Kidney — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

One of the body parts of sacrificial animals used for offerings to God. The kidneys, along with their fat, were to be burned on the altar (Ex 29:13; Lv 3:4-15) and represented the blood that the Israelites were not permitted to eat.

Show passage in OET: EXO 29:13

OET-RV EXO 29:13

13 Take all the fat covering the innards including the lobe above the liver, as well as both kidneys and the fat on them, and burn it all on the altar,

OET-LV EXO 29:13

13 And_you _will _take DOM all _of the_fat which_covers DOM the_entrails and_DOM the_lobe on the_liver and_DOM the _two _of the_kidneys and_DOM the_fat which is_on_them and_you _will _make_them_smoke to_the_altar.

Show passage in OET: LEV 3:4–15

OET-RV LEV 3:4

4 along with both kidneys and the fat that’s attached to them, and the lobe on the liver (all of which need to be removed from the animal).

OET-RV LEV 3:5

5 Then Aharon’s sons must burn them on the wood that’s burning on the altar as a gift—to become smoke as a pleasing aroma for Yahweh.

OET-RV LEV 3:6

6 “However, if the sacrifice for a peace offering is from the flock, then either a male or a female can be presented to Yahweh as long as it has no defects.

OET-RV LEV 3:7

7 When the offering is being presented, it must be presented in front of Yahweh,

OET-RV LEV 3:8

8 and the presenter will put his hand on the head of the animal being offered, and slaughter it in front of the sacred tent. Then Aharon’s sons must splash its blood on the altar, on each side.

OET-RV LEV 3:9

9 From that peace offering, he must present the fat as a gift to Yahweh, along with the entire fatty tail (cut off near the backbone), the fat covering the innards and which is part of the innards,

OET-RV LEV 3:10

10 both kidneys and the fat that’s attached to them, and the lobe on the liver (all of which need to be removed from the animal).

OET-RV LEV 3:11

11 Then the priest must burn them on the altar as a food offering made to Yahweh by fire.

OET-RV LEV 3:12

12 “Similarly, if the offering is a goat, then it can be presented to Yahweh.

OET-RV LEV 3:13

13 The presenter will put his hand on its head, and slaughter it in front of the sacred tent. Then Aharon’s sons must splash its blood on the altar, on each side.

OET-RV LEV 3:14

14 From that peace offering, he must present the fat as a gift to Yahweh, along with the fat covering the innards and which is part of the innards,

OET-RV LEV 3:15

15 both kidneys and the fat that’s attached to them, and the lobe on the liver (all of which need to be removed from the animal).

OET-LV LEV 3:4

4 And_DOM the _two _of the_kidneys and_DOM the_fat which is_on_them which is_on the_loins and_DOM the_lobe on the_liver with the_kidneys he_will _remove _it.

OET-LV LEV 3:5

5 And_ the _sons _of ʼAhₐron _they _will _make _smoke DOM_him/it to_the_altar on the _burnt_offering which is_on the_wood(s) which are_on the_fire a _fire _offering _of an _odour _of soothing to/for_YHWH.

OET-LV LEV 3:6

6 And_if is_one _of the_flock present _of_his to_a _sacrifice _of peace _offering(s) to/for_YHWH a _male or a _female unblemished he_will _present _it.

OET-LV LEV 3:7

7 If a _young _ram he is_presenting DOM present _of_his and_he _will _present DOM_him/it to_(the)_face _of/in _front _of/before YHWH.

OET-LV LEV 3:8

8 And_he _will _lean DOM his/its_hand on the _head _of his _present _of_his and_he _will _cut _the _throat _of DOM_him/it to_(the)_face _of/in _front _of/before the _tent _of meeting and_ the _sons _of ʼAhₐron _they _will _sprinkle DOM blood _of_its on the_altar all _around.

OET-LV LEV 3:9

9 And_he _will _present from_the _sacrifice _of the _peace _offering(s) a _fire _offering to/for_YHWH fat _of_its the _fat_tail complete close_to _of the_backbone he_will _remove _it and_DOM the_fat which_covers DOM the_entrails and_DOM all _of the_fat which is_on the_entrails.

OET-LV LEV 3:10

10 And_DOM the _two _of the_kidneys and_DOM the_fat which is_on_them which is_on the_loins and_DOM the_lobe on the_liver with the_kidneys he_will _remove _it.

OET-LV LEV 3:11

11 And_he_will _make _it _smoke the_priest/officer to_the_altar food _of a _fire _offering to/for_YHWH.

OET-LV LEV 3:12

12 And_if is_a _goat present _of_his and_he_will _present _it to_(the)_face _of/in _front _of/before YHWH.

OET-LV LEV 3:13

13 And_he _will _lean DOM his/its_hand on his/its_head and_he _will _cut _the _throat _of DOM_him/it to_(the)_face _of/in _front _of/before the _tent _of meeting and_ the _sons _of ʼAhₐron _they _will _sprinkle DOM blood _of_its on the_altar all _around.

OET-LV LEV 3:14

14 And_he _will _present from_him/it present _of_his a _fire _offering to/for_YHWH DOM the_fat which_covers DOM the_entrails and_DOM all _of the_fat which is_on the_entrails.

OET-LV LEV 3:15

15 And_DOM the _two _of the_kidneys and_DOM the_fat which is_on_them which is_on the_loins and_DOM the_lobe on the_liver with the_kidneys he_will _remove _it.

Jump to OET EXO 29:13 section.

Jump to OET LEV 3:4–15 section.

In a more figurative sense the kidneys are thought of as the seat of human emotions (Ps 73:21) and the rational and moral faculties (Ps 16:7; Jer 12:2). They are closely associated with the “heart” and “soul,” standing for one’s innermost self-consciousness. The NLT translates the Hebrew word as “mind,” “heart,” and “soul” in several passages.

Show passage in OET: PSA 73:21

OET-RV PSA 73:21

⇔  21 When my heart was embittered,
⇔ and my organs felt like they had a knife in them,

OET-LV PSA 73:21

21 If/because heart _of_my it _was _embittered and_kidneys _of_my I _was _pierced.

Show passage in OET: PSA 16:7

OET-RV PSA 16:7

7 I will praise Yahweh who gives me good advice.
⇔ Even at night, my conscience teaches me what’s right.

OET-LV PSA 16:7

7 I _will _bless DOM YHWH who he_has _counselled _me also nights they_have _instructed _me kidneys _of_my.

Show passage in OET: JER 12:2

OET-RV JER 12:2

2 You planted them like trees and they’ve taken root,
⇔ then they’ve grown and produced fruit.
⇔ They’re full of talk about you,
⇔ but they’re really far from you.

OET-LV JER 12:2

2 You_have _planted _them also they _have _taken _root they _walk also they _have _produced fruit are_near you in_mouth _of_their and_distant from_kidneys _of_their.

Jump to OET PSA 73:21 section.

Jump to OET PSA 16:7 section.

Jump to OET JER 12:2 section.

As in the OT Jehovah had knowledge of man’s inmost thoughts (e.g., Pss 7:9; 26:2; Jer 20:12), so Christ was identified in the book of Revelation as the one who “searches the minds and hearts” (Rv 2:23), making an indirect but clear identification of Jesus with Jehovah. This is the only reference to the kidneys in the NT.