Vayikra (Leviticus) Chapter 3

1If his sacrifice is a peace-promoting feast-offering, if he brings it from cattle, whether male or female, he must bring it unblemished before God.   אוְאִם־זֶ֥בַח שְׁלָמִ֖ים קָרְבָּנ֑וֹ אִ֤ם מִן־הַבָּקָר֙ ה֣וּא מַקְרִ֔יב אִם־זָכָר֙ אִם־נְקֵבָ֔ה תָּמִ֥ים יַקְרִיבֶ֖נּוּ לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה:
שְׁלָמִים - Peace-promoting. They are so called because they bring peace (שָׁלוֹם) into the world. Another explanation of שְׁלָמִים: Through them there is peace and harmony between the Altar, the priests, and the owners.   שְׁלָמִים.  שֶׁמְּטִילִים שָׁלוֹם בָּעוֹלָם; דָּבָר אַחֵר: שְׁלָמִים שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהֶם שָׁלוֹם לַמִּזְבֵּחַ וְלַכֹּהֲנִים וְלַבְּעָלִים (ספרא):
2He must lean his hand upon the head of his sacrifice and slaughter it outside the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. Aaron’s descendants who are priests must dash the blood in an encircling manner onto the Altar.   בוְסָמַ֤ךְ יָדוֹ֙ עַל־רֹ֣אשׁ קָרְבָּנ֔וֹ וּשְׁחָט֕וֹ פֶּ֖תַח אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֑ד וְזָֽרְק֡וּ בְּנֵי֩ אַֽהֲרֹ֨ן הַכֹּֽהֲנִ֧ים אֶת־הַדָּ֛ם עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ סָבִֽיב:
3He must bring a fire-offering to God from the peace-promoting feast-offering, consisting of the fat covering the innards, all the fat that is on the innards,   גוְהִקְרִיב֙ מִזֶּ֣בַח הַשְּׁלָמִ֔ים אִשֶּׁ֖ה לַֽיהֹוָ֑ה אֶת־הַחֵ֨לֶב֙ הַֽמְכַסֶּ֣ה אֶת־הַקֶּ֔רֶב וְאֵת֙ כָּל־הַחֵ֔לֶב אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־הַקֶּֽרֶב:
וְאֵת כָּל־הַחֵלֶב וגו' - All the fat… The term כָּל “all” is added to include also the fat on the abomasum: this is the opinion of Rabbi Yishmael. Rabbi Akiva says it is added to include just the fat upon the small intestine.   וְאֵת כָּל־הַחֵלֶב וגו'.  לְהָבִיא חֵלֶב שֶׁעַל הַקֵּבָה דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל, רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא אוֹמֵר לְהָבִיא חֵלֶב שֶׁעַל הַדַּקִּין (שם):
4the two kidneys, the fat that is on them and that is on the flanks; he must also remove the diaphragm, along with the kidneys and along with part of the liver.   דוְאֵת֙ שְׁתֵּ֣י הַכְּלָיֹ֔ת וְאֶת־הַחֵ֨לֶב֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עֲלֵהֶ֔ן אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־הַכְּסָלִ֑ים וְאֶת־הַיֹּתֶ֨רֶת֙ עַל־הַכָּבֵ֔ד עַל־הַכְּלָי֖וֹת יְסִירֶֽנָּה:
הַכְּסָלִים - The flanks - “flancs” in Old French. Scripture expresses itself in this manner since the fat upon the kidneys, when the animal is alive, is at the upper end of the flanks, and the kidneys are under it. This refers to the fat under the loins, which is called “lonbels” in Old French; i.e., it is the white fat that is visible on the upper part of the flanks, but on the lower part of the flanks, the flesh of the flanks covers it.   הַכְּסָלִים.  פלנק"ש בְּלַעַז; שֶׁהַחֵלֶב שֶׁעַל הַכְּלָיוֹת כְּשֶׁהַבְּהֵמָה חַיָּה הוּא בְּגֹבַהּ הַכְּסָלִים מִלְּמַטָּה, וְזֶה הַחֵלֶב שֶׁתַּחַת הַמָּתְנַיִם — שֶׁקּוֹרִין בְּלַעַז לונבי"לוש — לֹבֶן הַנִּרְאֶה לְמַעְלָה בְּגֹבַהּ הַכְּסָלִים, וּבְתַחְתִּיתוֹ הַבָּשָֹר חוֹפֵהוּ:
הַיֹּתֶרֶת - This is the protective wall (the diaphragm), called “ebres” in Old French, and in Aramaic: חַצְרָא דְּכַבְדָּא “the lobe of the liver.”   הַיֹּתֶרֶת.  הוּא דֹּפֶן הַמָּסָךְ שֶׁקּוֹרִין איברי"ש, וּבְלָשׁוֹן אֲרַמִּי חִצְרָא דְּכַבְדָּא:
