Leviticus 22:17-33

17 And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying,

18 Speak unto Aaron and to his sons and unto all the sons of Israel and say unto them, Any man of the house of Israel or of the strangers in Israel that will offer his oblation for all his vows and for all his freewill offerings, which they will offer unto the LORD for a burnt offering,

19 ye shall offer of your own free will a male without blemish of the bovine cattle of the sheep or of the goats.

20 But ye shall not offer any thing that has a blemish, for it shall not be acceptable for you.

21 Likewise when anyone offers a sacrifice of peace unto the LORD to present his vow or a freewill offering in bovine cattle or sheep, it must be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no blemish therein.

22 Blind or broken or maimed or having a running sore or scurvy or scabbed, ye shall not offer these unto the LORD, nor make an offering on fire of them upon the altar of the LORD.

23 A bullock or a lamb that has any thing superfluous or lacking in his parts, thou may offer for a freewill offering; but for a vow it shall not be accepted.

24 Ye shall not offer unto the LORD that which is bruised or crushed or broken or cut; neither shall ye do thus in all your land.

25 Neither from the son of 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 unto Moses, saying,

27 When a bullock or a sheep or a goat is born, then it shall be seven days under the dam; and from the eighth day and thenceforth it shall be accepted for an offering on fire unto the LORD.

28 And whether it is cow or ewe, ye shall not kill it and her young both in one day.

29 And when ye will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving unto the LORD, offer it of your own free will.

30 On the same day it shall be eaten up; ye shall leave none of it until the morrow. I am the LORD.

31 Keep, therefore, my commandments and do them. I am the LORD.

32 Profane ye not my holy name, and I will sanctify myself in the midst of the sons of Israel. I AM he who sanctifies you

33 and who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God. I am the LORD.

Leviticus 22:17-33 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.