Original Word: זֶבַח
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: zebach
Pronunciation: ZE-bakh
Phonetic Spelling: (zeh'-bakh)
KJV: offer(-ing), sacrifice
NASB: sacrifice, sacrifices, offer, feasting, sacrificial, slaughter
Word Origin: [from H2076 (זָבַח - sacrifice)]

1. (properly) a slaughter, i.e. the flesh of an animal
2. (by implication) a sacrifice (the victim or the act)

offer sacrifice

From zabach; properly, a slaughter, i.e. The flesh of an animal; by implication, a sacrifice (the victim or the act) -- offer(- ing), sacrifice.

see HEBREW zabach

Word Origin
from zabach
Definition
a sacrifice
NASB Translation
feasting (1), offer (2), sacrifice (98), sacrifices (54), sacrificial (1), slaughter (1).

I. זֶ֫בַח₁₆₂ noun masculine^{Judges 16:23} sacrifice **Phoenician זבח of an offering of bread and oil CIS^{i. 165, 12; 167. 8}, compare RS^{Semitic 205 (2nd ed. 222)}. ׳ז absolute Genesis 31:54 +; construct Exodus 34:25 +; זָ֑בַח Leviticus 17:8 16t.; suffix זִבְחוֺ Leviticus 7:16; Ezekiel 34:15, זִבְחֲכֶם Leviticus 19:6; plural זְבָחִים Genesis 46:1 +; construct זִבְחֵי Leviticus 17:5 +; suffix 3 masculine plural זִבְחֵיהֶם Leviticus 17:5, זְבָחֵימוֺ Deuteronomy 32:38, זִבְחֹתָם Hosea 4:19 etc.; — the common and most ancient sacrifice, whose essential rite was eating the flesh of the victim at a feast in which the god of the clan shared by receiving the blood and fat pieces. In the older literature it is distinguished from מִנְחָה and עֹלָה, in the later literature from חַטָּאת and אָשָׁם.

I. general name for all sacrifices eaten at feasts: —

1 of the God of Israel Genesis 46:1; Exodus 10:25; Exodus 18:12 (E) Hosea 3:4; Hosea 6:6; Hosea 9:4; Amos 5:25; Isaiah 1:11; Isaiah 19:21; Deuteronomy 12:27; Deuteronomy 18:3; 1 Samuel 2:13,29; 1 Samuel 3:14; 1 Samuel 6:15; 1 Samuel 9:12,13; 1 Samuel 15:22 (twice in verse); 1 Samuel 16:3,5 (twice in verse); 2 Samuel 15:12; 1 Kings 8:62; 1 Kings 12:27; 2 Kings 5:17; 2 Kings 16:15; Psalm 40:7; Psalm 50:8; Psalm 51:18; Psalm 51:19; Proverbs 15:8; Proverbs 21:3,27; Isaiah 43:23,24; Isaiah 56:7; Jeremiah 6:20; Jeremiah 7:21,22; Jeremiah 17:26; Jeremiah 33:18; Ezekiel 40:42; Ezekiel 44:11; 1 Chronicles 29:21 (twice in verse); 2Chronicles 7:1,4,5,12; Nehemiah 12:43; Daniel 9:27; Ecclesiastes 4:17. They should be זִבְחֵי צֶדֶק sacrifices of righteousness (offered in righteousness by the righteous) Deuteronomy 33:19; Psalm 4:6; Psalm 51:21; זִבְחֵי הַבְהָבַי sacrifices of gifts to me (׳י) Hosea 8:13; the temple is בֵּית זָבַ֑ח2Chronicles 7:12; they should not be רִיב ׳ז sacrifices of strife, where strife prevails Proverbs 17:1.

2 of other deities Exodus 34:15; Numbers 25:2; Deuteronomy 32:38 (JE) Judges 16:23; 2 Kings 10:19,24; Hosea 4:19; Isaiah 57:7; Ezekiel 20:28; these are זִבְחֵי מֵתִים sacrifices to dead things (lifeless gods, opposed to ׳י as living), Psalm 106:28.