עַל־הַכָּבֵד - (lit.) On the liver - means that he should take a small part of the liver with it, and elsewhere it says: וְאֶת הַיֹּתֶרֶת מִן הַכָּבֵד “and the diaphragm with part of the liver.” 1   עַל־הַכָּבֵד.  שֶׁיִּטֹּל מִן הַכָּבֵד עִמָּהּ מְעַט, וּבְמָקוֹם אַחֵר הוּא אוֹמֵר וְאֶת הַיֹּתֶרֶת מִן הַכָּבֵד (ויקרא ט'):
עַל־הַכָּבֵד עַל־הַכְּלָיוֹת - means: “Besides the liver and besides the kidneys” he must remove this, the diaphragm.   עַל־הַכָּבֵד עַל־הַכְּלָיוֹת.  לְבַד מִן הַכָּבֵד וּלְבַד מִן הַכְּלָיוֹת יְסִירֶנָּה לְזוֹ:
5Aaron’s descendants must burn it up on the Altar—after the daily morning ascent-offering is on top of the wood on the fire—as a fire-offering pleasing to God.   הוְהִקְטִ֨ירוּ אֹת֤וֹ בְנֵי־אַֽהֲרֹן֙ הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חָה עַל־הָ֣עֹלָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר עַל־הָֽעֵצִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־הָאֵ֑שׁ אִשֵּׁ֛ה רֵ֥יחַ נִיחֹ֖חַ לַֽיהֹוָֽה:
עַל־הָעֹלָה - means: “Besides the ascent-offering.” We thus learn that the daily morning ascent-offering must precede all other sacrifices on the Altar pyre.   עַל־הָעֹלָה.  מִלְּבַד הָעוֹלָה; לִמְּדָנוּ שֶׁתִּקְדֹּם עוֹלַת תָּמִיד לְכָל קָרְבָּן עַל הַמַּעֲרָכָה (זבחים פ"ט):
6If his sacrifice is a peace-promoting feast-offering to God from the flock, whether male or female, he must bring it unblemished.   ווְאִם־מִן־הַצֹּ֧אן קָרְבָּנ֛וֹ לְזֶ֥בַח שְׁלָמִ֖ים לַֽיהֹוָ֑ה זָכָר֙ א֣וֹ נְקֵבָ֔ה תָּמִ֖ים יַקְרִיבֶֽנּוּ:
7If he brings a sheep as his sacrifice, he must bring it before God.   זאִם־כֶּ֥שֶׂב הֽוּא־מַקְרִ֖יב אֶת־קָרְבָּנ֑וֹ וְהִקְרִ֥יב אֹת֖וֹ לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה:
אִם־כֶּשֶׂב - If… a sheep. Since the designated parts of a sheep have an additional component that is not among the designated parts of the goat – for a sheep’s tail is also offered – they are therefore divided into two separate passages.   אִם־כֶּשֶׂב.  לְפִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ בְּאֵמוּרֵי הַכֶּשֶׂב מַה שֶּׁאֵין בְּאֵמוּרֵי הָעֵז, שֶׁהַכֶּשֶׂב אַלְיָתוֹ קְרֵבָה, לְכָךְ נֶחְלְקוּ לִשְׁתֵּי פָּרָשִׁיּוֹת (ספרא):
8He must lean his hand upon the head of his sacrifice and slaughter it in front of the Tent of Meeting. Aaron’s descendants must dash the blood in an encircling manner onto the Altar.   חוְסָמַ֤ךְ אֶת־יָדוֹ֙ עַל־רֹ֣אשׁ קָרְבָּנ֔וֹ וְשָׁחַ֣ט אֹת֔וֹ לִפְנֵ֖י אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֑ד וְ֠זָֽרְק֠וּ בְּנֵ֨י אַֽהֲרֹ֧ן אֶת־דָּמ֛וֹ עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ סָבִֽיב:
וְזָֽרְקוּ - [They] shall then dash - i.e., two applications that are visible on four sides. He dashes the blood by means of the vessel, and only in the case of a sin-offering does he place the blood on the Altar with his finger.   וְזָֽרְקוּ.  שְׁתֵּי מַתָּנוֹת שֶׁהֵן אַרְבַּע; וְעַל יְדֵי הַכְּלִי הוּא זוֹרֵק, וְאֵינוֹ נוֹתֵן בָּאֶצְבַּע אֶלָּא חַטָּאת (זבחים נ"ה):
9He must bring a fire-offering to God from the peace-promoting feast-offering, as follows: He must remove its choicest part: the entire tail, beginning at the kidneys; the fat covering the innards; all the fat that is on the innards;   טוְהִקְרִ֨יב מִזֶּ֣בַח הַשְּׁלָמִים֘ אִשֶּׁ֣ה לַֽיהֹוָה֒ חֶלְבּוֹ֙ הָֽאַלְיָ֣ה תְמִימָ֔ה לְעֻמַּ֥ת הֶֽעָצֶ֖ה יְסִירֶ֑נָּה וְאֶת־הַחֵ֨לֶב֙ הַֽמְכַסֶּ֣ה אֶת־הַקֶּ֔רֶב וְאֵת֙ כָּל־הַחֵ֔לֶב אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־הַקֶּֽרֶב:
