He is my Peace
The word SHALOWN is translated, make amends, end ,finish, full again,make restitution, restore,
and it is in the Old Testament when God gives Moses the instructions of the peace offering.
Le 3:1 And if his oblation (gift) be a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offer it of the herd; whether it be a male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the LORD.
Le 3:2 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and kill it at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron's sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about.
Le 3:3 And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire to the LORD; the fat that cover the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards,
from shalam, to complete, make whole- for by these offerings that which was lacking was considered as being now made up ans that which was broken- the covenant of god, by his creatures transgression was suppose to be made whole, so that after such an offering the sincere and conscientious mind had a right to consider that the breach between God and it Eph 2:14-19
It is an offering offered to God when man has broken his covenant with the Father by transgression his covenant. Man was to bring his pace offering to the tabernacle and his peace offering was offered to God in his stead for his sin, man was made whole, and his conscious mind of guilty, sin, and shame was removed he had committed against the Father, mans sin keeping him from having a relationship
18. Mymlv SHELAMIM, PEACE-offering, from Mlv shalam, to complete, make whole; for by these offerings that which was lacking was considered as being now made up, and that which was broken, viz., the covenant of God, by his creatures' transgression, was supposed to be made whole; so that after such an offering, the sincere and conscientious mind had a right to consider that the breach was made up between God and it, and that it might lay confident hold on this covenant of peace. To this the apostle evidently alludes, Eph 2:14-19: He is our peace, (i. e. our shalam or peace-offering,) who has made both one, and broken down the middle wall; having abolished in his flesh the enmity, &c. See the whole passage, and see ACC for Ge 14:18.
Shalom — The Peace Offering: Fellowship, Thanksgiving, and Communion with God
Biblical Exposition | Leviticus 3; Leviticus 7:11–36 | King James Version
The Peace Offering, known in Hebrew as Zevach Shelamim (זֶבַח שְׁלָמִים), was one of the five principal offerings established under the Mosaic Law. It was a sacrifice presented to the LORD that expressed peace, thanksgiving, fellowship, and joyful communion with God.
Unlike the sin offering, which dealt specifically with sin and purification, the peace offering emphasized the worshiper's relationship with God and the enjoyment of fellowship in His presence.
The Hebrew word shelamim is related to shalom, which conveys peace, wholeness, well-being, and harmony.
The peace offering was therefore more than an expression of gratitude. It was a sacred sacrifice through which the worshiper acknowledged God's goodness and participated in a covenant fellowship meal.
1. The Institution of the Peace Offering
Leviticus 3:1 (KJV)
And if his oblation be a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offer it of the herd; whether it be a male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the LORD.
God permitted the Israelites to present certain animals from their herds or flocks as peace offerings.
Unlike the burnt offering, which was entirely consumed upon the altar except for the hide, the peace offering involved portions assigned to God, the priests, and the worshiper.
This distinction is significant.
The peace offering was the sacrifice most closely associated with a sacred meal shared in God's presence.
What Happened During the Offering?
According to Leviticus 3 and 7:
The worshiper brought an acceptable animal without blemish.
The worshiper laid a hand upon the animal's head.
The animal was slaughtered before the LORD.
The priests sprinkled its blood upon the altar.
The prescribed fat portions were burned upon the altar as an offering to God.
The priests received designated portions.
The worshiper and other eligible participants ate the remaining meat according to the regulations of the sacrifice.
The blood was not consumed, and the fat portions designated for the LORD belonged to Him.
The peace offering involved sacrifice, priestly ministry, and fellowship through a sacred meal.
2. The Three Types of Peace Offerings
Leviticus 7:11–16 identifies three principal occasions for presenting a peace offering.
Offering | Hebrew term | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
Thanksgiving | Todah | Expressing gratitude for God's goodness or deliverance |
Vow | Neder | Fulfilling a vow made to the LORD |
Freewill | Nedavah | Voluntary worship and devotion to God |
The Thanksgiving Offering
Leviticus 7:12 (KJV)
If he offer it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes mingled with oil, of fine flour, fried.
The thanksgiving offering was an expression of gratitude for God's mercy, provision, or deliverance.
It included specified bread offerings alongside the animal sacrifice.
Leviticus 7:13 also required leavened bread to accompany the thanksgiving sacrifice.
The Vow Offering
A vow offering was presented in fulfillment of a solemn promise made to God.
It demonstrated the seriousness of keeping one's word before the LORD.
The Freewill Offering
A freewill offering was given voluntarily, without the obligation of a particular vow.
It expressed willing devotion and gratitude toward God.
3. The Peace Offering Was a Fellowship Meal
One of the most distinctive features of the peace offering was that the worshiper could eat a portion of the sacrificed animal.
Leviticus 7:15 (KJV)
And the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten the same day that it is offered; he shall not leave any of it until the morning.
