Lexical Summary
ishsheh: Offering made by fire
Original Word:אִשָּׁה
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:ishshah
Pronunciation:ish-sheh
Phonetic Spelling:(ish-shaw')
KJV: (offering, sacrifice), (made) by fire
NASB:offering by fire, offerings by fire, fire, offerings
Word Origin:[the same asH800 (אֶשָּׁה - fire), but used in a liturgical sense]
1. (properly) a burnt-offering
2. but occasionally of any sacrifice
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
offering, sacrifice, made by fire
The same as'eshshah, but used in a liturgical sense; properly, a burnt-offering; but occasionally of any sacrifice -- (offering, sacrifice), (made) by fire.
see HEBREW'eshshah
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
eshDefinitionan offering made by fire
NASB Translationfire (5), offering by fire (45), offerings (3), offerings by fire (15).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
Joshua 13:14 (> Wetzst in De
Psalmen, ed. 4, 889 derive from √ II. ,
means to friendly relations between God & man; compare Lag
BN 190)
Exodus 29:18 32t.; construct
Leviticus 1:9 14t.; plural construct
Leviticus 4:35 15t.; suffix
Numbers 28:2,
Leviticus 6:10; used chiefly of offerings of animals, but also of the
Leviticus 2:11, and of the sacred bread and frankincense
Leviticus 24:7,9 which was placed on the table as a memorial, and finally went to the priests. The word is used in
Deuteronomy 18:1;
Joshua 13:14 (D)
1 Samuel 2:28; elsewhere in P
Leviticus 6:10;
Leviticus 10:15;
Leviticus 22:22;
Numbers 28:2,3, especially in phrases
Leviticus 2:3 11t.,
Leviticus 1:9 14t.,
Exodus 29:18 6t.,
Leviticus 23:13,
Leviticus 3:16;
Numbers 18:17,
Exodus 29:25;
Leviticus 2:16; accusative after verbs of offering
Exodus 30:20 14t.,
Numbers 28:19,
Leviticus 22:27;
Numbers 15:25.
Topical Lexicon
Definition and Central IdeaThe word denotes an offering consumed by fire on the altar, presented to God as His “food” (Numbers 28:2), and thereby symbolizing complete consecration, atonement, and fellowship between the worshiper and the LORD.
Old Testament Distribution
Roughly sixty-five instances appear, clustered inExodus 29;Leviticus 2–7;Leviticus 21–24;Numbers 15; 18; 28–29;Deuteronomy 18:1;1 Samuel 2:28;Isaiah 57:6;Jeremiah 6:20;Ezekiel 16:19; 20:28; 44:7; 44:15;Malachi 1:7; 1:12. Almost every occurrence stands in priestly or prophetic contexts that highlight either the orderly worship of Israel or condemn its corruption.
Sacrificial Context in the Pentateuch
1. Whole-Burnt Offering (Leviticus 1;Exodus 29:18) – the entire animal is reduced to ash. “It is a burnt offering to the LORD, an aroma pleasing to the LORD” (Leviticus 1:9).
2. Grain Offering (Leviticus 2:1–3) – fine flour, oil, and frankincense become “a food offering to the LORD.”
3. Peace Offering (Leviticus 3:5) – fat portions added to the burnt sacrifice “as a food offering with a pleasing aroma.”
4. Sin and Guilt Offerings (Leviticus 4–5) – selected portions are burned “on the altar, upon the offerings made by fire to the LORD” (Leviticus 4:10).
Each category displays the principles of substitution, propitiation, and thanksgiving while declaring the LORD’s demand for purity (“without defect,”Leviticus 22:20) and His acceptance of the worshiper.
Aroma Pleasing to the LORD
The recurring formula “an aroma pleasing to the LORD” (e.g.,Numbers 15:3; 28:6, 8, 13, 24) stresses divine satisfaction, not literal nourishment. The fire transforms the gift into smoke that rises heavenward, portraying restored relationship and the LORD’s favor granted to His covenant people.
Priestly Ministry and Holiness
Only Aaron’s sons were authorized to handle these offerings (Leviticus 6:9;Numbers 18:1–9). The priests ate certain portions, underscoring that God Himself provides for His servants out of what is first offered to Him (Numbers 18:8–11). Mishandling the fire offering led to severe judgment, as with Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:1–2).
Daily and Festal Rhythm
• Daily Tamid: “Each day you are to offer two lambs… as a regular burnt offering” (Exodus 29:38–42).
• Sabbath: doubled portions (Numbers 28:9–10).
• New Moon, Passover, Weeks, Trumpets, Day of Atonement, Tabernacles: detailed schedules inNumbers 28–29. The calendar wove continual consecration into national life, reminding Israel that every season belongs to the LORD.
Prophetic Reflections
When ritual persisted without obedience, God rejected the fire offerings. “I take no delight in the blood of bulls… bring no more meaningless offerings” (Isaiah 1:11, 13). Jeremiah protests, “Your burnt offerings are not acceptable” (Jeremiah 6:20). Ezekiel condemns foreign intrusion into the sanctuary yet promises restoration where faithful priests will again “stand before Me to offer Me fat and blood… My food offering” (Ezekiel 44:15). The prophets thus uphold the heart reality the offerings were meant to express.
Typological Fulfillment in the Messiah
The consuming fire speaks of both judgment and acceptance fulfilled at the cross. Jesus Christ “gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:2). The totality of His self-giving corresponds to the whole-burnt offering; His righteousness satisfies divine wrath, and His resurrection demonstrates the Father’s pleasure, the true “aroma pleasing to the LORD.” Hence the earthly fire offerings foreshadow the once-for-all sacrifice (Hebrews 10:1–14).
Continuing Spiritual Application
Believers now present their bodies “as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God” (Romans 12:1), offer praise as “the fruit of lips that confess His name” (Hebrews 13:15), and share generously with others, “for with such sacrifices God is pleased” (Hebrews 13:16). The Old Testament fire offering, therefore, instructs worshipers in wholehearted devotion, holy living, and grateful communion with the covenant-keeping God whose ultimate provision is His own Son.
Forms and Transliterations
אִשֵּׁ֖י אִשֵּׁ֛ה אִשֵּׁ֣י אִשֵּׁ֤י אִשֵּׁ֥ה אִשֵּׁ֧י אִשֵּׁ֨ה אִשֵּׁ֨י אִשֶּׁ֖ה אִשֶּׁ֛ה אִשֶּׁ֜ה אִשֶּׁ֣ה אִשֶּׁ֤ה אִשֶּׁ֥ה אִשֶּׁה֙ אשה אשי הָֽאִשֶּׁ֔ה האשה וְאִשֶּׁ֗ה ואשה לְאִשַּׁ֗י לאשי מֵאִשֵּׁ֖י מֵאִשֵּׁ֣י מֵאִשֵּׁ֥י מֵאִשָּׁ֑י מאשי ’iš·šê ’iš·šeh ’iš·šêh ’iššê ’iššeh ’iššêh hā’iššeh hā·’iš·šeh haishSheh ishSheh ishShei lə’iššay lə·’iš·šay leishShai mê’iššāy mê’iššê mê·’iš·šāy mê·’iš·šê meishShai meishShei veishSheh wə’iššeh wə·’iš·šeh
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