The English word “sacrifice” derives etymologically from a Latin term that means “make sacred.” This etymological meaning is quite appropriate for the rituals in the Hebrew Bible that are typically designated as “sacrifices,” since they involve the transfer of offerings from human beings to God, from the common to the sacred. Ritualized processing was also applied to nonmeat foods and drink, such as grain, olive oil, and wine. In some cases, human beings were the objects of ritualized slaughter and processing. When dealing with the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), early Judaism, and early Christianity, and their wider cultural worlds, “sacrifice” is best defined as the ritualized slaughter of animals and the processing of their bodies in relation to supernatural forces (especially gods). “Sacrifice” is a word that evokes multiple meanings and connotations in modern contexts.
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