II. there are several kinds of זְבָחִים which are gradually distinguished:

1 the covenant sacrifice, between Jacob and Laban Genesis 31:54 (E), with God Psalm 50:5 (compare Exodus 24:5; 1 Samuel 11:15).

2 the passover זֶבַח חַג הַמֶּסַח Exodus 34:25 (JE), זבח פסח Exodus 12:27 (J); and probably also זבחי Exodus 23:18 (JE) = Exodus 34:25 (id.)

3 annual sacrifice זֶבַח הַיָּמִים 1 Samuel 1:21; 1 Samuel 2:19; 1 Samuel 20:6, compare מִשְׁמָּחָה ׳ז sacrifice of the clan 1 Samuel 20:29.

4 thank offering (הַ)תּוֺדָה ׳ז Leviticus 7:12; Leviticus 22:29; Psalm 107:22; Psalm 116:17, which is given as קָרְבָּנוֺ ׳ז, זִבְחוֺ, הַזָּבַח Leviticus 7:16,17; and as a variety of שְׁלָמִים Leviticus 7:13,15; it is implied in זִבְחֵי תְרוּעָה Psalm 27:6; yet זֶבַח is Generic with תּוֺדָה2Chronicles 29:31 (twice in verse).

5 in ritual of H & P זבחים are defined by שׁלמים (q. v.) Leviticus 3:1 39t. Leviticus, Numbers, 1 Samuel 10:8; 1 Kings 8:63; 2Chronicles 30:22; 33:16; Proverbs 7:14, but sometimes (rarely) ׳ז alone is used in this sense, with or without suffix, where the meaning is plain from the context: Leviticus 17:5,7,8; Leviticus 19:6; Leviticus 23:37 (H) Numbers 15:3,5,8; Joshua 22:26,29 (all P). These ritual offerings are of three varieties תּוֺדָה, נֶדֶר and נְדָבָה Leviticus 7:12,16 (P); in the several lists זבחים are distinguished from תודות Amos 4:4f.; 2Chron 29:31, from נדרים Numbers 15:8 (P) Deuteronomy 12:6,11; Jonah 1:16, from נדבות Amos 4:4f.; Deuteronomy 12:6 and from the more comprehensive שׁלמים Numbers 15:8; Joshua 22:27 (P). So also the sacrifice at the institution of the covenant at Horeb Exodus 24:5 (J E) and the sacrifice at the installation of Saul 1 Samuel 11:5 are defined as זבחים שׁלמים. Thus ׳ז seems not only to be used for all these special forms but also to include other festal sacrifices not defined in the codes of law. The ritual was the same for the entire class. They were all sacrifices for feasts in which the flesh of the victim was eaten by the offerers, except so far as the officiating priests had certain choice pieces and the blood and fat pieces went to the altar for God. The sacrifice at the institution of the covenant at Horeb, the Passover victim, and the ram of consecration, were special, in that there was an application of a portion of the blood to the persons and things which were to be consecrated, Exodus 12:22; Exodus 24:8; Leviticus 8:23.

6 the slaughter of hostile nations is also a זֶבַח offered by God Himself, in which the vultures devour the flesh of the victims Isaiah 34:6; Jeremiah 46:10; Ezekiel 39:17 (twice in verse); Ezekiel 39:19; Zephaniah 1:7,8.

7 the verb used with זֶבַח is ordinarily זָבַח but others also are found e.g. עָשָׂה Numbers 6:17; Numbers 15:3,5,8; Joshua 22:23 (P) 1 Kings 12:27; 2 Kings 5:17; 2 Kings 10:24; Jeremiah 33:18 (compare Sabean עסי דֿבח Hal¹⁴⁸ DHM^{ZMG 1888, 374}); הֵבִיא Amos 4:4; Deuteronomy 12:6,11; Jeremiah 17:26, הִגִּישׁ Amos 5:25, הִקְרִיב Leviticus 7:11,16; Leviticus 22:21 (all P), עָבַד Isaiah 19:21, נָתַן Ecclesiastes 4:17, יַעֲלָה עֹלָה אוֺ זֶבַח Leviticus 17:8 (H), ׳בִּשֵּׁל ז Ezekiel 46:24, שָׁחַט אֶתהָֿעוֺלָה וְהַזָּבַ֑ח Ezekiel 40:42; compare Ezekiel 44:11.

