Deuteronomy 15:21 kjv
And if there be any blemish therein, as if it be lame, or blind, or have any ill blemish, thou shalt not sacrifice it unto the LORD thy God.
Deuteronomy 15:21 nkjv
But if there is a defect in it, if it is lame or blind or has any serious defect, you shall not sacrifice it to the LORD your God.
Deuteronomy 15:21 niv
If an animal has a defect, is lame or blind, or has any serious flaw, you must not sacrifice it to the LORD your God.
Deuteronomy 15:21 esv
But if it has any blemish, if it is lame or blind or has any serious blemish whatever, you shall not sacrifice it to the LORD your God.
Deuteronomy 15:21 nlt
But if this firstborn animal has any defect, such as lameness or blindness, or if anything else is wrong with it, you must not sacrifice it to the LORD your God.
Deuteronomy 15 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 12:5 | Your lamb shall be without blemish... | Requirement for Paschal lamb |
| Lev 1:3 | If his offering is a burnt offering... a male without blemish. | Standard for burnt offerings |
| Lev 3:1 | If his offering is a sacrifice of peace offering... without blemish. | Standard for peace offerings |
| Lev 4:3 | If the anointed priest sins... then he shall offer a young bull without blemish... | Standard for sin offerings by priest |
| Lev 22:19 | He must be without blemish to be accepted. | General requirement for acceptable offerings |
| Lev 22:20 | You shall not offer anything that has a blemish. | Direct prohibition of blemished offerings |
| Lev 22:21 | It must be without blemish... to be accepted. | Rule for votive or freewill offerings |
| Lev 22:22 | Animals blind or diseased, maimed, or having a discharge or scurvy or scabs, you shall not offer... | Specific blemishes forbidden in offerings |
| Lev 22:24 | Anything with a lacerated, bruised, torn, or cut [organ]... not in your land. | More detailed list of unacceptable blemishes |
| Num 6:14 | And he shall present his offering to the LORD, one male lamb a year old without blemish... | Nazirite vow offering |
| Num 28:3 | Two male lambs a year old without blemish... | Daily burnt offering requirement |
| 1 Pet 1:19 | But with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot. | Christ as the perfect, unblemished sacrifice |
| Mal 1:8 | When you offer blind animals in sacrifice... is it not evil? | Condemnation of offering blemished sacrifices |
| Mal 1:14 | Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord a blemished thing. | Cursing those who offer substandard sacrifices |
| Ex 13:12 | You shall set apart to the LORD all that first opens the womb. | Command to dedicate firstborn |
| Dt 15:19 | All the firstborn males that are born of your herd and flock... dedicate them. | Specific context of firstborn dedication |
| Isa 1:11 | "What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices?" says the LORD; "I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams..." | God's rejection of mere ritual without heart |
| Ps 51:17 | The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart... | Emphasis on internal spiritual offering |
| Rom 12:1 | Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. | New Covenant spiritual offering of self |
| Heb 9:14 | How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God... | Christ's unblemished sacrifice cleanses conscience |
| Heb 10:14 | For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. | Christ's perfect and sufficient offering |
| Col 1:22 | He has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless... | Reconciliation and believers presented blameless |
| 2 Cor 5:21 | For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. | Christ's sinless perfection enables righteousness |
Deuteronomy 15 verses
Deuteronomy 15 21 Meaning
Deuteronomy 15:21 mandates that any firstborn animal, designated for sacrifice to the LORD, must be without blemish. Specifically, it prohibits the offering of animals with defects such as lameness, blindness, or any other serious physical imperfection. This directive emphasizes the requirement for holiness and perfection in offerings presented to God, reflecting His own unblemished and perfect nature.
Deuteronomy 15 21 Context
Deuteronomy chapter 15 addresses several laws pertaining to Israel's communal and religious life in the promised land, emphasizing social justice and God's holiness. It begins with the law of the Sabbath year remission of debts (verses 1-6) and instructions for generous care for the poor and needy (verses 7-11). It then shifts to the release of Hebrew servants in the seventh year (verses 12-18). Verses 19-23 specifically detail the treatment of the firstborn males of the herd and flock, which were to be dedicated to the LORD. This verse (Dt 15:21) immediately follows the command to dedicate firstborn animals and sets the critical standard for their acceptability as a sacrifice. It ensures that even though these animals are due to God by right of the firstborn, they must also meet the quality requirements for sacred offerings. Historically, this reinforced the unique nature of Israel's God, Yahweh, who demands perfection and purity in worship, setting Him apart from pagan deities who might be offered inferior sacrifices.
