Drink Offering In Old Testament

The drink offering was one of the three primary categories of sacrifices. It was a common practice for Israelites to bring a drink offering on special occasions, such as Passover and other feasts, along with their food offering (meat) and burnt offering (garden variety animal sacrifices). The term “drink offering” seems to have first appeared in Numbers 28: Numbers 28:8: “The other lamb you shall offer at twilight; as the grain offering of the morning and as its drink offering, you shall offer it, an offering by fire, a soothing aroma to the LORD.”

All three offerings were placed on the altar at once. In the Old Testament, God requires the drink offering to be poured out in the Temple. This is not just any drink offering but an alcoholic beverage, made from fine spirits and malt. All worshipers who bring more than their tithes and offerings to God for his use make the drink offering as a type of sacrifice.

This post will examine the Old Testament in terms of different drink offering types that were made at various times in history. These sacrifices were an annual event, and they were made on behalf of the King or High Priest (2 Chron 7:5).

Bible Verses About Drink Offering In Old Testament

In the Old Testament, drink offerings were a common practice in the worship of God. These offerings were often poured out as a symbol of devotion and surrender to God. Many verses in the Bible mention drink offerings and their significance. Here are 12 Bible verses about drink offerings in the Old Testament:

1. Exodus 29:40

“With the first lamb offer a tenth of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with a quarter of a hin of oil from pressed olives, and a quarter of a hin of wine as a drink offering.”

2. Leviticus 23:13

“Along with the loaves of bread, offer seven male lambs a year old and without defect, one young bull and two rams. They will be a burnt offering to the Lord, together with their grain offerings and drink offerings—an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the Lord.”

3. Numbers 15:5

“With each lamb for the burnt offering or the sacrifice, prepare a quarter of a hin of wine as a drink offering.”

4. Numbers 28:7

“The accompanying drink offering is to be a quarter of a hin of fermented drink with each lamb. Pour out the drink offering to the Lord at the sanctuary.”

5. Leviticus 23:18

“Present with this bread seven male lambs, each a year old and without defect, one young bull and two rams. They will be a burnt offering to the Lord, together with their grain offerings and drink offerings—an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.”

6. Exodus 30:9

“Do not offer on this altar any other incense or any burnt offering or grain offering, and do not pour a drink offering on it.”

7. Leviticus 23:37

“These are the Lord’s appointed festivals, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies for bringing food offerings to the Lord—the burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings required for each day.”

8. Numbers 15:10

“Include one-tenth of an ephah of the finest flour for a grain offering, mixed with one-fourth of a hin of oil from pressed olives, and one-fourth of a hin of wine as a drink offering with each lamb.”

9. Exodus 29:41

“Include a tenth of an ephah of the finest flour with the grain offering for each lamb, baked with yeast. It is a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.”

10. Numbers 28:14

“With each bull there is to be a drink offering of half a hin of wine; with the ram, a third of a hin; and with each lamb, a quarter of a hin. This is the monthly burnt offering to be made at each new moon during the year.”

These verses from the Old Testament demonstrate the importance and significance of drink offerings in the worship of God. They were a vital part of the sacrificial system and symbolized dedication and surrender to the Lord.