Meaning and Essence

זֶבַח (zebach) designates the slaughter of an animal that is then presented to the LORD as an act of worship. Unlike the עֹלָה (olah, burnt offering) that is wholly consumed, the zebach is normally shared—portions are burned on the altar and the worshipers partake of the remainder in a covenantal meal. The term therefore carries the twofold idea of propitiation toward God and joyful communion with Him.

First Occurrences and Patriarchal Practice

The word first appears when Jacob “offered a sacrifice on the mountain and invited his relatives to eat a meal” (Genesis 31:54). Although explicit sacrificial legislation had not yet been given, the passage shows that the underlying principle of fellowship through a shared meal was already understood. Similar patriarchal altars (Genesis 8:20; Genesis 12:7; Genesis 26:25) anticipate the formal zebach system that would be codified at Sinai.

Institutional Usage in the Mosaic Covenant

At the Exodus the zebach becomes central to Israel’s worship identity:
• “You must allow us to take with us sacrifices and burnt offerings” (Exodus 10:25).
• “It is the sacrifice of the LORD’s Passover” (Exodus 12:27).

From Sinai onward, zebach is embedded in Torah instructions, especially in Leviticus 3 and Leviticus 7, where the fellowship (peace) offering is called זֶבַח שְׁלָמִים.

Varieties of Zebach

1. Peace/Fellowship (shelamim) – thanksgiving, vow, or freewill (Leviticus 7:11-18).
2. Passover (pesach) – annual memorial of redemption (Exodus 12:27).
3. Festival sacrifices – at the three pilgrimage feasts (Exodus 23:14-18).
4. Covenant ratification – “Moses sent young Israelite men, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as peace offerings to the LORD” (Exodus 24:5).
5. Dedication ceremonies – for tabernacle (Leviticus 9), temple (1 Kings 8:62-63), rebuilt altar (Ezra 6:17).

Procedures and Participation

• Only clean, unblemished animals (Leviticus 22:21).
• Blood dashed on the altar; fat portions burned (Leviticus 3:3-5).
• The breast and right thigh given to the priest (Leviticus 7:31-34).
• Remaining meat eaten the same day or next, fostering communal rejoicing before God (Deuteronomy 12:7).

Centralisation and the Sanctity of Place

Deuteronomy 12 distinguishes ordinary slaughter from zebach; the latter must occur “at the place the LORD your God will choose” (Deuteronomy 12:5-14). This safeguarded purity of worship and foreshadowed the eventual focus on Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 6:6).

Ethical and Prophetic Dimensions

Scripture insists that ritual cannot substitute for obedience:
• “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obedience to His voice?” (1 Samuel 15:22).
• “For I desire mercy, not sacrifice” (Hosea 6:6).
• “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire… then I said, ‘Here I am, I have come’ ” (Psalm 40:6-7; cf. Hebrews 10:5-7).

Right zebach requires a contrite heart (Psalm 51:16-17) and justice toward neighbor (Proverbs 21:3, 27; Isaiah 1:11-17).

Zebach and the Passover

Passover uniquely joins the ideas of substitution, deliverance, and covenant meal. “Then Moses said, ‘You must slaughter the Passover sacrifice to the LORD your God…’ ” (Deuteronomy 16:2). Each household shared the lamb, marking the homes with blood and feeding on the sacrifice, a vivid anticipation of the redemptive work of the Lamb of God (John 1:29).

Covenant Ratification and National Celebrations

Large-scale zebach offerings marked pivotal moments:
• Saul’s coronation (1 Samuel 11:15).
• David’s relocation of the ark (2 Samuel 6:17-18).
• Solomon’s temple dedication—“twenty-two thousand cattle and one hundred twenty thousand sheep” (1 Kings 8:63).

These communal feasts reinforced national unity under the covenant.

Illicit Sacrifices and Syncretism

False worship is repeatedly condemned:
• Sacrifices to goat demons (Leviticus 17:7).
• High-place offerings apart from Jerusalem (2 Kings 14:4).
• Sacrifices to Baal (Hosea 2:13) or to Molech (Jeremiah 32:35).

