Vayikra 3

1 And if his korban be a zevach of shelamim, if he offer it of the herd; whether it be a zachar or nekevah, he shall offer it tamim (without blemish) before Hashem.

2 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his korban, and slaughter (shachat) it at the entrance of the Ohel Mo’ed; and Aharon’s Banim the kohanim shall sprinkle the dahm upon the Mizbe’ach around.

3 And he shall offer of the zevach of the shelamim an offering made by eish unto Hashem; the chelev (fat) that covereth the innards, and all the chelev (fat) that is upon the innards,

4 And the two kidneys, and the chelev (fat) that is around them, which is by the loins, and the diaphragm with the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he remove.

5 And Aharon’s Banim shall burn it on the Mizbe’ach upon the olah which is upon the wood that is on the eish; it is an offering made by eish, of a re’ach nicho’ach unto Hashem.

6 And if his korban for a zevach shelamim unto Hashem be of the flock; zachar or nekevah, he shall offer it tamim (without blemish).

7 If he offer a kesev (lamb) for his korban, then shall he offer it before Hashem.

8 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his korban, and slaughter (shachat) it before the Ohel Mo’ed; and Aharon’s Banim shall sprinkle the dahm thereof around upon the Mizbe’ach.

9 And he shall offer of the zevach hashelamim an offering made by eish unto Hashem; the chelev thereof, and the whole fat tail, it shall he remove by the backbone; and the chelev that covereth the innards, and all the chelev that is upon the innards,

10 And the two kidneys, and the chelev (fat) that is upon them, which is by the loins, and the diaphragm with the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he remove.

11 And the kohen shall burn it upon the Mizbe’ach; it is the lechem of the offering made by eish unto Hashem.

12 And if his korban be a goat, then he shall offer it before Hashem.

13 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of it, and slaughter (shachat) it before the Ohel Mo’ed; and the Bnei Aharon shall sprinkle the dahm thereof upon the Mizbe’ach round about.

14 And he shall offer thereof his korban, even an offering made by eish unto Hashem; the chelev (fat) that covereth the innards, and all the chelev (fat) that is upon the innards,

15 And the two kidneys, and the chelev (fat) that is upon them, which is by the loins, and the diaphragm above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he remove.

16 And the kohen shall burn them upon the Mizbe’ach; it is the lechem of the offering made by eish for a re’ach nicho’ach; all the chelev (fat) is Hashem’s.

17 It shall be a chukkat olam for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither chelev (fat) nor dahm (blood).

Vayikra 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.

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.