Leviticus 22:19

19 it shall be for your acceptance, without blemish, a male of the oxen, of the sheep, and of the goats.

Leviticus 22:19 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 22:19

Ye shall offer at your own will
For vows and freewill offerings were at their own option, and depended on their own will and pleasure, and when offered should be with a willing mind, and from their whole heart: or "for good will to you"; as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan; or for gracious, acceptation, that is, that they might be well pleasing to God, and acceptable in his sight, so Jarchi; in order to which the following direction was strictly to be observed: a male without blemish, of the beeves, of the sheep, and of the goats;
bullocks, sheep, and goats, were the only sorts of beasts, out of which sacrifices were taken, and those that were for burnt offerings were always to be males, and unblemished, see ( Leviticus 1:3 Leviticus 1:10 ) ; but for other offerings, as peace offerings and sin offerings, females might be used, see ( Leviticus 3:1 ) ( 4:32 ) . Fowls are not mentioned, though burnt offerings were of them, because it was not required in them, only of beasts, that they should be males, and without blemish; for, as Jarchi observes, these were not rejected on account of a blemish, only for want of a member.

Leviticus 22:19 In-Context

17 And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying,
18 Speak unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them, Whatever man of the house of Israel, or of the sojourners in Israel, that presenteth his offering for any of his vows, and for any of his voluntary offerings, which they present to Jehovah as a burnt-offering,
19 it shall be for your acceptance, without blemish, a male of the oxen, of the sheep, and of the goats.
20 Nothing that hath a defect shall ye present; for it shall not be acceptable for you.
21 And if any present a sacrifice of peace-offering to Jehovah to accomplish a vow, or a voluntary offering of oxen or small cattle, it shall be without blemish to be accepted: there shall be no defect therein.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Or 'to be accepted for you:' see ver. 21.
The Darby Translation is in the public domain.