Leviticus 22:17-27

17 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

18 Speak to Aaron, and to his sons, and to all the children of Israel, and say to them, Whoever [he may be] of the house of Israel, or of the strangers in Israel, that will offer his oblation for all his vows, and for all his free-will-offerings, which they will offer to the LORD for a burnt-offering:

19 [Ye shall offer] at your own will a male without blemish of the beeves, of the sheep, or of the goats.

20 [But] whatever hath a blemish, [that] shall ye not offer: for it shall not be acceptable for you.

21 And whoever offereth a sacrifice of peace-offerings to the LORD to accomplish [his] vow, or a free-will-offering in beeves, or sheep, it shall be perfect to be accepted: there shall be in it no blemish.

22 Blind, or broken, or maimed, or having a wen, or scurvy, or scabbed, ye shall not offer these to the LORD, nor make an offering by fire of them upon the altar to the LORD.

23 Either a bullock, or a lamb that hath any thing superfluous or lacking in his parts, that mayest thou offer [for] a free-will-offering; but for a vow it shall not be accepted.

24 Ye shall not offer to the LORD that which is bruised, or crushed, or broken, or cut; neither shall ye make [any offering thereof] in your land.

25 Neither from a stranger's hand shall ye offer the bread of your God of any of these; because their corruption [is] in them, [and] blemishes [are] in them: they shall not be accepted for you.

26 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

27 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 to the LORD.

Leviticus 22:17-27 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO LEVITICUS 22

In this chapter several laws are delivered out, forbidding the priests to eat of holy things, when in any uncleanness, or at any time what dies of itself, or is torn of beasts, Le 22:1-9; also showing who belonging to the priests might or might not eat of the holy things, Le 22:10-16; and others requiring that whatever offerings were brought by the children, of Israel, they should be perfect and without blemish, Le 22:17-25; and also declaring what age a creature should be of when sacrificed, and the time when thank offerings were to be eaten, Le 22:26-30; concluding with an exhortation to observe the commands of God, and sanctify him, and not profane his name, Le 22:31-33.