Leviticus 3:1

Translations

Modern

“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.

Traditional

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.

Literal

“ And if his offering is a sacrifice of peace offerings, if he is bringing near from the herd, whether male or female, he shall bring it near unblemished before the face of YHWH.

Latin

Quod si hostia pacificorum fuerit ejus oblatio, et de bobus voluerit offerre, marem sive feminam, immaculata offeret coram Domino.

Original

Hebrew

English

“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.

Notes

Leviticus 3:1

male or female: The whole burnt offering required male animals because it made atonement (Leviticus 1:3, 10). The less formal peace offering allowed both male and female animals (see also 4:28, 32).
without blemish: The sacrificial animals had to be healthy. The only exception was the voluntary offering, which allowed a slight blemish (22:23).

Leviticus 3:1–17

The peace offering (called shelem in Hebrew) showed worship through fellowship with the Lord and others. The word comes from the same root as shalom, which means wholeness, well-being, harmony, and peace.

Shalom is more than just ending conflict between God and the worshiper. It means a bond of harmonious fellowship. The peace offering was a shared meal celebrating fellowship with God and others (compare Exodus 18:12; 24:9–11; 1 Samuel 9:15–24). They could offer it as thanks (Leviticus 7:12–15), as a voluntary offering, or to fulfill a vow (7:16–18; 22:21).

Peace offerings often came after whole burnt offerings (for example, 1 Kings 9:25). This showed that fellowship with God follows atonement. When we experience atonement through Christ, we can be at peace with God and each other (see Acts 2:42; 10:36; Romans 5:1; 1 Corinthians 10:16; 11:17–34; 2 Corinthians 5:18–21).

Theme notes and profiles

Ancient Law Codes Pure Worship

Related verses

Leviticus 1:3
If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to present an unblemished male. He must bring it to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting for its acceptance before the LORD.
Numbers 6:14
…and he is to present an offering to the LORD of an unblemished year-old male lamb as a burnt offering, an unblemished year-old female lamb as a sin offering, and an unblemished ram as a peace offering—
Hebrews 10:22
…let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Leviticus 7:11–34
Now this is the law of the peace offering that one may present to the LORD:
Amos 5:22
Even though you offer Me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; for your peace offerings of fattened cattle I will have no regard.
1 John 1:3
We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And this fellowship of ours is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.
Leviticus 22:19–21
…must offer an unblemished male from the cattle, sheep, or goats in order for it to be accepted on your behalf.
Romans 5:1–2
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
1 Chronicles 21:26
And there he built an altar to the LORD and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. He called upon the LORD, who answered him with fire from heaven on the altar of burnt offering.
Malachi 1:14
“But cursed is the deceiver who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but sacrifices a defective animal to the Lord. For I am a great King,” says the LORD of Hosts, “and My name is to be feared among the nations.
Ezekiel 45:15
And one sheep shall be given from each flock of two hundred from the well-watered pastures of Israel. These are for the grain offerings, burnt offerings, and peace offerings, to make atonement for the people, declares the Lord GOD.
Numbers 7:17
…and a peace offering of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nahshon son of Amminadab.

Leviticus 3:1

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