עֹלָה (H5930) — Hebrew Lexicon

עֹלָה

𐤏𐤋𐤄

ʻôlâh

H5930 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

An offering or sacrifice that is entirely burned upon the altar, with nothing retained by offerer or priests; fundamentally, a sacrificial act characterized by the complete consumption of the victim by fire. Typically refers to the whole burnt offering presented to the God of Israelite worship, symbolizing total dedication or submission. The term can also denote the act or process of the offering ascending (by fire or smoke) or, in certain cases, ascent or stairway.

Semantic Range

whole burnt offering, sacrifice entirely consumed by fire, act of ascending in smoke, stairway or means of ascent, ascent in general

Root / Etymology

From the root עלה (עָלָה), meaning 'to go up, ascend.' The noun עֹלָה is a feminine active participle, describing something that ascends, reflecting either the physical rising of smoke from a burnt offering or metaphorically the act of rising or an ascent. The derivational pathway is from the root meaning 'to ascend' to the ritual context of an offering ascending in fire and smoke.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Israelite cultic practice, the עֹלָה is distinguished from other sacrifices such as the זֶבַח (zevaḥ, 'slaughter offering') or שֶׁלֶם (shelem, 'well-being offering/sharing offering'), as it is entirely immolated, signifying the complete surrender and consecration to the deity, with no portion eaten by priests or offerers. The עֹלָה is one of the most frequently mentioned sacrifices in the Torah (e.g., Leviticus 1; Exodus 29), with specified ritual procedures. In certain contexts, especially outside cultic instructions (e.g., Judges 20:40), the word can refer more generally to 'ascending' (e.g., ascent by stair or smoke). In later periods, Greek translations (LXX) rendered the term as 'holokaustōma' (ὁλοκαύτωμα), the root of the English 'holocaust' (but not reflecting earlier Hebrew nuances). The English translation 'burnt offering' narrowly reflects the sacrificial aspect, omitting the nuance of ascent or totality of consumption. Use of 'burnt offering' does not occur outside ritual contexts; other meanings (such as 'ascent') are attested but much rarer and usually contextually clear by accompanying language. The meaning and ritual of עֹלָה developed in relation to evolving Israelite sacrificial systems, remaining central in priestly texts and in Second Temple period references. The term is not synonymous with later English or religious concepts of 'sacrifice' or 'holocaust.' In post-exilic and later Hellenistic contexts, shift of meaning toward the technical ritual sense is observable. In rare poetic usages, can convey either literal ascending or metaphorical rising, but most frequently denotes the total burnt offering.

Translation Consistency

primary "whole-burnt-offering" 49 occurrences

The Hebrew עֹלָה (ʻôlâh) primarily denotes the ritual animal wholly consumed on the altar — the ‘whole burnt offering.’ Using the compound whole-burnt-offering captures the specific sacrificial sense (total consumption/complete dedication) clearly and naturally, and it keeps one consistent base form for all occurrences and inflections.

Alternatives (1 occurrence):

"whole burnt offerings" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or עוֹלָה; feminine active participle of עָלָה; a step or (collectively, stairs, as ascending); usually a holocaust (as going up in smoke); ascent, burnt offering (sacrifice), go up to. See also עֶוֶל.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

עלה (Ilay) — to go up, ascend, rise

Root עלה to ascend, go up, rise

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H4605	מַעַל	upward
H4607	מֹעַל	in hand-raising
H4608	מַעֲלֶה	at the ascent
H4609	מַעֲלָה	in the ascents
H5866	עִילַי	Elevated-one
H5920	עַל	upon, over
H5922	עַל	upon / over
H5927	עָלָה	I will cause to ascend
H5928	עֲלָה	for ascension-offerings
H5929	עָלֶה	leaf-of
H5933	עַלְוָה	Alvah
H5935	עַלְוָן	Lofty One
H5940	עֱלִי	my pestle
H5941	עֵלִי	Eli
H5942	עִלִּי	upper ones
H5944	עֲלִיָּה	his upper chambers
H5945	עֶלְיוֹן	Highest One
H5946	עֶלְיוֹן	Highest ones
H5952	עַלִּית	in his upper chamber
H8585	תְּעָלָה	in the irrigation channel

