The Meaning of Leviticus 3:6 Explained

Leviticus 3:6

KJV: 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.

YLT: And if his offering is out of the flock for a sacrifice of peace-offerings to Jehovah, male or female, a perfect one he doth bring near;

Darby: And if his offering for a sacrifice of peace-offering to Jehovah be of small cattle, male or female, he shall present it without blemish.

ASV: And if his oblation for a sacrifice of peace-offerings unto Jehovah be of the flock; male or female, he shall offer it without blemish.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Leviticus 3:6 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 3:6 mean?

And if of the flock his offering as a sacrifice of a peace offering [is] to Yahweh [whether] male or female without blemish he shall offer it
וְאִם־ מִן־ הַצֹּ֧אן קָרְבָּנ֛וֹ לְזֶ֥בַח שְׁלָמִ֖ים לַיהוָ֑ה זָכָר֙ א֣וֹ נְקֵבָ֔ה תָּמִ֖ים יַקְרִיבֶֽנּוּ

וְאִם־  And  if 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Conjunction
Root: אִם  
Sense: if.
הַצֹּ֧אן  the  flock 
Parse: Article, Noun, common singular
Root: צֹאן  
Sense: small cattle, sheep, sheep and goats, flock, flocks.
קָרְבָּנ֛וֹ  his  offering 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: קָרְבָּן 
Sense: offering, oblation.
לְזֶ֥בַח  as  a  sacrifice 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: זֶבַח  
Sense: sacrifice.
שְׁלָמִ֖ים  of  a  peace  offering  [is] 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: שֶׁלֶם  
Sense: peace offering, requital, sacrifice for alliance or friendship.
לַיהוָ֑ה  to  Yahweh 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: Jehovah—used primarily in the combination ‘Lord Jehovah’.
זָכָר֙  [whether]  male 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: זָכָר  
Sense: male (of humans and animals) adj.
נְקֵבָ֔ה  female 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: נְקֵבָה  
Sense: female.
תָּמִ֖ים  without  blemish 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: תָּמִים  
Sense: complete, whole, entire, sound.
יַקְרִיבֶֽנּוּ  he  shall  offer  it 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: קָרַב  
Sense: to come near, approach, enter into, draw near.