Bible Study Leviticus 3
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Leviticus 3 · WEB

The Peace Offering

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"'If his offering is a sacrifice of peace offerings; if he offers it from the herd, whether male or female, he shall offer it without defect before Yahweh.
2He shall lay his hand on the head of his offering, and kill it at the door of the Tent of Meeting. Aaron's sons, the priests, shall sprinkle the blood around on the altar.
3He shall offer of the sacrifice of peace offerings an offering made by fire to Yahweh. The fat that covers the innards, and all the fat that is on the innards,
4and the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the loins, and the cover on the liver, with the kidneys, he shall take away.
5Aaron's sons shall burn it on the altar on the burnt offering, which is on the wood that is on the fire. It is an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh.
6"'If his offering for a sacrifice of peace offerings to Yahweh is from the flock, male or female, he shall offer it without defect.
7If he offers a lamb for his offering, then he shall offer it before Yahweh;
8and he shall lay his hand on the head of his offering, and kill it before the Tent of Meeting. Aaron's sons shall sprinkle its blood around on the altar.
9He shall offer from the sacrifice of peace offerings an offering made by fire to Yahweh; its fat, the entire fat tail, he shall take away close to the backbone; and the fat that covers the innards, and all the fat that is on the innards,
10and the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the loins, and the cover on the liver, with the kidneys, he shall take away.
11The priest shall burn it on the altar. It is the food of the offering made by fire to Yahweh.
12"'If his offering is a goat, then he shall offer it before Yahweh;
13and he shall lay his hand on its head, and kill it before the Tent of Meeting. Aaron's sons shall sprinkle its blood around on the altar.
14He shall offer from it his offering, an offering made by fire to Yahweh; the fat that covers the innards, and all the fat that is on the innards,
15and the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the loins, and the cover on the liver, with the kidneys, he shall take away.
16The priest shall burn them on the altar. It is the food of the offering made by fire, for a pleasant aroma. All the fat is Yahweh's.
17It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwellings, that you shall eat neither fat nor blood.'"
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Summary

Chapter 3 outlines the peace offering (*shelamim*), which could be a bull, cow, lamb, or goat. Unlike the burnt offering which was entirely consumed on the altar, the peace offering involved a shared meal: the fat and internal organs were burned for God, the breast and right thigh went to the priests, and the remainder was eaten by the worshiper and his family in a communal feast. This offering expressed gratitude, fulfillment of a vow, or general well-being before God. The chapter closes with a perpetual prohibition against eating fat or blood.

Themes

  • Fellowship and communion with God — the shared meal pictures relationship, not just transaction
  • Gratitude and well-being as motivations for worship
  • God's priority — the best portions (fat) belonged to Yahweh
  • The sanctity of blood and life — the prohibition on blood reflects that life belongs to God

Key verses

  • Lev 3:1 — “If his offering is a sacrifice of peace offerings; if he offers it from the herd, whether male or female, he shall offer it without defect before Yahweh.”
  • Lev 3:16 — “The priest shall burn them on the altar. It is the food of the offering made by fire, for a pleasant aroma. All the fat is Yahweh's.”
  • Lev 3:17 — “It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwellings, that you shall eat neither fat nor blood.”

Context & background

The peace offering (*shelamim*, related to *shalom*, meaning wholeness or peace) was the most joyful of Israel's sacrifices, celebrated with a communal meal at the Tabernacle in the Sinai wilderness (modern Egypt). It was offered in three contexts: thanksgiving, fulfillment of a vow, or a freewill offering. The communal meal aspect of the peace offering prefigures the New Testament concept of fellowship with God and one another at the Lord's Table. The prohibition on fat and blood formed part of the dietary framework that set Israel apart from surrounding Canaanite and Egyptian practices.

Cross-references

  • 1 Cor 10:18 — Paul references those who eat sacrifices as having fellowship with the altar
  • Deut 12:17-18 — Peace offerings are to be eaten before the Lord at the central sanctuary
  • Eph 2:14 — Christ "is our peace," the ultimate fulfillment of the peace offering concept
  • Lev 7:11-21 — Further instructions on how the peace offering meat is to be eaten
  • Rev 3:20 — Jesus invites communion: "I will come in and eat with him," echoing peace offering fellowship

Check your reading

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  1. Observe

    What part of the peace offering was burned on the altar for God?

  2. Observe

    What perpetual statute closes the chapter (v. 17)?

  3. Interpret

    Why did the peace offering involve a shared meal between God, the priests, and the worshiper?

  4. Interpret

    Why was burning the fat (the richest portion) for God theologically significant?

  5. Apply

    The peace offering was often brought in thanksgiving for blessings. How regularly do you intentionally come to God simply to give thanks?

  6. Apply

    Ephesians 2:14 says Christ "is our peace." How does the peace offering point to Christ?

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