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Peace Offerings

Peace offerings were voluntary sacrifices in the Old Testament that expressed thanksgiving, worship, and fellowship with God, with portions shared among the priests and the worshiper's household. They prefigure Christ's reconciliation and our fellowship with God through Him.

Overview

The peace offering (also called fellowship offering) was one of the primary sacrifices under the Mosaic Law. Unlike sin or trespass offerings, peace offerings were voluntary and expressed gratitude, fulfillment of vows, or spontaneous worship. The offering included a valuable animal (cattle, sheep, or goats) whose fat portions were burned to the Lord, while the meat was shared between the priests and the worshiper's household, emphasizing covenant fellowship.

Key Scriptures

"If his offering is a peace offering, if he offers an animal from the herd, male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the Lord" (Leviticus 3:1, ESV). "When you blow the trumpets, all the congregation shall gather themselves to you at the entrance of the tent of meeting" (Numbers 10:10, ESV). "King Solomon offered a sacrifice of peace offerings to the Lord, 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep" (1 Kings 8:62, NASB).

Application

Consider how peace offerings teach us to respond to God's blessings with gratitude and to pursue reconciliation and fellowship with both God and others as worshipers of Christ.

Scripture References 40

Leviticus 3:1 Leviticus 3:6 Leviticus 3:12 Leviticus 3:5 Leviticus 3:16 Leviticus 7:12 Leviticus 7:13 Leviticus 7:16 Numbers 10:10 Exodus 29:22 Exodus 29:29 1 Samuel 11:15 Numbers 7:17 Numbers 7:23 1 Kings 8:62 1 Kings 8:63 1 Kings 8:64 Numbers 6:14 2 Samuel 24:25 2 Samuel 6:17 Judges 20:26 Joshua 8:31 2 Chronicles 33:15 2 Chronicles 33:16 1 Kings 9:25 Exodus 24:5 Ezekiel 45:15 Ephesians 2:13 Ephesians 2:14 Leviticus 9:4 Exodus 20:24 Exodus 24:5 Leviticus 3:6 Leviticus 7:11 Leviticus 19:5 Judges 21:4 1 Samuel 10:8 1 Kings 3:15 Leviticus 7:31 Leviticus 7:32

Full Topical Reference List 86 total — Nave's Topical Bible

A male or female of herd or flock

Leviticus 3:1 Leviticus 3:6 Leviticus 3:12

An offering most acceptable

Leviticus 3:5 Leviticus 3:16

As a thanksgiving-offering

Leviticus 7:12 Leviticus 7:13

As a votive offering

At all the festivals

Numbers 10:10

At consecration of priests

Exodus 29:22 Exodus 29:29

At coronation of kings

At dedication of tabernacle

Numbers 7:17 Numbers 7:23

At dedication of temple

1 Kings 8:62 1 Kings 8:63 1 Kings 8:64

At expiration of Nazarite's vow

Numbers 6:14

By David after the plague

By David on bringing up the ark

2 Samuel 6:17

By Israel after their defeat

Judges 20:26

By Joshua after his victories

Joshua 8:31

By Manasseh on repairing and restoring the altar

2 Chronicles 33:15 2 Chronicles 33:16

By Solomon three times a year

1 Kings 9:25

For confirming the legal covenant

Exodus 24:5

For reconciliation

Ephesians 2:13 Ephesians 2:14 Ezekiel 45:15

For the people at large

Leviticus 9:4

General references

Exodus 20:24 Exodus 24:5 Leviticus 3:6 Leviticus 7:11 Leviticus 19:5

Generally accompanied by a burnt-offering

1 Kings 3:15 1 Samuel 10:8 Judges 21:4

Had the shoulder and breast as his portion

Exodus 29:28 Leviticus 7:31 Leviticus 7:32 Leviticus 7:33 Leviticus 7:34

Heaved the right shoulder as an heave-offering

Exodus 29:22 Exodus 29:23 Exodus 29:24 Exodus 29:25 Exodus 29:26 Exodus 29:27

If a thanksgiving offering to be eaten the day offered

If a votive offering to be eaten the same day or the next

Leviticus 7:16 Leviticus 7:17 Leviticus 19:6 Leviticus 19:7 Leviticus 19:8

Laid it upon the daily burnt offering to be consumed with it

Leviticus 3:5 Leviticus 6:12 Leviticus 6:13

No unclean person to eat of

Leviticus 7:20 Leviticus 7:21

Offered the inside fat, &c by fire

Leviticus 3:3 Leviticus 3:4 Leviticus 3:9 Leviticus 3:10

Often accompanied by a sin-offering

Leviticus 23:19

Prepared

Ezekiel 46:2

Required to be perfect and free from blemish

Leviticus 3:1 Leviticus 3:6 Leviticus 22:21

Sprinkled the blood on the altar

Leviticus 3:2 Leviticus 3:8 Leviticus 3:13

To be eaten before the Lord

Deuteronomy 12:17 Deuteronomy 12:18

To bring it himself

Leviticus 7:29 Leviticus 7:30

To give it freely

To kill it at tabernacle door

Leviticus 3:2 Leviticus 8:13

To lay his hand upon its head

Leviticus 3:2 Leviticus 3:8 Leviticus 3:13

Waved the breast as a wave-offering

Exodus 29:26 Exodus 29:28 Leviticus 7:29 Leviticus 7:30

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