Sacrifice – Metaphors and Meaning

Abstract

To clarify the ideas underlying such sacrificial terms as propitiation, expiation, covering, part 1 examines chiefly hilaskomai, chillâ pānîm, rēach nîchōach and kipper, in their cultic and non-cultic contexts and in the light of parallel expressions. Propitiation is found to be more prominent, and 'covering' less so, than some have assumed; but kipper, whatever its etymology, is not tied down to any one aspect of atonement. Part 2 describes the main levitical sacrifices in some detail, in search of their respective functions and implications, concluding with the assessment in Ep. Hebrews of the system as a whole.