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Bible Dictionaries
Libation
Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary
or This word is used in sacrificial language, to express an affusion of liquors, poured upon victims to be sacrificed to the Lord. The quantity of wine for a libation was the fourth part of a hin, rather more than two pints. Libations among the Hebrews were poured on the victim after it was killed, and the several pieces of it were laid on the altar, ready to be consumed by the flames, Leviticus 6:20; Leviticus 8:25-26; Leviticus 9:4; Leviticus 16:12; Leviticus 16:20 .
These libations consisted in offerings of bread, wine, and salt. The Greeks and Latins offered libations with the sacrifices, but they were poured on the victim's head while it was living. So Sinon, relating the manner in which he was to be sacrificed, says, he was in the priest's hands ready to be slain, was loaded with bands and garlands; that they were preparing to pour upon him the libations of grain and salted meal:—
Jamque dies infanda aderat, mihi sacra parari, Et salsae fruges, et circum tempora vittae. AEneid v. 130, 131.
[And now the horrible day being come, they began to prepare for me the sacred rites.]
"The salted barley on my front was spread, The sacred fillets bound my destined head." PITT.
And Dido, beginning to sacrifice, pours wine between the horns of the victim:—
Ipsa tenens dextra pateram pulcherrima Dido, Candentsi vaccae media inter cornua fudit. AEneid 4.
"The queen before the snowy heifer stands, Amid the shrines, a goblet in her hands; Between the horns she sheds the sacred wine, And pays due honours to the powers divine." PITT.
St. Paul describes himself, as it were, a victim about to be sacrificed, and that the accustomed libations of meal and wine were already, in a manner, poured upon him: "For I am ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand," 2 Timothy 4:6 . The same expressive sacrificial term occurs in Php_2:17 , where the Apostle represents the faith of the Philippians as a sacrifice, and his own blood as a libation poured forth to hallow and consecrate it: "Yea, and if I be offered, σπενδουμαι , upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, επι τη θνσια και λειτουργια , I joy and rejoice with you all."
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Watson, Richard. Entry for 'Libation'. Richard Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/wtd/l/libation.html. 1831-2.
