A Study on the Theological Significance of Kidneys in the Bible - Focused on the Peace Offering -

In the Book of Leviticus, God institutes the sacrificial system, and among the five major sacrificial offerings, two kidneys, the visceral fat, and the caudate lobe of liver that are offered to God only in the peace offering are called ‘God’s food’. This study focuses on the two kidneys, referred to as ‘God's food,’ which are a unique element of the peace offering among the sacrificial systems established by God. While the Bible does not explicitly articulate the reason behind God's request for kidneys as food in the peace offering, it is assumed that this holds a special gospel meaning embedded in the sacrificial system. The objective of this study is to unveil the evangelical symbolism inherent in the kidneys presented as ‘God's food’ in the peace offering. Through an analysis of Old Testament passages employing the Hebrew word for kidneys, כְּ לָ יֹ֖ ו ת (kelāyôt), and a comprehensive review of relevant literature, the social understanding of kidneys in the Leviticus era is explored. Traditional interpretations justifying the inclusion of kidneys in the peace offering are critically reviewed, emphasizing their limitations. Additionally, this study theologically explores the gospel aspects of the Peace Feast, with a specific focus on the role of kidneys as ‘God's food’ within the gospel framework. Based on this analysis, I attempt to reinterpret God’s intention in requiring kidneys as ‘God's food’ through a gospel-centered perspective and shed light on the potential gospel symbolism associated with kidneys as sacrificial offerings in the peace offering.