Shelamim

Shelamim, or zevach shelamim, is a category of sacrifices in the Hebrew Bible commonly translated as “peace offerings” or “sacrifices of well-being.” The name derives from the Hebrew root sh-l-m (shalem), meaning whole, complete, or at peace, reflecting the intended expression of gratitude, devotion, or communal celebration.

In biblical law, shlamim were voluntary offerings or offerings made in fulfillment of a vow or during festive occasions. The ritual typically involved presenting an unblemished animal from permitted species (such as bulls, rams, or goats). After the offerer laid hands on the animal, it was slaughtered and its blood treated according to ritual, with portions of fat burned on the altar as an aroma pleasing to God. Unlike some other offerings, a portion of the meat was to be eaten by the offerer and his family or friends in a holy place, usually on the day of the sacrifice or the following day, while the remainder was burned.

A distinctive feature of the shlamim is