Most of the Old Testament references to lambs are related to sacrificial rituals. (For references to matters other than sacrifice see SHEEP.) Abel’s offering was probably a lamb (Gen 4:4), Abraham considered a lamb to be the natural animal for a burnt offering (Gen 22:7-8), and the Israelites in Egypt offered sacrificial lambs at the time of the original Passover (Exod 12:3-8; see PASSOVER). In the religious system that God gave Israel, lambs were one of the animals most commonly used for sacrifice (Lev 3:1,7; 4:32; 9:3; 12:6; 14:10; 23:12; Num 28:4,11; 29:13; Ezra 6:17; 7:17; Ezek 46:4-15; see BLOOD; SACRIFICE). A lamb offered in sacrifice had to be without defects, symbolizing its fitness to be the guiltless substitute for the guilty offerer (Exod 12:5-6; Lev 4:32; 9:3).
Although the shedding of a sacrificial animal’s blood was necessary, no animal sacrifice in itself could take away a person’s sin (Heb 9:22; 10:4). Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, achieves what all the animal sacrifices could not achieve. He willingly gave his life as a sacrifice for guilty sinners, and through his sacrifice takes away their sin (John 1:29; Acts 8:32; 1 Peter 1:18-19). In the visions of the book of Revelation, the Lamb again symbolizes Jesus Christ. Having died for sin, he has now overcome death and is the Lord of life and salvation (Rev 5:6,9,12; 7:14; 12:11). He is the conqueror of Satan, the Saviour of his people, the judge of the world, the King of kings, and the object of heaven’s worship (Rev 7:17; 14:1,10; 17:14; 19:7; 21:23; 22:1,3).