Lexical Summary
olah: Burnt offering
Original Word:עֹלָה
Part of Speech:Noun Feminine
Transliteration:`olah
Pronunciation:oh-LAH
Phonetic Spelling:(o-law')
KJV: ascent, burnt offering (sacrifice), go up to See also H5766
Word Origin:[feminine active participle ofH5927 (עָלָה - went)]
1. a step or (collectively, stairs, as ascending)
2. usually a holocaust (as going up in smoke)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
ascent, go up to
Or mowlah {o-law'}; feminine active participle ofalah; a step or (collectively, stairs, as ascending); usually a holocaust (as going up in smoke) -- ascent, burnt offering (sacrifice), go up to. See alsoevel.
see HEBREWalah
see HEBREWevel
Brown-Driver-Briggs
I.
286 (
that which goes up ( √
) (al. on altar)); —Genesis 22:3 141t.;Numbers 28:37 33t.; constructExodus 29:42 27t.,Numbers 28:24 2t.; suffixPsalm 20:4, etc.; pluralJoshua 8:31 42t.,Genesis 8:20 3t.;Deuteronomy 27:6,Amos 5:22 +; suffixJeremiah 6:20 +, etc.; — thewhole burnt-offering (beast or fowl) is entirely consumed and goes up i the flame of the altar to God expressing the ascent of the soul in worship. All of the victim is laid on the altar except the hide and such parts as could not be washed clean. If beast the must be a male without blemishLeviticus 1:3,10;Leviticus 22:18,19, of herd or flock; if of flock, either sheep or goad; if fowl, either turtle-dove or young pigeonLeviticus 1:14, the latter usually offered by the poorLeviticus 5:7;Leviticus 12:8;Leviticus 14:22;Leviticus 15:14,15,29,30;Numbers 6:10;Numbers 6:11. A lamb was offered by individualsLeviticus 12:6;Numbers 6:14, and by the nation at the offeringLeviticus 23:12, and daily at theLeviticus 9:17;Numbers 28:23;2 Kings 16:15;Ezekiel 46:13, and at morning and eveningNumbers 28:3,Exodus 29:42;Numbers 28:6,10,15,23,24,31;Numbers 29:6,11,16,19,22,25,28,31,34,38;Ezra 3:5; NehNehemiah 10:34;Ezekiel 46:13. These were doubled at theNumbers 28:10. A ram was offered by Aaron and his sonsExodus 29:28;Leviticus 8:18;Leviticus 9:2;Leviticus 16:3,5; but a young bullock was of greater valueNumbers 15:8,24;2 Samuel 24:22 =1 Chronicles 21:23, at consecration of LevitesNumbers 8:12, socalvesMicah 6:6; on great occasions bullocks + ramsNumbers 23:1-6,14,15, bullocks + rams + lambsIsaiah 1:11; one of each kind offered by tribal chiefsNumbers 7:15,21,27,33,39,45,51,57,63,69,75,81,87. In ritual ofNumbers 28:14;Numbers 29:6 and at and Pentecost 2 bullocks, 1 ram, and 7 lambs were added to daily offeringNumbers 28:11,19,27; at offering of new bread at Pentecost 1bullock, 2 rams, and 7 lambsLeviticus 23:18 on the 1st and 10th of the 7th month and at 1bullock, 1 ram, and 7 lambs, in addition to the offerings of new moonNumbers 29:2,8,36; the system culminated in 70 bullocks, 14 rams, 98 lambs for the 7 days of TabernaclesNumbers 29:13 ff. Acc to Ezek. the prince was to offer on each of 7 days of 7bullocks and 7 ramsEzekiel 45:23, and on Sabbath 6 lambs and 1 ramEzekiel 46:4. At the reconsecration of temple 70 bullocks, 100 rams, and 200 lambs were offered 2 Chronicles 29:32, and at the return of exiles 12 bullocks, 96 rams, and 77 lambsEzra 8:35. In early times whole burnt-offerings of children were sometimes made, e.g. Jephthah's daughterJudges 11:31; Isaac proposed as,Genesis 