Word Forms

34 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`H5930-04`	הָֽ/עוֹלָה֙	haolah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the burnt offering	the ascending-offering	the whole-burnt-offering	73
`H5930-15`	עוֹלָ֖ה	olah	`HNcfsa`	burnt offering	ascending offering	whole-burnt-offering	56
`H5930-20`	עֹל֥וֹת	olot	`HNcfpa`	burnt offerings	ascending-offerings	whole-burnt-offerings	38
`H5930-09`	לְ/עֹלָ֖ה	leolah	`HR/Ncfsa`	for a burnt offering	for an ascending-offering	for a whole-burnt-offering	35
`H5930-16`	עֹֽלַת	olat	`HNcfsc`	burnt offering	ascending-offering of	whole-burnt-offering of	26
`H5930-19`	עֹֽלָת/וֹ֙	olato	`HNcfsc/Sp3ms`	his burnt offering	his ascending-offering	his whole-burnt-offering	7
`H5930-24`	עֹלֹֽתֵי/כֶם֙	oloteykhem	`HNcfpc/Sp2mp`	your burnt offerings	your ascending-offerings	your whole-burnt-offerings	6
`H5930-07`	לָ/עֹלָ֑ה	laolah	`HRd/Ncfsa`	for the burnt offering	for an ascending-offering	for a whole-burnt-offering	5
`H5930-23`	עֹלֹתֶ֑י/ךָ	oloteykha	`HNcfpc/Sp2ms`	your burnt offerings	your ascending-offerings	your whole burnt offerings	5
`H5930-33`	וְ/עֹלוֹת֙	veolot	`HC/Ncfpa`	and burnt offerings	ascending-offerings	and whole-burnt-offerings	5
`H5930-05`	הָֽ/עֹל֔וֹת	haolot	`HTd/Ncfpa`	the burnt offerings	the ascending-offerings	the whole burnt offerings	3
`H5930-18`	עֹ֣לָתֶ֔/ךָ	olatekha	`HNcfsc/Sp2ms`	your burnt offering	your ascending-offering	your whole burnt offering	3
`H5930-30`	וְ/עֹלַ֨ת	veolat	`HC/Ncfsc`	and the burnt offering	and ascending-offering of	and whole-burnt-offering of	3
`H5930-08`	לָֽ/עֹל֗וֹת	laolot	`HRd/Ncfpa`	for the burnt offerings	ascending-offerings	for whole-burnt-offerings	2
`H5930-27`	וְ/הָ֣/עֹלָ֔ה	vehaolah	`HC/Td/Ncfsa`	and the burnt offering	and the ascending-offering	and the whole-burnt-offering	2
`H5930-29`	וְ/עֹלָה֙	veolah	`HC/Ncfsa`	and burnt offering	ascending-offering	and whole-burnt-offering	2
`H5930-01`	בְּ/עוֹלָ֑ה	beolah	`HR/Ncfsa`	in burnt offering	in ascending-offering	in burnt offering	1
`H5930-02`	בְּ/עֹל֣וֹת	beolot	`HR/Ncfpa`	in burnt offerings	in ascending-offerings	in burnt offerings	1
`H5930-03`	בְּ/עֹלוֹתֵ֥י/נוּ	beoloteynu	`HR/Ncfpc/Sp1cp`	with our burnt offerings	with our ascending-offerings	with our whole burnt offerings	1
`H5930-06`	כָּ/עֹלָ֔ה	kaolah	`HRd/Ncfsa`	and according to the grain offering	as an ascending-offering	like an ascending-offering	1
`H5930-10`	לְ/עֹלַ֣ת	leolat	`HR/Ncfsc`	for the burnt offering	for an ascending-offering of	for an ascending-offering of	1
`H5930-11`	לְ/עֹלוֹת֙	leolot	`HR/Ncfpc`	for burnt offerings	for ascending-offerings	for whole burnt offerings	1
`H5930-12`	לְ/עֹלֹֽתֵי/כֶם֙	leoloteykhem	`HR/Ncfpc/Sp2mp`	for your burnt offerings	for your ascending-offerings	for your ascending-offerings	1
`H5930-13`	עלות/ו	lvtv	`HNcfsc/Sp3ms`	ascent-of-it	his ascending-offering	his whole burnt offering	1
`H5930-14`	מֵ/עֹלֽוֹת	meolot	`HR/Ncfpa`	more than burnt offerings	ascending offerings	than ascending offerings	1
`H5930-17`	עֹֽלָתָ/ם֙	olatam	`HNcfsc/Sp3mp`	their burnt offering	their ascending-offering	their whole burnt offering	1
`H5930-21`	עֹֽלוֹתָ֔י/ו	olotayv	`HNcfpc/Sp3ms`	ascents-of-it	his ascent-offerings	his burnt offerings	1
`H5930-22`	עוֹלֹתֵי/הֶ֧ם	oloteyhem	`HNcfpc/Sp3mp`	burnt-offerings-their	their ascension-offerings	their whole burnt offerings	1
`H5930-25`	וּ/לְ/עוֹלָ֣ה	uleolah	`HC/R/Ncfsa`	and-for-burnt-offering	ascending-offering	and for an ascending-offering	1
`H5930-26`	וּ/לְ/עוֹלַ֣ת	uleolat	`HC/R/Ncfsc`	and for the burnt offerings	and for ascending-offering of	and for burnt offering of	1
`H5930-28`	וְ/הָ֣/עֹל֔וֹת	vehaolot	`HC/Td/Ncfpa`	and the burnt offerings	and the ascending-offerings	and the ascending-offerings	1
`H5930-31`	וְ/עוֹלָתְ/ךָ֖	veolatekha	`HC/Ncfsc/Sp2ms`	and your burnt offerings	and your ascending-offering	and your burnt offering	1
`H5930-32`	וְ/עֹ֣לָת֔/וֹ	veolato	`HC/Ncfsc/Sp3ms`	and his burnt offerings	and his ascending-offering	and his burnt offering	1
`H5930-34`	וְ/עוֹלֹתֶ֖י/ךָ	veoloteykha	`HC/Ncfpc/Sp2ms`	or your burnt offerings	your ascending-offerings	your whole burnt offerings	1

