Leviticus 3:12-17 meaning

Leviticus 3:12-17 provides further instructions for a sacrifice of peace offerings, this time focusing on when the offering is a goat. These verses continue to underscore the importance of intentional and reverent worship as part of the sanctification of the worshipper, as well as the ongoing fellowship between fellow Israelites and the LORD.

The passage specifies, Moreover, if his offering is a goat then he shall offer it before the LORD (v. 12), indicating the inclusion of various types of livestock in the peace offering ritual. This might illustrate the accommodation of different economic statuses among the Israelites by allowing various types of offerings. The goat, like the flock described in Leviticus 3:6-11, and the herd in Leviticus 3:1-5, must be offered before the LORD, signifying the direct approach to God in worship.

As with the previous offerings from the herd and the flock, the worshipper shall lay his hand on its head and slay it before the tent of meeting (v. 13). This laying on of hands is a symbolic act of identification, signifying the transference of the offeror’s sin onto the animal. The highest of holy days included such a transference of sin that illustrates what was being represented through the laying on of hands on the head of the sacrifice.

On The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), the high priest would perform the most anticipated sin offering of the year. In this case, lots were casts upon two goats, one lot for “Azazel” (sometimes translated “scapegoat”) and the other lot for “Yahweh.”

The goat upon which the lot fell for Azazel (scapegoat) was released into the wilderness after the high priest would lay hands on its head and confess all the sins of the people over it. Meanwhile, the goat upon which the lot fell for Yahweh would be slain as a special sin offering for sins of the whole nation of Israel (Leviticus 16:8-9).

It would be the blood of this special sin offering (Yahweh) that would be brought inside the veil of the tabernacle and sprinkled on the Ark of the Covenant (Leviticus 16:15). This was a foreshadowing of Christ going inside the veil as the perfect offering for sin, not with the blood of goats but His own blood (Hebrew 9:24-25).

To learn more about how the two goats on The Day of Atonement foreshadow the work of Jesus on the cross, see our article: “Ransom and Redemption: Jesus and Barabbas as Day of Atonement Symbols. ”

Next, the sons of Aaron would then perform their priestly service relative to the peace offering, which is to sprinkle its blood around on the altar (v. 13). This is an act that consecrates the offering and signifies the sanctity of life given for peace and reconciliation. Almost all things in the Law are cleansed with blood (Hebrews 9:22). This looks forward to the ultimate payment of blood for reconciliation when Jesus shed His own blood for the sins of the world (John 3:16).

The inner parts of the goat to be offered are now described: the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails, and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them, which is on the loins, and the lobe of the liver, which he shall remove with the kidneys (v. 14b-15).

The Hebrew word translated fat can also be translated “best” (see Numbers 18:29). Excess fat in animals indicates they have been abundantly fed. There is in this offering an acknowledgment of giving back abundance to God.

Besides first sprinkling its blood around on the altar (See diagram of the Tabernacle),The priest shall offer them up in smoke on the altar as food, an offering by fire for a soothing aroma; all fat is the LORD'S (v. 16). The fat or suet, as a part of the animal representing abundance, is reserved for God. The burning of these parts creates a soothing aroma and is symbolic of God’s acceptance of the offering.

In addition to symbolizing blessing, animal fat was valuable in the ancient Near East and was used to create cosmetic creams and soap, as well as used as a fuel source. The edible parts of the peace offering animal were then enjoyed among the priests and offerors as a joyous and sacred meal.

Leviticus 3 concludes with a strong commandment, reinforcing the sanctity of blood due to its life-giving properties: "It is a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwellings: you shall not eat any fat or any blood" (v. 17).

The law to abstain from eating blood is described in detail in Leviticus 17:10-16. This law is referenced by Jesus’s apostles and the elders of the Jerusalem church in Acts 15:28-29. This is given as part of an instruction to the Gentiles who have believed in Jesus, about which they said, “if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well.”

The referenced Acts 15 passage makes clear that the Gentiles were not obligated to follow the Jewish religious laws, but needed to bear in mind the benefit of their instruction. In particular, they needed to avoid customs that would create a stumbling block to fellowshipping with other believers.

James says something similar when he refers to the law as the “law of liberty” (James 1:25, 2:12). By peering into the law and understanding its teaching we can “be blessed” (James 1:25). Paul states that when believers walk in the Spirit they fulfill the law (Romans 8:4).

These commandments served as a reminder of God’s covenant/treaty with the Israelites. The people agreed to abide by God’s commands, and God agreed to bless them if they did (Exodus 19:8). God gave the commands in order to show Israel a better way to live, and appointed Israel as a priestly nation to serve as an example to surrounding nations, that they might discover and know this better way as well, the way of loving one another (Leviticus 19:18, Exodus 19:6).

The detailed instructions remind the people that compliance with God’s laws leads them to great blessings. Conversely, disobeying His laws lead to great loss. These prescribed actions create an ongoing opportunity for the people to grow in fellowship with the God of the universe, who had chosen them due to His love for them (Deuteronomy 4:37). This leads to enhanced fellowship with God, which leads to knowing God. To know God leads to the greatest possible experience of life (John 17:3).

These offerings foreshadow the ultimate sacrifice, Jesus Christ, whose death established a new covenant. This new covenant writes God’s instructions on the hearts of those who believe on Jesus and invites us to walk in harmony and fellowship with God, our creator. To walk in harmony with God is to walk in shalom/peace.

Peace offerings also teach the importance of our own worship. We are called to be a “living sacrifice” which is our reasonable service to God and others (Romans 12:1). The detailed instructions in Leviticus for the sanctifying of the people and the tabernacle shows how serious we should take our own sanctification, which is to live set apart from the world.

Each believer is a tabernacle (a dwelling place) for the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16). We obtain the gift of eternal life when we believe in Jesus Christ and are justified in His sight by faith (John 3:14-15). We gain the experience and reward (the prize) of eternal life by living a life of obedience and good works toward God and others (Galatians 6:8-9).

Each believer has peace with God through the forgiveness of sin through the death of Christ (Romans 5:1, 10). We also gain the experience of shalom/peace through a walk of faith, living in obedience to God (Romans 8:6).

To learn more about the gift and prize of eternal life, see our article, “Eternal Life: Receiving the Gift vs. Inheriting the Prize .”