22:2 but ram substitutedGenesis 22:13; made to other gods2 Kings 3:27;Jeremiah 19:5 +. The was anciently made on any altar used for worship, but in P confined toExodus 30:28;Exodus 31:9;Exodus 35:16;Exodus 38:1;Exodus 40:6,10,29;Leviticus 4:7,10,18,25 (twice in verse);Leviticus 4:30,34;1 Chronicles 6:40;1 Chronicles 21:26,29; 2Chronicles 29:18 (not in other literature);Joshua 22:29;1 Chronicles 22:1. The offerer imposed his hands on head of animal, then slaughtered itLeviticus 1:4,5;Leviticus 4:24,33;Leviticus 6:8;Leviticus 7:2;Leviticus 9:12;Leviticus 14:13,19,31;Ezekiel 40:39,42;Ezekiel 44:11, and flayed itLeviticus 1:6; 2Chronicles 29:34. The priest washed the piecesEzekiel 40:38; arranged them on the altar above the woodLeviticus 6:5; the fire devoured themLeviticus 6:2-6;Leviticus 9:24;1 Kings 18:38; 2Chronicles 7:1, they went up in the flameLeviticus 1:9,13,17;Leviticus 8:21;Numbers 28:13; , according to character of offererIsaiah 56:7;Jeremiah 6:20; see alsoPsalm 20:4;Psalm 40:7;Psalm 51:18;1 Samuel 15:22.Phrases:Genesis 8:20;Exodus 32:6 (J)Exodus 24:5 (E)Exodus 30:9;Exodus 40:29;Leviticus 14:20;Leviticus 17:8 (P)Deuteronomy 12:13,14;Deuteronomy 27:6;Joshua 8:31;Joshua 22:23;Judges 6:26;Judges 20:26;Judges 21:4;1 Samuel 6:14,15;1 Samuel 7:9,10;1 Samuel 10:8;1 Samuel 13:9,10,12;2 Samuel 6:17,18;2 Samuel 24:24,25;1 Kings 3:4,15;1 Kings 9:25;1 Kings 10:5;2 Kings 3:27;1 Chronicles 16:2,40;1 Chronicles 21:24,26;1 Chronicles 23:31;1 Chronicles 29:21; 2Chronicles 1:6; 8:12; 9:4; 23:18; 24:14; 29:7,27; 35:14,16;Ezra 3:2,3,6;Job 1:5;Job 42:8;Psalm 66:15;Jeremiah 14:12;Jeremiah 33:18;Ezekiel 43:18,24;Amos 5:22 (compare
);Exodus 20:24 (E);Leviticus 23:12;Numbers 6:11;Numbers 15:24;Numbers 29:39;Leviticus 5:10;Leviticus 9:7,22;Leviticus 15:15,30;Leviticus 16:24 (twice in verse);Numbers 6:16;Numbers 8:12;Numbers 15:3,8;Numbers 29:2;Deuteronomy 12:27;Judges 13:16;1 Kings 8:64;2 Kings 5:17;2 Kings 10:24,25; 2Chronicles 7:7;Ezekiel 43:27;Ezekiel 45:17,23;Ezekiel 46:2,12 (twice in verse);Ezekiel 46:13;Leviticus 7:8;Leviticus 9:16;Leviticus 10:19;Leviticus 23:37;Numbers 28:3,11,19,27;Numbers 29:8,13,36;1 Chronicles 16:1;Ezra 8:35;Ezekiel 46:4;Leviticus 22:18;Numbers 6:14;Deuteronomy 12:6,11; 2Chronicles 29:31,32; 30:15;Isaiah 43:23;Jeremiah 17:26;2 Kings 16:13,15; 2Chronicles 13:11. — , see also below I. .
II. [] ,Ezekiel 40:26 Kt, Qr; read probably ( Co SS , Toy ).
Topical Lexicon
Overviewעֹלָה (olah) designates the “burnt offering,” the sacrifice completely consumed by fire so that nothing remained for human use, its smoke ascending wholly to God. Found about 289 times, the term spans the entire Old Testament, framing worship from the days of Noah to the post-exilic restoration and pointing ahead to the perfect self-offering of Jesus Christ.
Earliest Appearances and Patriarchal Worship
•Genesis 8:20 records the first explicit burnt offerings: “Then Noah built an altar to the LORD … and offered burnt offerings on the altar.” The pleasing aroma (Genesis 8:21) underscores divine acceptance and covenant grace after judgment.
• Abraham’s supreme test on Mount Moriah (Genesis 22:2, 13) centers on an olah, foreshadowing substitutionary atonement: “Abraham went and took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son.”
