θυσιαστήριον (G2379) — Greek Lexicon

θυσιαστήριον

thysiastḗrion

G2379 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A physical structure, table, or platform designated for offering sacrifices or gifts, typically to a deity. In various contexts, it denotes the place where sacrificial rituals, offerings, incense, or gifts are presented—primarily in religious or cultic settings. Occasionally, it may also refer metaphorically to the locus of ritual devotion or worship.

Semantic Range

altar (physical or cultic), place of sacrifice, place of offering, locus of ritual devotion, altar in the temple, heavenly altar

Root / Etymology

From the noun θυσία ('sacrifice, offering'), which in turn derives from θύω ('to sacrifice, to offer'), with the suffix -τήριον, which forms nouns indicating a place suited for a particular action. Thus, θυσιαστήριον means 'place of sacrifice.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

θυσιαστήριον is not commonly attested in classical Greek and is notable for its prevalence in the Septuagint (LXX), where it translates the Hebrew מִזְבֵּחַ (mizbēaḥ, 'altar'). This usage is maintained in the New Testament, where it refers both to the traditional Israelite/Judean altars in the temple (e.g., Matthew 5:23–24; Luke 1:11; Hebrews 13:10) and, in some contexts, to the Christian conceptualization of spiritual offering. In Graeco-Roman religious vocabulary, the typical term for altar is βωμός, and θυσιαστήριον marks a distinctively Jewish (and later Christian) register, often connected with scriptural or liturgical contexts. English Bible translations almost universally render θυσιαστήριον as "altar," but this carries forward the specificity of the cultic altar in Israelite, Judean, or Christian tradition, which differs from other Greco-Roman or pagan contexts signaled by βωμός. The New Testament does not use θυσιαστήριον for pagan altars. There is also a symbolic or metaphorical extension in Hebrews and Revelation, where the term can refer to the heavenly or eschatological altar.

Translation Consistency

primary "altar" 22 occurrences

θυσιαστήριον is most commonly and naturally rendered as “altar,” which covers the primary physical and cultic sense (temple altar, place of sacrifice/offering) and also extends to metaphorical or heavenly loci of worship. The attested P2 renderings overwhelmingly use “altar,” making it the clear, consistent choice for all forms under this Strong’s number.

Alternatives (1 occurrence):

"places of sacrifice" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from a derivative of θυσία; a place of sacrifice, i.e. an altar (special or genitive case, literal or figurative):--altar.

Root Family

θυσιαστήριον (thysiastērion) — place of sacrifice, place of offering, sacrificial altar

Root θυσια- to sacrifice, to offer

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G2379-04`	θυσιαστηρίου	thusiasteriou	`N GEN N SG`	altar	of the sacrifice-place	of the altar	11
`G2379-03`	θυσιαστήριον	thusiasterion	`N ACC N SG`	altar	place of sacrifice	altar	6
`G2379-02`	θυσιαστηρίῳ	thusiasterio	`N DAT N SG`	altar	to the place of sacrifice	to the altar	5
`G2379-01`	θυσιαστήριά	thusiasteria	`N ACC N PL`	altars	places of sacrifice	places of sacrifice	1

Occurrences in Scripture

23 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G2379-03`	Matthew 5:23	θυσιαστήριον	thusiasterion	`N ACC N SG`	altar	place of sacrifice	altar
`G2379-04`	Matthew 5:24	θυσιαστηρίου	thusiasteriou	`N GEN N SG`	altar	of the sacrifice-place	of the altar
`G2379-02`	Matthew 23:18	θυσιαστηρίῳ	thusiasterio	`N DAT N SG`	altar	to the place of sacrifice	to the altar
`G2379-03`	Matthew 23:19	θυσιαστήριον	thusiasterion	`N NOM N SG`	altar	place of sacrifice	altar
`G2379-02`	Matthew 23:20	θυσιαστηρίῳ	thusiasterio	`N DAT N SG`	altar	to the place of sacrifice	to the altar
`G2379-04`	Matthew 23:35	θυσιαστηρίου	thusiasteriou	`N GEN N SG`	altar	of the sacrifice-place	of the altar
`G2379-04`	Luke 1:11	θυσιαστηρίου	thusiasteriou	`N GEN N SG`	altar	of the sacrifice-place	of the altar
`G2379-04`	Luke 11:51	θυσιαστηρίου	thusiasteriou	`N GEN N SG`	altar	of the sacrifice-place	of the altar
`G2379-01`	Romans 11:3	θυσιαστήριά	thusiasteria	`N ACC N PL`	altars	places of sacrifice	places of sacrifice
`G2379-02`	1 Corinthians 9:13	θυσιαστηρίῳ	thusiasterio	`N DAT N SG`	altar	to the place of sacrifice	to the altar
`G2379-02`	1 Corinthians 9:13	θυσιαστηρίῳ	thusiasterio-2	`N DAT N SG`	altar	to the place of sacrifice	to the altar
`G2379-04`	1 Corinthians 10:18	θυσιαστηρίου	thusiasteriou	`N GEN N SG`	altar	of the sacrifice-place	of the altar
`G2379-02`	Hebrews 7:13	θυσιαστηρίῳ	thusiasterio	`N DAT N SG`	altar	to the place of sacrifice	to the altar
`G2379-03`	Hebrews 13:10	θυσιαστήριον	thusiasterion	`N ACC N SG`	an altar	place of sacrifice	altar
`G2379-03`	James 2:21	θυσιαστήριον	thusiasterion	`N ACC N SG`	altar	place of sacrifice	altar
`G2379-04`	Revelation 6:9	θυσιαστηρίου	thusiasteriou	`N GEN N SG`	altar	of the sacrifice-place	of the altar
`G2379-04`	Revelation 8:3	θυσιαστηρίου	thusiasteriou	`N GEN N SG`	altar	of the sacrifice-place	of the altar
`G2379-03`	Revelation 8:3	θυσιαστήριον	thusiasterion	`N ACC N SG`	altar	place of sacrifice	altar
`G2379-04`	Revelation 8:5	θυσιαστηρίου	thusiasteriou	`N GEN N SG`	altar	of the sacrifice-place	of the altar
`G2379-04`	Revelation 9:13	θυσιαστηρίου	thusiasteriou	`N GEN N SG`	altar	of the sacrifice-place	of the altar
`G2379-03`	Revelation 11:1	θυσιαστήριον	thusiasterion	`N ACC N SG`	altar	place of sacrifice	altar
`G2379-04`	Revelation 14:18	θυσιαστηρίου	thusiasteriou	`N GEN N SG`	altar	of the sacrifice-place	of the altar
`G2379-04`	Revelation 16:7	θυσιαστηρίου	thusiasteriou	`N GEN N SG`	altar	of the sacrifice-place	of the altar

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