Leviticus 7:18 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 7:18 mean?

Leviticus 7:18 says that if anyone eats any of the meat from a peace offering on the third day after it was sacrificed, that offering will not be accepted by God, and it will not count for the person who brought it; instead, eating it becomes a serious offense, and the person will be held responsible for this wrongdoing. The verse treats eating the sacrifice at the wrong time as a violation that brings guilt on the eater.

In this verse, God is giving instructions to Moses for the Israelites about the proper way to handle peace offerings. The rule is specific: the meat from these offerings must not be eaten after a certain time (the third day). This command highlights the importance of following God’s instructions exactly, especially in matters of worship and sacrifice. The consequence for breaking this rule is described as severe, showing how seriously these rituals were taken in ancient Israel.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 7:18

• "Abomination" (פִּגּוּל, piggul): This word means something detestable or unacceptable, often used for things that are ritually impure. Calling the act an "abomination" stresses that eating the sacrifice late is not just a minor mistake but a serious violation of holiness.
• "Bear his iniquity" (נָשָׂא, nasa + עָוֹן, avon): The phrase means to carry the guilt or consequences of wrongdoing. Here, it shows that the person who eats the meat at the wrong time is fully responsible for the sin and its results.
• "Accepted" (רָצָה, ratsah): This word means to be pleased with or to accept favorably. The verse makes clear that God will not accept the offering if the rules are broken, so the act of sacrifice loses its intended purpose.

Why Leviticus 7:18 matters

• Leviticus 7:18 clarifies that not all sacrifices are automatically pleasing to God; the manner and timing of the offering matter just as much as the act itself.
• The verse emphasizes personal responsibility—if someone knowingly breaks the rule, they alone "bear their iniquity," which means the community is not punished for one person's actions.
• This instruction fits into a larger pattern in Leviticus where God sets boundaries for worship, showing that holiness involves both outward actions and careful attention to God's commands.