They called it a sacrifice to research that led the way to one of the greatest medical discoveries of the century.

VOA: special.2009.01.27

One would be characteristic of semi-nomadic pastoralists: the sacrifice of the first lamb born in the spring to the deity in order to procure favor and continued blessing on the flocks for the spring.

一种是具有半游牧人的特色：,他们把春天里的第一只羊羔献给神,为了获得神的偏爱,来年春天继续赐福。

耶鲁公开课 - 旧约导论课程节选

The dynamic of the entire poem is one of sacrifice and recompense.

这首诗的基调就是牺牲和惩罚。

耶鲁公开课 - 弥尔顿课程节选