Leviticus 19:5 kjv
And if ye offer a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD, ye shall offer it at your own will.
Leviticus 19:5 nkjv
'And if you offer a sacrifice of a peace offering to the LORD, you shall offer it of your own free will.
Leviticus 19:5 niv
"?'When you sacrifice a fellowship offering to the LORD, sacrifice it in such a way that it will be accepted on your behalf.
Leviticus 19:5 esv
"When you offer a sacrifice of peace offerings to the LORD, you shall offer it so that you may be accepted.
Leviticus 19:5 nlt
"When you sacrifice a peace offering to the LORD, offer it properly so you will be accepted by God.
Leviticus 19 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 3:1 | "If his offering be a sacrifice of peace offering..." | Introduction to peace offerings |
| Lev 7:15 | "And the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings...be eaten the same day..." | Proper consumption for acceptance |
| Exo 20:24 | "An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me...where I record my name..." | God's chosen place for offerings |
| Gen 4:4-7 | "Abel...brought of the firstlings...and the Lord had respect unto Abel..." | Distinction between acceptable and unacceptable offerings |
| Deut 27:7 | "And thou shalt offer peace offerings, and shalt eat there..." | Peace offerings associated with eating and joy |
| 1 Sam 15:22 | "Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying...?" | Obedience over ritual |
| Psa 51:17 | "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart..." | God's desired spiritual offering |
| Isa 1:11-15 | "To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me?..." | God rejecting offerings without righteousness |
| Amos 5:21-24 | "I hate, I despise your feast days...Let judgment run down as waters..." | Rejection of ritual without justice |
| Mal 1:10 | "Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for naught?..." | Condemnation of disingenuous offerings |
| Rom 12:1 | "Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God..." | New Covenant spiritual sacrifice |
| Phil 4:18 | "...a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God." | Spiritual gift-giving as acceptable worship |
| Heb 11:4 | "By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice..." | Faith as key to an acceptable offering |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | "...ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house...to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God..." | New Testament spiritual priesthood |
| Lev 10:3 | "...I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me..." | God's demand for reverence in His presence |
| Lev 22:18-20 | "...whatsoever he offereth for any vow...that it may be accepted ye shall offer..." | Offering without blemish for acceptance |
| Heb 9:14 | "How much more shall the blood of Christ...purge your conscience from dead works...?" | Christ's perfect self-sacrifice |
| Eph 5:2 | "And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering..." | Christ's self-giving as fragrant offering |
| Col 3:17 | "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus..." | Everything done for God's acceptance |
| Phil 2:17 | "...if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith..." | Apostle's life poured out as an offering |
Leviticus 19 verses
Leviticus 19 5 Meaning
Leviticus 19:5 instructs that when Israelites present a sacrifice of peace offerings to the Lord, it must be performed according to His prescribed methods so that the offering may be acceptable to Him. The verse underscores that divine acceptance, not human willfulness, is the desired outcome and the measure of proper worship in such an offering. This acceptance, in turn, signifies God's favor towards the offerer.
Leviticus 19 5 Context
Leviticus 19 is a pivotal chapter within the Holiness Code (Lev 17-26), introduced by the foundational command in verse 2: "Ye shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy." This chapter immediately moves from the broad principle of holiness to specific ethical, moral, and ritual instructions for the community, demonstrating how this divine holiness is to be embodied in daily life. Verse 5, therefore, sets a standard for religious worship (sacrifice of peace offerings) as the first instance of applying holiness to practical acts after general warnings against idolatry. It comes before explicit commands about caring for the poor, respecting parents, keeping the Sabbath, and maintaining justice, implying that proper ritual devotion is fundamental to living a holy life before God. The historical context is that of newly redeemed Israel, learning how to rightly approach and serve a holy God in distinction from the surrounding pagan nations whose worship practices often lacked divine prescription or moral purity.
Leviticus 19 5 Word analysis
- And if: Hebrew V’ki. Establishes a conditional premise ("And when you offer") but implies an expected and common practice among the Israelites, indicating a general instruction rather than a unique event.
- ye offer: Hebrew tizbechu. A verb derived from zabach, meaning "to slaughter for sacrifice" or "to offer a sacrifice." It indicates the act of performing the prescribed ritual.
