Leviticus 7:23 kjv
Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Ye shall eat no manner of fat, of ox, or of sheep, or of goat.
Leviticus 7:23 nkjv
"Speak to the children of Israel, saying: 'You shall not eat any fat, of ox or sheep or goat.
Leviticus 7:23 niv
"Say to the Israelites: 'Do not eat any of the fat of cattle, sheep or goats.
Leviticus 7:23 esv
"Speak to the people of Israel, saying, You shall eat no fat, of ox or sheep or goat.
Leviticus 7:23 nlt
"Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. You must never eat fat, whether from cattle, sheep, or goats.
Leviticus 7 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 3:16 | “All the fat is the LORD’s.” | Establishes ownership of the fat. |
| Lev 3:17 | “It shall be a perpetual statute... you shall not eat any fat or any blood.” | Reinforces the lasting nature of the prohibition. |
| Lev 7:25 | “For whoever eats the fat of the animal of which men offer an offering... shall be cut off.” | Specifies the severe consequence for disobedience. |
| Lev 4:8-10 | Instructions to offer all the fat from sin offerings. | Demonstrates the fat's sacred use in other offerings. |
| Lev 6:12 | Priest to put "fat portions of the peace offering" on the altar. | Highlights priestly duty concerning sacred fat. |
| Exod 29:13 | “You shall take all the fat that covers the entrails... and burn them on the altar.” | Shows this practice as part of consecration. |
| Exod 29:22 | Priest to burn fat of ram for consecration. | Fat's role in establishing sacred roles. |
| Num 18:17 | "Only the firstborn of an ox... you shall sprinkle its blood on the altar and burn its fat for an offering." | God's portion in firstborn animals. |
| 1 Sam 2:15-16 | Sons of Eli demanding raw meat and taking the fat before burning. | Violation of the sacredness of the fat leading to judgment. |
| Ps 63:5 | “My soul will be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth shall praise You.” | Uses "fatness" as a metaphor for richness/abundance from God. |
| Isa 1:11 | “I am full of the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed animals.” | God's weariness with empty ritual without obedience, linking to offerings. |
| Jer 31:14 | “I will satiate the soul of the priests with abundance, and My people shall be satisfied with My goodness, says the LORD.” | "Fat" often signifies abundance/richness, contrasting spiritual provision. |
| Deut 12:15-16 | Permission to eat meat anywhere, but strict prohibition on blood. | Distinguishes rules for profane meat (fat not forbidden). |
| Gen 9:4 | “But you shall not eat meat with its life, that is, its blood.” | Establishes early prohibition on blood, similar to fat's sacredness. |
| Act 15:20 | Apostolic decree includes abstinence from blood. | Continuity of certain dietary principles in the early church (though not fat). |
| Rom 12:1 | “Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” | New Testament fulfillment; offering the "best" of ourselves. |
| Eph 5:2 | “Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” | Jesus as the ultimate offering, replacing physical sacrifices. |
| Heb 10:4 | “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.” | The limitation of Old Testament sacrifices, pointing to Christ. |
| Mal 1:8 | “And if you offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? Offer it then to your governor!” | Rejection of unworthy sacrifices, emphasizing giving God the best. |
| Prov 3:9 | “Honor the LORD with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase.” | Principle of giving the "best" to God, including the choicest parts. |
| Lev 10:10 | “...and that you may distinguish between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean.” | The purpose of many Levitical laws, including this one, to teach discernment. |
Leviticus 7 verses
Leviticus 7 23 Meaning
Leviticus 7:23 directly commands the children of Israel not to eat any fat from an ox, a sheep, or a goat. This prohibition specifically refers to the internal, fatty suet (Hebrew: chelev) of animals suitable for sacrifice, rather than all types of fat (e.g., marbling in meat). This sacred fat was uniquely reserved for the Lord as a burnt offering, symbolizing the choicest part and acknowledging God's ultimate ownership and provision.
Leviticus 7 23 Context
Leviticus chapter 7 provides further regulations concerning various offerings outlined in the preceding chapters, specifically detailing the portions for the priests and the people, and additional laws regarding cleanliness and consumption. Verses 22-27 form a distinct unit prohibiting the consumption of fat and blood, following detailed instructions on the peace offering (fellowship offering). The immediate context shows that while portions of some offerings could be eaten by the offerer, certain elements like the blood (the life principle) and the internal suet (the chelev fat) were strictly reserved for the Lord. This command is part of the broader legal framework given to Israel at Mount Sinai, emphasizing holiness, distinction, and recognizing God's sovereignty over life and resources. Historically, ancient Near Eastern cultures had varying sacrificial practices, but Israel's laws were uniquely given by God, distinguishing them and teaching a deep reverence for the sacred.
