Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Leviticus 3:6
And if his offering for a sacrifice of peace offering unto the LORD [be] of the flock; male or female, he shall offer it without blemish.
And if his offering, for a sacrifice of peace offering unto Lord, be of the flock,…. As it might be: and be either male or female; which he pleased:
he shall offer [it] without blemish; [See comments on Le 3:1].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The same rules apply to the peace-offerings of sheep and goats, except that, in addition to the fat portions, which were to be burned upon the altar in the case of the oxen (Lev 3:3, Lev 3:4) and goats (Lev 3:14, Lev 3:15), the fat tail of the sheep was to be consumed as well. : “ the fat tail whole ” (Lev 3:9), cauda ovilla vel arietina eaque crassa et adiposa; the same in Arabic ( Ges. thes. p. 102). The fat tails which the sheep have in Northern Africa and Egypt, also in Arabia, especially Southern Arabia, and Syria, often weigh 15 lbs. or more, and small carriages on wheels are sometimes placed under them to bear their weight (Sonnini, R. ii. p. 358; Bochart, Hieroz. i. pp. 556ff.). It consists of something between marrow and fat. Ordinary sheep are also found in Arabia and Syria; but in modern Palestine all the sheep are “of the broad-tailed species.” The broad part of the tail is an excresence of fat, from which the true tail hangs down (Robinson, Pal. ii. 166). “ Near the rump-bone shall he (the offerer) take it (the fat tail) away, ” i.e., separate it from the body. , . . , is, according to Saad., os caudae s. coccygis , i.e., the rump or tail-bone, which passes over into the vertebrae of the tail (cf. Bochart, i. pp. 560-1). In Lev 3:11 and Lev 3:16 the fat portions which were burned are called “food of the firing for Jehovah,” or “food of the firing for a sweet savour,” i.e., food which served as a firing for Jehovah, or reached Jehovah by being burned; cf. Num 28:24, “food of the firing of a sweet savour for Jehovah.” Hence not only are the daily burnt-offerings and the burnt and sin-offerings of the different feasts called “food of Jehovah” (“My bread,” Num 28:2); but the sacrifices generally are described as “the food of God” (“the bread of their God,” Lev 21:6, Lev 21:8, Lev 21:17, Lev 21:21-22, and Lev 22:25), as food, that is, which Israel produced and caused to ascend to its God in fire as a sweet smelling savour. – Nothing is determined here with regard to the appropriation of the flesh of the peace-offerings, as their destination for a sacrificial meal was already known from traditional custom. The more minute directions for the meal itself are given in Lev 7:11-36, where the meaning of these sacrifices is more fully explained. – In Lev 3:17 (Lev 3:16) the general rule is added, “ all fat belongs to Jehovah, ” and the law, “ eat neither fat nor blood, ” is enforced as “ an eternal statute ” for the generations of Israel (see at Exo 12:14, Exo 12:24) in all their dwelling-places (see Exo 10:23 and Exo 12:20).
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
6 And if his offering for a sacrifice of peace offering unto the LORD 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 the LORD. 8 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and kill it before the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron’s sons shall sprinkle the blood thereof round about upon the altar. 9 And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering 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, 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. 11 And the priest shall burn it upon the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire unto the LORD. 12 And if his offering be a goat, then he shall offer it before the LORD. 13 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of it, and kill it before the tabernacle of the congregation: and the sons of Aaron shall sprinkle the blood thereof upon the altar round about. 14 And he shall offer thereof his offering, even an offering made by fire unto the LORD; the fat that covereth 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. 16 And the priest shall burn them upon the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire for a sweet savour: all the fat is the LORD‘s. 17 It shall be a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood.
Directions are here given concerning the peace-offering, if it was a sheep or a goat. Turtle-doves or young pigeons, which might be brought for whole burnt offerings, were not allowed for peace-offerings, because they have no fat considerable enough to be burnt upon the altar; and they would be next to nothing if they were to be divided according to the law of the peace-offerings. The laws concerning a lamb or goat offered for a peace offering are much the same with those concerning a bullock, and little now occurs here; but, 1. The rump of the mutton was to be burnt with the fat of the inwards upon the altar, the whole rump (v. 9), because in those countries it was very fat and large. Some observe from this that, be a thing ever so contemptible, God can make it honourable, by applying it to his service. Thus God is said to give more abundant honour to that part which lacked,1Co 12:23; 1Co 12:24. 2. That which was burnt upon the altar is called the food of the offering,Lev 3:11; Lev 3:16. It fed the holy fire; it was acceptable to God as our food is to us; and since in the tabernacle God did, as it were, keep house among them, by the offerings on the altar he kept a good table, as Solomon in his court, 1 Kings iv. 22, c. 3. Here is a general rule laid down, that all the fat is the Lord’s (<i>v. 16), and a law made thereupon, that they should eat neither fat nor blood, no, not in their private houses, v. 17. (1.) As for the fat, it is not meant of that which is interlarded with the meat (that they might eat, Neh. viii. 10), but the fat of the inwards, the suet, which was always God’s part out of the sacrificed beasts; and therefore they must not eat of it, no, not out of the beasts that they killed for their common use. Thus would God preserve the honour of that which was sacred to himself. They must not only not feed upon that fat which was to be the food of the altar, but not upon any like it, lest the table of the Lord (as the altar is called), if something were not reserved peculiar to it, should become contemptible, and the fruit thereof, even its meat, contemptible,Mal 1:7; Mal 1:12. (2.) The blood was universally forbidden likewise, for the same reason that the fat was, because it was God’s part of every sacrifice. The heathen drank the blood of their sacrifices; hence we read of their drink-offerings of blood, Ps. xvi. 4. But God would not permit the blood, that made atonement, to be used as a common thing (Heb. x. 29), nor will he allow us, though we have the comfort of the atonement made, to assume to ourselves any share in the honour of making it. He that glories, let him glory in the Lord, and to his praise let all the blood be poured out.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
Verse 6:
The provisions for the Peace Offering consisting of a bull or cow are outlined in verses 1-5 (See comments above).