- a sacrifice of peace offerings: Hebrew zevach sh'lamim (זֶבַח שְׁלָמִים). This specific type of offering signifies peace, completeness, fellowship, or well-being. Unlike burnt offerings (for atonement/total dedication) or sin offerings (for specific sins), the peace offering often included a meal shared by the offerer, priests, and God, symbolizing communion. It could be for thanksgiving, fulfilling a vow, or a freewill offering.
- unto the Lord: Hebrew la-YHWH. Specifies the divine recipient. It is exclusively for Yahweh, the God of Israel, reinforcing monotheism and contrasting with the plural deities of surrounding nations. All worship and sacrifices must be directed to Him alone.
- ye shall offer it: Hebrew tizbâḥu-hû. A direct command or instruction regarding the manner of offering. The reflexive "it" refers back to the "sacrifice of peace offerings."
- at your own will: Hebrew lirtzonkhem (לִרְצֹנְכֶם). This is the crucial phrase. From the root ratzah (רָצָה), which means "to be pleased, acceptable, well-pleased." While KJV translates it as "at your own will," conveying human volition, most modern translations (e.g., ESV, NIV, NASB, NRSV) render it as "so that you may be accepted," "so that it may be acceptable," or "that you may find favor." The emphasis is not on the worshipper's personal desire being the criterion, but rather that the offering itself must conform to divine requirements so that God accepts it and the offerer. The point is how to offer so as to secure God's approval.
- Words-group Analysis:
- "sacrifice of peace offerings unto the Lord, ye shall offer it": This phrase establishes the specific type of ritual and its divine recipient, then emphasizes the divine expectation of how it must be carried out. It frames the human action within a divine requirement.
- "ye shall offer it at your own will / so that you may be accepted": This pivotal phrase highlights the necessary outcome. It's not just about going through the motions; the intention and execution must align with God's standards to achieve divine favor. The proper fulfillment of the ritual ensures the offering is "acceptable," reflecting God's "will" (pleasure) concerning it, and by extension, the acceptance of the worshipper.
Leviticus 19 5 Bonus section
The emphasis on "acceptance" in Leviticus 19:5 extends beyond the ritual act to the offerer's state of being before God. When the offering is accepted, it signifies the offerer's acceptance by God through proper obedience and adherence to the divine covenant. This concept builds on earlier narratives where God distinguished between Cain's unacceptable offering and Abel's acceptable one (Gen 4:4-7), establishing that the quality of the offering, linked to the offerer's heart and adherence to truth, matters more than the act itself. Furthermore, this verse subtly reinforces that Yahweh is a God who has specific expectations for worship, distinguishing His character from pagan deities who might be appeased through less prescribed or morally compromised means. It forms a foundational element in understanding true worship: it is not about what we feel like offering, but about what God has prescribed and what He will accept.
Leviticus 19 5 Commentary
Leviticus 19:5 provides an essential directive for performing peace offerings, a class of sacrifices intended to foster fellowship with God, express gratitude, or fulfill vows. The seemingly simple phrase "at your own will" (KJV) is more accurately understood as "so that you may be accepted" or "so that it may be acceptable [to God]". This shifts the emphasis from arbitrary human volition to divine approbation. The instruction asserts that mere presentation of an offering is insufficient; it must align with God's prescribed manner to achieve His acceptance. This principle underlines that all acts of worship must meet God's standards to be effective and truly pleasing to Him. It subtly foreshadows the New Testament concept that acceptable worship involves a heart rightly disposed, yielding obedience, and pursuing holiness (Rom 12:1, Heb 11:6).
- Practical Usage Examples:
- A Christian preparing to serve in ministry seeks guidance not based solely on personal ambition, but on discerning and fulfilling God's will to ensure the service is acceptable to Him.
- An individual engaged in prayer or giving examines their motives, ensuring these acts are done from a heart of sincerity and obedience, striving for God's approval rather than human praise.
- When seeking forgiveness or offering reconciliation, one considers not just the act itself, but the internal disposition and willingness to truly align with God's principles for repentance and restoration, so that the gesture is truly "acceptable" in His sight.