Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical terminology, the term "heave" is often associated with offerings and sacrifices made to God, particularly in the context of the Old Testament. The concept of a "heave offering" is integral to the sacrificial system established by God for the Israelites, as detailed in the Pentateuch. The heave offering is a portion of a sacrifice that is lifted or "heaved" up as an act of dedication to the Lord.
Scriptural ReferencesThe heave offering is first introduced in the book of Exodus. In
Exodus 29:27-28 , God instructs Moses regarding the consecration of Aaron and his sons: "Consecrate for Aaron and his sons the breast of the wave offering that is waved and the thigh of the heave offering that is raised from the ram of ordination. It will belong to Aaron and his sons as a perpetual portion from the Israelites, for it is a contribution. It will be a contribution from the Israelites from their peace offerings, their contribution to the LORD."
The heave offering is further elaborated in the book of Leviticus, where it is often mentioned alongside other types of offerings.
Leviticus 7:32-34 states, "You are to give the right thigh to the priest as a contribution from your peace offerings. The son of Aaron who presents the blood and fat of the peace offering shall have the right thigh as a portion. From the peace offerings of the Israelites, I have taken the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the heave offering and given them to Aaron the priest and his sons as a perpetual portion from the Israelites."
Purpose and SignificanceThe heave offering served multiple purposes within the Israelite community. Primarily, it was an act of worship and acknowledgment of God's provision and sovereignty. By offering a portion of their sacrifices, the Israelites demonstrated their gratitude and dependence on God. The heave offering also provided for the sustenance of the Levitical priesthood, as the priests and their families were supported through these offerings.
Theologically, the heave offering symbolizes the elevation of one's heart and resources to God. It reflects the principle that all blessings come from the Lord, and thus, a portion is returned to Him in acknowledgment of His grace and provision.
Cultural and Historical ContextIn the ancient Near Eastern context, offerings and sacrifices were common practices among various cultures and religions. However, the heave offering, as prescribed in the Mosaic Law, was distinct in its purpose and execution. It was not merely a ritualistic act but a deeply spiritual one, intended to foster a relationship between the Israelites and their God.
The heave offering was part of a broader system of sacrifices that included burnt offerings, grain offerings, sin offerings, and peace offerings. Each type of offering had specific regulations and symbolic meanings, contributing to the overall religious life and covenant relationship between God and His people.
New Testament PerspectiveWhile the specific practice of heave offerings is not carried over into the New Testament, the underlying principles of dedication, gratitude, and provision for ministry continue to be relevant. The New Testament emphasizes the spiritual nature of offerings, encouraging believers to present their bodies as living sacrifices (
Romans 12:1) and to give generously to support the work of the church and its ministers (
2 Corinthians 9:7-14).
In summary, the heave offering in the Bible represents a tangible expression of worship and dedication to God, highlighting the importance of acknowledging His provision and supporting His ordained ministry.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Heave offering
Hebrews terumah, (Exodus 29:27) means simply an offering, a present, including all the offerings made by the Israelites as a present. This Hebrew word is frequently employed. Some of the rabbis attach to the word the meaning of elevation, and refer it to the heave offering, which consisted in presenting the offering by a motion up and down, distinguished from the wave offering, which consisted in a repeated movement in a horizontal direction, a "wave offering to the Lord as ruler of earth, a heave offering to the Lord as ruler of heaven." The right shoulder, which fell to the priests in presenting thank offerings, was called the heave shoulder (Leviticus 7:34;Numbers 6:20). The first fruits offered in harvest-time (Numbers 15:20, 21) were heave offerings.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. t.) To cause to move upward or onward by a lifting effort; to lift; to raise; to hoist; -- often with up; as, the wave heaved the boat on land.
2. (v. t.) To throw; to cast; -- obsolete, provincial, or colloquial, except in certain nautical phrases; as, to heave the lead; to heave the log.
3. (v. t.) To force from, or into, any position; to cause to move; also, to throw off; -- mostly used in certain nautical phrases; as, to heave the ship ahead.
4. (v. t.) To raise or force from the breast; to utter with effort; as, to heave a sigh.
5. (v. t.) To cause to swell or rise, as the breast or bosom.
6. (v. i.) To be thrown up or raised; to rise upward, as a tower or mound.
7. (v. i.) To rise and fall with alternate motions, as the lungs in heavy breathing, as waves in a heavy sea, as ships on the billows, as the earth when broken up by frost, etc.; to swell; to dilate; to expand; to distend; hence, to labor; to struggle.
8. (v. i.) To make an effort to raise, throw, or move anything; to strain to do something difficult.
9. (v. i.) To make an effort to vomit; to retch; to vomit.
10. (n.) An effort to raise something, as a weight, or one's self, or to move something heavy.
