International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Consecrate; Consecration

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Consecrate; Consecration


Subjects in this Topic:

kon´sē̇-krāt, kon-sē̇-krā´shun.

1. In the Old Testament

In the Old Testament for several Hebrew words of different meanings:

(1) חרם, ḥāram̌: “I will consecrate (the Revised Version (British and American) “devote”) their gain unto the Lord,” i.e. the spoil of the nations shall be dedicated to the service of Yahweh (). See BAN; CURSE.

(2) נזר, nāzar, נזר, nēzer (, , ; the Revised Version (British and American) “separate”). See NAZIRITE.

(3) קדשׁ, ḳādhēsȟ: “to be set apart,” or “to be holy”: of Aaron and his sons (; ; the Revised Version (British and American) “sanctify”). The silver and gold and brass and iron of the banned city of Jericho are “consecrated” things (the Revised Version (British and American) “holy”) unto the Lord (); of the priests (); of sacrifices (; ; ). See HOLINESS.

(4) מלּאיד, millē' yadh, literally, “to fill the hand”; and substantive plural מלּאים, millu'ı̄m, a peculiar idiom used frequently and generally for the installation of a priest into his office; and substantive for the installation offerings which were probably put into the priest's hands to symbolize his admission into office; hence, the phrase, “and thou shalt consecrate Aaron and his sons” (; so ; :33, 15; ; ; ; ; ; , ; ); of Jeroboam's non-Levitical priesthood (; ); of the altar () and of those who contributed to build the temple (). Subst. of an act of installation (; ), and of installation offerings (, , , ; , , , ).

2. In the New Testament

In the New Testament τελειόω, teleióō, “to make perfect” (; the Revised Version (British and American) “perfected”); ἐγκαινίζω, egkainı́zō, “to make new” (; the Revised Version (British and American) “dedicated”).