• Job, outside the covenant nation yet functioning as priest for his family, “would offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all” (Job 1:5), revealing the sacrifice’s universal relevance.
Institution under Moses
Leviticus 1 sets out the regulations: a male without blemish from herd, flock, or birds; hand laid on the head; blood splashed; the whole animal consumed.Leviticus 6:8-13 emphasizes the continual fire, symbolizing constant dedication. Unique features:
1. Total surrender to God.
2. “A pleasing aroma, an offering made by fire to the LORD” (Leviticus 1:9).
3. Atonement for the worshiper (Leviticus 1:4), yet distinct from the sin offering because it signifies complete consecration.
Daily, Weekly, Monthly, and Festal Cycles
• Daily: “You are to offer two lambs a year old, one in the morning and the other at twilight” (Exodus 29:38-42;Numbers 28:3-8). Continuous worship framed each day.
• Sabbath: doubled (Numbers 28:9-10).
• New Moons: expanded (Numbers 28:11-15).
• Annual Feasts: Passover/Unleavened Bread (Numbers 28:19-24), Weeks (28:26-31), Trumpets (29:2-6), Day of Atonement (29:8-11), Tabernacles (29:12-34). The burnt offering provided the backbone of Israel’s liturgical calendar.
Voluntary Offerings and Vows
Leviticus 22:18-20 permits freewill burnt offerings, enabling personal devotion. Hannah (1 Samuel 1:24-28), David (2 Samuel 24:24-25), and Solomon (1 Kings 3:4) exemplify lavish voluntary olah worship.
Covenant Ratification and National Renewal
•Exodus 24:5-8 couples burnt and peace offerings in sealing the Sinai covenant.
•Joshua 8:30-35 renews covenant at Mount Ebal with burnt offerings.
• National revivals—Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 29:20-27) and Josiah (2 Chronicles 35:14-16)—feature the olah prominently, linking atonement with reform.
Burnt Offerings in Narrative and Royal Worship
David established standard order (1 Chronicles 16:40; 23:31). Solomon’s Temple dedication saw countless burnt offerings (1 Kings 8:64;2 Chronicles 7:1 affirms divine fire from heaven). Elijah’s showdown at Carmel climaxes with a burnt offering consumed by God’s fire (1 Kings 18:38), vindicating true worship.
Priestly and Theological Significance
1. Substitution: the innocent offered for the guilty.
2. Propitiation: wrath averted, favor secured (Genesis 8:21;Numbers 28).
3. Consecration: whole-life surrender (Romans 12:1 draws on this imagery).
4. Communion: aroma rising signifies access to God (Leviticus 1:9).
Prophetic Assessment
Prophets never disparage the ordinance itself but condemn empty ritual divorced from obedience:
• “I have no delight in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats” (Isaiah 1:11).
• “I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6).
•Amos 5:22;Micah 6:6-8 reiterate the call to heart allegiance, reinforcing that the olah points beyond itself to righteousness.
Post-Exilic Restoration
With the altar rebuilt, “they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, both the morning and evening burnt offerings” (Ezra 3:3-6). Daily offerings resumed despite unfinished walls (Nehemiah 10:33), highlighting the priority of worship as identity marker for the returned remnant.
Messianic Fulfillment
Psalm 40:6-8 anticipates a coming obedience surpassing sacrifice.Hebrews 10:5-10 applies these words to Jesus Christ, whose body offered “once for all” supersedes the repetitive olah: “He sets aside the first to establish the second.” Thus the burnt offering foreshadows the total, substitutionary, God-ward dedication of the Son.
Spiritual Application for the New Covenant Community
While animal sacrifices have ceased, the principle abides. Believers are exhorted, “Offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God” (Romans 12:1), echoing the totality of the olah. Praise, good works, and evangelistic ministry become “an offering and a sacrifice to God, a fragrant aroma” (Ephesians 5:2).
Distribution of Occurrences
Highest concentration: Leviticus (≈96), Numbers (≈40), Chronicles (≈50), followed by Genesis, Exodus, Samuel-Kings, Ezra-Nehemiah, Psalms, and Prophets. Every major Old Testament section references the burnt offering, underscoring its foundational role in Israel’s worship and its enduring theological resonance.
