The Fellowship Offering

3:1 “‘If someone’s offering is a fellowship [or peace; symbolized peace between God and worshiper] offering [voluntarily offered to give thanks to God; offered as a result of a vow; freewill offering; cf. Lev. 7:12-26], and he offers an animal from the herd [a cow], whether male or female, he is to present before the LORD an animal without defect [cf. Mal. 1:8, 13-14 re: violation of this command].

3:2 He is to lay his hand on the head of his offering [thus symbolically transferring the offerer’s sins to the animal] and slaughter it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood against the altar on all sides.

3:3 From the fellowship offering he is to bring a sacrifice made to the LORD by fire: [note: only fat and kidneys burned on the altar (vv. 3-5)…] all the fat that covers the inner parts or is connected to them,

3:4 both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the covering of the liver, which he will remove with the kidneys.

3:5 Then Aaron’s sons are to burn it on the altar on top of the burnt offering that is on the burning wood, as an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the LORD.

3:6 “‘If he offers an animal from the flock [sheep] as a fellowship [or peace; symbolized peace between God and worshiper] offering [voluntarily offered to give thanks to God; offered as a result of a vow; freewill offering; cf. Lev. 7:12-26] to the LORD, he is to offer a male or female without defect.

3:7 If he offers a lamb, he is to present it before the LORD.

3:8 He is to lay his hand on the head of his offering [thus symbolically transferring the offerer’s sins to the animal] and slaughter it in front of the Tent of Meeting. Then Aaron’s sons shall sprinkle its blood against the altar on all sides.

3:9 From the fellowship offering he is to bring a sacrifice made to the LORD by fire: [note: only fat and kidneys burned on the altar (vv. 9-11)…] its fat, the entire fat tail cut off close to the backbone, all the fat that covers the inner parts or is connected to them,

3:10 both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the covering of the liver, which he will remove with the kidneys.

3:11 The priest shall burn them on the altar as food, an offering made to the LORD by fire.

3:12 “‘If his offering is a goat, he is to present it before the LORD.

3:13 He is to lay his hand on its head and slaughter it in front of the Tent of Meeting. Then Aaron’s sons shall sprinkle its blood against the altar on all sides.

3:14 From what he offers he is to make this offering to the LORD by fire: [note: only fat and kidneys burned on the altar (vv. 14-16)…] all the fat that covers the inner parts or is connected to them,

3:15 both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the covering of the liver, which he will remove with the kidneys.

3:16 The priest shall burn them on the altar as food, an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma. All the fat is the LORD’s.

3:17 “‘This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live: You must not eat any fat [to be set aside as God’s portion] or any blood [life is in the blood].'”