Korban

Korban is a Hebrew term meaning offering or sacrifice, derived from the root karav meaning to draw near. In biblical and rabbinic usage, a korban denotes something offered to God to draw near, atone, fulfill a vow, or express gratitude.

In the Hebrew Bible and the Second Temple period, korbanot were offerings brought to the Temple in Jerusalem and administered by priests (Kohanim). They encompassed several categories, including olah (burnt offerings), mincha (grain offerings), shelamim (peace offerings), chatat (sin offerings), and asham (guilt offerings). The laws specify who may bring a korban, how it is offered, what parts are eaten, and how the blood is handled.

Following the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE, korbanot could no longer be performed, and rabbinic Judaism shifted toward prayer and study in place of centralized ritual offerings. In modern Hebrew, the term remains in use as a concept of an offering or act of devotion, and it can also denote something that is offered or dedicated.

Beyond religious usage, Korban is also used as a personal name in various cultures. In Indonesian and Malay languages, korban means sacrifice and is common in everyday religious language, notably during Eid al-Adha when animal sacrifices are performed. The term therefore sits at the intersection of liturgical vocabulary, historical practice, and contemporary linguistic usage across multiple communities.