Bible Lexicons

Girdlestone's Synonyms of the Old TestamentGirdlestone's OT Synonyms

Wave-Offering, Heave-Offering

The wave-offering, Tenuphah (תנופה ), was supposed to be shaken to and fro, whilst the heave-offering, Terumah (תרמה ), was elevated. The LXX usually has ἀφαίρεμα, ἀφόρισμα or ἐπίθεμα for the wave-offering, and ἀπαρχή, first-fruits, for the heave-offering. The verb which gives the name to the first is rendered to wave wherever this word is used in the A. V.; in 2 Kings 5:11, Naaman expresses his supposition that Elisha would 'strike his h and over the place,' or as our margin has it, 'move his h and up and down.' Compare Isaiah 30:28, where we read of God's 'sifting the nations with the sieve of vanity.' It is rendered shake in Isaiah 10:15, al. The word is found in Psalms 68:9, 'Thou didst send (i.e. sift out from the clouds) a gracious rain up on thine inheritance.' in Exodus 20:25, Deuteronomy 27:5, and Joshua 8:31, the lifting up (i.e. the movement to and fro) of the graving tool is spoken of.

The noun is rendered oblation in 2 Chronicles 31:14, Isaiah 40:20, and Ezekiel 44:30; it is rendered 'offering' in Exodus 25:2, al.