spillage of wine, water, oil, etc. During his visit to Bethel, Jacob offered libations of oil, testimony of his communication with God, Gn 28, 18; 35, 14. The l. it was ordered to accompany the sacrifices of the tabernacle, Ex 29, 40; Lev 23, 37; Nm 28, 7. She became one of Israel’s symbols of gratitude for God’s provisions and an expression of the joy of worship.
Digital Bible Dictionary, Grupo C Service & Design Ltda., Colombia, 2003
Source: Digital Bible Dictionary
Sometimes the libation is referred to as a ritual offering of a liquid (eg, see KJV note at Exo 29:40); the spilling of liquids, such as wines, water, oil, etc., but generally wine, as an offering to a deity. Libations were a common practice among pagan nations (Deu 32:38). Ritual liquid offerings accompanied many of the OT burnt offerings (Exo 29:40-41; Lev 23:13, Lev 23:18, Lev 23:37; Num 15:4-10, Num 15:24; Num 28: 7-10). Paul imagines his death to be like a ritual liquid offering (Phi 2:17; 2Ti 4:6).
Source: Hispanic World Bible Dictionary
A very old religious custom was to take a liquid, especially oil, wine or milk and pour it out as a tribute to a deity or to consecrate something. Jacob, after having a revealing dream at Bethel, “poured oil” on his headstone and then did something similar when he returned to his land (Gen 28:18; Gen 35:14) . The Israelites used to offer l. to God, almost always mixed with the sacrifices. Thus, they had “wine for the l” (Num 15:10). When a burnt offering or peace offering was offered, an l was also performed. of “the fourth part of a hin of wine” (Exo 29:40; Num 28:7). At the inauguration of Solomon’s †¢temple, †œthere were offered unto the Lord … a thousand bullocks, a thousand rams, a thousand lambs with their l.† (1Ch 29:21). †¢Sacrifices and offerings.
Source: Christian Bible Dictionary
See SACRIFICES.
Source: New Illustrated Bible Dictionary
Sacrificial action of offering to the divinity, in many ancient peoples, and also among the Israelites who offered it to the Lord God, a liquid product such as oil (Gen 28.18; Miq. 6.7) or wine (Ex. 29. 28-42 ; Num. 15.5. Deut. 32.38; Os. 9.4).
Ordinarily they participated by consuming part of the product, and spilling the other part in the fire or on the ground and around the altar. It was an offering of a product of the land and work, which had the meaning of gratitude.
If God had given them, it was right that the firstfruits be offered to him and the sense of divine benefit recognized.
Pedro Chico González, Dictionary of Catechesis and Religious Pedagogy, Editorial Bruño, Lima, Peru 2006
Source: Dictionary of Catechesis and Religious Pedagogy
See OFFERINGS.
Source: Dictionary of the Bible
Note: The verb spendo, to pour out as a drink offering, to make a drink offering, is used in Phi 2:7 “let it be poured out as a drink offering”; 2Ti 4:6 “I am ready to be sacrificed”. See SPILL, SPILL, B, NO. 5.¶
Source: Vine New Testament Dictionary