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ὁλοκαύτωμα

holokaútōma

G3646 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A sacrifice that is wholly consumed by fire; specifically, a ritual offering in which the entire animal or offering is burned on the altar, with nothing reserved for human consumption. In broader usage, refers to any sacrifice or act of total destruction by fire, especially in religious contexts. In Jewish sacrificial practice, denotes the whole burnt offering (cf. עֹלָה, ʿolah, in Hebrew) distinct from offerings where only part is burned and the rest is eaten.

Semantic Range

whole burnt offering, sacrifice completely consumed by fire, act of complete destruction by fire in a ritual context

Root / Etymology

From ὅλος ('whole, entire') and καῦμα (from καίω, 'to burn'), forming a compound indicating something completely burned. The word is a direct translation (loan-translation, or calque) of the Hebrew עֹלָה (ʿolah), the whole burnt offering of the Israelite sacrificial system. The –μα ending marks the result or object of the action. First attested in late Classical and Hellenistic Greek, especially influenced by use in the Septuagint.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, similar sacrificial terms (e.g., θυσία, θῦμα) did not require total consumption by fire, but ὁλοκαύτωμα was rarely used except in contexts connected to Near Eastern religious practices. In the Septuagint, ὁλοκαύτωμα is used as the standard Greek rendering for the Hebrew עֹלָה, the whole burnt offering mandated by Torah. In the New Testament (e.g., Mark 12:33; Hebrews 10:6,8), ὁλοκαύτωμα refers to this same Israelite sacrificial practice, often in conversation about temple ritual, atonement, or religious obedience. It does not denote a general 'sacrifice' but specifically the total offering by fire, as opposed to other sacrifices (προσφορά, θυσία) where parts are eaten or used differently. Later, the term influenced post-biblical vocabulary (e.g., 'holocaust' as used in later English) but these senses are not present in ancient or New Testament usage.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from a derivative of a compound of ὅλος and a derivative of καίω; a wholly-consumed sacrifice ("holocaust"):--(whole) burnt offering.

Root Family

ὁλοκαύτωμα (holokautōma) — whole, entire, to burn; wholly consumed sacrifice

Root ὅλ-καυ- whole, entire, to burn

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3646-01 ὁλοκαυτώματα olokautomata N ACC N PL burnt offerings whole-burnt offerings whole-burnt offerings 2
G3646-02 ὁλοκαυτωμάτων olokautomaton N GEN N PL burnt offerings of whole burnt offerings whole burnt offerings 1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3646-02 Mark 12:33 ὁλοκαυτωμάτων olokautomaton N GEN N PL burnt offerings of whole burnt offerings whole burnt offerings
G3646-01 Hebrews 10:6 ὁλοκαυτώματα olokautomata N ACC N PL whole burnt offerings whole-burnt offerings whole-burnt offerings
G3646-01 Hebrews 10:8 ὁλοκαυτώματα olokautomata N ACC N PL burnt offerings whole-burnt offerings whole-burnt offerings
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