עֹלָה

From the study of Genesis 22:2

Range of meaning

ʿōlâ means 'that which goes up', the whole burnt offering. The animal was slaughtered and burned entirely on the altar, and its smoke 'went up' to God (Lev 1). The verb haʿălâ, 'cause to go up', is the regular verb for offering it.

Against the English

'Burnt offering' is accurate but loses the 'go up / going-up offering' wordplay. YLT's 'cause him to ascend there for a burnt-offering' keeps it. The Greek translation uses holokarpōsis ('whole offering'), and the Latin uses holocaustum ('wholly burnt'), from which English 'holocaust' comes.

Used elsewhere in the period

The same phrase ('make go up as an ʿōlâ') is used of Jephthah's daughter (Judg 11:31), of Mesha king of Moab offering his firstborn son on the wall (2 Kgs 3:27), and of ordinary animal offerings (Gen 8:20; 1 Sam 6:14). The Law calls the ʿōlâ 'a pleasing aroma' and stresses that it is entirely given up.

From the study of Hosea 6:6

Range of meaning

The whole burnt offering, from the verb 'to go up': the entire animal was burned so that all of it 'went up' in smoke to God. Nothing was eaten by worshipper or priest (Lev 1). It was the most complete gift of all the sacrifices.

Against the English

'Burnt offerings' is accurate. Readers may not realise this was the costliest and most total offering, which makes the comparison sharper. Even the most complete gift on the altar ranks below knowing God.

Used elsewhere in the period

Lev 1; 1 Sam 15:22; Ps 51:16; Mic 6:6 ('Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?'). Septuagint: holokautōma ('whole burnt offering'), the source of English 'holocaust' in its older religious sense.

From the study of Isaiah 56:7

Range of meaning

'Olah means 'that which goes up': the whole burnt offering, entirely consumed on the altar, used in daily worship, vows and petitions. Zevach means a slaughtered sacrifice, especially the fellowship or peace offerings, where parts were burned and most of the meat was eaten by the worshipper and family before God.

Against the English

'Burnt offerings and sacrifices' is standard and adequate. English loses the contrast between the offering given wholly to God and the offering shared as a meal.

Used elsewhere in the period

Numbers 15:14–16 already allowed a resident foreigner (ger) to present offerings 'just as you do'. In the Second Temple period, Gentile offerings were in fact accepted. Josephus reports that the decision of the temple captain Eleazar to stop accepting gifts and sacrifices from foreigners, including the sacrifice for the emperor, helped spark the revolt of AD 66 (Jewish War 2.409–410).