Judgment falls when zebach is divorced from covenant fidelity (Amos 5:21-24; Isaiah 66:3).

Liturgical and Social Aspects

Because worshipers ate the meat, zebach fostered fellowship among families, priests, Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows (Deuteronomy 12:12; Deuteronomy 16:11). The meal symbolized peace with God and harmony within the covenant community.

Foreshadowing of the Messianic Sacrifice

Old Testament zebach anticipates the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ:
• Typology in the Passover lamb (Exodus 12; 1 Corinthians 5:7).
• The peace offering’s shared meal foreshadows the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26:26-29).
• “By one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14).

New Covenant Fulfilment

Animal zebach is fulfilled in the voluntary self-offering of Jesus Christ. Under the New Covenant believers now “offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God” (Romans 12:1) and as “a spiritual house… to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5).

Eschatological Perspectives

Prophets envision future worship involving zebach motifs:
• “The LORD of Hosts will bless Egypt, and they will worship with sacrifice and offering” (Isaiah 19:21).
• Zechariah foresees holiness permeating even the cooking pots “so that all who sacrifice may come and take of them” (Zechariah 14:21).
• Ezekiel’s temple vision includes peace offerings (Ezekiel 45:15-25), pointing to redeemed communion in the age to come.

Representative Scripture References

Genesis 31:54; Exodus 12:27; Exodus 24:5; Leviticus 3:1-17; Leviticus 7:11-18; Deuteronomy 12:11; Deuteronomy 16:2; 1 Samuel 15:22; 2 Samuel 6:17-18; 1 Kings 8:63; 2 Chronicles 30:22; Psalm 51:17; Proverbs 21:3; Isaiah 1:11; Jeremiah 7:21-23; Hosea 6:6; Amos 5:21-24; Zephaniah 1:7; Zechariah 14:21.

Total Old Testament occurrences: approximately 162, manifesting a continuous thread from patriarchal altars through Mosaic worship to prophetic hope, all converging on the definitive sacrifice of Christ and the believer’s ongoing spiritual zebach of praise and obedience.

