Lexical Summary nesak: drink offerings Original Word: נְסַךְ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance drink offering (Aramaic) corresponding to necek; a libation -- drink offering. see HEBREW necek NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to nesek Definition a drink offering NASB Translation drink offerings (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [נְסַךְ] noun [masculine] drink-offering (ᵑ7 Syriac; compare Biblical Hebrew); — plural suffix נִסְכֵּיהוֺן Ezra 7:17 (+ מִנְחָֽתְהוֺן, etc.). נסק see סלק. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Concept The term נְסַךְ designates the drink offering, a libation of wine that accompanied many sacrificial rites in Israel. It portrays a life willingly “poured out” before God, complementing the animal and grain offerings to form a complete act of worship. Canonical Context Ezra 7:17 records King Artaxerxes’ decree authorizing Ezra to “buy with this money bulls, rams, and lambs, together with their grain offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them on the altar of the house of your God in Jerusalem”. The inclusion of נְסַךְ underscores the commitment to restore temple worship precisely according to the Law, even while the nation was under Persian rule. Old Testament Background of the Drink Offering • Introduced at Sinai: Exodus 29:40; Numbers 15:5–10. Though Ezra 7:17 is the only verse that uses this particular form, the drink offering had already been woven into Israel’s liturgical fabric for nearly a millennium, so its mention evokes a rich, shared memory of covenant faithfulness. Historical Significance in Ezra’s Day 1. Restoration of Temple Order: After decades of exile, proper sacrifices proved that worship in Jerusalem was again synchronized with the Torah. Theological Themes • Joyful Surrender: Wine, a symbol of gladness, is released entirely to the Lord (cf. Deuteronomy 14:26). New Testament Echoes Paul twice adopts libation language to describe his ministry: “Even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice” (Philippians 2:17); “I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand” (2 Timothy 4:6). By invoking נְסַךְ imagery, he aligns apostolic suffering with the pattern of priestly service and with Christ’s ultimate self-offering (Hebrews 9:14). Practical Ministry Implications • Worship Planning: Corporate gatherings benefit from elements that remind believers of total consecration—prayers, songs, and Communion all echo libation themes. Summary Though נְסַךְ appears only once in the Hebrew canon, its single occurrence serves as a gateway into the broader theology of joyful, wholehearted offering. From Sinai to Ezra—and ultimately to Calvary—the drink offering motif calls God’s people to lives that are gladly emptied for the honor of the One who first poured Himself out for them. Forms and Transliterations וְנִסְכֵּיה֑וֹן ונסכיהון veniskeiHon wə·nis·kê·hō·wn wəniskêhōwnLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezra 7:17 HEB: אִמְּרִ֔ין וּמִנְחָתְה֖וֹן וְנִסְכֵּיה֑וֹן וּתְקָרֵ֣ב הִמּ֔וֹ NAS: with their grain offerings and their drink offerings and offer KJV: with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offer INT: and lambs offerings and their drink and offer them 1 Occurrence |
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