Leviticus 3 Bible Commentary

The Geneva Study Bible

(Read all of Leviticus 3)
3:1 And if his oblation [be] a sacrifice of a 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.

(a) A sacrifice of thanksgiving offered for peace and prosperity, either generally or particularly.

3:3 And he shall b 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,

(b) One part was burnt, another was to the priests, and the third to him that offered.

3:6 And if his offering for a sacrifice of peace offering unto the LORD [be] of the flock; c male or female, he shall offer it without blemish.

(c) In the peace offering either male or female could be offered, but in the burnt offering only the male: so here no birds can be offered, but in the burnt offering they might: there all was consumed with fire, and in the peace offering divided.

3:9 And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering d 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,

(d) The burnt offering was completely consumed, and of the offering made by fire only the inner parts were burnt: the shoulder and breast, with the two jaws and the stomach were the priests, and the rest his that offered.

3:13 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of it, and kill it before e the tabernacle of the congregation: and the sons of Aaron shall sprinkle the blood thereof upon the altar round about.

(e) Meaning, at the north side of the altar, (Leviticus 1:1).

3:17 [It shall be] a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither f fat nor blood.

(f) Eating fat was a symbol of carnality, and eating blood signified cruelty.