11. (n.) An upward motion; a rising; a swell or distention, as of the breast in difficult breathing, of the waves, of the earth in an earthquake, and the like.
12. (n.) A horizontal dislocation in a metallic lode, taking place at an intersection with another lode.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
HEAVE OFFERINGhev of'-er-ing.
SeeSACRIFICE.
Greek
1001. bolizo -- toheave the lead... to
heave the lead. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: bolizo Phonetic Spelling:
(bol-id'-zo) Short Definition: I cast the line for sounding, I sound
...Strong's Hebrew
8641. terumah -- contribution, offering (for sacred uses)... Origin from rum Definition contribution, offering (for sacred uses) NASB Word Usage
allotment (15), contribution (20), contributions (10),
heave offering (4
...7311. rum -- to be high or exalted, rise
... bring up, exalt self, extol, give, go up, haughty,heave up, be,. A primitive
root; to be high actively, to rise or raise (in various...
Library
Full Power through Rhythm.
... He would say, "heave ho!". Then all together they would sing "heave ho," and
push. And a "heave ho," and push; a "heave ho," and a push....
SM Graham. God with us on the Deep.
... VIII. VARIOUS OCCASIONS. 430. SM Graham. God With Us on the Deep. 1Heave,
mighty ocean,heave! And blow, thou boisterous wind!...
Index of First Lines.
... empty noises, 301 Hath not thy heart within thee burned, 90 Hear, Father, hear our
prayer, 488 Hear what God, the Lord, hath spoken, 192Heave, mighty ocean...
A Home Mission Sermon
... were hard at work, lifting a heavy piece of timber at some fortification There stood
the corporal of the regiment calling out to his men, "Heave there,heave...
Faith and Regeneration
... Does she live? Yes, life is there. Why? Because the lungs stillheave.
But does it not seem an easy thing to make lungsheave? A...
A Ribband of Blue.
... consume all that they cared to consume, and then give to GOD somewhat of the remainder;
but before they touched the bread of the land, aheave-offering was to...
Man and Machinery.
... their faithful gripe, and enormous energies run to and fro with an obedient click;
while forces that tear the arteries of the earth andheave volcanoes, spin...
Survival of the Fittest
... with this awful event in its verity: "Bat-like, out of the holes and caverns and
shadows of the earth, the bones gather, and the clay-heapsheave, rattling and...
Rest.
... in the Promised Land, his dying testimony was: "Not one thing hath failed of all
the good things which the Lord promised." I believe you couldheave the ocean...
Sorrow the Pledge of Joy.
... The endless day will at length dawn whose every throbbing moment willheave our
hearts Godward; we shall scarce need to lift them up: now, there are two door...
Thesaurus
Heave-thigh (2 Occurrences)Heave-thigh.
Heave-shoulder,
Heave-thigh. Heavier . Multi-Version
Concordance
Heave-thigh (2 Occurrences). Leviticus
...Heave-offerings (13 Occurrences)
Heave-offerings.Heave-offering,Heave-offerings.Heave-shoulder .
Multi-Version ConcordanceHeave-offerings (13 Occurrences). Numbers...
Heave-shoulder (2 Occurrences)
Heave-shoulder.Heave-offerings,Heave-shoulder.Heave-thigh . Multi-Version
ConcordanceHeave-shoulder (2 Occurrences). Leviticus...
Heave-offering (55 Occurrences)
Heave-offering. Heavenward,Heave-offering.Heave-offerings .
Multi-Version ConcordanceHeave-offering (55 Occurrences)....
Heave (25 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible DictionaryHeave offering. Hebrews terumah, (Exodus 29:27)
means simply an offering, a present, including all the...
Eastern (22 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 45:7 As to the prince, on this side, and on that side, of theheave-offering
of the holy place, and of the possession of the city, at the front of the...
Threshing-floor (36 Occurrences)
... Numbers 15:20 Of the first of your dough ye shall offer up a cake for aheave-offering:
as theheave-offering of the threshing-floor, so shall yeheave it....
Peace-offerings (82 Occurrences)
... Exodus 29:28 and it shall be for Aaron and his sons as their portion for ever from
the children of Israel; for it is aheave-offering: and it shall be aheave...
Statute (63 Occurrences)
... Exodus 29:28 And it shall be Aaron's and his sons' by a statute for ever from the
children of Israel: for it is anheave offering: and it shall be anheave...
Due (93 Occurrences)
... Exodus 29:28 and it shall be for Aaron and his sons as their portion for ever from
the children of Israel; for it is aheave-offering: and it shall be aheave...
Resources
What is a heave offering? | GotQuestions.orgWhat were the various sacrifices in the Old Testament? | GotQuestions.orgQuestions about Leviticus | GotQuestions.orgHeave: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
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