Leviticus 22:19

19 To be accepted, it must be a male without any defects.

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 The Lord commanded Moses
18 to give Aaron and his sons and all the people of Israel the following regulations. When any Israelite or any foreigner living in Israel presents a burnt offering, whether as fulfillment of a vow or as a freewill offering, the animal must not have any defects.
19 To be accepted, it must be a male without any defects.
20 If you offer any animal that has any defects, the Lord will not accept it.
21 When anyone presents a fellowship offering to the Lord, whether as fulfillment of a vow or as a freewill offering, the animal must be without any defects if it is to be accepted.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.