Deuteronomy 17:1 kjv
Thou shalt not sacrifice unto the LORD thy God any bullock, or sheep, wherein is blemish, or any evilfavouredness: for that is an abomination unto the LORD thy God.
Deuteronomy 17:1 nkjv
"You shall not sacrifice to the LORD your God a bull or sheep which has any blemish or defect, for that is an abomination to the LORD your God.
Deuteronomy 17:1 niv
Do not sacrifice to the LORD your God an ox or a sheep that has any defect or flaw in it, for that would be detestable to him.
Deuteronomy 17:1 esv
"You shall not sacrifice to the LORD your God an ox or a sheep in which is a blemish, any defect whatever, for that is an abomination to the LORD your God.
Deuteronomy 17:1 nlt
"Never sacrifice sick or defective cattle, sheep, or goats to the LORD your God, for he detests such gifts.
Deuteronomy 17 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 1:3 | If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer a male without blemish… | Requires a blemish-free animal for offerings. |
| Lev 3:1 | If his offering is a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offers an animal from the herd… without blemish. | Peace offerings also require no blemish. |
| Lev 4:3 | if the anointed priest sins… he shall offer for his sin a bull from the herd without blemish… | Sin offerings must be unblemished. |
| Lev 9:2 | "Take for yourself a male calf without blemish for a sin offering…" | Specific instructions for initial consecration. |
| Lev 14:10 | "He shall take two male lambs without blemish and one ewe lamb a year old without blemish…" | Offerings for cleansing from skin diseases. |
| Lev 22:19 | to be accepted, you must present a male without blemish, from the cattle, sheep, or goats. | General rule for acceptable offerings. |
| Lev 22:20 | Whatever has a blemish, you shall not offer, for it will not be accepted. | Direct prohibition against blemished offerings. |
| Lev 22:21 | When anyone offers a sacrifice of peace offerings to the Lord… it must be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no blemish in it. | Reinforces the perfection requirement. |
| Lev 22:22 | You shall not offer to the Lord what is blind, or disabled, or mutilated, or having a discharge, or an itch, or scabs… | Specific examples of prohibited blemishes. |
| Lev 22:25 | Nor shall you accept any such from the hand of a foreigner… | Universal standard for offerings to the Lord. |
| Mal 1:8 | When you offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you offer the lame or sick, is it not evil? | Prophetic rebuke for offering substandard sacrifices. |
| Mal 1:13 | You say, 'What a weariness this is,' and you sneer at it, says the Lord of hosts… | Rebuke for disdain in offering blemished animals. |
| Mal 1:14 | Cursed be the deceiver who has a male in his flock… but sacrifices to the Lord what is blemish… | Divine curse upon those who deceive with flawed offerings. |
| Prov 3:9 | Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce. | Principle of giving one's best to God. |
| Isa 1:11-13 | "What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices?"... Bringing offerings is futile… Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates… | God's disdain for offerings without righteous hearts. |
| Matt 5:48 | You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. | Call to perfection, mirroring God's character. |
| Rom 12:1 | I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God… | New Covenant emphasis on spiritual "living" sacrifices. |
| 1 Cor 5:7 | Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump… For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. | Christ as the perfect, blemish-free Passover Lamb. |
| Heb 9:14 | how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God… | Christ as the ultimate, flawless sacrifice. |
| 1 Pet 1:18-19 | knowing that you were ransomed… with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. | Emphasizes Christ's purity and sacrificial perfection. |
| Eph 5:27 | that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and blameless. | Christ desires a 'blemish-free' church. |
| Rev 14:5 | And in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless. | Foreshadowing of ultimate blamelessness for the redeemed. |
Deuteronomy 17 verses
Deuteronomy 17 1 Meaning
Deuteronomy 17:1 strictly prohibits the offering of any animal as a sacrifice to the Lord God if it possesses any form of blemish or defect. Such an offering is deemed an abomination to God, reflecting His absolute holiness and the necessity of presenting only perfect, unstained sacrifices in worship. This command underscores God's worthiness of the highest honor and pure devotion, differentiating true worship from the casual or contemptuous practices often found in pagan contexts.
