Leviticus 3 describes the peace offering—the only sacrifice where the person bringing it actually got to eat part of the meat. The Targum Jonathan adds a small but theologically loaded detail: the worshipper must lay specifically his right hand on the animal's head.
The Hebrew Bible just says "hand." The Targum insists on the right hand, and it does this consistently throughout the chapter—for cattle, for sheep, for goats. This is not a minor scribal choice. In ancient Near Eastern and Jewish thought, the right hand represents power, blessing, and favor. By specifying the right hand, the Targum turns a physical gesture into a theological statement about the intentionality required in worship.
Another quiet addition: the Targum introduces a distinct figure called "the slayer" who actually kills the animal, separate from both the worshipper and the priest. The Hebrew Bible is ambiguous about who performs the slaughter. The Targum clarifies the division of labor—the owner lays hands, a designated slayer kills, and the sons of Aaron handle the blood and the altar.
The chapter's conclusion carries the Targum's most striking insertion. Where the Hebrew Bible says fat and blood must not be eaten, the Targum adds that they shall instead be "sacrificed upon the back of the altar unto the Name of the Lord." This transforms a dietary prohibition into a positive commandment—the fat belongs not to you but to God.
The peace offering was meant to celebrate wholeness between heaven and earth. The Targum makes sure every gesture points in that direction.
And if his oblation be of the sanctified victims, if from thy cattle he offer, whether male or female, he shall offer it perfect.
And he shall lay his right hand firmly on the head of his oblation, and the slayer shall kill it at the door of the tabernacle of ordinance, and the priests the sons of Aharon shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about.
And of the sanctified victim, his oblation before the Lord, he shall offer the covering of fat which covereth the inwards, even all the fat which is upon the inwards.
And the two kidneys, and the fat which is upon them, that is, upon the folding and the caul that is upon the liver with the kidneys, he shall remove.
And the sons of Aharon shall offer it on the altar with the sacrifice that is on the wood which is upon the fire, an oblation to be received with favour before the Lord.
And if his oblation of a consecrated offering before the Lord be from the flock, whether male or female, his oblation shall be perfect.
If he present a lamb for his oblation, he shall bring it before the Lord;
and lay his right hand firmly on the head of his oblation, and the slayer shall kill it before the tabernacle of ordinance, and the sons of Aharon shall sprinkle its blood upon the altar round about.
And of the offering of his consecrated oblation he shall offer the best of its fat,, and remove the whole of the tail, close to the spine, the covering of fat which covereth the inwards, even all the fat that is upon the inwards.
And the two kidneys and the fat which is upon them, upon the foldings, and the caul that is over the liver, together with the kidneys, he shall take away.
And the priest shall sacrifice it at the altar, the meat of an oblation before the Lord.
And if his oblation be from the young goats, he shall bring it before the Lord,
and lay his right hand upon its head, and the slayer shall kill it before the tabernacle of ordinance, and the sons of Aharon shall sprinkle its, blood upon the altar round about.
And of his oblation before the Lord he shall offer the covering of fat which covereth the inwards, even all the fat that is upon the inwards.
And the two kidneys and the fat which is upon them (and) on the foldings, and the caul which is over the liver, along with the kidneys, he shall take away.
And the priest shall sacrifice them at the altar, the meat of an oblation to be received with favour. All the fat (shall be offered) before the Lord.
It is an everlasting statute unto all your generations, that neither the fat nor the blood shall be eaten in any of your dwellings, but upon the back of the altar it shall be sacrificed unto the Name of the Lord.