Occurrences in Scripture

289 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`H5930-20`	Genesis 8:20	עֹלֹ֖ת	olot	`HNcfpa`	burnt offerings	ascending-offerings	whole-burnt-offerings
`H5930-09`	Genesis 22:2	לְ/עֹלָ֔ה	leolah	`HR/Ncfsa`	as a burnt offering	for an ascending-offering	for a whole-burnt-offering
`H5930-15`	Genesis 22:3	עֹלָ֔ה	olah	`HNcfsa`	for the burnt offering	ascending offering	whole-burnt-offering
`H5930-04`	Genesis 22:6	הָ/עֹלָ֗ה	haolah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the burnt offering	the ascending-offering	the whole-burnt-offering
`H5930-09`	Genesis 22:7	לְ/עֹלָֽה	leolah	`HR/Ncfsa`	for a burnt offering	for an ascending-offering	for a whole-burnt-offering
`H5930-09`	Genesis 22:8	לְ/עֹלָ֖ה	leolah	`HR/Ncfsa`	for a burnt offering	for an ascending-offering	for a whole-burnt-offering
`H5930-09`	Genesis 22:13	לְ/עֹלָ֖ה	leolah	`HR/Ncfsa`	as a burnt offering	for an ascending-offering	for a whole-burnt-offering
`H5930-33`	Exodus 10:25	וְ/עֹל֑וֹת	veolot	`HC/Ncfpa`	and burnt offerings	ascending-offerings	and whole-burnt-offerings
`H5930-15`	Exodus 18:12	עֹלָ֥ה	olah	`HNcfsa`	a burnt offering	ascending offering	whole-burnt-offering
`H5930-23`	Exodus 20:24	עֹלֹתֶ֨י/ךָ֙	oloteykha	`HNcfpc/Sp2ms`	your burnt offerings	your ascending-offerings	your whole burnt offerings
`H5930-20`	Exodus 24:5	עֹלֹ֑ת	olot	`HNcfpa`	burnt offerings	ascending-offerings	whole-burnt-offerings
`H5930-15`	Exodus 29:18	עֹלָ֥ה	olah	`HNcfsa`	burnt offering	ascending offering	whole-burnt-offering
`H5930-04`	Exodus 29:25	הָ/עֹלָ֑ה	haolah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the burnt offering	the ascending-offering	the whole-burnt-offering
`H5930-16`	Exodus 29:42	עֹלַ֤ת	olat	`HNcfsc`	burnt offering	ascending-offering of	whole-burnt-offering of
`H5930-29`	Exodus 30:9	וְ/עֹלָ֣ה	veolah	`HC/Ncfsa`	and-burnt-offering	ascending-offering	and whole-burnt-offering
`H5930-04`	Exodus 30:28	הָ/עֹלָ֖ה	haolah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	of burnt offering	the ascending-offering	the whole-burnt-offering
`H5930-04`	Exodus 31:9	הָ/עֹלָ֖ה	haolah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	of burnt offering	the ascending-offering	the whole-burnt-offering
`H5930-20`	Exodus 32:6	עֹלֹ֔ת	olot	`HNcfpa`	burnt offerings	ascending-offerings	whole-burnt-offerings
`H5930-04`	Exodus 35:16	הָ/עֹלָ֗ה	haolah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	of burnt offering	the ascending-offering	the whole-burnt-offering
`H5930-04`	Exodus 38:1	הָ/עֹלָ֖ה	haolah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	of burnt offering	the ascending-offering	the whole-burnt-offering
`H5930-04`	Exodus 40:6	הָ/עֹלָ֑ה	haolah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	of burnt offering	the ascending-offering	the whole-burnt-offering
`H5930-04`	Exodus 40:10	הָ/עֹלָ֖ה	haolah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	of burnt offering	the ascending-offering	the whole-burnt-offering
`H5930-04`	Exodus 40:29	הָ/עֹלָ֔ה	haolah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	of burnt offering	the ascending-offering	the whole-burnt-offering
`H5930-04`	Exodus 40:29	הָ/עֹלָה֙	haolah-2	`HTd/Ncfsa`	burnt offering	the ascending-offering	the whole-burnt-offering
`H5930-15`	Leviticus 1:3	עֹלָ֤ה	olah	`HNcfsa`	burnt offering	ascending offering	whole-burnt-offering
`H5930-04`	Leviticus 1:4	הָ/עֹלָ֑ה	haolah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	of the burnt offering	the ascending-offering	the whole-burnt-offering