Forms and Transliterations
בְּעֹל֣וֹת בְּעֹלוֹתֵ֥ינוּ בְּעוֹלָ֑ה בְעוֹל֑וֹת בְעוֹל֔וֹת בעולה בעולות בעלות בעלותינו הָ֣עֹלָ֔ה הָֽעֹל֔וֹת הָֽעֹלָ֔ה הָֽעֹלָה֙ הָֽעוֹלָ֗ה הָֽעוֹלָה֙ הָעֹל֑וֹת הָעֹלָ֑ה הָעֹלָ֔ה הָעֹלָ֖ה הָעֹלָ֗ה הָעֹלָ֛ה הָעֹלָ֜ה הָעֹלָ֡ה הָעֹלָ֣ה הָעֹלָ֤ה הָעֹלָ֥ה הָעֹלָֽה׃ הָעֹלָה֙ הָעֹלָה֮ הָעוֹל֣וֹת הָעוֹלָ֔ה הָעוֹלָ֖ה הָעוֹלָ֛ה הָעוֹלָ֥ה הָעוֹלָה֙ העולה העולות העלה העלה׃ העלות וְהָ֣עֹל֔וֹת וְהָ֣עֹלָ֔ה וְהָעֹלָ֖ה וְעֹ֣לָת֔וֹ וְעֹל֑וֹת וְעֹלַ֣ת וְעֹלַ֤ת וְעֹלַ֨ת וְעֹלָ֣ה וְעֹלָה֙ וְעֹלוֹת֙ וְעוֹלָתְךָ֖ וְעוֹלֹתֶ֖יךָ וַעֲלִיָּת֔וֹ וּלְעוֹלַ֣ת וּלְעוֹלָ֣ה והעלה והעלות ולעולה ולעולת ועולתיך ועולתך ועלה ועלות ועליתו ועלת ועלתו כָּעֹלָ֔ה כעלה לְעֹלַ֣ת לְעֹלָ֑ה לְעֹלָ֔ה לְעֹלָ֖ה לְעֹלָ֜ה לְעֹלָ֥ה לְעֹלָֽה׃ לְעֹלֹֽתֵיכֶם֙ לְעֹלוֹת֙ לְעוֹלָ֖ה לְעוֹלָה֙ לָֽעֹל֗וֹת לָֽעֹלָה֙ לָעֹל֗וֹת לָעֹלָ֑ה לָעֹלָ֔ה לָעֹלָ֜ה לָעוֹלָ֜ה לעולה לעלה לעלה׃ לעלות לעלת לעלתיכם מֵעֹלֽוֹת׃ מעלות׃ ע֝וֹלָ֗ה עֹ֘ל֤וֹת עֹ֣לַת עֹ֣לָת֔וֹ עֹ֣לָתֶ֔ךָ עֹֽלַת־ עֹֽלָתָם֙ עֹֽלָתוֹ֙ עֹֽלֹותָ֔יו עֹל֔וֹת עֹל֖וֹת עֹל֛וֹת עֹל֜וֹת עֹל֣וֹת עֹל֣וֹת ׀ עֹל֤וֹת עֹל֥וֹת עֹל֨וֹת עֹלַ֖ת עֹלַ֞ת עֹלַ֣ת עֹלַ֤ת עֹלַ֥ת עֹלַ֧ת עֹלַ֨ת עֹלָ֑ה עֹלָ֔ה עֹלָ֖ה עֹלָ֛ה עֹלָ֜ה עֹלָ֣ה עֹלָ֤ה עֹלָ֥ה עֹלָ֧ה עֹלָ֨ה עֹלָֽה׃ עֹלָה֙ עֹלָת֑וֹ עֹלָתֶ֑ךָ עֹלָתֶךָ֒ עֹלָתֽוֹ׃ עֹלֹ֑ת עֹלֹ֔ת עֹלֹ֖ת עֹלֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם עֹלֹֽתֵיכֶם֙ עֹלֹתֶ֑יךָ עֹלֹתֶ֔יךָ עֹלֹתֶ֙יךָ֙ עֹלֽוֹתֵיכֶם֙ עֹלֽוֹת׃ עֹלוֹת֙ עֹלוֹת֮ עֹלוֹתֵיכֶ֛ם עֽוֹלָתוֹ֙ עוֹלַ֖ת עוֹלַ֧ת עוֹלָ֔ה עוֹלָ֖ה עוֹלָ֛ה עוֹלָ֜ה עוֹלָ֣ה עוֹלָ֥ה עוֹלָֽה׃ עוֹלָה֙ עוֹלֹ֔ת