קׇרְבָּן
Korban
Sacrifice, offering, that which is brought near
Korban (קׇרְבָּן) is a Hebrew word meaning “sacrifice, offering, that which is brought near,” pronounced “kor-BAN.” Derived from the root ק-ר-ב, korban appears 80 times in the Hebrew Bible (Strong's H7133).
| Hebrew | קׇרְבָּן |
|---|---|
| Transliteration | Korban |
| Pronunciation | kor-BAN |
| Meaning | Sacrifice, offering, that which is brought near |
| Root Letters | ק-ר-ב |
| Occurrences in Hebrew Bible | 80× |
| Key Verse | Leviticus 1:2 |
| Strong's Number | H7133 |
| Category | Covenant & Theology |
Most Christians assume the Hebrew word for sacrifice is about death, blood, and giving something up. The truth is far more beautiful. Korban (קׇרְבָּן) comes from the root karav, meaning 'to draw near, to come close.' A sacrifice in the Hebrew Bible is not primarily about destruction — it is about approach. Every animal brought to the altar, every grain offering poured out, every incense offering burned — all of it had one purpose: to bring the worshiper near to God. The entire book of Leviticus, often skipped by modern readers, is actually a love manual — God's detailed instructions for how sinful people can approach a holy God. When you understand that korban means 'drawing near,' the sacrificial system transforms from a bloody primitive ritual into the most tender invitation in all of Scripture: 'Come close to Me.' Jesus, the ultimate korban, did not merely die for sin — He opened the way for every human being to draw near to the Father without fear, without an intermediary, without limit.
Key Bible Verse: Leviticus 1:2
“Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When any one of you brings an offering (korban) to the LORD, you shall bring your offering of livestock from the herd or from the flock.”
What Is the Root of Korban in Hebrew?
Korban comes from the root ק-ר-ב (qof-resh-bet), meaning 'to draw near, to approach.' The word revolutionizes our understanding of sacrifice: it's not about losing something but about gaining access to God's presence. The related word 'karov' means 'near' or 'close.'
What Does Korban Mean in the Bible?
Korban appears 80 times in the Hebrew Bible, concentrated in Leviticus and Numbers. It covers burnt offerings (olah), grain offerings (minchah), peace offerings (shelamim), sin offerings (chatat), and guilt offerings (asham). Mark 7:11 preserves the word in its Aramaic form when Jesus rebukes those who use 'Corban' to avoid caring for parents.
How Is Korban Used in Modern Hebrew?
Since the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD, Jewish tradition teaches that prayer, repentance, and acts of kindness have replaced animal sacrifice. The Talmud says 'the table in every home is like the altar' — meals eaten with gratitude and holiness serve as a form of korban in the absence of the Temple.
How to Use Korban in Prayer & Worship
Approach God knowing that Jesus, your korban, has opened the way. Hebrews 4:16 invites you to draw near to the throne of grace with confidence. Every time you pray, you are completing what the sacrificial system always intended — coming close to your Father.
Frequently Asked Questions About Korban
How do you say “Sacrifice” in Hebrew?
“Sacrifice” in Hebrew is Korban (קׇרְבָּן), pronounced “kor-BAN.” Korban comes from the root ק-ר-ב (qof-resh-bet), meaning 'to draw near, to approach.' The word revolutionizes our understanding of sacrifice: it's not about losing something but about gaining access to God's presence. The related word 'karov' means 'near' or 'close.'
What does Korban mean in the Bible?
Korban (קׇרְבָּן) means “Sacrifice, offering, that which is brought near” in Biblical Hebrew. Korban appears 80 times in the Hebrew Bible, concentrated in Leviticus and Numbers. It covers burnt offerings (olah), grain offerings (minchah), peace offerings (shelamim), sin offerings (chatat), and guilt offerings (asham). Mark 7:11 preserves the word in its Aramaic form when Jesus rebukes those who use 'Corban' to avoid caring for parents.
How do you pronounce Korban?
Korban is pronounced “kor-BAN.” The word comes from the Hebrew root ק-ר-ב.
Why does sacrifice mean 'drawing near' in Hebrew?
The Hebrew word korban comes from the root karav, meaning 'to approach.' This reveals the true purpose of the sacrificial system: not punishment, but proximity to God. Sin separates; sacrifice restores access. Every offering in Leviticus was designed to bridge the gap between a holy God and His beloved but sinful people, culminating in the ultimate korban — Jesus, who opened permanent access to the Father.
What are the five types of offerings in Leviticus?
Leviticus describes five primary korbanot: (1) Olah — the burnt offering, completely consumed on the altar as total devotion (Leviticus 1); (2) Minchah — the grain offering, representing the fruit of human labor (Leviticus 2); (3) Shelamim — the peace/fellowship offering, shared as a communal meal with God (Leviticus 3); (4) Chatat — the sin offering, for unintentional sins (Leviticus 4); and (5) Asham — the guilt offering, for offenses requiring restitution (Leviticus 5).
How does korban point to Jesus?
Every korban foreshadowed Christ's sacrifice: the burnt offering pictures total surrender, the sin offering pictures bearing the penalty, and the peace offering pictures restored fellowship. Hebrews 10:1-14 explains that animal korbanot could never fully remove sin — they pointed forward to 'one sacrifice for sins forever.' Jesus is the ultimate korban, the final 'drawing near' that brings humanity permanently into God's presence.
Sources & Further Study
- Blue Letter Bible — H7133: Korban
- Bible Gateway — Leviticus 1:2 (ESV)
- Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB) — entry for ק-ר-ב
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