Leviticus 3:11 kjv
And the priest shall burn it upon the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire unto the LORD.
Leviticus 3:11 nkjv
and the priest shall burn them on the altar as food, an offering made by fire to the LORD.
Leviticus 3:11 niv
The priest shall burn them on the altar as a food offering presented to the LORD.
Leviticus 3:11 esv
And the priest shall burn it on the altar as a food offering to the LORD.
Leviticus 3:11 nlt
and the priest will burn them on the altar. It is a special gift of food presented to the LORD.
Leviticus 3 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 3:3-5 | ...the fat that covers the entrails, and all the fat that is on the entrails... and the two kidneys... shall offer it up in smoke... upon the burnt offering... | Specifies the fatty parts to be offered to the Lord. |
| Lev 7:23-25 | You shall eat no fat, of ox or of sheep or of goat... for whoever eats the fat of the animal of which an offering by fire is made to the Lord shall be cut off. | Reinforces the prohibition against eating fat as it belongs exclusively to God. |
| Ex 29:13, 22 | And you shall take all the fat that covers the entrails, and the lobe of the liver, and the two kidneys... and burn them on the altar. | Command for specific fatty parts to be offered in consecration offerings. |
| Num 18:17 | But the firstborn of a cow... or sheep... you shall not redeem... You shall sprinkle their blood on the altar and burn their fat as a food offering... | Further emphasizes the dedication of fat to God for specific sacrifices. |
| Lev 1:9 | ...the priest shall burn all of it on the altar as a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord. | Identifies all burnt offerings as "food" for the Lord, "pleasing aroma." |
| Lev 2:2-3, 9 | ...shall take from it a handful of the fine flour... with all of its oil... as a food offering... the memorial portion thereof... is a food offering to the Lord. | Grain offerings also called "food offering" with a portion dedicated to God. |
| Num 28:2 | Command the people of Israel and say to them, ‘My offering, my food for my food offerings... you shall be careful to offer... at their appointed time.’ | General command emphasizing Israel's duty to provide "God's food." |
| Isa 56:7 | ...I will bring them to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar... | God's acceptance of offerings. |
| Psa 51:17-19 | The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit... Then will you delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings... | Spiritual sacrifices as ultimate fulfillment; God's delight in true obedience. |
| Rom 12:1 | I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. | New Covenant emphasis on presenting oneself as a "living sacrifice." |
| Heb 13:15-16 | Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips... Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. | Spiritual sacrifices pleasing to God: praise, good deeds, sharing. |
| Phil 4:18 | I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. | Paul calls financial gifts to him "a fragrant offering," pleasing to God. |
| Eph 5:2 | And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and a sacrifice to God. | Christ's self-sacrifice is the ultimate "fragrant offering" to God. |
| John 6:51 | I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh. | Jesus as the "living bread," spiritual food for life. |
| Matt 5:23-24 | So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift... be reconciled... then come and offer. | Righteous heart and reconciliation are prerequisite for acceptable offerings. |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. | Believers as a "holy priesthood" offering spiritual sacrifices. |
| Mal 1:7 | By offering polluted food upon my altar. And you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ By saying that the Lord’s table is contemptible. | Condemnation of offering defiled or contemptible sacrifices. |
| Mal 3:3-4 | He will sit as a refiner... He will purify the sons of Levi... Then once more the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord... | Future purification leading to pleasing offerings. |
| Gen 4:4 | And Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering. | Earliest biblical account of offering "fat portions" to the Lord, accepted by Him. |
| Exo 29:41-42 | And the second lamb you shall offer toward evening... for a food offering, with a pleasing aroma to the Lord throughout your generations. | Establishes daily offerings as "food offerings" to the Lord. |
| Prov 3:9-10 | Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty... | Giving the "best" to God results in blessing. |
| Jer 33:11 | ...for giving thanks to the Lord of hosts, for the Lord is good... saying, ‘Bring thank offerings to the house of the Lord.’ | Peace offerings associated with thanksgiving. |
Leviticus 3 verses
Leviticus 3 11 Meaning
Leviticus 3:11 declares that the fat of the peace offering, once prepared by the priest, is to be offered up in smoke on the altar as the Lord's dedicated portion. This act signifies the ultimate consumption by God, designating it as "food" or "bread" of the Lord. It underscores God's sovereignty over all creation, His right to the best and purest parts of the sacrifice, and His delight in the offerings made according to His specific commandments.