Leviticus 7 23 Word analysis
- Speak (דַּבֵּר - dabber): A command form, indicating a direct, authoritative instruction from God to Moses for immediate dissemination to the people. It is not an suggestion but a divine directive.
- to the children of Israel (אֶל־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - el-benei Yisrael): Specifies the exclusive audience for this law. This command is given to the covenant community, differentiating them from other nations and emphasizing their unique relationship with God.
- saying (לֵאמֹר - lemor): Functions to introduce direct speech or a specific message to be conveyed. It highlights that the subsequent words are the exact instructions to be delivered.
- You shall eat no (כָּל־חֵלֶב לֹא תֹאכֵלוּ - kol-chelev lo to'chelu): A strong prohibition using "kol" (all/any) with "lo" (not) and the negative future tense of the verb "to eat" (akal). This indicates an absolute and unconditional ban. The key word here is chelev.
- fat (חֵלֶב - chelev): This is not all bodily fat. In a sacrificial context, chelev refers to the specific layers of fat found around the internal organs (kidneys, intestines, liver lobe, etc.), often referred to as "suet." This particular type of fat was considered the richest, best part of the animal and was explicitly designated for burning on the altar to the Lord (e.g., Lev 3:3-4, 9-10). It symbolized the choicest and deepest parts of the animal, representing the essence of its vitality.
- from an ox (שׁוֹר - shor): A bovine animal, a common and significant sacrificial animal due to its size and value, representing substantial offering.
- or a sheep (כֶּשֶׂב - kesev): A sheep, a prevalent sacrificial animal often representing purity and gentleness, used in various offerings.
- or a goat (וְעֵז - v'ez): A goat, also a common sacrificial animal, particularly in sin and guilt offerings, highlighting its role in atonement.
- Words Group Analysis:
- "Speak to the children of Israel, saying": Emphasizes the divine origin and the specific recipient of this law, highlighting God's direct communication to His chosen people and the authoritative nature of the instruction.
- "You shall eat no fat": The central prohibitive command. This is not merely a health regulation but primarily a theological one, establishing that this specific part of certain animals belongs exclusively to God. Its prohibition teaches reverence, separation, and recognition of God's rights over creation.
- "from an ox, or a sheep, or a goat": Specifies the animals to which this law applies. These are clean animals suitable for sacrifice, underscoring that the prohibition on chelev is intricately linked to the sacrificial system. This excludes wild game fat, implying the prohibition's direct connection to dedicated animals.
Leviticus 7 23 Bonus section
The distinction between chelev (the forbidden sacrificial fat) and shumen (fat in general, including marbling or edible fat) is critical. Leviticus 7:23 uses chelev, confirming the prohibition's connection to sacred suet, not dietary fat for consumption in general cooking or natural marbling. The theological significance of this rule lies in its role within the Israelite sacrificial system, where fire on the altar consumed chelev as "food of the offering made by fire" (Lev 3:11, 16). This underscored that the best of the offerings ascended to God as a "pleasing aroma," serving as a tangible expression of worship, dependence, and obedience to the covenant. This prohibition also served as a continuous reminder of the Israelite identity as a "holy nation" set apart from others, whose life was lived in conscious awareness of God's presence and specific commands.
Leviticus 7 23 Commentary
Leviticus 7:23 stands as a concise, yet profound, dietary regulation deeply rooted in the theology of holiness and divine ownership. The prohibition against consuming chelev, the internal suet fat of sacrificial animals, is fundamentally about recognizing that the "best" part of life belongs to God. This was not a general ban on all fat, nor primarily a health code, but a specific directive related to the offerings. By reserving this choicest portion for Himself, God underscored His sovereignty, His demand for reverence, and the unique, set-apart status of the Israelite people. It taught them the discipline of obedience, the importance of distinction between the holy and the common, and the understanding that elements of creation were sanctified for divine purposes. Disobeying this command (as stated in Lev 7:25) brought severe consequences, highlighting the gravity of encroaching on what belonged to the Most High. Ultimately, this law, like many in the Old Testament, prepared the people's hearts to understand greater spiritual truths about dedication, sacrifice, and the holiness required to approach God, principles that find their ultimate fulfillment and transformation in Christ's perfect offering and the believer's call to a life of living sacrifice.