Leviticus 7 Overview
Leviticus 7 completes laws for the trespass offering and peace offerings. It distinguishes thanksgiving offerings from vows and freewill offerings, sets time limits for eating sacrificial meat, prohibits eating sacrificial flesh while unclean, repeats the prohibition on eating fat and blood, and assigns portions to officiating priests. The chapter closes by summarizing the sacrificial laws given at Sinai.
Before you read Leviticus 7
Coming from
Leviticus 6 gave restitution laws and priestly procedures for burnt, grain, and sin offerings.
In this chapter
The chapter regulates trespass offerings, peace offerings, sacrificial eating, prohibited fat and blood, and priestly portions.
Leads into
Leviticus 8 shifts from sacrificial legislation to the actual consecration of Aaron and his sons for priestly ministry.
Key understanding
Leviticus 7 completes laws for the trespass offering and peace offerings. It distinguishes thanksgiving offerings from vows and freewill offerings, sets time limits for eating sacrificial meat, prohibits eating sacrificial flesh while unclean, repeats the prohibition on eating fat and blood, and assigns portions to officiating priests. The chapter closes by summarizing the sacrificial laws given at Sinai.
Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper
Truth 1
The trespass offering is declared most holy and handled with specific priestly rules.
Truth 2
Peace offerings have different categories: thanksgiving, vow, and voluntary offering.
Truth 3
Sacrificial fellowship has time boundaries; meat cannot be treated casually after the appointed period.
Truth 4
Uncleanness affects eligibility to eat holy sacrificial food.
Truth 5
God provides portions for priests from the sacrificial system.
Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper
Connection 1
Leviticus 3 introduced the peace offering; chapter 7 completes its regulations.
Connection 2
Leviticus 17 further develops the prohibition on eating blood.
Connection 3
Deuteronomy describes joyful sacrificial meals before the LORD within Israel’s worship.
Connection 4
1 Corinthians 10 uses sacrificial eating as an analogy when warning Christians against participation in idolatry.
What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper
Keep this clear 1
The peace offering’s communal eating should not be confused with the Lord’s supper; they are distinct covenant ordinances.
Keep this clear 2
Time limits and cleanness rules emphasize holiness rather than food preservation alone.
Keep this clear 3
The fat prohibition should be read in relation to the sacrificial portions defined in the law.
Keep this clear 4
Priestly portions are divinely assigned support for ministry, not a means of selling access to God.
Read Leviticus 7 watching for…
The phrase “most holy.”
The three kinds of peace offering.
The deadlines for eating sacrificial meat.
Rules concerning uncleanness.
The breast and shoulder assigned to priests.