Leviticus 3:16

16 Then the priest is to burn the food on the altar as a food offering, a pleasing aroma. All the fat is the LORD’s.

Leviticus 3:16 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 3:16

And the priest shall burn them upon the altar
Which shows that not the fat only, but the inwards and the kidneys, were burnt also; so Maimonides says ^F12, that the priest salted the parts, and burned them upon the altar; and the priests might not have the breast and shoulder (which were what belonged to them) until the parts were burnt:

[it is] the food of the offering made by fire;
which the Lord ate of, or accepted of:

for a sweet savour;
as a type of the sweet smelling sacrifice of Christ, with which he is well pleased;

all the fat is the Lord's;
that is, all that was upon the parts mentioned in the several sacrifices of peace offerings, which was to be taken off and burnt: though the Jewish writers understand it of all fat in general, and so interpret the law that follows.

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FOOTNOTES:

F12 Ut supra, (Maaseh Hakorbanot) c. 9. sect. 11.

Leviticus 3:16 In-Context

14 And from his offering he shall present a food offering to the LORD: the fat that covers the entrails, all the fat that is on them,

15 both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the lobe of the liver, which he is to remove with the kidneys.

16 Then the priest is to burn the food on the altar as a food offering, a pleasing aroma. All the fat is the LORD’s.

17 This is a permanent statute for the generations to come, wherever you live: You must not eat any fat or any blood.”