בְּזִבְחִי֙ בְּזֶ֥בַח בַּזָּ֑בַח בזבח בזבחי הַזְּבָחִ֑ים הַזְּבָחִ֨ים הַזֶּ֔בַח הַזֶּ֖בַח הַזֶּ֙בַח֙ הַזָּ֑בַח הזבח הזבחים וְהַזְּבָחִ֑ים וְהַזָּֽבַח׃ וְזִבְחֵיהֶ֛ם וְזִבְחֵיכֶ֔ם וְזִבְחֵיכֶ֖ם וְזִבְחֵיכֶ֗ם וְזֶ֖בַח וָזֶ֙בַח֙ וָזָֽבַח׃ וּבִזְבָחֵ֖ינוּ וּזְבָחִ֔ים וּזְבָחִ֖ים וּזְבָחִ֥ים וּזְבָחֶ֖יךָ וּלְזֶ֖בַח וּלְזֶ֣בַח וּלְזָ֑בַח ובזבחינו והזבח׃ והזבחים וזבח וזבח׃ וזבחיהם וזבחיך וזבחיכם וזבחים ולזבח זְ֠בָחִים זְ֭בָחֶיךָ זְבָחִ֔ים זְבָחִ֛ים זְבָחִ֣ים זְבָחִ֤ים זְבָחִ֥ים זְבָחִ֧ים זְבָחִ֨ים זְבָחֵ֙ימוֹ֙ זְבָחֶ֖יךָ זְבָחֶ֗יךָ זִֽבְחֵ֣י זִבְח֖וֹ זִבְחֲכֶ֛ם זִבְחִ֑י זִבְחִ֗י זִבְחֵ֣י זִבְחֵ֥י זִבְחֵ֧י זִבְחֵי־ זִבְחֵיהֶ֔ם זִבְחֵיהֶ֗ם זִבְחֵיהֶם֙ זִבְחֵיהֶם֮ זִבְחֵיכֶ֔ם זִבְחֵיכֶ֖ם זִבְחֵיכֶם֙ זֶ֔בַח זֶ֖בַח זֶ֗בַח זֶ֙בַח֙ זֶ֚בַח זֶ֠בַח זֶ֣בַח זֶ֤בַח זֶ֥בַח זֶ֧בַח זֶ֨בַח זֶּ֖בַח זֶֽבַח־ זֶבַח֩ זָ֑בַח זָֽבַח׃ זבח זבח־ זבח׃ זבחו זבחי זבחי־ זבחיהם זבחיך זבחיכם זבחים זבחימו זבחכם לְזִבְחֵ֖י לְזֶ֔בַח לְזֶ֥בַח לְזָֽבַח׃ לַזָּ֑בַח לַזָּֽבַח׃ לזבח לזבח׃ לזבחי מִזִּבְחִ֖י מִזִּבְחֵ֖י מִזִּבְחֵ֣י מִזִּבְחֵ֥י מִזִּבְחֽוֹ׃ מִזִּבְחוֹתָֽם׃ מִזֶּ֣בַח מִזֶּ֤בַח מִזֶּ֥בַח מִזָּֽבַח׃ מזבח מזבח׃ מזבחו׃ מזבחותם׃ מזבחי baz·zā·ḇaḥ bazzāḇaḥ bazZavach bə·ze·ḇaḥ bə·ziḇ·ḥî bəzeḇaḥ beZevach bəziḇḥî bezivChi haz·zā·ḇaḥ haz·zə·ḇā·ḥîm haz·ze·ḇaḥ hazzāḇaḥ hazZavach hazzeḇaḥ hazzəḇāḥîm hazZevach hazzevaChim laz·zā·ḇaḥ lazzāḇaḥ lazZavach lə·zā·ḇaḥ lə·ze·ḇaḥ lə·ziḇ·ḥê ləzāḇaḥ leZavach ləzeḇaḥ leZevach ləziḇḥê lezivChei miz·zā·ḇaḥ miz·ze·ḇaḥ miz·ziḇ·ḥê miz·ziḇ·ḥî miz·ziḇ·ḥō·w·ṯām miz·ziḇ·ḥōw mizzāḇaḥ mizZavach mizzeḇaḥ mizZevach mizziḇḥê mizziḇḥî mizziḇḥōw mizziḇḥōwṯām mizzivChei mizzivChi mizzivCho mizzivchoTam ū·ḇiz·ḇā·ḥê·nū ū·lə·zā·ḇaḥ ū·lə·ze·ḇaḥ ū·zə·ḇā·ḥe·ḵā ū·zə·ḇā·ḥîm ūḇizḇāḥênū ūləzāḇaḥ uleZavach ūləzeḇaḥ uleZevach uvizvaCheinu ūzəḇāḥeḵā ūzəḇāḥîm uzevaCheicha uzevaChim vaZavach vaZevach vehazZavach vehazzevaChim veZevach vezivcheiChem vezivcheiHem wā·zā·ḇaḥ wā·ze·ḇaḥ wāzāḇaḥ wāzeḇaḥ wə·haz·zā·ḇaḥ wə·haz·zə·ḇā·ḥîm wə·ze·ḇaḥ wə·ziḇ·ḥê·hem wə·ziḇ·ḥê·ḵem wəhazzāḇaḥ wəhazzəḇāḥîm wəzeḇaḥ wəziḇḥêhem wəziḇḥêḵem zā·ḇaḥ zāḇaḥ Zavach zə·ḇā·ḥe·ḵā zə·ḇā·ḥê·mōw zə·ḇā·ḥîm ze·ḇaḥ ze·ḇaḥ- zeḇaḥ zeḇaḥ- zəḇāḥeḵā zəḇāḥêmōw zəḇāḥîm zevach zevaCheicha zevaCheimov zevaChim ziḇ·ḥă·ḵem ziḇ·ḥê ziḇ·ḥê- ziḇ·ḥê·hem ziḇ·ḥê·ḵem ziḇ·ḥî ziḇ·ḥōw ziḇḥăḵem ziḇḥê ziḇḥê- ziḇḥêhem ziḇḥêḵem ziḇḥî ziḇḥōw zivchaChem zivChei zivcheiChem zivcheiHem zivChi zivChoInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts