Original Word: זָבַח
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: zabach
Pronunciation: zah-bakh'
Phonetic Spelling: (zaw-bakh')
KJV: kill, offer, (do) sacrifice, slay
NASB: sacrifice, sacrificed, offer, offered, sacrificing, offer sacrifices, sacrifices
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to slaughter an animal (usually in sacrifice)

kill, offer, do sacrifice, slay

A primitive root; to slaughter an animal (usually in sacrifice) -- kill, offer, (do) sacrifice, slay.

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to slaughter for sacrifice
NASB Translation
made (1), offer (12), offer a sacrifice (2), offer to a sacrifice (1), offer sacrifices (3), offered (11), offered sacrifice (1), offering (2), offering sacrifices (1), offers a sacrifice (2), sacrifice (47), sacrificed (33), sacrifices (3), sacrificing (9), slaughter (3), slaughtered (3).

זָבַח₁₃₄ verb slaughter for sacrifice (Late Hebrew id., Phoenician זבח; Assyrian Zibû Dl^{Pr 174} compare Lotz^{TP 174}; Arabic , Sabean דֿבח CIS^{iv. 1, 2, No. 74 l. 11. 12}; Aramaic דְּבַח, , Ethiopic )

Qal₁₁₂ Perfect ׳ז 1 Kings 8:63; 1 Kings 13:2, זָבַחְתָּ Exodus 20:24 3t., זָבַחְתִּי Ezekiel 39:19, זָָֽבְחוּ Exodus 34:15; Leviticus 17:5, זְבַחְתֶּם Exodus 8:24, זָבַחְנוּ Exodus 8:23; Imperfect וַיִּזְבַּח Genesis 31:54 14t.; 2 masculine singular suffix תִּזְבָּחֶנּוּ Deuteronomy 15:21, 2feminine singular suffix וַתִּזְבָּחִים Ezekiel 16:20, 1singular אֶזְבַּח Psalm 116:17, אֶזְבְּחָה Psalm 27:6; Psalm 54:8; Jonah 2:10; 2masculine plural תִּזְבְּחוּ Leviticus 19:5 2t., תִּזְבָּ֑חוּ Leviticus 22:29 2t.; 1 plural נִזְבְּחָה Exodus 3:18 +, etc. (61 t. Imperfect); Imperative זְבַח Psalm 50:14, זִבְחוּ Exodus 8:21; Psalm 4:6; Infinitive construct זְבֹחַ 1 Samuel 15:15 14t., לִזְבּוֺחַ2Chronicles 11:16, בְּזָבְחוֺ 2 Samuel 15:12; Participle active זֹבֵחַ Exodus 13:15 8t., זוֺבֵחַ Isaiah 66:3, plural זֹבְחִים Leviticus 17:5 + (20 t. Participle) —

1 slaughter for sacrifice 1 with accusative of

a. kind of sacrifice זֶבַח ׳ז Genesis 31:54 +, מֶּסַח Deuteronomy 16:2,5,6, שְׁלָמְים Deuteronomy 27:7; Joshua 8:31, תּוֺדָה Psalm 50:14; Psalm 50:23, עֹלוֺת ושׁלמים Exodus 20:24 (E).

b. victims, (a) animals בָּקָר וָצאֹן 1 Kings 8:63; Numbers 22:40, צאן ובקר2Chronicles 18:2, הַבְּרִיאָה Ezekiel 34:3, כָּלמֶּֿטֶר רֶחֶם Exodus 13:15 (J); מָּרִים וְאֵילִים 1 Chronicles 15:26, שׁוֺר וָשֶׂה Deuteronomy 17:1; (β) mankind בָּנִים וּבָנוֺת Psalm 106:37; Ezekiel 16:20, זֹבְחֵי אָדָם sacrificers of mankind Hosea 13:2 (so Ra AE Hi Wü MV; men that sacrifice AV RV after Ki, so Pu Ew Ke Now Che SS).

c. תּוֺעֲבַת מִצְרַיִם Exodus 8:22 (twice in verse) (E), מָשְׁחָת Malachi 1:14.

2 absolute 1 Samuel 1:5 #NAME?

