Leviticus 3

The well-being sacrifice

1 If the offering is a communal sacrifice of well-being, the one who offers the herd animal—whether it is male or female—must present a flawless specimen before the LORD.

2 You must press your hand on the head of the offering and slaughter it at the meeting tent's entrance. Aaron's sons the priests will toss the blood against every side of the altar.

3 Then you can offer a food gift to the LORD from the communal sacrifice of well-being: the fat that covers and surrounds the insides;

4 the two kidneys and the fat around them at the loins; and the lobe on the liver, which should be removed with the kidneys.

5 Aaron's sons will completely burn all of this on the altar—along with the entirely burned offering on the wood that is on the altar fire—as a food gift of soothing smell to the LORD.

6 If the offering for a communal sacrifice of well-being for the LORD is from the flock—whether it is male or female—you must present a flawless specimen.

7 If you present a sheep as the offering, you must present it before the LORD.

8 You must press your hand on the head of the offering and slaughter it before the meeting tent. Aaron's sons will toss the blood against every side of the altar.

9 Then you may offer the fat from the communal sacrifice of well-being as a food gift for the LORD: the whole fat tail, which should be removed close to the tailbone; the fat that covers and surrounds the insides;

10 the two kidneys and the fat around them at the loins; and the lobe on the liver, which should be removed with the kidneys.

11 The priest will then completely burn all of this on the altar as food—as a food gift for the LORD.

12 If the offering is a goat, you must present it before the LORD.

13 You must press your hand on its head and slaughter it before the meeting tent. Aaron's sons will toss its blood against every side of the altar.

14 Then you may present as your offering—a food gift for the LORD—the fat that covers and surrounds the insides;

15 the two kidneys and the fat around them at the loins; and the lobe on the liver, which should be removed with the kidneys.

16 The priest will then completely burn all of this on the altar as food—as a food gift for a soothing smell. All fat belongs to the LORD.

17 This is a permanent rule for your future generations, wherever you live: you must not eat any fat or blood.

Leviticus 3 Commentary

Chapter 3

The peace-offering of the herd. (1-5) The peace-offering of the flock. (6-17)

Verses 1-5 The peace-offerings had regard to God as the giver of all good things. These were divided between the altar, the priest, and the owner. They were called peace-offering, because in them God and his people did, as it were, feast together, in token of friendship. The peace-offerings were offered by way of supplication. If a man were in pursuit of any mercy, he would add a peace-offering to his prayer for it. Christ is our Peace, our Peace-offering; for through him alone it is that we can obtain an answer of peace to our prayers. Or, the peace-offering was offered by way of thanksgiving for some mercy received. We must offer to God the sacrifice of praise continually, by Christ our Peace; and then this shall please the Lord better than an ox or bullock.

Verses 6-17 Here is a law that they should eat neither fat nor blood. As for the fat, it means the fat of the inwards, the suet. The blood was forbidden for the same reason; because it was God's part of every sacrifice. God would not permit the blood that made atonement to be used as a common thing, ( Hebrews 10:29 ) ; nor will he allow us, though we have the comfort of the atonement made, to claim for ourselves any share in the honour of making it. This taught the Jews to observe distinction between common and sacred things; it kept them separate from idolaters. It would impress them more deeply with the belief of some important mystery in the shedding of the blood and the burning the fat of their solemn sacrifices. Christ, as the Prince of peace, "made peace with the blood of his cross." Through him the believer is reconciled to God; and having the peace of God in his heart, he is disposed to follow peace with all men. May the Lord multiply grace, mercy, and peace, to all who desire to bear the Christian character.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or peace offering

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO LEVITICUS 3

This chapter contains the law of the peace offerings, and gives an account what they consisted of, and of the various rites and ceremonies used at them, as of the bullock and the rites appertaining to that, Le 3:1-5 and of the lamb, and of the rites peculiar to it, Le 3:6-11 and of the goat, and of the rites belonging to it, Le 3:12-16 and the chapter is concluded with a law forbidding the eating of fat and blood throughout their dwellings for ever, Le 3:17.