And he shall take off from it all the fat of the bullock for the sin offering; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards,

LEVITICUS 4:8KJV
Know the Bible

Leviticus 4:8 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 4:8 mean?

Leviticus 4:8 describes how the priest must remove all the fat from the bull used as a sin offering, specifically the fat that covers and is on the inner organs. This is part of the detailed instructions for handling the animal during a sacrifice for sin.

In this verse, God is giving Moses instructions for the priests about the sin offering, a specific sacrifice meant to address unintentional sins among the Israelites. The focus on removing the fat from the inner parts of the bull shows the careful and respectful way the offering was to be prepared, following God's directions exactly.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 4:8

  • "fat" (חֵלֶב, chelev): This word refers to the specific kind of fat considered the best or choicest part, often reserved for God in sacrifices. Its removal and offering highlight the idea of giving the best portions to God.
  • "inwards" (קֶרֶב, qerev): This word means the inner parts or organs of the animal. The instructions emphasize that the fat connected to these inner organs is to be separated, not just any fat from the animal.
  • "off" (רוּם, rum): This verb means to lift up or remove. It carries the sense of carefully setting apart something special, not just discarding it.

Why Leviticus 4:8 matters

  • Leviticus 4:8 clarifies that not all parts of the animal were treated the same in offerings; certain fats had a special role in the ritual.
  • The verse shows the seriousness and detail involved in Old Testament sacrificial worship, where following God's instructions exactly was seen as important.
  • Understanding these details helps explain later references in the Bible to "fat" as something belonging to God, and why Israelites were forbidden to eat certain fats.

Where else these words appear

“fat” Hebrew H2459 · used in 69 verses

  • Genesis 4:4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
  • Leviticus 7:24 And the fat of the beast that dieth of itself, and the fat of that which is torn with beasts, may be used in any other use: but ye shall in no wise eat of it.
  • 1 Samuel 2:15 Also before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw.

“bullock” Hebrew H6499 · used in 119 verses

  • Genesis 32:15 Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and ten bulls, twenty she asses, and ten foals.
  • Numbers 7:63 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
  • Numbers 29:33 And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:

“covereth” Hebrew H3680 · used in 149 verses

  • Genesis 7:19 And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered.
  • 1 Samuel 19:13 And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth.
  • Proverbs 24:31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.