3 with לְ of deity, לְדָגוֺן Judges 16:23, לַשְּׂעִירִם Leviticus 17:7 (H), לַשֵּׁדִים Deuteronomy 32:17; Psalm 106:37; other gods Exodus 34:15 (JE) +; but usually ליהוה Exodus 3:18 9t. J E, Leviticus 17:5; Leviticus 19:5; Leviticus 22:29 (all H, not elsewhere in P), Deuteronomy 15:21; Deuteronomy 16:2; Deuteronomy 17:1; 1 Samuel 1:3 +; לֵאלֹהֵי אָבִיו Genesis 46:1 (E), לאלהים Psalm 50:14, לאדני Malachi 1:14.

4 with local prep. בְּ Genesis 31:54 (E) +, עַל Exodus 20:24 (E) +; לפני Leviticus 9:4 (P) +, על פני השׂדה Leviticus 17:5 (H).

II. slaughter for eating (connected also with sacrifice, as all eating of flesh among ancient Hebrews was sacrificial, RS^{Semitic 219}) 1 Samuel 28:24 (fat calf for Saul), Ezekiel 34:3 (fat sheep for shepherds), 2 Chronicles 18:2 (sheep and oxen for Jehoshaphat, with לְ of person); compare Deuteronomy 12:15 Deuteronomy 12:21 (absolute), 1 Kings 19:21.

III. slaughter in divine judgment Ezekiel 39:17-19 with accusative זִבְחִי (Gog and Magog as feast for vultures), 1 Kings 13:2; 2 Kings 23:20 (priests of high-places on their own altars).

Pi`el₂₂ Perfect זִבַּח2Chronicles 33:22, זִבְּחוּ Psalm 106:38, זִבֵּ֑חוּ Hosea 12:12; Imperfect יְזַבֵּחַ Habakkuk 1:16, יְזַבֵּ֑חוּ Hosea 4:13,14; Hosea 11:2 (7 t. Imperfect); Infinitive construct לְֹזַבֵּחַ 1 Kings 12:32; Participle מְזַבֵּחַ 1 Kings 3:3, plural מְזַבְּחִים2Chronicles 5:6 8t., מְזַבְּחוֺת 1 Kings 11:8; — sacrifice,

1 of the abundant sacrifices made to Yahweh by Solomon 1 Kings 8:5 2Chronicles 5:6, and Hezekiah 2 Chronicles 30:22, and probably intensive; but

2 elsewhere of sacrifice to other deities, possibly iterative in some cases, but certainly not in all: לַבְּעָלִים Hosea 11:2, לֵאלֹהֵיהֶן 1 Kings 11:8, לַעֲגָלִים 1 Kings 12:32, לְחֶרְמוֺ Habakkuk 1:16, לַעֲצַבֵּי כְנָ֑עַן Psalm 106:38, לֵאלֹהֵי דַּרְמֶשֶׂק2Chronicles 28:23, לְכָלהַֿמְּסִילִים2Chronicles 33:22; or in unlawful places עַלרָֿאשֵׁי הֶהָרִים Hosea 4:13 compare Hosea 4:14, בַּגִּלְגָּל Hosea 12:12, בַּבָּמוֺת 1 Kings 3:2,3; 1 Kings 22:44; 2 Kings 12:4; 2 Kings 14:4; 2 Kings 15:4; 2 Kings 15:35, 16:4 2Chronicles 28:4. It is used without direct object Hosea 4:14 and often; also with accusative of victim שְׁוָרִים Hosea 12:12 צאֹן וּבָקָר 1 Kings 8:5 2Chronicles 5:6; sons and daughters Psalm 106:38, זִבְחֵי שְׁלָמִים2Chronicles 30:22.

Root Meaning and Scope of Usage

זָבַח (zabach) is the common Old Testament verb for slaughtering an animal as an act of worship. About 134 occurrences span Genesis to Malachi, depicting sacrifices offered either to the LORD or, tragically, to false gods. The verb emphasizes the act of killing, yet its theological weight lies in what that act expressed—substitution, fellowship, thanksgiving, or misguided idolatry.

First Occurrences and Patriarchal Worship

The earliest narrative use is Genesis 31:54, where Jacob “offered a sacrifice on the mountain and invited his relatives to eat a meal.” Although the patriarchs built altars (Genesis 12:7; Genesis 13:4), Moses’ record reserves zabach for a covenant-ratifying meal that bound family ties before God. This anticipates later fellowship offerings in the Law.

The Exodus and Covenant Ritual

At the exodus, zabach becomes inseparably linked with redemption.
• Passover: “It is the sacrifice of the LORD’s Passover” (Exodus 12:27). The verb identifies the lamb whose blood shielded Israel from judgment.
• Sinai covenant: “Then he sent young Israelite men, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as fellowship offerings to the LORD” (Exodus 24:5). Blood sprinkled on the people and the book sealed the covenant (Exodus 24:8).

Zabach in the Levitical System

Leviticus details how priests were to zabach various offerings:

1. Burnt offering (Leviticus 1:5).
2. Fellowship/peace offering (Leviticus 3:1–2).
3. Sin and guilt offerings (Leviticus 4–7).

The action took place “before the LORD” at the altar’s north side, connecting earthly worship with heavenly holiness. Blood application underscored atonement (Leviticus 17:11).

Centralization of Worship

Deuteronomy stresses one sanctuary: “There you are to bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices” (Deuteronomy 12:6). Private altars were banned to safeguard purity. Israelites might slaughter ordinary meat for food (shâchat, Deuteronomy 12:15), but zabach belonged at the chosen place alone, curbing syncretism.

Sacrifice and Fellowship Meals

Zabach frequently introduces communal eating:
• “You may eat them in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice” (Deuteronomy 27:7).
• At Shiloh, Elkanah “would sacrifice and give portions to his wife Peninnah and all her sons and daughters” (1 Samuel 1:4).

The meal reaffirmed covenant fellowship—God shared His table with His people.

National Life and Historical Narratives

The verb punctuates Israel’s story: Gideon (Judges 6:26), Samuel at Mizpah (1 Samuel 7:9), David on the threshing floor (2 Samuel 24:25), and Solomon’s temple dedication with “twenty-two thousand cattle and one hundred twenty thousand sheep” (1 Kings 8:63). Each moment marks renewal, gratitude, or intercession.

Unauthorized and Idolatrous Sacrifices

Zabach also exposes apostasy:
• “They shall no longer sacrifice their sacrifices to goat demons” (Leviticus 17:7).
• Jeroboam’s calves at Bethel and Dan demanded sacrifices (1 Kings 12:32).
• Psalm 106:37 laments, “They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons.”

Whenever zabach drifted from God’s revealed will, it provoked judgment.

Prophetic Reproof and Heart-Obedience

Prophets upheld divine priority:
• Samuel: “To obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22).
• David: “You do not delight in sacrifice…The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit” (Psalm 51:16-17).
• Isaiah: “What is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?” (Isaiah 1:11).
• Hosea: “For I desire mercy, not sacrifice” (Hosea 6:6).

These passages do not abolish sacrificial worship but condemn empty ritual divorced from repentance and righteousness.

Messianic Foreshadowing

Every legitimate zabach pointed toward the ultimate offering. Psalm 40:6-8 (quoted in Hebrews 10:5-9) transfers sacrificial language to the Messiah’s willing body. Isaiah 53 portrays the Suffering Servant as the lamb led to slaughter, satisfying God’s justice once for all. Thus the Old Testament verb prepares hearts to grasp the cross where Christ “offered Himself unblemished to God” (Hebrews 9:14).

New Covenant Fulfillment

While animal sacrifices ceased with the perfect sacrifice of the Son, zabach imagery informs New Testament exhortations:
• Believers are “a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5).
• “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God” (Hebrews 13:15).

The Levitical shadow gives way to worship in Spirit and truth, yet the underlying principles—atonement through blood, consecration, thanksgiving, and communal fellowship—remain.

Practical Ministry Applications

1. Gospel Proclamation: Zabach highlights the cost of atonement, sharpening the call to trust Christ’s finished work.
2. Worship Leadership: Pastors and musicians alike can frame praise as a “sacrifice of thanksgiving” (Psalm 116:17).
3. Ethical Discipleship: Prophetic critiques remind believers that worship divorced from justice and mercy is vain.
4. Fellowship Meals: Church gatherings around the Lord’s Table echo ancient peace offerings, celebrating reconciliation accomplished at Calvary.
5. Missions: The universality of sacrifice language offers bridges to cultures familiar with offerings, enabling evangelists to present Jesus as the true, final sacrifice.

Representative References

Patriarchal: Genesis 31:54; Exodus 3:18

Covenant: Exodus 12:27; Exodus 24:5-8

Levitical: Leviticus 1:5; Leviticus 3:2; Leviticus 17:5-7

Centralization: Deuteronomy 12:6-14; Deuteronomy 16:5-7

Historical: 1 Samuel 1:4; 1 Kings 8:63; 2 Chronicles 30:15-22

Wisdom and Psalms: Psalm 4:5; Psalm 27:6; Proverbs 15:8

Prophets: Isaiah 1:11; Hosea 6:6; Malachi 1:8

Through every occurrence, זָבַח weaves a consistent biblical theology: God graciously permits a substitute so His people may draw near, foreshadowing the Lamb whose sacrifice secures eternal redemption and calls forth lives wholly devoted to Him.

אֲזַבֵּ֖חַ אֶ֭זְבַּח אֶזְבְּחָה־ אזבח אזבחה־ בְּזָבְח֖וֹ בזבחו הֲיִזְבָּ֙חוּ֙ הַזֹּ֣בְחִ֔ים הַזֹּבְחִ֖ים הַזֹּבֵ֔חַ הזבח הזבחים היזבחו וְ֭יִזְבְּחוּ וְאֶזְבְּחָ֣ה וְזָ֨בְח֜וּ וְזָבְחוּ֙ וְזָבַ֙חְנוּ֙ וְזָבַ֣ח וְזָבַ֥חְתָּ וְזָבַחְתָּ֞ וְזָבַחְתָּ֣ וְזָבַחְתָּ֥ וְזֹבֵ֥חַ וְיִזְבְּח֖וּ וְלִזְבֹּ֛חַ וְלַזֹּבֵ֔חַ וְנִזְבְּחָ֖ה וְנִזְבְּחָה֙ וַ֠יִּזְבַּח וַֽיִּזְבְּח֖וּ וַֽיִּזְבְּח֞וּ וַֽיִּזְבְּח֧וּ וַיְזַבֵּ֧חַ וַיִּֽזְבְּחוּ־ וַיִּֽזְבַּֽח־ וַיִּזְבְּח֣וּ וַיִּזְבְּח֤וּ וַיִּזְבְּח֥וּ וַיִּזְבְּחוּ־ וַיִּזְבַּ֖ח וַיִּזְבַּ֗ח וַיִּזְבַּ֞ח וַיִּזְבַּ֣ח וַיִּזְבַּ֥ח וַיִּזְבַּ֨ח וַיִּזְבָּחֵ֗הוּ וַתִּזְבָּחִ֥ים וַתִּזְבָּחֵ֑הוּ וּֽמְזַבְּח֖וֹת וּזְבַחְתֶּ֞ם ואזבחה וזבח וזבחו וזבחנו וזבחת וזבחתם ויזבח ויזבח־ ויזבחהו ויזבחו ויזבחו־ ולזבח ומזבחות ונזבחה ותזבחהו ותזבחים זְבַ֣ח זְבֹ֖חַ זִ֭בְּחוּ זִבְח֥וּ זִבֵּ֑חוּ זִבַּ֥ח זָבַ֣ח זָבַ֥חְתִּי זֹֽבְחִים֙ זֹבְחִ֖ים זֹבְחִ֗ים זֹבְחִ֥ים זֹבְחִים֮ זֹבְחֵ֣י זֹבְחֵ֥י זֹבֵ֑חַ זֹבֵ֜חַ זֹבֵ֣חַ זֹבֵ֤חַ זֹבֵ֥חַ זבח זבחו זבחי זבחים זבחתי זוֹבֵ֤חַ זובח יְזַבֵּ֑חוּ יְזַבֵּ֔חוּ יְזַבֵּ֗חוּ יְזַבֵּ֣חַ יִזְבְּח֗וּ יִזְבְּח֣וּ יִזְבְּח֤וּ יִזְבְּח֥וּ יזבח יזבחו לְזַבֵּ֖חַ לִזְבֹּ֖חַ לִזְבֹּ֙חַ֙ לִזְבֹּ֛חַ לִזְבֹּ֣חַ לִזְבֹּ֤חַ לִזְבֹּ֥חַ לִזְבֹּ֧חַ לִזְבּ֕וֹחַ לזבוח לזבח מְזַבְּחִ֖ים מְזַבְּחִ֥ים מְזַבְּחִים֙ מְזַבֵּ֖חַ מזבח מזבחים נִזְבְּחָ֥ה נִזְבַּ֖ח