Leviticus 3 11 Context
Leviticus chapter 3 details the regulations for the "Peace Offering," also known as the "Fellowship Offering" (zevah sh'lamim). Unlike the burnt offering (entirely consumed) or the sin/guilt offering (dealing with expiation), the peace offering was primarily an act of voluntary communion, thanksgiving, or a vow. It allowed the offerer, priest, and God to "share" in the sacrifice. The context of verse 11 is critical: while parts of the animal could be eaten by the offerer and the priest, specific internal fatty portions were reserved exclusively for the Lord. This strict segregation highlights God's unique holiness and His non-negotiable claim to the best and most representative part of the sacrifice. The fat was considered the richest part, often associated with life and vitality.
Leviticus 3 11 Word analysis
- And the priest: The priest, ha-kohên (הַכֹּהֵן), serves as the designated mediator, the only one authorized by God to handle and offer sacrifices. This highlights the ritual purity and specific procedure required for approaching God.
- shall burn: Hebrew: wehiqtyr (וְהִקְטִיר), a Hiphil form of qāṭar (קָטַר). This verb specifically means "to cause to rise in smoke," "to turn into smoke for an offering," or "to send up in smoke." It is distinct from śārap (שָׂרַף), which means "to burn" in the sense of total consumption or destruction. The use of qāṭar emphasizes the transformation of the offering into an ascending, pleasant aroma, making it acceptable to God.
- it: Refers to the specific fatty portions detailed in the preceding verses (Lev 3:3-5): the fat that covers the entrails, all the fat on the entrails, the two kidneys and their fat, and the fat of the liver lobe. This was deemed the choicest and richest part of the animal.
- on the altar: Hebrew: ‘al hamizbêach (עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּחַ). The altar was the central place of sacrifice and encounter with God. It symbolized God's presence, acceptance, and the sanctifying power by which offerings became holy unto Him (Ex 29:37, Matt 23:19).
- as food: Hebrew: lechem (לֶחֶם). While literally meaning "bread," lechem here is used metonymically for "food" or "portion." When applied to God's portion of the sacrifice, it implies His acceptance, satisfaction, and delight. It denotes that these offerings sustain His covenant relationship with Israel, similar to how food sustains human life. This phrasing elevates the sacrificial act beyond mere ritual to an intimate communion where God "consumes" His share.
- an offering by fire: Hebrew: ’iššeh (אִשֶּׁה), meaning "a fiery offering" or "an offering made by fire." This term describes the means by which the offering ascends to God – through fire, which purifies and transforms. It links this specific peace offering detail to the broader category of burnt offerings and grain offerings (e.g., Lev 1:9, Lev 2:2-3).
- to the Lord: Hebrew: Yahweh (יהוה), the covenant name of God. This specifies the ultimate recipient and intended purpose of the sacrifice. It signifies that the entire act of offering, and specifically this "food," is dedicated solely to Him, acknowledging His supreme holiness and ownership.
Leviticus 3 11 Bonus section
The strict separation of fat for God had a polemical dimension. Many surrounding pagan cultures often used the fat and entrails of animals in various ways, including divination, communal feasts without strict separation, or offering them to idols. By commanding the exclusive dedication of the fat to Yahweh and forbidding its consumption by His people, God sharply differentiated Israel's worship practices, highlighting His unique holiness, His claim on the best, and His rejection of any practices that would defile His worship. This established clear boundaries of devotion to the one true God. The peace offering, despite its communal aspects, reinforced God's transcendent claim before any shared consumption.
Leviticus 3 11 Commentary
Leviticus 3:11 is a pivotal statement within the peace offering regulations, underscoring fundamental theological truths about God, holiness, and acceptable worship. By demanding the burning of the internal fat as lechem Yahweh ("food of the Lord"), God asserts His rightful claim to the absolute best. Fat was viewed as the richest, most life-sustaining, and choice part of an animal. To dedicate this portion entirely to God was an act of complete devotion, giving Him what was considered the 'cream of the crop'. The prohibition against consuming this fat by humans (Lev 7:23-25) reinforces the boundary between the holy and the common, preventing profanation and emphasizing God's unique ownership.
The choice of qāṭar (to send up in smoke) over śārap (to utterly burn) subtly yet powerfully communicates the nature of God's consumption. It is not an act of destruction but of pleasant reception, transforming the offering into an "aroma pleasing to the Lord" (e.g., Gen 8:21, Eph 5:2). This signifies a divine communion and acceptance, much like a host delights in a prepared meal. In the New Covenant, while animal sacrifices are fulfilled in Christ's ultimate offering, the principle endures: true worship involves offering our "best" to God, whether it's our bodies as living sacrifices (Rom 12:1), sacrifices of praise (Heb 13:15), or acts of loving service and generosity (Phil 4:18). These acts are spiritually consumed by God, demonstrating our devotion and bringing Him pleasure.