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H800 · Hebrew · Old Testament
אֶשָּׁה
Eshshab
Noun, feminine
Fire-offering, offering made by fire

Definition

The Hebrew noun eshshab (H800) is a variant or construct form related to esh (H784, fire) and refers to an offering made by fire — a sacrificial offering consumed on the altar. It appears in Levitical legislation to describe the category of burnt offerings and other sacrifices presented to God through fire.

Usage & Theological Significance

The fire-offering (eshshab) is tied to the theology of the altar as the place where the holy and the human intersect. Fire in the Old Testament represents both God's consuming holiness (Deuteronomy 4:24 — 'the LORD your God is a consuming fire') and His purifying presence. The ascending smoke of offerings was described as 'an aroma pleasing to the LORD' (Leviticus 1:9), symbolizing the worshiper's desire for the gift to reach God. Paul reinterprets this language for Christian sacrifice: 'a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God' (Ephesians 5:2) applied to Christ's atonement, and believers' bodies as 'living sacrifices' (Romans 12:1) — the New Covenant fulfillment of the fire-offering.

Key Bible Verses

Leviticus 1:9 ...It is a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the LORD.
Leviticus 3:3 From the fellowship offering you are to bring a food offering made to the LORD.
Numbers 15:3 ...and you present to the LORD food offerings from the herd or the flock, as an aroma pleasing to the LORD — whether burnt offerings or sacrifices...
Ephesians 5:2 ...and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. [NT fulfillment of eshshab theology]
Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God — this is your true and proper worship.

Related Words

External Resources

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