Bible Strands
Leviticus 3:6
If, however, one’s peace offering to the LORD is from the flock, he must present a male or female without blemish.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The instruction follows the priestly directive for Aaron’s sons to burn the fat on the altar, establishing the ritual context for the people’s offerings. Moses provides this regulation to govern how Israelites present peace offerings to Yahweh.
The words — The text highlights שְׁלָמִים (shelamim), meaning "peace offerings," and זָכָר (zakar), meaning "male," alongside הַצֹּאן (hatzon), "the flock." These terms specify that the sacrifice must be an unblemished male or female drawn from sheep or goats.
The thread — The requirement for unblemished flock animals appears in Leviticus 1:10 for burnt offerings and mirrors the herd requirement in Leviticus 3:1. The general principle of bringing offerings to the LORD is established in Leviticus 1:2.
Why it lands — The text demands that worshippers bring physically perfect animals from their flocks to the altar, ensuring the offering meets the stated standard before the priest processes it. Readers must recognize that the ritual requires specific, unblemished livestock rather than arbitrary selections.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And if his offering for a sacrifice of peace offering unto the Lord be of the flock; male or female, he shall offer it without blemish.
Cross-references
- Leviticus 3:1 “If one’s offering is a peace offering and he offers an animal from the herd, whether male or female, he must present it without blemish before the LORD.
- Leviticus 1:2 “Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When any of you brings an offering to the LORD, you may bring as your offering an animal from the herd or the flock.
- Leviticus 1:10 If, however, one’s offering is a burnt offering from the flock—from the sheep or goats—he is to present an unblemished male.
- Isaiah 60:7 All the flocks of Kedar will be gathered to you; the rams of Nebaioth will serve you and go up on My altar with acceptance; I will adorn My glorious house.
- Acts 4:27 In fact, this is the very city where Herod and Pontius Pilate conspired with the Gentiles and the people of Israel against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed.
- Romans 12:1 Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
- Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
- Galatians 4:4 But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
- Ephesians 1:10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to bring all things in heaven and on earth together in Christ.
- Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.