עֲלָה
a holocaust
Definition
The word עֲלָה (ʻălâh) is an Aramaic noun meaning 'burnt offering' or 'holocaust.' It refers specifically to a type of sacrifice in which an animal is completely consumed by fire on an altar, symbolizing total dedication to God. This term appears in the Aramaic portions of the Old Testament, directly corresponding to the Hebrew עֹלָה (H5930). Its sole biblical occurrence is in Ezra 6:9, where it describes the offerings required for the temple service in Jerusalem.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in the Aramaic section of the book of Ezra. In Ezra 6:9, King Darius decrees that the Jewish people are to be provided with animals for 'burnt offerings to the God of heaven.' The context is the restoration of temple worship after the exile, highlighting the Persian king's support for the proper worship of Yahweh according to the Mosaic law.
Etymology
The word עֲלָה is the Aramaic cognate of the Hebrew עֹלָה (H5930, ʻōlâ), both derived from the root ע־ל־ה, meaning 'to go up' or 'to ascend.' This etymology reflects the nature of the sacrifice, as the smoke and the offering itself 'ascend' to God. The Aramaic form is used in the imperial correspondence recorded in Ezra, showing the linguistic context of the Persian administration.
Semantic Range
The burnt offering (עֲלָה) represents complete surrender and atonement, a core concept in Israel's sacrificial system. It signifies the worshiper's total dedication of life to God, as the entire animal is consumed. Understanding this Aramaic term enriches the reading of Ezra by connecting the restored temple worship directly to the foundational Torah instructions, emphasizing continuity in worship despite the exile and foreign rule.
In the ancient Near East, burnt offerings were a common form of worship, but Israel's practice was distinct in its monotheistic focus and detailed regulations given in the Torah (e.g., Leviticus 1). The use of this Aramaic term in an official Persian decree (Ezra 6:9) shows how foreign authorities accommodated and supported the unique religious practices of the Jewish people, ensuring the proper materials were supplied for biblically prescribed worship.
עֹלָה (ʻōlâ, H5930) — The standard Hebrew term for 'burnt offering,' identical in meaning but used in Hebrew biblical texts. זֶבַח (zevaḥ, H2077) — A general term for 'sacrifice,' often referring to peace offerings, which were partially consumed by worshipers, unlike the wholly burnt עֲלָה. קָרְבָּן (qorbān, H7133) — A broader term meaning 'offering' or 'gift,' encompassing all types of sacrifices presented to God.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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