Leviticus 22:20

20 ¹You shall not offer anything that has a blemish, for it will not be acceptable for you.

Leviticus 22:20 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 22:20

For whatsoever hath a blemish, that shall ye not offer
Which is the general rule, the particulars of which are after given, and which has been imitated by the Heathens. The Egyptians, as they only sacrificed the males of beeves, so they were very curious in examining them, that they might be entirely pure and perfect ^F19; and it was a custom among the Romans, that such sheep should be chosen for sacrifice, in which there was nothing wanting ^F20; and so, among the Grecians, Homer ^F21 speaks of perfect goats offered in sacrifice to appease the gods: for it shall not be acceptable for you;
be grateful to God, and accepted by him on their account, if blemished; see ( Malachi 1:13 Malachi 1:14 ) .

---

FOOTNOTES:

F19 Heredot. Euterpe, sive, l. 2. c. 38.
F20 Servius in Virgil. Aeneid. l. 4.
F21 Iliad. 1. ver. 66.

Leviticus 22:20 In-Context

18 "Speak to Aaron and his sons and all the people of Israel and say to them, When any one of the house of Israel or of the sojourners in Israel presents a burnt offering as his offering, for any of their vows or freewill offerings that they offer to the LORD,

19 if it is to be accepted for you it shall be a male without blemish, of the bulls or the sheep or the goats.

20 You shall not offer anything that has a blemish, for it will not be acceptable for you.

21 And when anyone offers a sacrifice of peace offerings to the LORD to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering from the herd or from the flock, to be accepted it must be perfect; there shall be no blemish in it.

22 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.

Cross References

• 1. Deuteronomy 15:21; Deuteronomy 17:1; Malachi 1:8, 14; [Hebrews 9:14; 1 Peter 1:19]