Leviticus 3:1-5
Covenant fellowship with the Lord is expressed through a sacrifice offered according to His appointed pattern.
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. 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.
Covenant fellowship with the LORD is expressed through a sacrifice offered according to His appointed pattern.
This passage introduces the peace offering as a sacrificial act in which a worshiper presents an animal from the herd before the LORD. It explains how the offering is presented, how blood is applied, and how the fat portions are burned upon the altar, establishing the sacrificial structure through which fellowship with God is expressed within covenant worship.
Leviticus 3 follows the burnt offering instructions of Leviticus 1 and the grain offering instructions of Leviticus 2. The fellowship offering, often associated with peace, well-being, thanksgiving, vow, or freewill expression, introduces another major offering category in Israel's worship. It shares several elements with the burnt offering: an unblemished animal, hand-laying, slaughter before the LORD, priestly blood application, altar burning, and pleasing aroma. Yet it differs because only selected portions, especially the fat portions, are burned to the LORD, while later legislation clarifies portions for priests and worshipers.
Leviticus 3:1-5 belongs to Israel's tabernacle worship after the LORD has begun instructing Moses from the tent of meeting. It opens the fellowship offering legislation. Israel is the redeemed covenant people of the LORD. The fellowship offering belongs to worship within covenant relationship, where peace and communion with God are enjoyed through sacrifice and priestly mediation. The offering is presented at the entrance to the tent of meeting. The animal is slaughtered there, the blood is splashed against the sides of the altar, and selected fat portions are burned on the altar on top of the burnt offering. The instructions are for Israelites bringing a fellowship offering from the herd and for Aaron's sons, the priests, who handle the blood and altar presentation. Cattle from the herd were valuable animals. The fellowship offering from the herd could be male or female but had to be without defect. The burning of the fat portions to the LORD reflects his claim over the best and richest portions of the sacrifice. After burnt offerings and grain offerings, the fellowship offering develops Israel's worship into communion and peace before the LORD. This peace remains grounded in blood, sacrifice, priesthood, and altar holiness.
The Fellowship Offering: Peace Before the LORD
True fellowship with the holy God is received and enjoyed through sacrifice, priestly mediation, and reverent surrender of what belongs uniquely to Him.