Leviticus 22 24

Leviticus 22:24 kjv

Ye shall not offer unto the LORD that which is bruised, or crushed, or broken, or cut; neither shall ye make any offering thereof in your land.

Leviticus 22:24 nkjv

'You shall not offer to the LORD what is bruised or crushed, or torn or cut; nor shall you make any offering of them in your land.

Leviticus 22:24 niv

You must not offer to the LORD an animal whose testicles are bruised, crushed, torn or cut. You must not do this in your own land,

Leviticus 22:24 esv

Any animal that has its testicles bruised or crushed or torn or cut you shall not offer to the LORD; you shall not do it within your land,

Leviticus 22:24 nlt

If an animal has damaged testicles or is castrated, you may not offer it to the LORD. You must never do this in your own land,

Leviticus 22 verses

Leviticus 22 24 Meaning

Leviticus 22:24 forbids the offering of animals to the LORD that are physically maimed or severely injured, specifically those that are bruised, crushed, torn, or cut. These types of defects often relate to reproductive capacity or severe mutilation, rendering the animal imperfect. The verse extends this prohibition, stating that such actions or conditions that produce these defects should not be permitted or occur within the land of Israel, upholding the sanctity of both the offerings and the national territory dedicated to God.

Leviticus 22 24 Context

Leviticus Chapter 22 delineates specific laws concerning the sanctity and handling of holy gifts offered to the LORD, primarily focusing on the regulations for priests and the conditions for acceptable animal sacrifices. This chapter follows detailed laws regarding the ritual purity of priests (Chapter 21) and various sacrifices. The broader context of Leviticus emphasizes God's holiness and the requirement for Israel to reflect that holiness, particularly in their worship and interaction with sacred things.

Verse 24 is part of a larger section (verses 17-33) that specifically addresses the physical qualifications of animals presented for sacrifice. The list of disqualifying blemishes ensures that only "whole" and "perfect" (Hebrew: tamim) animals are brought to the altar. The defects mentioned—bruised, crushed, torn, or cut—are not minor imperfections but severe mutilations, some directly impacting the animal's procreative capacity (e.g., bruised/crushed testicles often interpreted as castration). This reflects God's demand for the very best and undiminished offering, symbolizing His own perfect and unblemished character. The concluding phrase, "nor shall you do anything like that in your land," extends the divine standard of purity beyond just the act of sacrifice to the general animal husbandry practices and ethical conduct within Israel.

Leviticus 22 24 Word analysis

• You shall not offer (lo taqrivu): A direct and absolute negative command, emphasizing the strict prohibition against presenting such animals for sacrifice. This foundational principle safeguards the sanctity of the LORD's altar.
• bruised (ma'uk - מָעוּךְ): Refers to something pressed or squeezed, often interpreted in ancient commentaries and lexicons as having crushed testicles, indicative of castration. This defect impacts the animal's reproductive capacity, violating the requirement for wholeness and viability.
• crushed (katut - כָּתוּת): Signifies something thoroughly pulverized or flattened, implying severe damage, possibly also relating to the reproductive organs or other critical parts of the body. It emphasizes a complete structural impairment.
• torn (natuk - נָתוּק): Refers to something pulled apart, detached, or dislocated. This implies a significant physical separation or tear of body parts, causing lasting injury and disfigurement.
• cut (karut - קָרוּט): Implies something cut off or amputated, signifying the complete removal of a limb or another vital body part. This is a severe, irreversible mutilation.
• to the LORD: Underscores the recipient of the offering, highlighting that these standards are established by God Himself for His own honor. The holy nature of God demands perfection in that which represents communion with Him.
• nor shall you do anything like that in your land (uv’artzekhem lo ta’asu - וּבְאַרְצְכֶם לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ): This extends the prohibition beyond merely offering a blemished animal. It prohibits producing such conditions or allowing them to become a practice within Israel's territory. This likely refers to specific practices like castration (for agricultural or other purposes) that would produce such imperfect animals, or even the neglect that leads to such injuries. It signifies that the holiness required for offerings must permeate the land itself and its practices.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "bruised or crushed or torn or cut": This specific cluster of severe injuries goes beyond minor imperfections, detailing profound physical mutilations, particularly those impacting an animal's capacity for procreation (as in the case of castration, implied by ma'uk and katut), or making it an unfit, diminished sacrifice. It demonstrates that only prime, intact, and fully viable animals were deemed worthy of God.
• "nor shall you do anything like that in your land": This phrase broadens the scope of the commandment considerably. It's not just a prohibition against presenting a compromised animal, but a broader injunction against practices (like castration or severe mutilation) within the land of Israel that would result in such defects. It suggests a commitment to preserving the wholeness of the animal population and avoiding practices that would violate the principle of sacred integrity within God's chosen land, even for secular purposes, if those animals might potentially be considered for sacrifice, or simply as an expression of the land's overall holiness.

Leviticus 22 24 Bonus section

The principle enshrined in Leviticus 22:24 is deeply rooted in the concept of tamim (תָּמִים), meaning "whole," "perfect," "sound," or "blameless." This Hebrew word applies not only to sacrifices but also to people (Gen 17:1 - Abraham commanded to "walk before Me and be blameless") and God's law (Ps 19:7 - "The law of the LORD is perfect"). This highlights a consistent divine character: God is perfect and desires perfection, wholeness, and completeness from those who draw near to Him and from what is dedicated to Him. The specific prohibition against injuring the reproductive organs (implied by ma'uk and katut) also carries significant weight; an animal capable of procreation symbolizes vitality and continuance, essential qualities in a cultic system where new life was constantly presented back to God. An infertile or mutilated animal represents degradation or sterility, opposing the life-giving nature of the Creator. This passage can be seen as a subtle polemic against pagan customs that sometimes involved cultic castration or the offering of mutilated animals, contrasting such practices with Israel's sacred covenant with the life-affirming God.

Leviticus 22 24 Commentary

Leviticus 22:24 articulates God's unyielding demand for perfection and integrity in worship. The specific, severe physical blemishes outlined—bruised, crushed, torn, cut—represent extreme deviations from a whole and complete animal. These were often injuries that resulted in permanent disfigurement or sterility, such as castration. The requirement for an unblemished animal was not merely aesthetic; it was symbolic. It pointed to God's own perfect holiness and demanded a proportionate quality in the offering presented to Him. A blemished sacrifice represented a compromised offering, an insult to the Creator who is flawless and demands excellence from His people.

The prohibition extends beyond the altar itself to encompass practices within "your land." This means the Israelites were not to engage in actions that produced such damaged animals, even if not for immediate sacrifice. This likely targeted common ancient agricultural practices like castration of male animals for economic purposes, if those animals might otherwise be considered for sacrificial use, or simply to uphold a general standard of humane and sacred animal husbandry within the holy land. This reinforces that God's laws impacted all aspects of life, fostering a culture of wholeness and respect, prefiguring the call to present oneself as a "living sacrifice" (Rom 12:1) without blemish through sanctification. Ultimately, these physical requirements pointed to the ultimate "lamb without blemish," Jesus Christ, whose perfect and sinless sacrifice alone could truly atone for sins, satisfying God's demand for absolute perfection.