Bible glossary

What Does ‘Sacrifice’ Mean in the Bible?

A sacrifice is an offering given to God, often at great cost, to atone for sin or express devotion, fulfilled once for all in Christ.

Throughout the Bible, sacrifice is central to how people approach a holy God. Offerings, often animals, were given to acknowledge sin, seek forgiveness, and express thanksgiving. The costly, bloody nature of these sacrifices taught that sin is deadly serious and that reconciliation is not cheap.

Yet the Bible itself says the blood of animals could never truly take away sin. Those offerings were signposts, repeated year after year, pointing to a greater sacrifice that would deal with sin once and for all.

Key verses

“And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.”
Hebrews 9:22

“But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God.”
Hebrews 10:12

“And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”
Ephesians 5:2