The fat portions of animals offered in sacrifice were always to be consumed, as being the choice part and especially sacred to the Lord. The blood was also sacred, as containing the life of the animal. The Jews were forbidden to eat either, Leviticus 3:16,17; 7:23-27.

(Heb. heleb) denotes the richest part of the animal, or the fattest of the flock, in the account of Abel's sacrifice (Genesis 4:4). It sometimes denotes the best of any production (Genesis 45:18; Numbers 18:12; Psalms 81:16; 147:47). The fat of sacrifices was to be burned (Leviticus 3:9-11; 4:8; 7:3; 8:25; Numbers 18:17. Compare Exodus 29:13-22; Leviticus 3:3-5).

It is used figuratively for a dull, stupid state of mind (Psalms 17:10).

In Joel 2:24 the word is equivalent to "vat," a vessel. The hebrew word here thus rendered is elsewhere rendered "wine-fat" and "press-fat" (Haggai 2:16; Isaiah 63:2).

FAT, a.

1. Fleshy; plump; corpulent; abounding with an oily concrete substance, as an animal body; the contrary to lean; as a fat man; a fat ox.

2. Coarse; gross.

Nay, added fat pollutions of our own.

3. Dull; heavy; stupid; unteachable.

Make the heart of this people fat. Is. 6.

4. Rich; wealthy; affluent.

These are terrible alarms to persons grown fat and wealthy.

5. Rich; producing a large income; as a fat benefice.

6. Rich; fertile; as a fat soil; or rich; nourishing; as fat pasture.

7. Abounding in spiritual grace and comfort.

They the righteous shall be fat and flourishing. Ps. 42.

FAT, n.

1. An oily concrete substance, deposited in the cells of the adipose or cellular membrane of animal bodies. In most parts of the body, the fat lies immediately under the skin. Fat is of various degrees of consistence, as in tallow, lard and oil. It has been recently ascertained to consist of two substances, stearine and elaine, the former of which is solid, the latter liquid, at common temperatures, and on the different proportions of which its degree of consistence depends.

2. The best or richest part of a thing.

Abel brought of the fat of his flock. Gen 4.

FAT, v.t. To make fat; to fatten; to make plump and fleshy with abundant food; as, to fat fowls or sheep.

FAT, v.i. To grow fat, plump and fleshy.

An old ox fats as well, and is as good, as a young one.

FAT,

The Hebrews distinguished between the suet or pure fat of an animal and the fat which was intermixed with the lean. (Nehemiah 8:10) Certain restrictions were imposed upon them in reference to the former; some parts of the suet, viz., about the stomach, the entrails, the kidneys, and the tail of a sheep, which grows to an excessive size in many eastern countries, and produces a large quantity of rich fat, were forbidden to be eaten in the case of animals offered to Jehovah in sacrifice. (Leviticus 3:3,9,17; 7:3,23) The ground of the prohibition was that the fat was the richest part of the animal, and therefore belonged to him. (Leviticus 3:16) The burning of the fat of sacrifices was particularly specified in each kind of offering.

i.e. VAT, the word employed in the Authorized Version to translate the Hebrew term yekeb , in (Joel 2:24; 3:13) The word commonly used for yekeb is "winepress" or "winefat," and once "pressfat." (Haggai 2:16) The "vats" appear to have been excavated out of the native rock of the hills on which the vineyards lay.