The thanksgiving peace offering had to be eaten on the same day.
The vow and voluntary peace offerings could be eaten on the day of sacrifice and the following day, but not on the third day (Leviticus 7:16–18).
These instructions reveal that fellowship with God was holy and regulated by His commandments.
The meal was not ordinary entertainment.
It was worship.
The Spiritual Meaning of the Shared Meal
The peace offering involved three participants in a covenantal sense:
God: The prescribed fat portions were burned upon His altar.
The priests: They received portions assigned to them for their priestly service.
The worshiper: The remaining permitted meat was eaten in a sacred fellowship meal.
God did not literally eat the sacrifice. The altar portion represented what was dedicated to Him.
The shared meal expressed fellowship and thanksgiving within Israel's covenant relationship with the LORD.
Deuteronomy 12:7 describes the people eating before the LORD and rejoicing in His blessings.
4. The Peace Offering and the Blood of the Sacrifice
Leviticus 3:2 (KJV)
And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and kill it at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron's sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about.
The blood was an essential part of the sacrifice.
Leviticus 17:11 explains that the life of the flesh is in the blood and that God gave it upon the altar to make atonement.
Although the peace offering particularly emphasized fellowship and thanksgiving, it was still a blood sacrifice within Israel's sacrificial system.
The worshiper did not approach God's altar on personal terms.
He approached according to the instructions God had established.
Why Was the Blood Important?
The blood represented the life of the sacrificed animal.
Its application to the altar belonged to the sacred procedures of worship and atonement.
The peace offering reminds us that fellowship with the holy God cannot be separated from the seriousness of sin, holiness, and the divinely appointed means of approaching Him.
5. Jesus Christ — Our Peace
The New Testament reveals the ultimate foundation of reconciliation between God and humanity through Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:14 (KJV)
For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
Paul teaches that Jesus Christ is our peace.
Through His death, Christ reconciles believing Jews and Gentiles into one body.
Ephesians 2:16 explains that He reconciles both unto God through the cross.
Colossians 1:20 declares:
And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself...
How Does Christ Fulfill the Meaning of the Peace Offering?
The peace offering provides a meaningful Old Testament background for understanding reconciliation and fellowship with God.
Through Jesus Christ:
Believers have peace with God through justification (Romans 5:1).
Those who were far off are brought near by His blood (Ephesians 2:13).
Jews and Gentiles are reconciled in one body (Ephesians 2:14–16).
Believers enjoy fellowship with the Father and His Son (1 John 1:3).
The New Testament does not explicitly identify every feature of the peace offering as a direct prophecy of Christ. Nevertheless, its themes of sacrifice, peace, thanksgiving, and fellowship find their fullest Christian significance in His reconciling work.
Christ does not merely give peace. He is our peace.
6. The Difference Between the Peace Offering and the Other Sacrifices
Offering | Principal emphasis |
|---|---|
Burnt Offering — Leviticus 1 | Complete dedication to God |
Meat/Grain Offering — Leviticus 2 | Tribute and thanksgiving through the produce of the land |
Peace Offering — Leviticus 3 | Fellowship, thanksgiving, and covenant communion |
Sin Offering — Leviticus 4 | Purification and atonement for sin |
Trespass Offering — Leviticus 5–6 | Reparation and atonement for specific offences |
These sacrifices served different but sometimes overlapping purposes within Israel's worship.
The peace offering was particularly distinguished by the sacred meal associated with it.
7. The Spiritual Significance of Shalom
Biblical peace is more than the absence of conflict.
The Hebrew concept of shalom includes well-being, wholeness, harmony, and the flourishing associated with God's blessing.
Yet the peace offering must first be understood within its original setting under the Mosaic covenant.
It was not a ritual for creating wealth or guaranteeing a life without trouble.
It was a sacrifice of worship through which Israel expressed thanksgiving and fellowship with the LORD.
For believers in Jesus Christ, peace with God is established through His redemptive work.
Romans 5:1 declares:
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
This is the foundation of Christian peace.
We are not reconciled to God through the repeated offering of animals.
We are reconciled through Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 10:10 teaches that believers are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Conclusion — The Peace Offering and Fellowship with God
The peace offering reveals that God desired His covenant people to approach Him with reverence, thanksgiving, and joy.
It was an offering associated with peace and fellowship, yet it was governed by the holiness of God.
The worshiper could not treat the sacrifice casually.
The blood belonged to the altar, the prescribed fat portions belonged to the LORD, the priests received their appointed portions, and the worshiper participated in the sacred meal according to God's instructions.
In the New Testament, the deepest meaning of reconciliation is revealed through Jesus Christ.
Through His blood, believers are brought near to God and enjoy fellowship with Him.
The peace offering reminds us that true peace is not merely peace within ourselves or peace with other people. The greatest peace is reconciliation with God.
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