Leviticus 22:8-18

8 He must not eat anything found dead or torn by wild animals, and so become unclean through it. I am the LORD.
9 “ ‘The priests are to perform my service in such a way that they do not become guilty and die for treating it with contempt. I am the LORD, who makes them holy.
10 “ ‘No one outside a priest’s family may eat the sacred offering, nor may the guest of a priest or his hired worker eat it.
11 But if a priest buys a slave with money, or if slaves are born in his household, they may eat his food.
12 If a priest’s daughter marries anyone other than a priest, she may not eat any of the sacred contributions.
13 But if a priest’s daughter becomes a widow or is divorced, yet has no children, and she returns to live in her father’s household as in her youth, she may eat her father’s food. No unauthorized person, however, may eat it.
14 “ ‘Anyone who eats a sacred offering by mistake must make restitution to the priest for the offering and add a fifth of the value to it.
15 The priests must not desecrate the sacred offerings the Israelites present to the LORD
16 by allowing them to eat the sacred offerings and so bring upon them guilt requiring payment. I am the LORD, who makes them holy.’ ”

Unacceptable Sacrifices

17 The LORD said to Moses,
18 “Speak to Aaron and his sons and to all the Israelites and say to them: ‘If any of you—whether an Israelite or a foreigner residing in Israel—presents a gift for a burnt offering to the LORD, either to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering,

Leviticus 22:8-18 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.

Cross References 22

  • 1. S Leviticus 11:39
  • 2. S Exodus 22:31; Leviticus 17:15
  • 3. S Leviticus 11:40
  • 4. Leviticus 11:44
  • 5. S Leviticus 8:35
  • 6. S Exodus 28:38
  • 7. ver 16; S Exodus 28:43
  • 8. Leviticus 20:8
  • 9. ver 13; Exodus 12:45; Exodus 29:33
  • 10. Genesis 17:13; Exodus 12:44
  • 11. S Leviticus 4:2
  • 12. Leviticus 5:15
  • 13. S Leviticus 19:8
  • 14. Numbers 18:32
  • 15. Numbers 18:11
  • 16. S Exodus 28:38
  • 17. S ver 9
  • 18. Leviticus 20:8
  • 19. Numbers 15:16; Numbers 19:10; Joshua 8:33
  • 20. S Leviticus 1:2
  • 21. ver 21; S Genesis 28:20; Numbers 15:8; Psalms 22:25; Psalms 76:11; Psalms 116:18
  • 22. S Leviticus 7:16
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