Deuteronomy 15 21 Word analysis
- "But if": Implies a conditional circumstance, highlighting a potential issue that needs addressing after the initial instruction regarding firstborn animals (Dt 15:19-20). It introduces an exception clause based on the condition of the animal.
- "there is a blemish" (מוּם - mum): This Hebrew term refers to a defect, physical fault, or imperfection. Its use throughout the Law (especially in Leviticus) consistently denotes any physical abnormality that renders an animal unsuitable for sacred purposes. It implies anything that deviates from natural perfection or wholeness.
- "a lameness" (פסח - pisseah): Specifically indicates a physical impairment affecting movement, such as a limp. This is one particular type of mum, illustrating a severe and easily discernible defect.
- "or blindness" (עִוֵּר - ivver): Points to the absence or severe impairment of sight. This is another specific mum, highlighting a significant functional disability.
- "or any serious blemish whatever" (כָּל־מוּם רָע - kol mum ra): This broad phrase emphasizes that the prohibition is not limited to lameness or blindness. "Any" (kol) signifies totality, and "serious" (ra) amplifies the kind of defect, meaning anything genuinely harmful or significantly imperfect, not trivial marks. It signifies that the quality of the defect matters—it must be truly bad or detrimental to the animal's physical integrity. This comprehensive phrasing leaves no room for ambiguous imperfections to be offered.
- "you shall not sacrifice it" (לֹא־תִזְבַּח - lo-tizbach): A clear, unconditional prohibition using the strong negative lo and the verb zabach (to sacrifice). This command underscores the severity of violating God's standard. It means such an animal is forbidden for the altar, indicating it's considered unfit for divine communion or honor.
- "to the LORD your God" (לַיהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ - laYHWH Eloheykha): Explicitly states the recipient of the sacrifice and the authority for the command. It grounds the standard in God's holy character. The honor due to the LORD, the covenant God of Israel, necessitates perfect offerings. This phrase highlights the covenant relationship and the high expectations associated with worshipping Him.
Deuteronomy 15 21 Bonus section
The strict laws concerning unblemished offerings had a practical economic implication for Israel. Rather than disposing of blemished firstborn animals—which belonged to the Lord by law—or offering them to God, they were designated for consumption by the offerer (Dt 15:22-23). This provided food for the family while still ensuring God received only perfect sacrifices. This distinction underlines God's providence and care for His people, alongside His demand for excellence in worship. The inclusion of these detailed rules underscored the importance of distinguishing between the sacred and the common, teaching Israel divine holiness in everyday life and religious observance.
Deuteronomy 15 21 Commentary
Deuteronomy 15:21 succinctly expresses a foundational principle of Old Covenant worship: the LORD, who is perfect and holy, demands perfection and holiness in what is offered to Him. This is not merely about aesthetic preference, but about representing the character of God and the reverence of the worshiper. An animal with a blemish, such as lameness or blindness, reflects imperfection, which is antithetical to the nature of Yahweh. To offer a blemished sacrifice would imply a disrespect for God, suggesting He is worthy of something less than the best, or that He is somehow imperfect Himself. This command ensured that the people understood the immense honor due to God and fostered a meticulous approach to worship. The quality of the sacrifice reflected the condition of the heart behind the offering; a blemished animal could symbolize a grudging or half-hearted devotion. While these specific animal sacrifices no longer pertain under the New Covenant, the underlying principle of offering our "best" to God endures. For instance, in Christian life, this principle is transmuted into presenting one's "bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God" (Rom 12:1), meaning wholehearted devotion, service, and righteousness rather than physical animals. This spiritual application aligns with Christ as the ultimate, unblemished Lamb of God (1 Pet 1:19), whose perfect sacrifice fulfills the type set forth in the Old Testament, making the offering of ourselves acceptable.