חֶלְבּוֹ - (lit.) Its fat - means here “its choice part.” What is it? “the entire tail.”   חֶלְבּוֹ.  הַמֻּבְחָר שֶׁבּוֹ, וּמַהוּ? זֶה הָאַלְיָה תְּמִימָה:
לְעֻמַּת הֶֽעָצֶה - means above the kidneys that give counsel (יוֹעֲצוֹת).   לְעֻמַּת הֶֽעָצֶה.  לְמַעְלָה מִן הַכְּלָיוֹת הַיּוֹעֲצוֹת:
10the two kidneys along with the fat that is on them and that is on the flanks. He must remove the diaphragm, along with the kidneys and along with part of the liver.   יוְאֵת֙ שְׁתֵּ֣י הַכְּלָיֹ֔ת וְאֶת־הַחֵ֨לֶב֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עֲלֵהֶ֔ן אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־הַכְּסָלִ֑ים וְאֶת־הַיֹּתֶ֨רֶת֙ עַל־הַכָּבֵ֔ד עַל־הַכְּלָיֹ֖ת יְסִירֶֽנָּה:
11The priest must burn it up on the Altar, as food for the fire, to God.   יאוְהִקְטִיר֥וֹ הַכֹּהֵ֖ן הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חָה לֶ֥חֶם אִשֶּׁ֖ה לַֽיהֹוָֽה:
לֶחֶם אִשֶּׁה לה' - means the food for the fire, offered for the sake of God on High.   לֶחֶם אִשֶּׁה לה'.  לַחְמוֹ שֶׁל אֵשׁ לְשֵׁם גָּבוֹהַּ:
לֶחֶם - denotes food in general. Similarly we find: “Let us put a harmful plant in his food (בְּלַחְמוֹ),” 2 and “Belshatzar made a great feast (לְחֶם),” 3 and “For revelry they make a feast (לֶחֶם).” 4   לֶחֶם.  לְשׁוֹן מַאֲכָל, וְכֵן נַשְׁחִיתָה עֵץ בְּלַחְמוֹ (ירמיהו י"א), עֲבַד לְחֶם רַב (דניאל ה'), לִשְֹחוֹק עֹשִֹׁים לֶחֶם (קהלת י'):
12If his sacrifice is a goat, he must bring it before God.   יבוְאִם־עֵ֖ז קָרְבָּנ֑וֹ וְהִקְרִיב֖וֹ לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה:
13He must lean his hand upon its head and slaughter it in front of the Tent of Meeting. Aaron’s descendants must dash the blood in an encircling manner onto the Altar.   יגוְסָמַ֤ךְ אֶת־יָדוֹ֙ עַל־רֹאשׁ֔וֹ וְשָׁחַ֣ט אֹת֔וֹ לִפְנֵ֖י אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֑ד וְ֠זָֽרְק֠וּ בְּנֵ֨י אַֽהֲרֹ֧ן אֶת־דָּמ֛וֹ עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ סָבִֽיב:
14He must bring from it his offering—a fire-offering to God—the fat covering the innards, all the fat that is on the innards,   ידוְהִקְרִ֤יב מִמֶּ֨נּוּ֙ קָרְבָּנ֔וֹ אִשֶּׁ֖ה לַֽיהֹוָ֑ה אֶת־הַחֵ֨לֶב֙ הַֽמְכַסֶּ֣ה אֶת־הַקֶּ֔רֶב וְאֵת֙ כָּל־הַחֵ֔לֶב אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־הַקֶּֽרֶב:
15the two kidneys along with the fat that is on them and that is on the flanks. He must remove the diaphragm, along with the kidneys and along with part of the liver.   טווְאֵת֙ שְׁתֵּ֣י הַכְּלָיֹ֔ת וְאֶת־הַחֵ֨לֶב֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עֲלֵהֶ֔ן אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־הַכְּסָלִ֑ים וְאֶת־הַיֹּתֶ֨רֶת֙ עַל־הַכָּבֵ֔ד עַל־הַכְּלָיֹ֖ת יְסִירֶֽנָּה:
16The priest must burn them up on the Altar, as food for the fire, with the intention that it be pleasing to God. All fat belongs to God.   טזוְהִקְטִירָ֥ם הַכֹּהֵ֖ן הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חָה לֶ֤חֶם אִשֶּׁה֙ לְרֵ֣יחַ נִיחֹ֔חַ כָּל־חֵ֖לֶב לַֽיהֹוָֽה:
17It is an eternal rule for all your generations, in all your habitations: you must consume neither any fat nor any blood.’”   יזחֻקַּ֤ת עוֹלָם֙ לְדֹרֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם בְּכֹ֖ל מֽוֹשְׁבֹֽתֵיכֶ֑ם כָּל־חֵ֥לֶב וְכָל־דָּ֖ם לֹ֥א תֹאכֵֽלוּ:
חֻקַּת עוֹלָם - It is an eternal rule. This entire verse is well expounded in Torat Kohanim. 5   חֻקַּת עוֹלָם.  יָפֶה מְפֹרָשׁ בְּתוֹרַת כֹּהֲנִים כָּל הַפָּסוּק הַזֶּה: