Leviticus 22 22

Leviticus 22:22 kjv

Blind, or broken, or maimed, or having a wen, or scurvy, or scabbed, ye shall not offer these unto the LORD, nor make an offering by fire of them upon the altar unto the LORD.

Leviticus 22:22 nkjv

Those that are blind or broken or maimed, or have an ulcer or eczema or scabs, you shall not offer to the LORD, nor make an offering by fire of them on the altar to the LORD.

Leviticus 22:22 niv

Do not offer to the LORD the blind, the injured or the maimed, or anything with warts or festering or running sores. Do not place any of these on the altar as a food offering presented to the LORD.

Leviticus 22:22 esv

Animals blind or disabled or mutilated or having a discharge or an itch or scabs you shall not offer to the LORD or give them to the LORD as a food offering on the altar.

Leviticus 22:22 nlt

You must not offer an animal that is blind, crippled, or injured, or that has a wart, a skin sore, or scabs. Such animals must never be offered on the altar as special gifts to the LORD.

Leviticus 22 verses

Leviticus 22 22 Meaning

Leviticus 22:22 prohibits the offering of any animal with a specific physical blemish to the Lord for sacrifice. This includes blindness, broken bones, severe cuts or maiming, skin conditions like warts, festering sores, or scurvy, and injuries to the testicles. Such offerings are explicitly forbidden from being presented to God or burnt on His altar. The verse underscores the divine demand for physical perfection in sacrificial animals, symbolizing God's holiness and the necessity of presenting the very best and unblemished to Him.

Leviticus 22 22 Context

Leviticus 22 focuses on the regulations concerning the offerings that can be eaten by priests and their households, and the required qualifications for sacrificial animals themselves. Chapter 21 details the physical and moral qualifications for priests to minister before the Lord. Chapter 22 extends this holiness, stating that not only must the priests be undefiled, but their offerings must also be perfect. The context here is safeguarding the holiness of God's sanctuary and name, emphasizing that everything presented to Him must reflect His own perfection and purity. This prohibition ensures that the acts of worship are sacred, dignified, and a fitting representation of God's transcendent nature, not merely perfunctory or dismissive acts using discarded or inferior animals. Historically, pagan religions often allowed or even preferred inferior or flawed animals for sacrifice, contrasting sharply with Yahweh's demands for the highest standard, thereby establishing a polemic against such practices.

Leviticus 22 22 Word analysis

• You shall not offer (לֹא תַקְרִיבוּ lo’ taqrivu): This is a direct, strong negative command. It emphasizes an absolute prohibition. The word taqrivu comes from the root qrb meaning "to come near, present, offer." It indicates presenting something to a divine presence, highlighting the solemnity of the act.
• to the LORD (לַיהוָה la-YHWH): Reinforces that the standard of purity comes from God Himself, whose character demands absolute perfection and holiness. Offerings are specifically directed to His name and glory.
• blind (עִוֶּרֶת ‘ivveret): A direct physical defect of sightlessness. Symbolizes a lack of ability to see or perceive, representing a departure from wholeness and divine illumination.
• or injured (אוֹ שָׁבוּר o shavur): Literally "broken" or "fractured." Refers to broken bones or a serious physical injury that impairs functionality. It denotes a lack of structural integrity.
• or maimed (אוֹ חָרוּץ o charutz): Means "cut, mutilated," often implies having part of an organ cut off, like the ear or tail. This speaks to a permanent disfigurement or incompleteness.
• or having a discharge / wart (אוֹ יַבֶּלֶת o yabbèlet): The precise meaning is debated but refers to a permanent lesion, growth, or skin disease. While NASB translates as "discharge," many sources prefer "wart" or a type of festering lesion. It represents an unsightly and persistent imperfection.
• or festering sores (אוֹ גָרָב o garav): Refers to a scabby skin disease, a form of mange or itch. It denotes persistent irritation and visible defilement of the animal's hide.
• or scurvy (אוֹ יַלֶּפֶת o yallephet): Likely refers to a dry, spreading skin disease like eczema, ringworm, or scurf. Another condition reflecting external decay or unhealthiness.
• or crushed testicles (אוֹ מְרוּחַ אָשֶׁךְ o meruach ashech): This is a severe defect specifically impacting the reproductive organs, implying damage from bruising or rupture. It could represent sterility or an inability to propagate, linking to life-giving ability. The importance of the reproductive integrity for herd health might be reflected.
• you shall not offer these... nor make an offering by fire of them on the altar (וְעַל-הַמִּזְבֵּחַ לֹא-תִתְּנוּ מֵהֶם אִשֶּׁה לַיהוָה vè‘al-ha-mizbeakh lo’-tittènu mehem ishsheh la-YHWH): This dual prohibition specifies that blemished animals are not even to be brought forward (offered) and certainly not placed on the altar for burning (sacrificed by fire). This underlines a complete and uncompromising rejection. Ishsheh (אִשֶּׁה) is a general term for a food offering made by fire, indicating its nature as food for God, demanding its perfection.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Blind or injured or maimed...": This cluster refers to gross, easily observable physical defects affecting primary senses or basic functionality. They signify fundamental imperfections.
• "...or having a discharge or festering sores or scurvy...": These describe various chronic, visible, and unseemly skin ailments. They highlight superficial, yet persistent, flaws that compromise the animal's "cleanness" and beauty.
• "...or crushed testicles": This specific defect pertains to reproductive integrity and the animal's wholeness at a foundational level. It suggests a form of incompleteness or corruption from within, distinct from superficial or accidental injuries.
• "you shall not offer these to the LORD nor make an offering by fire of them on the altar to the LORD.": This conclusive phrase encapsulates the strictness of God's demand for unblemished sacrifices. It is a complete ban, from presentation to combustion, underscoring that compromise is unacceptable when approaching the Most Holy God. The repetition of "to the LORD" emphasizes the sacred destination and the ultimate standard.

Leviticus 22 22 Bonus section

The specific enumeration of various blemishes in Leviticus 22:22 highlights God's meticulousness regarding worship and underscores that "good enough" is never sufficient for Him. These laws, though ceremonial, had didactic and symbolic significance that transcend their direct ritualistic application. They taught the Israelites the seriousness of sin and the infinite holiness of God, who cannot tolerate imperfection or anything that mars true purity in His presence. The emphasis on reproductive defects (like crushed testicles) can further point to the full integrity of life, indicating that nothing "broken at the source" should be presented. Such offerings were a reflection of the Giver and the Receiver; thus, anything that hinted at worthlessness, deficiency, or defilement was unacceptable. The overarching message is that true worship demands integrity, excellence, and a complete submission of the unblemished self, pointing to the perfect and whole sacrifice of Christ, which alone made access to a holy God possible for imperfect humanity.

Leviticus 22 22 Commentary

Leviticus 22:22 delineates precise prohibitions regarding the physical condition of animals designated for sacrifice to Yahweh. The exhaustive list of blemishes — from blindness and broken limbs to chronic skin conditions and reproductive injuries — highlights God's unyielding demand for perfection in worship. This was not arbitrary but rooted in profound theological truths.

Firstly, an unblemished offering symbolized God's own perfect character. The act of offering something "perfect" to a "perfect" God mirrored and affirmed His intrinsic holiness, goodness, and transcendence. It reinforced the reverence and awe due to Him, countering any notion of bringing discarded or second-best items to the Creator.

Secondly, these physical standards prefigured the ultimate unblemished sacrifice of Jesus Christ (1 Pet 1:19; Heb 9:14). The Levitical system, with its rigid requirements, constantly pointed to the future need for a truly spotless lamb, whose offering would definitively atone for sins. The physical perfection of the animal sacrifices foreshadowed the moral and spiritual perfection of Christ, who was without sin.

Thirdly, the purity of the sacrifice had implications for the purity of the worshipper. By demanding the finest, God cultivated a mindset of genuine reverence, sincere devotion, and uncompromising commitment among His people. It implicitly taught that outward rituals, without inward sincerity and adherence to God's standards, were meaningless. The later prophets, like Malachi (Mal 1:8, 14), powerfully rebuked Israel for flouting these very laws, revealing their spiritual decline.

Fourthly, it served as a practical polemic against the idolatrous practices of surrounding nations, whose gods often accepted blemished or even ritually defiled animals, reflecting their own capricious and imperfect nature. Yahweh's stringent requirements affirmed His uniqueness and absolute distinction.

In a broader sense, this verse reminds believers today of the standard of purity expected in spiritual worship. While literal animal sacrifices are no longer required, Christ being the ultimate fulfillment, the principle of offering our "best" to God remains. This translates into living "holy and acceptable" lives as spiritual sacrifices (Rom 12:1), walking blamelessly, and cultivating a pure heart and sincere intentions in all acts of devotion and service. We are to be a "spotless bride" for Christ, striving for moral integrity and inner transformation as we serve the holy God.

• Example 1: Offering God our "blind" attention by multi-tasking during prayer.
• Example 2: Presenting Him with "injured" commitment, prioritizing worldly pursuits over spiritual disciplines.
• Example 3: Providing "scurvy" service, doing good deeds grudgingly or with impure motives.
• Example 4: Neglecting purity of thoughts, words, and actions while outwardly performing religious duties.