Deuteronomy 17 1 Context
Deuteronomy 17:1 falls within a section (Deut 16:18-18:22) detailing laws related to judicial processes, kingship, prophetic authority, and various aspects of community life. This verse specifically introduces a series of injunctions concerning the integrity and purity of Israel's worship, laying down foundational principles before moving on to the appointment of judges, kings, priests, and prophets. The chapter transitions from general instructions on justice (Deut 16:18-20) to specific prohibitions against perverse worship, which includes offering blemished sacrifices, as well as idolatry (Deut 17:2-7) and serious judicial cases. The historical context is Moses' farewell address to the Israelites on the plains of Moab, reiterating and expanding upon the laws given at Sinai, preparing them for their life in the Promised Land where they would encounter existing pagan cultures with different worship practices. This command serves as a distinct marker of true worship of the One God, differentiating it sharply from contemporary polytheistic cults that often showed less rigorous standards for offerings or even offered what was common or corrupted.
Deuteronomy 17 1 Word analysis
- You shall not sacrifice: A direct, emphatic command (lo’ tizbaḥ), establishing a prohibition with legal force. This immediately sets a boundary for Israelite worship practices.
- to the Lord your God: Emphasizes the recipient of the sacrifice is Yahweh Eloheikha, the personal covenant God of Israel. This relationship implies His specific standards and demands.
- an ox or a sheep: The primary large and small animals commonly used for sacrificial offerings in ancient Israel. These were valuable commodities, and offering the best demonstrated true devotion.
- in which is a blemish: From the Hebrew word mum (מוּם), meaning a physical defect, stain, spot, or flaw. This encompasses any bodily imperfection.
- any defect whatever: Literally "any evil thing" or "anything bad" (kol davar ra). This broad phrase extends the prohibition beyond simple visible blemishes to include any kind of qualitative unworthiness. It ensures no loophole exists for offering something less than perfect. It is a powerful intensification of the "blemish" requirement.
- for that is an abomination: From the Hebrew word to'evah (תּוֹעֵבָה), a very strong term in the Old Testament. It denotes something utterly detestable, loathsome, or disgusting to God. This word is frequently used for idolatry, perverse sexual practices, and pagan customs. Its application here elevates offering a blemished sacrifice to the level of an offense that deeply offends God's holy character.
- to the Lord your God: A repetition of the divine title for strong emphasis. It reinforces that the offense is directly against the holy character and rightful expectations of the covenant God Himself.
Deuteronomy 17 1 Bonus section
- The meticulous nature of the Mosaic Law concerning sacrificial animals served as a constant object lesson about the character of God—His absolute perfection, purity, and holiness—and the sinfulness of humanity.
- The severity of "abomination" for a mere blemish highlights that even seemingly minor acts of irreverence or disrespect in worship are taken seriously by a holy God. It's not just about ritual; it's about the heart.
- This instruction fostered an immediate mental contrast with the common practices of surrounding nations, where anything might be thrown onto an idol's altar, reinforcing Israel's distinctiveness as God's chosen people with a unique standard of worship.
- While applied to animal sacrifices, the principle extends to all areas of giving to God: our service, finances, and especially our very lives are to be presented without blemish, meaning wholeheartedly and without compromise.
Deuteronomy 17 1 Commentary
Deuteronomy 17:1 reveals fundamental truths about God and worship. God, in His absolute holiness, is worthy only of what is perfect and unblemished. This command is not merely about external purity but about the attitude of the worshiper's heart—a heart that offers God its very best out of reverence and genuine devotion, not convenience or contempt. To offer a flawed sacrifice demonstrated a diminished regard for God and implied that He was satisfied with something less than perfect. This directly contrasted with pagan religions that might accept or even encourage practices contrary to Israel's purity standards, making the offering of a "blemish" an act akin to idolatry in its lack of respect for God. Spiritually, this command foreshadows the ultimate need for a perfect sacrifice to atone for sin, fully realized in Jesus Christ, the spotless Lamb of God (1 Pet 1:19, Heb 9:14). It teaches us today to offer God our "living sacrifices" (Rom 12:1)—our lives, our time, our talents—without spiritual blemish, wholehearted and devoted, demonstrating honor and love for our holy God.