of this place in the Bible is in the history of Joseph, to whom we read Pharaoh gave "to wife Asenath the daughter…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

See HELIOPOLIS.

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

pain; force; iniquity

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he will present it the priest to the altar and he will nip off the object marker head its and he will make [it] smoke the altar towards and it will be drained out blood its on [the] side of the altar
קִ֥ירkir [the] side of H7023 Noun common · masculine singular construct
75× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means a wall, often referring to the walls of houses, chambers, or even the altar. It is used to describe structures built for protection or division. The KJV translates it as wall or side.
Amplified meaning
the wall, the edge
Tyndale gloss
wall
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

קִיר (qir) means 'wall' and can refer to the walls of a house, chamber, or altar sides. It is derived from a root that is not clearly defined. The word appears in contexts such as Isaiah 22:5, where it is used to describe a wall.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

קִיר 74 n.m. wall (√ unknown)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7023 קִיר wall (√ unknown)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7023 qiyr keer

or qir (Isa. 22:5) {keer}; or (feminine) qiyrah {kee-raw'};

from 6979; a wall (as built in a trench):--+ mason, side,

town, X very, wall.

see HEBREW for 06979

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קִיר (qir) — wall.

1) wall, side

1a) wall (of house or chamber)

1b) the sides (of the altar)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

and he will present it the priest to the altar and he will nip off the object marker head its and he will make [it] smoke the altar towards and it will be drained out blood its on [the] side of the altar
הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃ha.miz.Be.ach the altar H4196 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
401× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
An altar is a place of sacrifice, where offerings are made to God, as seen in the Bible's description of the tabernacle and temple. It was a central part of Israel's worship. The altar played a key role in the priestly rituals.
Amplified meaning
the place where offerings are made to God
Tyndale gloss
altar
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מִזְבֵּחַ (mizbeach) means 'altar' in Hebrew. It is derived from the root word meaning to slay or kill, indicating its use in sacrificial contexts. The term is consistently used throughout the Old Testament to refer to places of sacrifice and worship.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִזְבֵּחַ 401 n.m. altar

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4196 מִזְבֵּחַ altar

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4196 mizbeach miz-bay'-akh

from 2076; an altar:--altar.

see HEBREW for 02076

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִזְבֵּחַ (miz.be.ach) — altar.

altar

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
HTd/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ol'-ter (mizbeach, literally, "place of slaughter or sacrifice," from zabhach, which is found in both senses; bomos, (only in Ac 17:23), thusiasterion):

I. CLASSIFICATION OF HEBREW ALTARS

Importance of the Distinction

II. LAY ALTARS

1. Pre-Mosaic

2. In the Mosaic Age

3. Dangers of the Custom

4. The Mosaic Provisions

III. HORNED ALTARS OF BURNT OFFERING

1. The Tabernacle Altar

2. The Altar of Jos 22

3. The Altar till Solomon

4. The Horned Altar in Use

5. The Temple of Solomon

6. The Altar of Ahaz

7. Ezekiel

8. The Post-exilic Altar

9. Idolatrous and Unlawful Altars

10. The Horns

IV. ALTARS OF INCENSE

V. RECENT ARCHAEOLOGICAL MATERIALS 1. A Gezer Altar

2. The Taanach Altar of Incense

LITERATURE

A. CRITICAL

I. Classification of Hebrew Altars.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Altar

(Heb. mizbe’ah, from a word meaning “to slay”), any structure of earth (Ex. 20:24) or unwrought stone (20:25) on which sacrifices were offered. Altars were generally erected in conspicuous places (Gen. 22:9; Ezek. 6:3; 2 Kings 23:12; 16:4; 23:8; Acts 14:13). The word is used in Heb. 13:10 for the sacrifice offered upon it—the sacrifice Christ offered.

Paul found among the many altars erected in Athens one bearing the inscription, “To the unknown God” (Acts 17:23), or rather “to an [i.e., some]…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

The first altar of which we have any account is that built by Noah when he left the ark. (Genesis 8:20) In the early times altars were usually built in certain spots hallowed by religious associations, e.g., where God appeared. (Genesis 12:7; 13:18; 26:25; 35:1) Though generally erected for the offering of sacrifice, in some instances they appear to have been only memorials. (Genesis 12:7; Exodus 17:15,16) Altars were most probably originally made of earth. The law of Moses allowed them to be made of either earth or unhewn stones. (Exodus 20:24,25) I. The Altar of Burnt Offering . It differed in construction at…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A table-like structure, on which sacrifices and incense were offered, built of various materials, usually of stone, but sometimes of brass, etc. It is evident that sacrifices were offered long before the flood; but the first mention of an altar in Scripture is when Noah left the ark. Mention is made of altars reared by Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses. The latter was commanded to build an altar of earth, Ex 20:24. If stone was employed, it must be rough and unhewn, probably lest the practice of sculpture should lead them to violate the second commandment. It was not to be furnished with steps, De 27:2-6.

The altars in the Jewish tabernacle, and in the temple at Jerusalem, were the following: 1. The altar of burnt offerings. 2. The altar of incense. 3. The table of showbread, for…

Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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