Vayyiqra 3 (Leviticus 3)

Vayyiqra 3 describes the 5 Peace Offerings, the cattle, male or female, sheep male or female and the goat, gender not specified.  The Peace Offering seems to be done when a rift occurs between an individual or group and Yehovah.  The offering is done as a sign of repentance and desire to reconcile with Yehovah.  Reconciliation was usually in the form of a significant change in behavior or rectifying an injustice. It may also be done to give thanks, dedication or for other reasons as found throughout scriptures.  Similar to the Burnt and the Grain Offering, the Peace Offering is described in other parts of the Bible providing additional details and reasons for performing the offering.

Vayyiqra 3:1

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

The first two Peace Offerings described is a cow either male or female.  There is no explanation as to which one is to be used.  As usual, the offering is to be without blemish.  It should be the best of the flock.

Vayyiqra 3:2

2 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and kill it at the door of the Ohel of the Congregation: and Aharon’s sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about.

The individual making the offering will lay their hands on the offering.  This offering is to be a substitution for them.  They are sacrificing for themselves to make peace with Yehovah.  Additionally, the individual making the offering is to kill the animal at the door of the Ohel, the entry way at the veil.  This offering is to be personal.  One cannot just hand over the animal to the priest.  The one that kills the animal will be covered with blood and will have to clean themselves off.  There is the effect that additional work is done by the individual.  They cannot use the laver to wash off.  So either, they would bring a change of clothing and water to wash off or will need assistance from another.  Either way, this offering cannot be done in a vacuum, others will know what they have done.  The blood will not be removed instantaneously or easily removed.

When the animal is killed, the priest will ensure the blood is drained into a container.  They will then sprinkle the blood around the altar.

Vayyiqra 3:3-4

3 And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the Peace Offering an offering made by fire to Yehovah; the fat that covers 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.

The animals fat both inside and what covers the insides are to be burnt on the altar.  Although fat is eaten by many people, it is to be burnt on the altar.  Fat represents excess and for the most part is not always necessary.  Both kidneys and its fat is to be burnt.  The flank or loins is to be burnt.

The caul above the liver is to be burnt.  Caul may be an overhang or the fat that covers the liver.  Some translations call it a redundant liver.  But there is no mention of the liver itself.  Consistently throughout the Torah, it does not state liver only.  It states the caul above the liver.  It is unclear if it is the caul only or both the caul and the liver.  There can be a strong case for not burning the liver on the altar, because it cleanses the blood and therefore, has numerous toxins.  Thereby, representing the uncleanness of the world.  Finally, the kidneys are to be burnt.

So after the animal is sacrificed the following will go on the altar:

  • Fat inside and what covers the inside.
  • Both kidneys and its fat.
  • The flanks or loins.
  • Caul above the liver, overhang or fat.

Vayyiqra 3:5

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

The priest will burn the offering on the altar.  However, the Hebrew reads as if the Peace Offering is burnt on top of a Burnt Offering.  The assumption by many is the first the Burnt Offering is burnt and then the Peace Offering.  Depending on how the Hebrew is translated, it could have been on top or beside the Burnt Offering.

Often the way things are written in the Bible, because of the Hebrew language, more than one conclusion can be made.  Unfortunately, this has resulted in doctrinal issues over the last 2000 years.  For example, there are those that believe the Bible states that once and individual has salvation it is permanent.  Others believe that one can lose salvation.  Both base their believe on scriptures to a certain extent.  The purpose of this discussion is not to discuss salvation, but that one should not be too quick to make assumptions on meaning.  The Bible often appears to be straight forward in meaning and at other times there is a complexity that requires study and further consideration.  Often details are explained in another part of the Bible.  This is true of the offerings.  The importance of studying the offering is in the statement of Hebrews 10:1.

1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

It is true that one will never have salvation by observing Torah, neither will the sacrifices and offerings make one more righteous today.  However, that does not mean; we should purely disregard them.  Because many laws are still in effect as Yochanan tells us in 2 Yochanan 6.

6 And this is love, that we walk after His commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.

The commandments that are being referred to are those found in Torah.  These were the only ones, we have heard from the beginning.  Again, this is not a discussion on whether or not one should keep the law.  It is a discussion on the shadow that the law produces for us.  A shadow is something that points to the reality.  Often a shadow will lead to the actual thing casting the shadow.  In this case, God and Messiah are the reality.  The shadow helps us to understand how to worship and walk in the ways that we should.  To disregard or to gloss over the offering will result in a less than a precise following of God and Messiah.  Which could lead one on a path they never should have gone.

The Bible is a single book.  Although, many will state that there are 66 books; it is really one continuous book with various sections.  To disregard any part would lead to a less than a precise following of Yehovah.  The  Bible is one book unified in all parts, requiring understanding across the book and consistency of thought.  This is why Paul stated in Acts 14:22.

22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

It will not be easy for us to enter the kingdom of God in this lifetime.  It will require all our time and effort.  This will be in the form of study and analysis to determine the precise walk of a believer.  Christianity is not small task.  Do not limit yourself to the mistakes others have made in the past.  We must endeavor to be more like Him everyday through much study and practice.

Either way the Peace Offering burnt on the altar is a sweet savor.

Vayyiqra 3:6-7

6 And if his offering for a sacrifice of Peace Offering to Yehovah 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 Yehovah.

This represents the third and fourth possibility for a Peace Offering.  A sheep either male or female without blemish.

Vayyiqra 3:8

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

Again the individual doing the offering is to lay hands on the animal and to kill it.  Although, it specifies at the Ohel of the Congregation, it does not specify at the door.

Again, the priest will sprinkle the blood around the altar.

Vayyiqra 3:9-10

9 And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the Peace Offering an offering made by fire to Yehovah; the fat thereof, and the whole rump, it shall he take off hard by the backbone; and the fat that covers 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.

The parts of the sheep that are burnt are:

  • The fat that covers inwards and the around it.
  • Whole rump.
  • Two kidney and its fat.
  • The flanks or loins.
  • Caul above the liver, overhang or fat.

Vayyiqra 3:11

11 And the priest shall burn it upon the altar: it is the bread of the offering made by fire to Yehovah.

This is burnt on the altar.  This time, it states that it is the bread of the offering.  Although normally translated food, it comes from the Hebrew word לֶחֶם lechem (H3899).  It is in the Bible 297 times.  לֶחֶם lechem (H3899) is translated a form of bread 85% of the time.  No mentions is made for the cattle.

Vayyiqra 3:12

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

The final type of Peace Offering is the goat.  It does not specify gender.  In the end, it may not matter.

Vayyiqra 3:13

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

Similar to the sheep, the individual lays hands on it and kills it before the Ohel of the Congregation.  It does not state that it is killed before the entryway.  The priest will put the blood around the altar.

Vayyiqra 3:14-15

14 And he shall offer thereof his offering, even an offering made by fire to Yehovah; the fat that covers 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.

The parts of the goat that is burnt is:

  • Fat that covers the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards
  • Two kidneys and the fat on them
  • Loins or flanks
  • Caul above the liver

Vayyiqra 3:16

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

Similar to the sheep, it is the bread of the offering.  It becomes a sweet savor.  Only the cattle and the goat are a sweet savor

Vayyiqra 3:17

17 A perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood.

We are never to eat the fat it is excess.  The fat is Yehovah’s.

The Peace Offerings represent various believers:

  • Cattle male, Messiah, Believers in their Priesthood.
  • Cattle female, Bride, Footstep followers.
  • Sheep male, those that hear His voice and walk in the permissive will of God, may be more mature.
  • Sheep female, those that hear His voice and walk in the permissive will of God.
  • Goat gender not specified, formerly in rebellion has come to make peace and begin a walk in the way.

The difference for the sweet savor may be that the Peace Offering of the goat is one transitioning from a goat to a sheep.  For the cattle, it one who is transitioning through the various levels of the Priesthood.  As for the sheep, it is a continuous walk that is not to end.  A sheep may fall back or go forward.

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