Leviticus 3: Verse-by-Verse Commentary (with Videos)

17 verses · 2 video commentaries from 2 courses · Berean Standard Bible

¹“If one’s offering is a peace offering and he offers an animal from the herd, whether male or female, he must present it without blemish before the LORD.

²He is to lay his hand on the head of the offering and slaughter it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall splatter the blood on all sides of the altar.

³From the peace offering he is to bring a food offering to the LORD: the fat that covers the entrails, all the fat that is on them,

⁴both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the lobe of the liver, which he is to remove with the kidneys.

⁵Then Aaron’s sons are to burn it on the altar atop the burnt offering that is on the burning wood, as a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

⁶If, however, one’s peace offering to the LORD is from the flock, he must present a male or female without blemish.

⁷If he is presenting a lamb for his offering, he must present it before the LORD.

⁸He is to lay his hand on the head of his offering and slaughter it in front of the Tent of Meeting. Then Aaron’s sons shall splatter its blood on all sides of the altar.

⁹And from the peace offering he shall bring a food offering to the LORD consisting of its fat: the entire fat tail cut off close to the backbone, the fat that covers the entrails, all the fat that is on them,

¹⁰both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the lobe of the liver, which he is to remove with the kidneys.

¹¹Then the priest is to burn them on the altar as food, a food offering to the LORD.

¹²If one’s offering is a goat, he is to present it before the LORD.

¹³He must lay his hand on its head and slaughter it in front of the Tent of Meeting. Then Aaron’s sons shall splatter its blood on all sides of the altar.

¹⁴And from his offering he shall present a food offering to the LORD: the fat that covers the entrails, all the fat that is on them,

¹⁵both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the lobe of the liver, which he is to remove with the kidneys.

¹⁶Then the priest is to burn the food on the altar as a food offering, a pleasing aroma. All the fat is the LORD’s.

¹⁷This is a permanent statute for the generations to come, wherever you live: You must not eat any fat or any blood.”

Leviticus 3 Section and Chapter Commentary

Lev 3:1-17

Free Will Sacrifices as Tokens of Devotion

Leviticus chapters 1-3 describe voluntary sacrifices, such as burnt offerings, grain offerings, and wellbeing offerings. These are presented as expressions of love and reverence for God, allowing individuals to offer thanks or make requests. In the priestly system, eating meat is generally permitted only if it's part of a wellbeing sacrifice, with portions consumed by priests and the offerer.

Summarized by AI · The Hebrew Bible: Exploring the Literature of Ancient Israel · Lecture 9: Leviticus | The Best of All Books · watch the clip

Leviticus 3 Verse Notes

Lev 3:1

Sabbath as a festival day

If the Sabbath is understood as a festival, then its observance would involve going to a sanctuary, bringing a sacrifice (specifically a peace offering for communal feasting), and celebrating with family, friends, and the deity. This interpretation suggests that ceasing economic labor on the Sabbath allows for participation in this all-day communal worship and celebration.

Summarized by AI · The Ten Commandments · Lecture 7: Honoring Parents and... Killing · watch the clip