The liver and kidneys as vital internal organs of the body
Proverbs 7:23 See also Job 16:13, Job 20:24–25
until an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare— not knowing it will cost him his life.
The liver and kidneys are symbolic of human emotions and the conscience
Psalm 73:21 The Hebrew words for liver and kidneys are occasionally translated as “heart”, “spirit” or “inmost being”. See also Job 19:27; Proverbs 23:16; Jeremiah 12:2; Lamentations 2:11, Lamentations 3:13
When my heart was grieved and I was pierced within,
God examines the innermost being as symbolised by the kidneys
Psalm 26:2 See also Psalm 7:9; Jeremiah 11:20, Jeremiah 17:10, Jeremiah 20:12
Test me, O LORD, and try me; examine my heart and mind.
God is concerned for the innermost being as symbolised by the kidneys
Psalm 139:13 See also Psalm 16:7
For You formed my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb.
The liver and kidneys as offered in animal sacrifice
Liver and kidneys offered in various sacrifices
Leviticus 3:3–5 The liver and kidneys are associated with the fat as the choice parts of the animal. See also Leviticus 3:9–11, Leviticus 3:14–16, Leviticus 4:8–10, Leviticus 7:3–6
From the peace offering he is to bring a food offering to the LORD: the fat that covers the entrails, all the fat that is on them, both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the lobe of the liver, which he is to remove with the kidneys. Then Aaron’s sons are to burn it on the altar atop the burnt offering that is on the burning wood, as a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.
Liver and kidneys had a central role in the ordination services for priests
Exodus 29:13, Exodus 29:22–25; Leviticus 8:16–17, Leviticus 8:25–28, Leviticus 9:8–10, Leviticus 9:19–21
Divination by inspection of the liver
Ezekiel 21:21 Divination by inspection of the liver (hepatoscopy) was a common practice. The future was predicted from the colour and configuration of the liver of a sacrificial animal, usually a sheep.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.