Leviticus 22 27

Leviticus 22:27 kjv

When a bullock, or a sheep, or a goat, is brought forth, then it shall be seven days under the dam; and from the eighth day and thenceforth it shall be accepted for an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

Leviticus 22:27 nkjv

"When a bull or a sheep or a goat is born, it shall be seven days with its mother; and from the eighth day and thereafter it shall be accepted as an offering made by fire to the LORD.

Leviticus 22:27 niv

"When a calf, a lamb or a goat is born, it is to remain with its mother for seven days. From the eighth day on, it will be acceptable as a food offering presented to the LORD.

Leviticus 22:27 esv

"When an ox or sheep or goat is born, it shall remain seven days with its mother, and from the eighth day on it shall be acceptable as a food offering to the LORD.

Leviticus 22:27 nlt

"When a calf or lamb or goat is born, it must be left with its mother for seven days. From the eighth day on, it will be acceptable as a special gift to the LORD.

Leviticus 22 verses

Leviticus 22 27 Meaning

Leviticus 22:27 sets a divine regulation for animals designated as sacrifices to the Lord: a calf, lamb, or kid must remain with its mother for at least seven full days following its birth. It is only from the eighth day onward that such an animal is deemed mature enough and thus acceptable to be offered by fire to the Lord. This command underscores God's demand for offerings that are whole, viable, and developed, preventing the premature sacrifice of fragile or underdeveloped young, and upholding the sanctity and honor due to the Holy God.

Leviticus 22 27 Context

Leviticus 22 concerns the holiness required of priests and the strict conditions for presenting acceptable offerings to the Lord. The initial verses (1-16) address who among the priestly line may eat of the holy offerings and under what conditions, emphasizing ritual purity. From verse 17 onward, the focus shifts directly to the qualifications of the animals themselves brought for sacrifice. The overarching theme is that both the one presenting the offering and the offering itself must reflect purity and wholeness to appropriately approach a holy God. Verse 27 specifically introduces the minimum age requirement for sacrificial animals, placing it within a series of rules ensuring the physical perfection and health of the animal before it could be considered a worthy offering, thereby upholding the sacred honor of God's name and ensuring the sincerity of Israel's worship. This carefully delineated system of offerings distinguished Israelite practice from surrounding pagan cultures that might offer flawed or hastily sacrificed animals.

Leviticus 22 27 Word analysis

• When an ox or a sheep or a goat (וכי שור או כשב או עז – w'chi shor o kesev o ez): These are the prescribed domestic animals considered clean and suitable for offerings in ancient Israel. This comprehensive listing highlights that the age regulation applies to all the primary categories of animal sacrifices, underscoring the universal nature of this divine standard across different offering types.
• is born (יולד – yulad): From the Hebrew root yalad, meaning "to give birth" or "to beget." This marks the absolute beginning of the animal's life. The regulation commences from this point, signifying that God's requirements for sacrificial animals extend to their earliest stage of existence, focusing on proper development.
• it shall remain (והיה ... תחת – v'hayah... tachat): V'hayah (and it shall be/happen) introduces the divine imperative. Tachat (under, beneath, with) emphasizes the calf, lamb, or kid's necessary association and direct dependence on its mother. This implies God's concern for the natural nurturing process and the animal's fundamental well-being during its initial development.
• seven days (שבעת ימים – shiv'at yamim): The number "seven" is profoundly symbolic in the Bible, representing completeness, perfection, and divine ordination (e.g., the creation week). In this context, it signifies a full cycle, a complete week, during which the newborn animal is established, gains strength, and reaches a basic level of viability under maternal care. This period allows the animal to transition from extreme fragility to a more robust state.
• with its mother (אמו – imo): Reaffirms the natural and vital bond, highlighting the nurturing phase crucial for the animal's survival and healthy development. It speaks to responsible animal husbandry practices within God's ordered creation.
• and from the eighth day on (ומיום השמיני והלאה – u'miyom hash'mini v'hal'ah): The "eighth day" consistently signifies a new beginning, consecration, or initiation in biblical thought. It marks male circumcision into the covenant (Gen 17:12; Lev 12:3), the start of priestly service (Lev 9:1), and the culmination of various purification rites (Lev 15:13). For the animal, it denotes that it has passed a critical initial stage of development and is now deemed ready for dedication, symbolizing a full, new beginning in its purpose for the Lord.
• it may be accepted (ירצה – yirtzeh): From the Hebrew root ratzah, meaning "to be pleased with," "to accept," or "to have favor." This word signifies God's divine approval and pleasure when the conditions of the offering are precisely met. It underscores that offerings are not arbitrarily taken but are only truly effective and honored by God if they align with His specific will and standards of holiness.
• as an offering by fire (לקרבן אשה – l'korban isheh): Korban means "that which is brought near" and refers to a gift or tribute. Isheh specifically refers to an offering "by fire." This phrase identifies the type of sacred presentation, where a portion or the whole animal is consumed by fire on the altar, symbolizing dedication and ascent to God. It highlights the sanctified nature of the offering, wholly committed to divine use.
• to the Lord (ליהוה – laYahweh): Points to the sovereign recipient of the sacrifice. This identifies the command as originating from Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel, and emphasizes that the sanctity and specific requirements of the offering are solely derived from His holy character and rightful dominion.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "When an ox or a sheep or a goat is born, it shall remain seven days with its mother": This segment establishes a non-negotiable minimum age and developmental period for animals to be considered viable for sacrifice. The requirement for the animal to remain with its mother for seven days highlights divine care for the creatures and implies a period necessary for strengthening and maturation, ensuring the offering is not feeble or underdeveloped, thus reflecting God's expectation of wholeness.
• "and from the eighth day on it may be accepted as an offering by fire to the Lord": This phrase clearly demarcates the precise time when an animal becomes spiritually "ready" and acceptable for sacred use. The "eighth day" carries profound theological weight, marking a new cycle of existence, completion, or initiation into covenant and sacred purpose. The acceptance by the Lord (Yahweh) emphasizes that the quality and timing of the offering are paramount for divine pleasure and approval. This underscores that worship is not based on human convenience but on God's meticulously revealed standards, culminating in fire-based dedication.

