The term "purtenance" is an archaic word that appears in the context of biblical dietary laws and sacrificial practices. It is primarily found in the King James Version of the Bible, specifically in the Old Testament, and refers to the internal organs or entrails of an animal. In modern translations, such as the Berean Standard Bible , the term is often rendered as "entrails" or "inward parts."

Biblical References:

1. Exodus 12:9 : In the instructions for the Passover lamb, the Israelites are commanded, "Do not eat any of the meat raw or cooked in boiling water, but only roasted over the fire—its head and its legs and its inner parts." The "inner parts" here refer to what the King James Version calls the "purtenance." This directive underscores the importance of following God's specific instructions for the Passover meal, symbolizing obedience and reverence.

2. Leviticus 3:3-4 : In the peace offering, the text states, "From the sacrifice of the peace offering, he is to present an offering made by fire to the LORD: the fat that covers the entrails and 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." The "entrails" are part of the sacrificial system, highlighting the significance of offering the best parts to God, as a symbol of devotion and worship.

3. Leviticus 4:8-9 : In the sin offering, the priest is instructed to remove "all the fat from the bull of the sin offering—the fat that covers the entrails and 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." The detailed instructions for handling the entrails emphasize the meticulous nature of the sacrificial rites and the need for purity and holiness in approaching God.

Theological Significance:

In the sacrificial system of the Old Testament, the purtenance or entrails of the sacrificial animals held significant symbolic meaning. The offering of these parts to God represented the offering of one's innermost being, a gesture of total surrender and dedication. The entrails, being hidden and internal, symbolize the inner life and heart of the worshiper, which God desires to be pure and devoted.

The sacrificial laws, including the handling of the purtenance, foreshadow the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who offered Himself wholly and completely for the atonement of sin. The meticulous care in the sacrificial process points to the perfect and complete sacrifice of Christ, who fulfilled the law and brought reconciliation between God and humanity.

Cultural Context:

In ancient Near Eastern cultures, the entrails of animals were often associated with divination and were considered to hold mystical significance. However, in the biblical context, the use of purtenance in sacrifices was not for divination but for consecration and worship. The Israelites were set apart from surrounding nations by their unique sacrificial system, which was designed to maintain their covenant relationship with Yahweh.

The term "purtenance" and its associated practices remind believers of the importance of inner purity and the call to offer one's whole self to God. The sacrificial system, with its detailed regulations, serves as a precursor to the New Covenant, where believers are called to present their bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God (Romans 12:1).(n.) That which pertains or belongs to something; esp., the heard, liver, and lungs of an animal.PURTENANCE

pur'-te-nans: With the significance of "belongings," this word occurs in the King James Version of Exodus 12:9 as the translation of qerebh, "within" "inward," "roast.... with the purtenance thereof," the Revised Version (British and American) "inwards" (compare Leviticus 1:9; Leviticus 3:3, etc.).

7130. qereb -- inward part, midst
... X among, X before, bowels, X unto charge, + eat (up), X heart, X him, X in, inward
(X -ly, part, -s, thought), midst, + out of, purtenance, X therein, X through ...
/hebrew/7130.htm - 6k

The Passover: an Expiation and a Feast, a Memorial and a Prophecy
... herbs they shall eat it.9. Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but
roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof.10. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the passover an expiation and.htm

Elucidations.
... their view. Of the fables which make it hereditary and a purtenance of Rome
they knew nothing. IV. (Loans, cap. xvii. p.372.). The ...
/.../tertullian/the five books against marcion/elucidations.htm

Solomon's Temple Spiritualized
The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3. <. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/solomons temple spiritualized.htm

Purtenance (1 Occurrence)
...PURTENANCE. ... with the purtenance thereof," the Revised Version (British and American)
"inwards" (compare Leviticus 1:9; Leviticus 3:3, etc.). ...
/p/purtenance.htm - 7k

Push (23 Occurrences)

/p/push.htm - 14k

Pursuits (4 Occurrences)

/p/pursuits.htm - 7k

Sodden (5 Occurrences)
... Exodus 12:9 Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire;
his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof. (KJV JPS). ...
/s/sodden.htm - 8k

Thereof (845 Occurrences)
... (KJV JPS ASV DBY). Exodus 12:9 Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water,
but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof. ...
/t/thereof.htm - 35k

Purtenance: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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