Leviticus3

Leviticus chapter 3 details the regulations for the peace offering, which could be from the herd or flock, male or female, but always without blemish. The offerer would lay hands on the animal, kill it, and the priests would sprinkle its blood upon the altar. Specific fatty portions were then burned on the altar as a sweet savour unto the Lord, while a perpetual statute prohibited the eating of fat or blood.

The Peace Offering from the Herd (Cattle)

1
“‘If his offering is a sacrifice of peace offerings; if he offers it from the herd, whether male or female, he shall offer it without defect before the LORD. ​
2
He shall lay his hand on the head of his offering, and kill it at the door of the Tent of Meeting: and Aaron’s sons, the priests, shall sprinkle the blood around on the altar. ​
3
He shall offer of the sacrifice of peace offerings an offering made by fire to the LORD; the fat that covers the innards, and all the fat that is on the innards, ​
4
and the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the loins, and the cover on the liver, with the kidneys, he shall take away.
5
Aaron’s sons shall burn it on the altar on the burnt offering, which is on the wood that is on the fire: it is an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to the LORD. ​

Peace Offering from the Flock (Lamb)

6
“‘If his offering for a sacrifice of peace offerings to the LORD is from the flock; male or female, he shall offer it without defect. ​
7
If he offers a lamb for his offering, then he shall offer it before the LORD;
8
and he shall lay his hand on the head of his offering, and kill it before the Tent of Meeting: and Aaron’s sons shall sprinkle its blood around on the altar.
9
He shall offer from the sacrifice of peace offerings an offering made by fire to the LORD; its fat, the entire tail fat, he shall take away close to the backbone; and the fat that covers the inwards, and all the fat that is on the inwards, ​
10
and the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the loins, and the cover on the liver, with the kidneys, he shall take away.
11
The priest shall burn it on the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire to the LORD. ​

Peace Offering from the Flock (Goat)

12
“‘If his offering is a goat, then he shall offer it before the LORD:
13
and he shall lay his hand on its head, and kill it before the Tent of Meeting; and the sons of Aaron shall sprinkle its blood around on the altar.
14
He shall offer from it as his offering, an offering made by fire to the LORD; the fat that covers the innards, and all the fat that is on the innards,
15
and the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the loins, and the cover on the liver, with the kidneys, he shall take away.
16
The priest shall burn them on the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire, for a pleasant aroma; all the fat is the LORD’s. ​

Prohibition Against Eating Fat and Blood

17
“‘It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwellings, that you shall eat neither fat nor blood.’” ​

Study Notes for Leviticus 3

Verse 1

The Peace Offering (Hebrew: Zevach Shelamim) is a voluntary sacrifice signifying fellowship, wholeness, or thanksgiving. Unlike the Burnt Offering, the animal may be male or female, emphasizing accessibility and celebration rather than strict atonement.

Verse 2

Laying the hand on the animal’s head symbolizes dedication and identification, dedicating the animal to God for the purpose of fellowship. The blood, which represents the life, is sprinkled around the altar, signifying that the life is consecrated to God.

Verse 3

The fat is consistently designated as God's exclusive portion because it was considered the richest, purest, and most vital part of the animal. This dedication reserves the 'best' of the offering for the divine, setting it apart from the meat shared by the priests and offerers.

Verse 5

The fat is burned upon the Burnt Offering, indicating that the peace offering follows the initial act of full dedication (the burnt offering). The resulting 'sweet savour' signifies God's acceptance of the worshiper and the offering.

Verse 6

This section details the procedure when the offering is a smaller, less costly animal, illustrating that the principle of fellowship is available to all economic classes. The requirements for 'without blemish' remain constant across all animal types.

Verse 9

For sheep, a specific instruction is added concerning the 'whole rump' or fat tail. This was a highly prized delicacy and a large source of fat in ancient Near Eastern sheep breeds, underscoring the command to dedicate the richest parts to the Lord.

Verse 11

The phrase 'it is the food of the offering made by fire' emphasizes the concept of the sacrifice as a meal shared between the worshiper, the priest, and God, with the fat being God’s specific portion.

Verse 16

The declaration, 'all the fat is the LORD’S,' serves as the theological climax of the chapter. This confirms the universal principle that the essence of vitality and richness of life belongs solely to the Creator.

Verse 17

This verse concludes the regulations with a perpetual dietary restriction. Because blood contains the life (Lev 17:11) and the fat is reserved for the altar, neither could be consumed, reinforcing the sanctity of both life and the offering.

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