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Leviticus 3:12

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And if his offering [be] a goat, then he shall offer it before the LORD.

And if his offering {H7133} be a goat {H5795}, then he shall offer {H7126} it before {H6440} the LORD {H3068}.

"'If his offering is a goat, then he is to present it before ADONAI.

If one’s offering is a goat, he is to present it before the LORD.

And if his oblation be a goat, then he shall offer it before Jehovah:

Commentary

Leviticus 3:12 KJV continues the instructions for the peace offering, specifically detailing the protocol when a goat is presented as the sacrifice. This verse is part of a broader section (Leviticus 3) that outlines the proper procedures for bringing a "sacrifice of peace offerings" (KJV).

Context of the Peace Offering

The Book of Leviticus meticulously details the sacrificial system given by God to Israel at Mount Sinai, providing a framework for atonement, worship, and fellowship. Chapter 3 focuses on the peace offering (Hebrew: zevach shelamim, זבח שלמים), which differed significantly from the burnt offering (Leviticus 1) or the sin offering (Leviticus 4).

  • Unlike sin or trespass offerings, the peace offering was typically voluntary, offered out of gratitude, for a vow, or as a freewill offering.
  • A unique aspect was that after certain parts were given to God (fat, kidneys) and to the priests (breast, thigh), the remainder of the animal was eaten by the offerer and their family, symbolizing a communal meal and fellowship with God.
  • Leviticus 3 specifies different animals that could be offered: cattle (verses 1-5), sheep (verses 6-11), and as seen in verse 12, goats.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Acceptable Worship: This verse underscores God's meticulous instructions for worship. For an offering to be acceptable, it had to conform to the divine standard, including the type of animal.
  • Accessibility: By allowing various animals like goats, God made the sacrificial system accessible to different economic strata within Israel, ensuring that all could participate in worship and express gratitude.
  • Fellowship and Peace: The peace offering, from the root word shalom (שָׁלוֹם), signifies wholeness, well-being, and peace. Offering a goat, like other prescribed animals, was a means for the worshiper to enter into a state of peace and communion with God.
  • Divine Provision: The allowance of a goat demonstrates God's gracious provision for His people to approach Him and maintain covenant relationship.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "offering" here is qorban (קָרְבָּן), which broadly refers to anything brought near to God. The specific type of offering, the shelamim (related to shalom), emphasizes peace, completeness, and fellowship. The phrase "offer it before the LORD" signifies the act of presenting the sacrifice directly to God, mediated by the priest, in the tabernacle courtyard.

Practical Application and Significance

While animal sacrifices are no longer required for believers today due to the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the principles behind the peace offering remain relevant:

  • Gratitude and Worship: We are called to offer spiritual sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving (Hebrews 13:15). Our worship should be intentional and offered with a heart of peace and gratitude for God's goodness.
  • Communion with God: Through Christ, we have peace with God and can enjoy intimate fellowship with Him. The shared meal of the peace offering prefigures the spiritual communion we have through the Lord's Supper and daily prayer.
  • Offering Our Best: Just as the Israelites were to offer unblemished animals, we are called to offer our "living sacrifice" (Romans 12:1) – our lives, talents, and resources – in service and devotion to God.

Leviticus 3:12 reminds us of God's desire for His people to approach Him with devotion, gratitude, and in peace, a desire fully realized through the atoning work of Jesus.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Leviticus 1:6 (2 votes)

    And he shall flay the burnt offering, and cut it into his pieces.

  • 2 Corinthians 5:21 (2 votes)

    For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

  • Leviticus 9:3 (2 votes)

    And unto the children of Israel thou shalt speak, saying, Take ye a kid of the goats for a sin offering; and a calf and a lamb, [both] of the first year, without blemish, for a burnt offering;

  • Leviticus 3:7 (2 votes)

    If he offer a lamb for his offering, then shall he offer it before the LORD.

  • Leviticus 3:17 (2 votes)

    [It shall be] a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood.

  • Leviticus 9:15 (2 votes)

    And he brought the people's offering, and took the goat, which [was] the sin offering for the people, and slew it, and offered it for sin, as the first.

  • Matthew 25:32 (2 votes)

    And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth [his] sheep from the goats: