אִשֶּׁה (ish.shah)
ish.shah
food offering
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 62 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun ishshah refers to an offering made by fire, a term that appears frequently in the ritual laws of Leviticus and Numbers. Derived from the word for fire, it literally describes something burned as food for God. While often translated as "burnt offering," the sources indicate it can encompass various sacrifices consumed by flame, not just the total burnt offering.
Its most characteristic usage appears in the phrase "a pleasing aroma to the Lord," found in passages like Leviticus 1:9 and Exodus 29:41. This imagery suggests that the smoke rising from the altar was viewed as a fragrant gift accepted by God. The term is so central to Israel's worship system that it appears in over sixty verses, defining the very nature of their sacrificial rites.
Translators sometimes render this word simply as "sacrifice" or "offering," but the fire element remains essential to its meaning. It distinguishes these specific rituals from other types of gifts or tithes that were not burned. The consistent link between the act of burning and divine acceptance highlights how central fire was to ancient Israel's understanding of worship.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word ishshah describes a gift offered by fire, a central practice in ancient Israelite worship. It refers to sacrifices burned on the altar as a pleasing aroma to God. This term covers various offerings, including grain and peace offerings, not just burnt sacrifices. The smoke rising from the altar symbolized a complete surrender of the best portions of one’s life to the Creator.
For believers today, this concept invites reflection on what we offer in worship. While we no longer perform animal sacrifices, the principle remains: God desires our sincere devotion and gratitude. Christians understand these rituals as pointing toward Christ’s ultimate sacrifice, which fulfilled the law and established a new covenant. The emphasis on a "pleasing aroma" highlights that worship is about relationship, not merely ritual compliance.
This word appears frequently in Leviticus, underscoring its importance in maintaining communion with God. It reminds us that true worship involves giving back to God what belongs to Him. Whether through prayer, service, or material gifts, the heart attitude matters most. The ancient practice teaches us to approach God with reverence and thanksgiving, acknowledging His sovereignty over all things.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 62 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a fire offering28×
- a fire offering of14×
- [the] fire offerings of9×
- from/ [the] fire offerings of5×
- [was] a fire offering2×
- of/ [the] fire offerings of1×
- for/ fire offerings/ my1×
- and/ a fire offering1×
- [is] the/ fire offering1×
- [is] a fire offering1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- אִשֶּׁ֖ה17×
- אִשֵּׁ֥ה6×
- אִשֵּׁ֛ה6×
- אִשֶּׁ֥ה5×
- אִשֵּׁ֣י4×
- מֵ/אִשֵּׁ֥י3×
- אִשֶּׁ֤ה3×
- מֵ/אִשֵּׁ֖י2×
- אִשֶּׁ֣ה2×
- אִשֶּׁ֛ה2×
- אִשֵּׁ֨י2×
- אִשֵּׁ֨ה2×
Key Verses
-
Leviticus 1:9
but he shall wash its innards and its legs with water. The priest shall burn all of it on the altar, for a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh.
This verse establishes the pattern for burnt offerings, explicitly linking the fire sacrifice to a "pleasant aroma" that signifies acceptance by Yahweh.
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Leviticus 2:2
He shall bring it to Aaron’s sons, the priests. He shall take his handful of its fine flour, and of its oil, with all its frankincense, and the priest shall burn its memorial on the altar, an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh.
It shows that grain offerings, not just animal sacrifices, were considered an offering made by fire when the memorial portion was burned on the altar.
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Leviticus 3:5
Aaron’s sons shall burn it on the altar on the burnt offering, which is on the wood that is on the fire: it is an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh.
This occurrence connects peace offerings to the concept of ishshah, demonstrating that communal fellowship meals also involved a fire sacrifice as a pleasing aroma.
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Exodus 29:18
You shall burn the whole ram on the altar: it is a burnt offering to Yahweh; it is a pleasant aroma, an offering made by fire to Yahweh.
It appears in the context of priestly consecration, showing how the ram’s burnt offering served as a foundational act of dedication to Yahweh.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does ishshah mean in the Bible?
Is ishshah only about animal sacrifices?
Why is it called a "pleasing aroma"?
How does this relate to Christian worship?
Every Occurrence (62 verses across 6 books)
Exodus 4 verses
You shall burn the whole ram on the altar: it is a burnt offering to Yahweh; it is a pleasant aroma, an offering made…
Exodus 29:25You shall take them from their hands, and burn them on the altar on the burnt offering, for a pleasant aroma before…
Exodus 29:41The other lamb you shall offer at evening, and shall do to it according to the meal offering of the morning and…
Exodus 30:20When they go into the Tent of Meeting, they shall wash with water, that they don’t die; or when they come near to the…