Chapter 7
Themes, discussion questions, Christ connections, and denomination lenses.
Just read this chapter →Scripture
KJV1Likewise this is the law of the trespass offering: it is most holy.
2In the place where they kill the burnt offering shall they kill the trespass offering: and the blood thereof shall he sprinkle round about upon the altar.
3And he shall offer of it all the fat thereof; the rump, and the fat that covereth the inwards,
4And the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the flanks, and the caul that is above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away:
5And the priest shall burn them upon the altar for an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a trespass offering.
6Every male among the priests shall eat thereof: it shall be eaten in the holy place: it is most holy.
7As the sin offering is, so is the trespass offering: there is one law for them: the priest that maketh atonement therewith shall have it.
8And the priest that offereth any man’s burnt offering, even the priest shall have to himself the skin of the burnt offering which he hath offered.
9And all the meat offering that is baken in the oven, and all that is dressed in the fryingpan, and in the pan, shall be the priest’s that offereth it.
10And every meat offering, mingled with oil, and dry, shall all the sons of Aaron have, one as much as another.
11And this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he shall offer unto the LORD.
12If he offer it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes mingled with oil, of fine flour, fried.
13Besides the cakes, he shall offer for his offering leavened bread with the sacrifice of thanksgiving of his peace offerings.
14And of it he shall offer one out of the whole oblation for an heave offering unto the LORD, and it shall be the priest’s that sprinkleth the blood of the peace offerings.
15And the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten the same day that it is offered; he shall not leave any of it until the morning.
16But if the sacrifice of his offering be a vow, or a voluntary offering, it shall be eaten the same day that he offereth his sacrifice: and on the morrow also the remainder of it shall be eaten:
17But the remainder of the flesh of the sacrifice on the third day shall be burnt with fire.
18And if any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings be eaten at all on the third day, it shall not be accepted, neither shall it be imputed unto him that offereth it: it shall be an abomination, and the soul that eateth of it shall bear his iniquity.
19And the flesh that toucheth any unclean thing shall not be eaten; it shall be burnt with fire: and as for the flesh, all that be clean shall eat thereof.
20But the soul that eateth of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, that pertain unto the LORD, having his uncleanness upon him, even that soul shall be cut off from his people.
21Moreover the soul that shall touch any unclean thing, as the uncleanness of man, or any unclean beast, or any abominable unclean thing, and eat of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which pertain unto the LORD, even that soul shall be cut off from his people.
22And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
23Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Ye shall eat no manner of fat, of ox, or of sheep, or of goat.
24And the fat of the beast that dieth of itself, and the fat of that which is torn with beasts, may be used in any other use: but ye shall in no wise eat of it.
25For whosoever eateth the fat of the beast, of which men offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD, even the soul that eateth it shall be cut off from his people.
26Moreover ye shall eat no manner of blood, whether it be of fowl or of beast, in any of your dwellings.
27Whatsoever soul it be that eateth any manner of blood, even that soul shall be cut off from his people.
28And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
29Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, He that offereth the sacrifice of his peace offerings unto the LORD shall bring his oblation unto the LORD of the sacrifice of his peace offerings.
30His own hands shall bring the offerings of the LORD made by fire, the fat with the breast, it shall he bring, that the breast may be waved for a wave offering before the LORD.
31And the priest shall burn the fat upon the altar: but the breast shall be Aaron’s and his sons’.
32And the right shoulder shall ye give unto the priest for an heave offering of the sacrifices of your peace offerings.
33He among the sons of Aaron, that offereth the blood of the peace offerings, and the fat, shall have the right shoulder for his part.
34For the wave breast and the heave shoulder have I taken of the children of Israel from off the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and have given them unto Aaron the priest and unto his sons by a statute for ever from among the children of Israel.
35This is the portion of the anointing of Aaron, and of the anointing of his sons, out of the offerings of the LORD made by fire, in the day when he presented them to minister unto the LORD in the priest’s office;
36Which the LORD commanded to be given them of the children of Israel, in the day that he anointed them, by a statute for ever throughout their generations.
37This is the law of the burnt offering, of the meat offering, and of the sin offering, and of the trespass offering, and of the consecrations, and of the sacrifice of the peace offerings;
38Which the LORD commanded Moses in mount Sinai, in the day that he commanded the children of Israel to offer their oblations unto the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai.
“This is the law of the burnt offering, of the meat offering, and of the sin offering, and of the trespass offering, and of the consecrations, and of the sacrifice of the peace offerings.”
Overview
God gives further instructions for the trespass offering and the peace offering, including the thanksgiving offering, the vow offering, and the freewill offering. Strict rules govern how long the meat may be eaten and the prohibition against eating fat or blood. The chapter concludes with a summary of the five major offerings and the designation of the priests' portions.
Key Themes
Thanksgiving as a Form of Worship
The thanksgiving peace offering is brought in response to God's goodness, teaching that gratitude is not merely a feeling but an act of worship expressed through sacrifice.
The Prohibition of Fat and Blood
The absolute prohibition against eating fat (belonging to God) and blood (representing life) establishes permanent boundaries that distinguish Israel's diet and worship from the surrounding nations.
Timeliness in Worship
The meat of the peace offering must be eaten within prescribed time limits — one day for thanksgiving, two for a vow — teaching that worship must be timely and not treated carelessly.
Study Questions
Why does God distinguish between thanksgiving offerings, vow offerings, and freewill offerings, and what does each reveal about different motivations for worship?
What is the spiritual principle behind the prohibition that the peace offering meat must not be kept beyond the prescribed time?
Why is the penalty for eating fat or blood being 'cut off from his people' so severe, and what does this teach about the sanctity of life and worship?
How does the system of priestly portions teach about God's provision for those who serve in ministry?
In what ways does the detailed summary of offerings at the end of this chapter demonstrate the comprehensive nature of Israel's worship system?
Connection to Christ
The thanksgiving peace offering finds its fulfillment in the Eucharist, where believers give thanks for Christ's sacrifice. As the peace offering was shared in joyful communion, so believers partake of Christ's body and blood in grateful remembrance of the peace He purchased.
Personal Reflection
Take time to journal or meditate on what God is teaching you through Leviticus 7. How can these truths transform your thinking and actions today?