נִזְבַּ֞ח נזבח נזבחה תִּזְבַּ֣ח ׀ תִּזְבַּ֥ח תִּזְבָּ֑חוּ תִּזְבָּֽחוּ׃ תִּזְבָּחֻֽהוּ׃ תִזְבְּח֖וּ תִזְבְּח֛וּ תִזְבְּח֥וּ תִזְבַּ֥ח תִזְבַּח֩ תִזְבָּֽחוּ׃ תִזְבָּחֶ֔נּוּ תזבח תזבחהו׃ תזבחו תזבחו׃ תזבחנו ’ă·zab·bê·aḥ ’ăzabbêaḥ ’ez·baḥ ’ez·bə·ḥāh- ’ezbaḥ ’ezbəḥāh- azabBeach bə·zā·ḇə·ḥōw bəzāḇəḥōw bezaveCho Ezbach ezbechah hă·yiz·bā·ḥū hayizBachu hăyizbāḥū haz·zō·ḇê·aḥ haz·zō·ḇə·ḥîm hazzōḇêaḥ hazzōḇəḥîm hazzoeChim hazzoVeach lə·zab·bê·aḥ lezabBeach ləzabbêaḥ liz·bō·aḥ liz·bō·w·aḥ lizBoach lizbōaḥ lizbōwaḥ mə·zab·bê·aḥ mə·zab·bə·ḥîm mezabBeach məzabbêaḥ mezabbeChim məzabbəḥîm niz·baḥ niz·bə·ḥāh nizBach nizbaḥ nizbeChah nizbəḥāh ṯiz·bā·ḥen·nū tiz·bā·ḥū ṯiz·bā·ḥū tiz·bā·ḥu·hū tiz·baḥ ṯiz·baḥ ṯiz·bə·ḥū tizBach tizbaChennu tizBachu tizbaChuhu tizbaḥ ṯizbaḥ ṯizbāḥennū tizbāḥū ṯizbāḥū tizbāḥuhū tizbeChu ṯizbəḥū ū·mə·zab·bə·ḥō·wṯ ū·zə·ḇaḥ·tem umezabbeChot ūməzabbəḥōwṯ ūzəḇaḥtem uzevachTem vaiyizBach vaiyizbaChehu vaiyizbeChu vattizbaChehu vattizbaChim vayzabBeach veezbeChah velazzoVeach velizBoach venizbeChah veyizbeChu vezaVach vezaVachnu vezavachTa vezaveChu vezoVeach wat·tiz·bā·ḥê·hū wat·tiz·bā·ḥîm wattizbāḥêhū wattizbāḥîm way·yiz·bā·ḥê·hū way·yiz·baḥ way·yiz·baḥ- way·yiz·bə·ḥū way·yiz·bə·ḥū- way·zab·bê·aḥ wayyizbaḥ wayyizbaḥ- wayyizbāḥêhū wayyizbəḥū wayyizbəḥū- wayzabbêaḥ wə’ezbəḥāh wə·’ez·bə·ḥāh wə·laz·zō·ḇê·aḥ wə·liz·bō·aḥ wə·niz·bə·ḥāh wə·yiz·bə·ḥū wə·zā·ḇaḥ wə·zā·ḇaḥ·nū wə·zā·ḇaḥ·tā wə·zā·ḇə·ḥū wə·zō·ḇê·aḥ wəlazzōḇêaḥ wəlizbōaḥ wənizbəḥāh wəyizbəḥū wəzāḇaḥ wəzāḇaḥnū wəzāḇaḥtā wəzāḇəḥū wəzōḇêaḥ yə·zab·bê·aḥ yə·zab·bê·ḥū yezabBeach yəzabbêaḥ yezabBechu yəzabbêḥū yiz·bə·ḥū yizbeChu yizbəḥū zā·ḇaḥ zā·ḇaḥ·tî zāḇaḥ zāḇaḥtî zaVach zaVachti zə·ḇaḥ zə·ḇō·aḥ zəḇaḥ zəḇōaḥ zeVach zeVoach zib·baḥ zib·bê·ḥū zib·bə·ḥū ziḇ·ḥū zibBach zibbaḥ Zibbechu zibbêḥū zibbəḥū ziḇḥū zivChu zō·ḇê·aḥ zō·ḇə·ḥê zō·ḇə·ḥîm zō·w·ḇê·aḥ zōḇêaḥ zōḇəḥê zōḇəḥîm zoeChei zoeChim zoVeach zōwḇêaḥInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts