The Soothing Aroma of Sacrifice

Included as an appendix to this article are references to most (if not all) verses in Scripture directly related to this topic.  Please contact me if you find a verse that is not referenced and think it should be.

Scriptural quotations are from the New American Standard Bible unless otherwise noted.  Bolded text or other emphases in the Scriptural references are mine.

A Soothing Aroma

In numerous places, Scripture describes animal sacrifices as a "soothing aroma" (e.g., Numbers 29:13, Ezekiel 20:41, and others).  The American Heritage Dictionary defines the two words, soothing and aroma, as follows:

soothe¹

   1.  To calm or placate.
   2.  To ease or relieve (pain, for example).

aroma²

   1.  a.  A quality that can be perceived by the olfactory sense: the aroma of garlic and onions.  See synonyms at smell.  b.  A pleasant characteristic odor, as of a plant, spice, or food: the aroma of roses.  See synonyms at fragrance.
   2.  A distinctive, intangible quality; an aura: the aroma of success.

With these definitions, we might be tempted to fall into the trap of common pagan thinking:  G-d is some enraged Being whose anger and blood lust must be appeased with the blood of animal sacrifices burned before Him.

If we did so, we would be wrong.

Everything in the physical temple/tabernacle was given as a picture of the spiritual tabernacle.  G-d instructs Moses to make the Tabernacle "as was shown [him] on the mountain" (Hebrews 8:5 quoting Exodus 26:30).  So what is the picture that is painted in Scripture for us by the phrase "soothing aroma"?  Let's see where the phrase is first used in Scripture.

First Use of Soothing Aroma

It seems to be a common expectation that the "soothing aroma" of animal sacrifices is first mentioned in the Levitical Law.  That is, after all, where we find the instructions for animal sacrifice in the Tabernacle, right? However, the first reference is not found there but in one of Scripture's earliest accounts: the story of Noah.

Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar.  The LORD smelled the soothing aroma; and the LORD said to Himself, "I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man's heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done.  (Genesis 8:20-21)

We can make a few observations about this offering:

1. The offering was voluntary.  G-d did not ask for it or command it.
2. The offering was from clean [i.e., kosher] animals
3. The offering was an olah [the Hebrew word used to describe the offering]

"What's an olah," you ask?  Let's take a look.

Olah

Anyone who has attended a barbecue can testify that the smell of cooking beef on the grill is pleasant (and mouth-watering!).  We might be tempted to think that G-d enjoys the smell of a steak grilled in the backyard.  The type of offering where the "soothing aroma" is mentioned, however, is the olah offering: offerings that are completely burned up on the altar and go up in smoke.  Olah comes from a Hebrew word that means "to go up".  Everything is consumed... nothing is left but ashes.  The offering goes up in smoke before G-d.

Anyone who has grilled meat can confirm that the smell of cooking beef on the grill is pleasant, but the smell of burnt meat is very unpleasant. So why does Scripture describe these olah offerings as "a soothing aroma"?

Burnt meat stinks!

We should consider the spiritual implications rather than the physical.

Everything given as an olah is wholly given over to honor G-d.  The offering is completely burned up before the Lord.  The person bringing the offering derives no benefit from it, unlike other offerings in which the offerer and priest get to partake.  The olah is wholly given over to G-d.  It is an outward sign that the person bringing the offering is willing to be obedient to G-d even though they derive no benefit.

It is this degree of obedience that G-d finds pleasing rather than the physical burnt offering itself.  We see this plainly stated in 1 Samuel:

Samuel said, "Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings[olah] and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the LORD?  Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.  (1 Samuel 15:22)

More details about the olah and other offerings can be found in my article on The Sacrifices.

Aroma

So why does Scripture say this is a soothing aroma?  Why not just say it is "soothing"?  Olfaction (the sense of smell) is the sense that is most closely related to memory.  Taste, sight, touch, and sound may stir memories and cause us to hunt for a specific recollection.  The smell of something, however, often brings an immediate and powerful recollection.

So what is it that the obedience of an olah that is wholly given over to G-d brings to His mind?  His son, Yeshua, was wholly given over to the will of G-d and served as our sacrifice to bring peace between G-d and man. So in savoring the obedience of an olah, G-d is reminded of His own Son, which is soothing to Him.

Appendix

Verses that include Hebrew olah ({strongsH}Strong's #5930{/strongsH})- aroma

Verse list on BlueLetterBible.com

Verses that include Hebrew reyach  ({strongsH}Strong's #7381{/strongsH})- aroma

Gen 8:21
Exo 29:18
Exo 29:25
Exo 29:41
Lev 1:9
Lev 1:13
Lev 1:17
Lev 2:2
Lev 2:9
Lev 2:12
Lev 3:5
Lev 3:16
Lev 4:31
Lev 6:15
Lev 6:21
Lev 8:21
Lev 8:28
Lev 17:6
Lev 23:13
Lev 23:18
Num 15:3
Num 15:7
Num 15:10
Num 15:13
Num 15:14
Num 15:24
Num 18:17
Num 28:2
Num 28:6
Num 28:8
Num 28:13
Num 28:24
Num 28:27
Num 29:2
Num 29:6
Num 29:8
Num 29:13
Num 29:36
Eze 6:13
Eze 16:19
Eze 20:28
Eze 20:41

Verses that include Greek osme ({strongsG}Strong's #3744{/strongsG})- aroma

John 12:3
2 Cor 2:14 (knowledge of Messiah called a "sweet aroma")
2 Cor 2:16
Eph 5:2 (Messiah's offering of himself a "fragrant aroma")
Php 4:18