Leviticus 22:25

25 but don't accept them from foreigners and present them as food for your God either. Because of deformities and defects they will not be acceptable."

Leviticus 22:25 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 22:25

Neither from a stranger's hand shall ye offer the bread of
your God of any of these
That is, from a Gentile, a proselyte of the gate, who had renounced idolatry, and was willing to offer sacrifice to the true God; but what had such defects and blemishes in them as before described the priest might not take of his hands, and offer on the altar of God; and this is the rather observed, because on the one hand the Gentile might think such sacrifices would be acceptable, since he might have been used to offer such to idols; and on the other hand, the priest might think such would do well enough for Gentiles, though not for Israelites: because their corruption [is] in them;
or they are corrupt through being bruised, crushed, broken, or cut: [and] blemishes [be] in them;
which seems to be added to explain the former, and may have respect to all the blemishes before named, and whatsoever is included in them; for though there are but here mentioned, the Jews reckon no less than fifty F3: they shall not be accepted for you;
to make atonement for you; Jarchi says, or "from you", the priests; they shall not be accepted of the Lord from their hands, and so be of no avail to the offerers, nor to those for whom they are offered.


FOOTNOTES:

F3 Maimon. Hilchot Biath Hamikdash, c. 7. sect. 1

Leviticus 22:25 In-Context

23 You may, though, offer an ox or sheep that is deformed or stunted as a Freewill-Offering, but it is not acceptable in fulfilling a vow.
24 Don't offer to God an animal with bruised, crushed, torn, or cut-off testicles. Don't do this in your own land
25 but don't accept them from foreigners and present them as food for your God either. Because of deformities and defects they will not be acceptable."
26 God spoke to Moses:
27 "When a calf or lamb or goat is born, it is to stay with its mother for seven days. After the eighth day, it is acceptable as an offering, a gift to God.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.