עוֹלֹתֵיהֶ֧ם עוֹלֹתֵיכֶ֣ם עוֹלֽוֹתֵיכֶם֙ עולה עולה׃ עולותיכם עולת עולתו עולתיהם עולתיכם עלה עלה׃ עלות עלות׃ עלותיו עלותיכם עלת עלת־ עלתו עלתו׃ עלתיך עלתיכם עלתך עלתם ‘ō·lā·ṯām ‘ō·lā·ṯe·ḵā ‘ō·lā·ṯōw ‘ō·lāh ‘ō·laṯ ‘ō·laṯ- ‘ō·lō·ṯe·ḵā ‘ō·lō·ṯê·ḵem ‘ō·lō·w·ṯāw ‘ō·lō·w·ṯê·ḵem ‘ō·lō·wṯ ‘ō·lōṯ ‘ō·w·lā·ṯōw ‘ō·w·lāh ‘ō·w·laṯ ‘ō·w·lō·ṯê·hem ‘ō·w·lō·ṯê·ḵem ‘ō·w·lō·w·ṯê·ḵem ‘ō·w·lōṯ ‘ōlāh ‘ōlaṯ ‘ōlaṯ- ‘ōlāṯām ‘ōlāṯeḵā ‘ōlāṯōw ‘ōlōṯ ‘ōlōṯeḵā ‘ōlōṯêḵem ‘ōlōwṯ ‘ōlōwṯāw ‘ōlōwṯêḵem ‘ōwlāh ‘ōwlaṯ ‘ōwlāṯōw ‘ōwlōṯ ‘ōwlōṯêhem ‘ōwlōṯêḵem ‘ōwlōwṯêḵem bə‘ōlōwṯ bə‘ōlōwṯênū bə‘ōwlāh ḇə‘ōwlōwṯ bə·‘ō·lō·w·ṯê·nū bə·‘ō·lō·wṯ bə·‘ō·w·lāh ḇə·‘ō·w·lō·wṯ beoLah beoLot beoloTeinu hā‘ōlāh hā‘ōlōwṯ hā‘ōwlāh hā‘ōwlōwṯ hā·‘ō·lāh hā·‘ō·lō·wṯ hā·‘ō·w·lāh hā·‘ō·w·lō·wṯ haoLah haoLot kā‘ōlāh kā·‘ō·lāh kaoLah lā‘ōlāh lā‘ōlōwṯ lā‘ōwlāh lā·‘ō·lāh lā·‘ō·lō·wṯ lā·‘ō·w·lāh laoLah laoLot lə‘ōlāh lə‘ōlaṯ lə‘ōlōṯêḵem lə‘ōlōwṯ lə‘ōwlāh lə·‘ō·lāh lə·‘ō·laṯ lə·‘ō·lō·ṯê·ḵem lə·‘ō·lō·wṯ lə·‘ō·w·lāh leoLah leoLat leolOt leoloteiChem mê‘ōlōwṯ mê·‘ō·lō·wṯ meoLot oLah oLat olaTam olaTecha olaTo oLot oloTav oloTeicha oLoteiChem oloteiHem ū·lə·‘ō·w·lāh ū·lə·‘ō·w·laṯ ūlə‘ōwlāh ūlə‘ōwlaṯ uleoLah uleoLat vaaliyaTo vehaoLah veHaoLot veoLah veoLat veolateCha veOlaTo veoLot veoloTeicha wa‘ălîyāṯōw wa·‘ă·lî·yā·ṯōw wə‘ōlāh wə‘ōlaṯ wə‘ōlāṯōw wə‘ōlōwṯ wə‘ōwlāṯəḵā wə‘ōwlōṯeḵā wə·‘ō·lā·ṯōw wə·‘ō·lāh wə·‘ō·laṯ wə·‘ō·lō·wṯ wə·‘ō·w·lā·ṯə·ḵā wə·‘ō·w·lō·ṯe·ḵā wə·hā·‘ō·lāh wə·hā·‘ō·lō·wṯ wəhā‘ōlāh wəhā‘ōlōwṯ
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