A distinctive element of the fellowship offering was the removal of the fat. The word ḥělěḇ occurs ten times in Leviticus 3:1–17, and twice in the concluding statement. The repetitive directions concerning the fat portions are unique to the fellowship offering (Leviticus 3:9–10, Leviticus 3:14–15). The fat represented the choicest or best part of the offering (Genesis 4:4; Genesis 45:18; Numbers 18:12; Deuteronomy 32:14; Psalm 81:16; Psalm 147:14). The fat belonged to the Lord and had to be offered to him on the altar. Other offerings that required special treatment of the fat included the sin offering (Leviticus 4:8), the guilt offering (Leviticus 7:3), and the redemption of the firstborn (Numbers 18:17).
3 And from the sacrifice of the peace offering, as a food offering to the LORD, he shall offer the fat covering the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails,