What Does “Sacrifice” Mean in the Bible?
An offering to God. In Bible times, animals, bread, wine, or oil were offered on the altar.
It can mean
- For Christians: Jesus offered himself on the cross. At every Mass that sacrifice is made present.
- Today: we also call something that costs us a “sacrifice.” In the Bible it is something else.
Where it appears in the Bible
Genesis 22:13; Hebrews 10:12
What the Bible says
Genesis 22:13
Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw behind his back a ram amongst the briers sticking fast by the horns, which he took and offered for a holocaust instead of his son.
Hebrews 10:12
But this man offering one sacrifice for sins, for ever sitteth on the right hand of God,
Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.
Source: Catechism 2099-2100; RAE, “sacrificio”