The fat of the peace offering was never to be eaten because it was considered the Lord’s portion, symbolizing the best and richest part of the sacrifice dedicated entirely to Him. Fat represented abundance and the choicest part of the animal, and therefore it was reserved exclusively for God as an act of honor and worship.
Leviticus 3:16–17 says:
“And the priest shall burn them on the altar as food, an offering made by fire for a sweet aroma; all the fat is the Lord’s. This shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwellings: you shall eat neither fat nor blood.”
By forbidding the eating of fat, God emphasized that the worshiper must not take what belongs to Him. It reinforced the principle that the best is to be given to the Lord. The burning of the fat on the altar signified that the choicest part of life belongs to God alone.
This command also pointed to holiness and separation. Just as fat was set apart for God, so His people were to be consecrated to Him in every aspect of life. It was a constant reminder of God’s ownership and the priority of His honor in worship.
