The Meaning of Leviticus 3:12 Explained

Leviticus 3:12

KJV: And if his offering be a goat, then he shall offer it before the LORD.

YLT: And if his offering is a goat, then he hath brought it near before Jehovah,

Darby: And if his offering be a goat, then he shall present it before Jehovah.

ASV: And if his oblation be a goat, then he shall offer it before Jehovah:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And if his offering  [be] a goat,  then he shall offer  it before  the LORD. 

What does Leviticus 3:12 Mean?

Context Summary

Leviticus 3:1-17 - Peace-Offerings From The Herd And The Flocks
The Lord Jesus has been set forth in Leviticus 1:1-17 as the burned-offering in relation to God; and in Leviticus 2:1-16, as the meal-offering in relation to man. We are now to regard Him as the peace-offering, to rectify the disturbed relations between God and man. It supplied food for God in the fat devoured by the sacred fire upon the altar, it fed the priests in those parts specially reserved for them, Leviticus 7:33-34; but the worshiper also might participate, Leviticus 7:15. Thus it was a feast that brought into close relations God, priest and people, and it furnished a beautiful typical picture of the truth taught in 1 John 1:3, "Our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ."
Before sitting at the sacrificial feast the offerer laid his hand on the victim's head, as though to transfer his sins; and we are reminded that we cannot feast on Christ as our Passover unless we have been first pardoned and justified through His death. [source]

Chapter Summary: Leviticus 3

1  The peace offering of the herd
6  whether a sheep
7  whether a lamb
12  or a goat
17  A prohibition to eat fat or blood

What do the individual words in Leviticus 3:12 mean?

And if [is] a goat his offering then he shall offer it before Yahweh
וְאִ֥ם עֵ֖ז קָרְבָּנ֑וֹ וְהִקְרִיב֖וֹ לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָֽה

וְאִ֥ם  And  if 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Conjunction
Root: אִם  
Sense: if.
עֵ֖ז  [is]  a  goat 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: עֵז  
Sense: female goat, she-goat, goat, kid.
קָרְבָּנ֑וֹ  his  offering 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: קָרְבָּן 
Sense: offering, oblation.
וְהִקְרִיב֖וֹ  then  he  shall  offer  it 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: קָרַב  
Sense: to come near, approach, enter into, draw near.
לִפְנֵ֥י  before 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
יְהוָֽה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.