Leviticus 22 27 Bonus section

The number eight in biblical numerology often symbolizes regeneration, new beginnings, resurrection, and completion beyond a full cycle. In the context of Leviticus 22:27, the animal effectively enters a "new phase" or is "set apart" for its sacred destiny from the eighth day. This theme runs through various purification and consecration rites in the Mosaic Law. Beyond physical cleanliness, the rituals associated with the eighth day speak to a spiritual readiness or cleansing necessary before approaching or serving God. Christ's resurrection on the first day of the week (the "eighth day" in a week-plus sense) profoundly connects to this biblical motif, establishing a new creation and a new covenant in His blood, offering humanity a truly new beginning and purified access to God. This command thus emphasizes that a truly acceptable sacrifice, whether animal in the Old Covenant or our lives in the New Covenant, must embody fullness, viability, and an ordained newness for divine purposes.

Leviticus 22 27 Commentary

Leviticus 22:27 serves as a concise yet powerful testament to God's precise and demanding standards for worship. It moves beyond merely preventing the offering of physically frail newborns by intertwining practical animal husbandry with profound spiritual symbolism. The requirement for an animal to spend seven days with its mother underscores the value of life and the process of natural development, while also implicitly preventing crude or exploitative sacrificial practices. The key, however, lies in the specific timing of the "eighth day." This period signifies a new beginning and initiation into sacred service throughout the Torah. Just as human males entered the Abrahamic covenant on the eighth day through circumcision, and priests commenced their holy service, so too, animals designated for sacred purpose underwent a metaphorical "sanctification" through this passage of time.

This divine mandate ensured that every offering brought before the Lord was whole, complete, and properly prepared, thereby truly honoring His holiness. It prevented casual or defiled sacrifices, upholding the reverence due to the God of Israel. Prophetically, this meticulous standard foreshadows the ultimate, perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ. As the Lamb of God (John 1:29), He was "unblemished and spotless" (1 Pet 1:19), embodying the ultimate fulfillment of these Old Testament requirements for a truly acceptable and effective atonement, a sacrifice that truly "pleased" God (Eph 5:2; Heb 9:14). For believers today, the essence of this verse calls for a spiritual offering: our lives dedicated to God must be mature, wholly committed, and continually nurtured, offered as "living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God" (Rom 12:1). It highlights that true devotion demands not mere minimums, but a profound commitment to God's standard of holiness and excellence.