Leviticus 3:15
And the two kidneys, and the fat that is vpon them, which is by the flancks, and the caule aboue the liuer with the kidneys, it shall he take away. Leviticus 3:15 (KJV)
Leviticus is a book of the Old Testament and forms part of the Torah, the third book of Moses. It records a series of laws and regulations given by God to the Israelites, with particular emphasis on the priesthood and the system of sacrifices.
Chapter 3 of Leviticus outlines the regulations concerning the peace offering. A peace offering was a voluntary act of worship presented before the Lord to express gratitude, fulfill a vow, or seek reconciliation. Unlike obligatory offerings, the peace offering was offered of the worshiper’s own free will.
Verse 15 specifies the portions of the peace offering that were to be removed and presented to God: the kidneys, the surrounding fat, and the lobe of the liver (the caul). The text commands that these parts be taken away from the animal and offered to the Lord as part of the prescribed ritual.
The biblical text does not explicitly assign symbolic meaning to the kidneys or to the liver lobe. While later tradition sometimes views the kidneys as representing the innermost thoughts and emotions, the Scripture itself merely lists them as required portions without further explanation. Likewise, the lobe of the liver is mentioned without comment on its value or delicacy.
Throughout Leviticus the sacrificial system served as the means by which the Israelites could approach God, seek forgiveness, express gratitude, and maintain a right relationship with Him. The detailed laws reminded the people of God’s holiness, the necessity of atonement for sin, and the importance of devotion and obedience.
For Christians, the Levitical sacrifices are no longer practiced because Jesus Christ fulfilled the ultimate sacrifice through His death and resurrection. Nevertheless, studying these ancient regulations offers valuable insight into the character of God, the principles of worship, and the way the Old Testament points forward to the redemptive work of Christ.
