In biblical terminology, "savours" refers to the scents or aromas that are often associated with offerings, sacrifices, and the presence of God. The concept of savours is deeply embedded in the sacrificial system of the Old Testament, where the aroma of burnt offerings is described as pleasing to the Lord. This notion extends beyond the physical sense of smell to encompass spiritual and symbolic meanings.

Old Testament Context

The Hebrew word often translated as "savour" is "reach," which means scent or aroma. In the context of sacrifices, it is frequently associated with the phrase "a pleasing aroma to the LORD." This phrase appears numerous times in the Pentateuch, particularly in the books of Leviticus and Numbers. For example, in Leviticus 1:9 , it is written, "The priest is to burn all of it on the altar as a burnt offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD." This indicates that the act of sacrifice, when performed according to God's commandments, was acceptable and pleasing to Him.

The concept of a pleasing aroma is not limited to burnt offerings. It also applies to grain offerings, peace offerings, and other sacrifices. In Numbers 15:3 , the Israelites are instructed, "and you present an offering made by fire to the LORD from the herd or the flock, a pleasing aroma to the LORD." The repetition of this phrase underscores the importance of obedience and the heart's intent in worship.

Symbolic and Spiritual Significance

The idea of savours extends beyond the literal sense to symbolize the spiritual state of the worshipper. A pleasing aroma signifies an offering made with a pure heart and sincere devotion. Conversely, offerings made with wrong intentions or in disobedience are not pleasing to God, regardless of their aroma. This is evident in passages like Isaiah 1:11-13 , where God expresses His displeasure with the sacrifices of the Israelites due to their hypocrisy and sin: "What is your multitude of sacrifices to Me? says the LORD. I am full of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed cattle; I have no delight in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats."

New Testament Application

In the New Testament, the concept of savours is expanded to include the life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:2 states, "And walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God." Here, Christ's sacrificial death is described as a fragrant offering, pleasing to God, signifying the ultimate fulfillment of the sacrificial system.

Believers are also called to be a pleasing aroma to God through their lives and actions. In 2 Corinthians 2:15 , Paul writes, "For we are to God the sweet aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing." This metaphor illustrates the transformative power of the Gospel and the believer's role in spreading the knowledge of Christ.

Conclusion

The concept of savours in the Bible serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of sincere worship and obedience to God. It highlights the spiritual significance of offerings and the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, encouraging believers to live lives that are a pleasing aroma to the Lord.

Impossibility of Acknowledging God Without this External Evidence ...
... XII."Impossibility of Acknowledging God Without This External Evidence Of His Existence
Marcion's Rejection of Such Evidence for His God Savours of Impudence ...
/.../chapter xii impossibility of acknowledging god.htm

"For they that are after the Flesh do Mind,"
... The excellency of nature is known by their affections and motions, so are these
here, the spiritual man savours spiritual things, the carnal man carnal things ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xviii for they that.htm

Your Origen Allows Himself to Treat of the Transmigration of Souls ...
... If it were not a long process and one which savours of boasting, I should like even
now to shew you how much profit there is in waiting at the doors of great ...
/.../20 your origen allows himself.htm

The Manna
... The palates, unaccustomed to the stinging savours of the garlic and the leeks
of Egypt, loathed the light bread. And so Jesus Christ ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture i/the manna.htm

The Credibility of Scripture Sufficiently Proved in So Far as ...
... consider how admirably the system of divine wisdom contained in it is arranged"how
perfectly free the doctrine is from every thing that savours of earth ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 8 the credibility of.htm

Of the Ordering of all the virtues through the Seven Gifts of the ...
... before. And he savours this likeness and this rest so much the better, the
more his resemblance is increased. The Gift of Knowledge. ...
/.../john/the adornment of the spritual marriage/chapter lxiii of the ordering.htm

The Five Books Against Marcion
... XII.--Impossibility of Acknowledging God Without This External Evidence Of His
Existence Marcion's Rejection of Such Evidence for His God Savours of Impudence ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/the five books against marcion/

Truth Rather to be Appealed to than Custom, and Truth Progressive ...
... It is not so much novelty as truth which convicts heresies. Whatever savours of
opposition to truth, this will be heresy, even (if it be an) ancient custom. ...
/.../tertullian/on the veiling of virgins/chapter i truth rather to be.htm

Wide Scope of the Word Idolatry.
... Even otherwise, since all faults savour of opposition to God, and there is nothing
which savours of opposition to God which is not assigned to demons and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/on idolatry/chapter i wide scope of the.htm

Tatian, Cataphrygians, Cataproclans, Cat??schinetans.
... For he wholly savours of Valentinus; adding this, that Adam cannot even attain
salvation: as if, when the branches become salvable, [8409] the root were not! ...
/.../chapter vii tatian cataphrygians cataproclans cataeschinetans.htm

Savours (1 Occurrence)
...Savours (1 Occurrence). Ezra 6:10 That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours
unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons. ...
/s/savours.htm - 6k

Savoury (7 Occurrences)

/s/savoury.htm - 8k

Savourless (1 Occurrence)

/s/savourless.htm - 6k

Savour (52 Occurrences)
... Ezra 6:10 That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven,
and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons. (Root in KJV JPS YLT). ...
/s/savour.htm - 22k

Praying (71 Occurrences)
... Ezra 6:10 that they be bringing near sweet savours to the God of heaven, and
praying for the life of the king, and of his sons. (YLT). ...
/p/praying.htm - 27k

Sweet (147 Occurrences)
... Ezra 6:10 That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of
heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons. ...
/s/sweet.htm - 40k

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