Leviticus 3:4

4 And the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away .

Leviticus 3:4 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 3:4

And the two kidneys, and the fat that [is] on them, which
is [by] the flanks
Meaning either the two kidneys which were next the flanks, or the fat upon them, which was next to them; these, and the burning of them, may signify the burning zeal and flaming love and affections of Christ for his people, which instructed him, and put him upon offering himself a sacrifice of peace offering for them, see ( Psalms 16:7 )

and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take
away;
or the caul, which is a thin membrane or skin, in which the liver is enclosed, with the liver, together with the kidneys, he separated from the rest in order to burn, at least with a part of the liver; so Jarchi and Gersom interpret it, that he should take a little of the liver with the caul; and indeed some think the word rendered "caul" signifies a part of the liver, that which the Greeks call the "table", the broader part of it, like a table; and which word the Talmudists F7 retain, who speak of (adbkd hyvprj) , "the table of the liver"; and by which Jarchi on ( Exodus 29:13 ) interprets the caul above the liver, the same as here.


FOOTNOTES:

F7 T. Bab. Cholin, fol. 46. 1.

Leviticus 3:4 In-Context

2 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and kill it at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron's sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about.
3 And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire unto the LORD; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards,
4 And the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away .
5 And Aaron's sons shall burn it on the altar upon the burnt sacrifice, which is upon the wood that is on the fire: it is an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
6 And if his offering for a sacrifice of peace offering unto the LORD be of the flock; male or female, he shall offer it without blemish.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. caul...: or, midriff over the liver, and over the kidneys
The King James Version is in the public domain.