Short answer: Leviticus 7 completes the law of the offerings with instructions for the guilt offering and the peace offering. It distinguishes between offerings of thanksgiving, vows, and freewill offerings, and specifies which parts belonged to the priests and how long the meat could be eaten. The chapter ends with a formal summary of all five offerings.
Historical and Literary Context
Leviticus 7 completes the legal section on offerings by detailing the guilt offering and the peace offering. It distinguishes the thanksgiving offering from votive and freewill offerings, and specifies the priests' portions. The chapter ends with a formal conclusion that summarizes the entire law of the offerings: 'This is the law of the burnt offering, the grain offering, the sin offering, the guilt offering, the consecration offering, and the sacrifice of the peace offerings.'
Scripture Passage: Leviticus 7
“ ‘This is the law of the trespass offering: It is most holy. In the place where they kill the burnt offering, he shall kill the trespass offering; and its blood he shall sprinkle around on the altar. He shall offer all of its fat: the fat tail, and the fat that covers the innards, and he shall take away the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the loins, and the cover on the liver, with the kidneys; and the priest shall burn them on the altar for an offering made by fire to Yahweh: it is a trespass offering. Every male among the priests may eat of it. It shall be eaten in a holy place. It is most holy. “ ‘As is the sin offering, so is the trespass offering; there is one law for them. The priest who makes atonement with them shall have it.
Verse-by-Verse Analysis
Verses 1-10 detail the guilt offering. The blood was sprinkled around the altar, and the fat, kidneys, and liver were burned on the altar. The priest who made atonement with the ram received the meat. The same rules applied to the guilt offering as to the sin offering: the meat belonged to the priest, but if the blood was brought into the sanctuary, the meat must be burned.
Verses 11-21 describe the peace offering in detail. Three types are distinguished: the thanksgiving offering (for specific deliverance), the votive offering (in fulfillment of a vow), and the freewill offering (voluntary devotion). The thanksgiving offering had to be eaten on the same day; the votive and freewill offerings could be eaten on the second day but not the third. Any meat eaten on the third day made the offering unacceptable — 'it is an abomination, and the soul that eats any of it shall bear his iniquity.'
Verses 22-27 repeat the prohibition against eating fat and blood, emphasizing its importance. Verses 28-36 specify the priests' portions from the peace offering: the breast was a wave offering and the right thigh was a heave offering. The chapter concludes in verses 37-38 with a formal summary: 'This is the law of the burnt offering, the grain offering, the sin offering, the guilt offering, the consecration offering, and the sacrifice of the peace offerings, which Yahweh commanded Moses on Mount Sinai in the day that he commanded the children of Israel to offer their offerings to Yahweh, in the wilderness of Sinai.'
Of it he shall offer one out of each offering for a heave offering to Yahweh. It shall be the priest’s who sprinkles the blood of the peace offerings. The flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten on the day of his offering. He shall not leave any of it until the morning. “ ‘But if the sacrifice of his offering is a vow, or a free will offering, it shall be eaten on the day that he offers his sacrifice. On the next day what remains of it shall be eaten, but what remains of the meat of the sacrifice on the third day shall be burned with fire. If any of the meat of the sacrifice of his peace offerings is eaten on the third day, it will not be accepted, and it shall not be credited to him who offers it. It will be an abomination, and the soul who eats any of it will bear his iniquity. “ ‘The meat that touches any unclean thing shall not be eaten. It shall be burned with fire. As for the meat, everyone who is clean may eat it; but the soul who eats of the meat of the sacrifice of peace offerings that belongs to Yahweh, having his uncleanness on him, that soul shall be cut off from his people. When anyone touches any unclean thing, the uncleanness of man, or an unclean animal, or any unclean abomination, and eats some of the meat of the sacrifice of peace offerings which belong to Yahweh, that soul shall be cut off from his people.’ ” Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘You shall eat no fat, of bull, or sheep, or goat. The fat of that which dies of itself, and the fat of that which is torn of animals, may be used for any other service, but you shall in no way eat of it.
Key Themes in Leviticus 7
Leviticus 7 completes the law of the offerings with emphasis on thanksgiving. The peace offering's three types — thanksgiving, votive, and freewill — show that worship responds to God's specific acts of deliverance, fulfills commitments, and expresses spontaneous devotion. The time limits for eating the meat teach prompt obedience and the sacredness of holy things. The chapter's formal summary (verses 37-38) organizes the five offerings into a coherent system, showing that God's instructions are orderly and complete.
