Leviticus 3: The Peace Offering — ReidOne Bible Study

Leviticus 3 (WEB)

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.

2 He shall lay his hand on the head of his offering, and kill it at the door of the Tent of Meeting: and Aaron’s sons, the priests, shall sprinkle the blood around on the altar.

3 He 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,

4 and 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.

5 Aaron’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.

7 If he offers a lamb for his offering, then he shall offer it before Yahweh;

8 and he shall lay his hand on the head of his offering, and kill it before the Tent of Meeting: and Aaron’s sons shall sprinkle its blood around on the altar.

9 He shall offer from the sacrifice of peace offerings an offering made by fire to Yahweh; its fat, the entire tail fat, he shall take away close to the backbone; and the fat that covers the inwards, and all the fat that is on the inwards,

10 and 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.

11 The 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:

13 and he shall lay his hand on its head, and kill it before the Tent of Meeting; and the sons of Aaron shall sprinkle its blood around on the altar.

14 He shall offer from it as his offering, an offering made by fire to Yahweh; the fat that covers the innards, and all the fat that is on the innards,

15 and 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.

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.

17 “‘It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwellings, that you shall eat neither fat nor blood.’”

Leviticus 3 (KJV)

1 And if his oblation be a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offer it of the herd; whether it be a male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the Lord.

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.

7 If he offer a lamb for his offering, then shall he offer it before the Lord.

8 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and kill it before the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron’s sons shall sprinkle the blood thereof round about upon the altar.

9 And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire unto the Lord; the fat thereof, and the whole rump, it shall he take off hard by the backbone; and the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards,

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

11 And the priest shall burn it upon the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire unto the Lord.

12 And if his offering be a goat, then he shall offer it before the Lord.

13 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of it, and kill it before the tabernacle of the congregation: and the sons of Aaron shall sprinkle the blood thereof upon the altar round about.

14 And he shall offer thereof his offering, even an offering made by fire unto the Lord; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards,

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

16 And the priest shall burn them upon the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire for a sweet savour: all the fat is the Lord’s.

17 It shall be a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood.

Leviticus 3 (ASV)

1 And if his oblation be a sacrifice of peace-offerings; if he offer of the herd, whether male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before Jehovah.

2 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his oblation, and kill it at the door of the tent of meeting: and Aaron’s sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about.

3 And he shall offer of the sacrifice of peace-offerings an offering made by fire unto Jehovah; 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 loins, and the caul upon the liver, with the kidneys, shall he take away.

5 And Aaron’s sons shall burn it on the altar upon the burnt-offering, which is upon the wood that is on the fire: it is an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto Jehovah.

6 And if his oblation for a sacrifice of peace-offerings unto Jehovah be of the flock; male or female, he shall offer it without blemish.

7 If he offer a lamb for his oblation, then shall he offer it before Jehovah;

8 and he shall lay his hand upon the head of his oblation, and kill it before the tent of meeting: and Aaron’s sons shall sprinkle the blood thereof upon the altar round about.

9 And he shall offer of the sacrifice of peace-offerings an offering made by fire unto Jehovah; the fat thereof, the fat tail entire, he shall take away hard by the backbone; and the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards,

10 and the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the loins, and the caul upon the liver, with the kidneys, shall he take away.

11 And the priest shall burn it upon the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire unto Jehovah.

12 And if his oblation be a goat, then he shall offer it before Jehovah:

13 and he shall lay his hand upon the head of it, and kill it before the tent of meeting; and the sons of Aaron shall sprinkle the blood thereof upon the altar round about.

14 And he shall offer thereof his oblation, even an offering made by fire unto Jehovah; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards,

15 and the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the loins, and the caul upon the liver, with the kidneys, shall he take away.

16 And the priest shall burn them upon the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire, for a sweet savor; all the fat is Jehovah’s.

17 It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwellings, that ye shall eat neither fat nor blood.

Summary

The peace offering, or fellowship offering, differs from the burnt offering in its purpose and its sharing. A worshiper brings an animal from the herd or flock, male or female, without defect, and lays his hand on its head before it is killed at the door of the Tent of Meeting. The priests sprinkle the blood around the altar, and then the choicest fat, the kidneys, and the cover of the liver are burned as an offering made by fire, a pleasant aroma to Yahweh. The fat and the blood belong wholly to God, never to be eaten, set apart as a perpetual statute. What distinguishes this offering is that much of the meat returns to the worshiper for a joyful, shared meal with family and priests in God's presence. It is an offering of celebration, thanksgiving, and communion, expressing the peace that exists between a forgiven people and their God. In its gladness and shared table it anticipates the deeper peace Christ has made by the blood of his cross, by which we who were far off are brought near to feast with God.

Key Figures

Yahweh (the LORD) — The God of peace who receives the fat and blood as his own and shares a table of fellowship with his reconciled people.
The worshiper — The Israelite who brings a peace offering in thanksgiving and joins in the shared meal that celebrates communion with God.
Aaron's sons, the priests — The priests who sprinkle the blood and burn the fat to Yahweh, mediating the fellowship between the worshiper and God.

Key Verse

Leviticus 3:17 (WEB)

“‘It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwellings, that you shall eat neither fat nor blood.’”

Lessons Learned

Fellowship with God is something to celebrate, not merely a duty to perform.
The best portion, the fat, belongs to God; he is to receive our finest, not our leftovers.
Blood is sacred to God because life belongs to him and atonement is made by blood.
Peace with God overflows into a shared meal that draws his people together in joy.

God's peace is to be celebrated. The peace offering invites a shared meal, with the priests sprinkling the blood and the worshiper feasting (Leviticus 3:1-2, WEB). Reconciliation with God is cause for joy.
The best belongs to God. “All the fat is Yahweh’s” (Leviticus 3:16, WEB). The choicest portion is reserved for the Lord, who deserves our finest.
Life and blood are sacred. “You shall eat neither fat nor blood” (Leviticus 3:17, WEB). God claims the blood, for the life is in it and by it atonement is made.
Worship can be glad communion. Unlike the wholly burned offering, the peace offering returns meat to the worshiper for a feast (Leviticus 3:1, WEB). God draws his people to his own table.

How does the peace offering differ in purpose from the burnt offering of chapter 1?
Why are the fat and the blood reserved entirely for God?
What does the shared meal of the peace offering communicate about our relationship with God?
How does this offering hold together both reverence (the fat to God) and joy (the feast for the worshiper)?
When have you experienced fellowship with God as joy, and how might you cultivate more of that gladness?

The burnt offering is wholly consumed in total dedication, while the peace offering celebrates an existing peace through a shared meal. One emphasizes surrender; the other, communion and thanksgiving in God's presence.
The fat was considered the richest, best part, so it is given to God, and the blood is sacred because life belongs to him and accomplishes atonement (3:16-17). Both point to God's exclusive claim on what is most precious.
The meal pictures reconciliation: God, priest, and worshiper sharing a table signifies real fellowship and peace. It anticipates the gospel reality of being brought near to feast with God through Christ.
God receives reverent worship in the fat burned to him, while the worshiper enjoys a glad feast. Right worship unites awe and joy, taking God seriously while delighting in his fellowship.
This is a gentle personal-application question. Invite members to recall moments of glad communion with God, perhaps in worship or at the Lord's table, and to consider rhythms that nurture such joy.