Read Leviticus 3 at Bible Gateway.
The peace offering, like the grain offering, was a voluntary offering brought as worship by a man in right relationship with God. In Hebrew, the peace offering is shelem, from the same root as shalom. The root verb for both is Strong’s H7999 שלם shalam, meaning, ‘to be whole, sound, or safe.’ The ancient pictographs were
sin ס = thorn (grab, hate, protect)
lamed ל = shepherd’s staff (teach, yoke, to, bind)
mem מ, ם = water (chaos, mighty, blood)
The Hebrew Root Word parable is of the thorns (sin) which the shepherd (lamed) drew from the sheep’s wool, taking away from them what was causing pain or trouble (mem), or of the thorns with which the shepherd surrounded the sheep, adding to them what would prevent pain or trouble (for a shepherd surrounded his flock with thorn bushes at night, to deter predators from coming in among them).
Taking away from, or adding to, whatever is necessary to make something complete or whole is the essential meaning. Thus to be at peace, or to be in a covenant of peace, is to be complete, with nothing missing, and nothing added that shouldn’t be.
When YHVH adds blessing to, or subtracts cursing from, a man, to bring him into a state of completeness or wholeness (shalom), the man responds with a peace offering (shelem) to thank Him for His care.
Why This Matters: To experience God’s peace isn’t mere calm in the midst of chaos—it’s being made complete in Him with nothing lacking, guarded like sheep in the Shepherd’s fold.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Phi 4:6-7
The Hebrew paragraphs for this chapter:
3:1-5 {p} The law of the peace offering (shelem) of the herd
3:6-11 {p} The law of the peace offering (shelem) of the flock
3:12-17 {p} The law of the peace offering (shelem) of the goats
If there are questions, this is a good resource:
Leviticus 1 through 3, The voluntary burnt offerings – Christine Miller
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