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(6) Of the flock.That is, of sheep or goats; they too might be either male or female, provided only that they were without organic defects.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
A Peace Offering of Sheep ( Lev 3:6-11 ).
Lev 3:6
‘And if his oblation for a sacrifice of peace-offerings to Yahweh be of the flock, male or female, he shall offer it without blemish.
The same instructions are given concerning the offering of the sheep, and then of the goat. This distinction between sheep and goat (contrast chapter 1) may be because in the case of the sheep its fat tail had to be dealt with separately. Or it may be in order to preserve threeness (just as there were three differing offerings mentioned in chapter 1), to indicate the completeness of the sacrifice. The idea may be that however different people are, (farmers, shepherds, goatherds) the ultimate way to God is the same for them all, through sacrifice and making peace with God. For us, and ultimately for them, it is through the unblemished lamb (Joh 1:29; 1Pe 1:18-19). There is no other way (Joh 14:6).
Lev 3:7-11
‘If he offer a lamb for his oblation, then shall he offer it before Yahweh, and he shall lay his hand on the head of his oblation, and kill it before the tent of meeting, and Aaron’s sons shall sprinkle its blood on the altar round about. And he shall offer of the sacrifice of peace-offerings an offering made by fire to Yahweh; its fat, the fat tail entire, he shall take away hard by the backbone; and the fat that covers the innards, and all the fat that is on the innards, and the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the loins, and the covering of fat on the liver, with the kidneys, shall he take away. And the priest shall burn it on the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire to Yahweh.’
The same principles apply here as for the sacrifice of the ox, except that special attention is drawn to the fat tail of the Near Eastern sheep. This luxury along with all the fat was to be burned on the altar along with all that constituted the life force of the lamb. For the life and the fat was God’s. He gave it, and He has taken it away (compare Gen 7:17).
“It is the food of the offering made by fire to Yahweh.” Note the change from ‘a pleasing odour to Yahweh’. The sacrifice offered in loving obedience is all that He needs to satisfy Him as He joins in fellowship with His own. Note that it is consumed in the flames. God is not seen as feeding on it directly. His ‘food’ is the pleasing odour, His spiritual satisfaction in the offering. He partakes of their obedience, love and gratitude.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Of the Flock
v. 6. And if his offering for a sacrifice of peace-offering unto the Lord be of the flock, male or female, he shall offer it without blemish. v. 7. If he offer a lamb for his offering, then shall he offer it before the Lord, v. 8. And he v. 9. And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace-offering an offering made by fire unto the Lord, v. 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, v. 11. And the priest shall burn it upon the altar; it is the food of the offering made by fire unto the Lord,
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
Reader! look at JESUS. Heb 9:14 ; 1Pe 1:19 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Lev 3:6 And if his offering for a sacrifice of peace offering unto the LORD [be] of the flock; male or female, he shall offer it without blemish.
Ver. 6. Male or female. ] See on Lev 3:1 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
offering. Hebrew. korban. App-43.
sacrifice. Hebrew. sebach. App-43.
peace offering. Hebrew. shelem. App-43.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
a sacrifice: Gal 4:4, Eph 1:10, Eph 2:13-22
be of: Lev 3:1, Lev 1:2, Lev 1:10, Isa 60:7
male: Gal 3:28
he shall: Lev 3:1-17, Act 4:27, Rom 12:1, Rom 12:2, Tit 2:11, Tit 2:12
Reciprocal: Gen 15:9 – General Lev 4:32 – a lamb Lev 22:21 – peace Num 6:14 – one ram 1Sa 10:3 – three kids Heb 9:19 – the blood
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Lev 3:6-11. Sheep.Flock (Lev 3:6) includes either sheep or goats, but note that by implication only lambs, and not full-grown sheep, are to be offered. The ritual is the same as for cattle, save that the fat tail (another special delicacy, properly the fat lying close to the tail in certain breeds of sheep) is carefully mentioned. The offerer denies himself the pleasantest parts The old anthropomorphic view survives in the mention of the food in Lev 3:11. These words may have formed part of the ritual language used from time immemorial by the priest at the altar.
Fuente: Peake’s Commentary on the Bible
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.