📖 Biblical Definition
An oblation is a religious offering presented to God — anything formally brought near to the divine presence as an act of worship, devotion, or atonement. In the Old Testament, oblations encompassed the full range of ritual offerings: burnt offerings, grain offerings, drink offerings, firstfruits, and tithes. The Hebrew qorban (from qarab, to come near) captures the essence: an oblation is not merely a gift but an act of drawing near to God through something offered. Christ is the ultimate oblation — He offered Himself once for all (Heb. 9:26; 10:10). The New Testament reframes oblation for believers as spiritual worship: the offering of the body (Rom. 12:1), praise (Heb. 13:15), and generosity (Phil. 4:18).
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
An offering; any thing presented or offered in worship or sacred service.
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An offering; any thing presented or offered in worship or sacred service. In Scripture, it comprehends burnt-offerings, peace-offerings, and all gifts or presentations to God. "The oblations of the Levitical law were types and shadows of the one great oblation of Christ."
📖 Key Scripture
Leviticus 2:1 — When anyone brings a grain offering as an offering to the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour.
Hebrews 9:26 — But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
Hebrews 10:10 — We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Romans 12:1 — Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Philippians 4:18 — A fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.
⚠️ Modern Corruption
"Oblation" has essentially disappeared from common Christian vocabulary, replaced by "offering" — which has itself be...
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"Oblation" has essentially disappeared from common Christian vocabulary, replaced by "offering" — which has itself been flattened into a fundraising term. The rich theological concept of bringing oneself and one's substance near to God as an act of worship has been replaced by the offering plate as a financial transaction. Roman Catholic theology controversially uses "oblation" for the Eucharistic sacrifice, claiming the Mass re-presents Christ's sacrifice — a doctrine the Reformation rejected as undermining the "once for all" (ephapax) character of Christ's offering (Heb. 10:10).
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
H7133 — קָרְבָּן (qorban) — an offering brought near; from the root qarab (to draw near) — an oblation is fundamental...
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H7133 — קָרְבָּן (qorban) — an offering brought near; from the root qarab (to draw near) — an oblation is fundamentally about proximity to God.
H4503 — מִנְחָה (minchah) — a gift, tribute, grain offering; the non-blood oblation offered as worship in the OT sacrificial system.
G4376 — προσφορά (prosphora) — an offering, oblation; used of Christ's self-offering (Heb. 10:10, 14) and of Paul's ministry as a priestly oblation of the Gentiles (Rom. 15:16).
Usage
• "Every animal brought to the altar in Israel was an enacted question: 'When will the true oblation come — the One who will make all these shadows unnecessary?'"
• "The Christian life is a continuing oblation — not to earn salvation, but as the grateful response of those who have been saved."
• "The oblation Christ made was singular and final; the Mass that claims to repeat it misunderstands the triumphant completeness of Calvary."