`H5930-04`	Leviticus 1:6	הָ/עֹלָ֑ה	haolah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the burnt offering	the ascending-offering	the whole-burnt-offering
`H5930-15`	Leviticus 1:9	עֹלָ֛ה	olah	`HNcfsa`	burnt offering	ascending offering	whole-burnt-offering
`H5930-09`	Leviticus 1:10	לְ/עֹלָ֑ה	leolah	`HR/Ncfsa`	for a burnt offering	for an ascending-offering	for a whole-burnt-offering
`H5930-15`	Leviticus 1:13	עֹלָ֣ה	olah	`HNcfsa`	burnt-offering	ascending offering	whole-burnt-offering
`H5930-15`	Leviticus 1:14	עֹלָ֥ה	olah	`HNcfsa`	burnt offering	ascending offering	whole-burnt-offering
`H5930-15`	Leviticus 1:17	עֹלָ֣ה	olah	`HNcfsa`	burnt offering	ascending offering	whole-burnt-offering
`H5930-04`	Leviticus 3:5	הָ֣/עֹלָ֔ה	haolah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the burnt offering	the ascending-offering	the whole-burnt-offering
`H5930-04`	Leviticus 4:7	הָ/עֹלָ֔ה	haolah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	of burnt offering	the ascending-offering	the whole-burnt-offering
`H5930-04`	Leviticus 4:10	הָ/עֹלָֽה	haolah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	of burnt offering	the ascending-offering	the whole-burnt-offering
`H5930-04`	Leviticus 4:18	הָ/עֹלָ֔ה	haolah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	of burnt offering	the ascending-offering	the whole-burnt-offering
`H5930-04`	Leviticus 4:24	הָ/עֹלָ֖ה	haolah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the burnt offering	the ascending-offering	the whole-burnt-offering
`H5930-04`	Leviticus 4:25	הָ/עֹלָ֑ה	haolah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	of burnt offering	the ascending-offering	the whole-burnt-offering
`H5930-04`	Leviticus 4:25	הָ/עֹלָֽה	haolah-2	`HTd/Ncfsa`	of burnt offering	the ascending-offering	the whole-burnt-offering
`H5930-04`	Leviticus 4:29	הָ/עֹלָֽה	haolah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	of the burnt offering	the ascending-offering	the whole-burnt-offering
`H5930-04`	Leviticus 4:30	הָ/עֹלָ֑ה	haolah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	of burnt offering	the ascending-offering	the whole-burnt-offering
`H5930-04`	Leviticus 4:33	הָ/עֹלָֽה	haolah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the burnt offering	the ascending-offering	the whole-burnt-offering
`H5930-04`	Leviticus 4:34	הָ/עֹלָ֑ה	haolah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	of burnt offering	the ascending-offering	the whole-burnt-offering
`H5930-09`	Leviticus 5:7	לְ/עֹלָֽה	leolah	`HR/Ncfsa`	for a burnt offering	for an ascending-offering	for a whole-burnt-offering
`H5930-15`	Leviticus 5:10	עֹלָ֖ה	olah	`HNcfsa`	burnt offering	ascending offering	whole-burnt-offering
`H5930-04`	Leviticus 6:2	הָ/עֹלָ֑ה	haolah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the burnt offering	the ascending-offering	the whole-burnt-offering
`H5930-04`	Leviticus 6:2	הָ/עֹלָ֡ה	haolah-2	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the burnt offering	the ascending-offering	the whole-burnt-offering
`H5930-04`	Leviticus 6:3	הָ/עֹלָ֖ה	haolah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the burnt offering	the ascending-offering	the whole-burnt-offering
`H5930-04`	Leviticus 6:5	הָֽ/עֹלָ֔ה	haolah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the-burnt-offering	the ascending-offering	the whole-burnt-offering
`H5930-04`	Leviticus 6:18	הָ/עֹלָ֜ה	haolah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the burnt offering	the ascending-offering	the whole-burnt-offering

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