“ ‘But if the sacrifice of his offering is a vow, or a free will offering, it shall be eaten on the day that he offers his sacrifice. On the next day what remains of it shall be eaten, but what remains of the meat of the sacrifice on the third day shall be burned with fire. If any of the meat of the sacrifice of his peace offerings is eaten on the third day, it will not be accepted, and it shall not be credited to him who offers it. It will be an abomination, and the soul who eats any of it will bear his iniquity. “ ‘The meat that touches any unclean thing shall not be eaten. It shall be burned with fire. As for the meat, everyone who is clean may eat it; but the soul who eats of the meat of the sacrifice of peace offerings that belongs to Yahweh, having his uncleanness on him, that soul shall be cut off from his people. When anyone touches any unclean thing, the uncleanness of man, or an unclean animal, or any unclean abomination, and eats some of the meat of the sacrifice of peace offerings which belong to Yahweh, that soul shall be cut off from his people.’ ” Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘You shall eat no fat, of bull, or sheep, or goat. The fat of that which dies of itself, and the fat of that which is torn of animals, may be used for any other service, but you shall in no way eat of it. For whoever eats the fat of the animal which men offer as an offering made by fire to Yahweh, even the soul who eats it shall be cut off from his people. You shall not eat any blood, whether it is of bird or of animal, in any of your dwellings. Whoever it is who eats any blood, that soul shall be cut off from his people.’ ” Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘He who offers the sacrifice of his peace offerings to Yahweh shall bring his offering to Yahweh out of the sacrifice of his peace offerings. With his own hands he shall bring the offerings of Yahweh made by fire. He shall bring the fat with the breast, that the breast may be waved for a wave offering before Yahweh. The priest shall burn the fat on the altar, but the breast shall be Aaron’s and his sons’.
How Leviticus 7 Points to Christ
The peace offering's shared meal prefigures the Lord's Supper, where believers share in Christ's body and blood. Jesus instituted this meal as the new covenant in his blood (Luke 22:20). The fellowship that the peace offering symbolized is now realized in the communion of believers with Christ and with one another. The thanksgiving offering points to the Eucharist, which means 'thanksgiving,' and the freewill offering reminds us that our worship should be spontaneous and joyful.
“ ‘As is the sin offering, so is the trespass offering; there is one law for them. The priest who makes atonement with them shall have it. The priest who offers any man’s burnt offering shall have for himself the skin of the burnt offering which he has offered. Every meal offering that is baked in the oven, and all that is prepared in the pan and on the griddle, shall be the priest’s who offers it. Every meal offering, mixed with oil or dry, belongs to all the sons of Aaron, one as well as another. “ ‘This is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which one shall offer to Yahweh: If he offers it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes mixed with oil.
Practical Application for Today
The peace offering's shared meal reminds you that worship includes fellowship. You were not saved to be isolated. The Lord's Supper is a regular reminder of your communion with Christ and with his body, the church. Do not neglect gathering with God's people to share in the feast he has provided. The thanksgiving offering reminds you to give thanks for God's specific acts of deliverance in your life.
Related Bible Studies
- Leviticus 1: The Burnt Offering
- Leviticus 4: The Sin Offering
- Leviticus 8: The Consecration of the Priests
- Leviticus 16: The Day of Atonement
- Leviticus 19: Holiness in Daily Life
- Leviticus 25: The Sabbath Year and Jubilee
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main theme of Leviticus 7?
Leviticus 7 focuses on the law of the offerings. The chapter provides divine instruction for how Israel was to worship God and live as his holy people. It is part of God's covenant revelation at Sinai, teaching his people how to approach him and dwell in his presence.
How does Leviticus 7 point forward to Jesus Christ?
The sacrificial system in Leviticus 7 prefigures Christ's once-for-all sacrifice. The offerings, priesthood, and purification rituals all anticipated the perfect high priest and perfect sacrifice who would come. Hebrews 9-10 explains that the law was a shadow of the good things to come, but Christ is the substance.
Why should Christians study Leviticus 7 today?
Christians study Leviticus 7 to understand the depth of God's holiness, the seriousness of sin, and the grace of the gospel. The chapter reveals what it cost to approach God under the old covenant and helps us appreciate what Christ accomplished. Paul wrote that whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction (Romans 15:4).
Biblical fidelity check
This study of Leviticus 7 draws directly from the World English Bible (WEB) text. The WEB is a modern, public-domain English translation based on the Masoretic Text and the Greek Textus Receptus. All scripture quotations in this article are from the WEB translation. The interpretations presented here follow the historic Christian understanding of Leviticus as part of God's inspired Word and as a witness to Christ, in line with the Reformation principle that Scripture interprets Scripture and that the Old Testament bears witness to Christ (Luke 24:27).
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