Leviticus 22:20

20 if it hath a wem (but if it hath a blemish, or a fault), ye shall not offer it, neither it shall be acceptable.

Leviticus 22:20 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 22:20

For whatsoever hath a blemish, that shall ye not offer
Which is the general rule, the particulars of which are after given, and which has been imitated by the Heathens. The Egyptians, as they only sacrificed the males of beeves, so they were very curious in examining them, that they might be entirely pure and perfect ^F19; and it was a custom among the Romans, that such sheep should be chosen for sacrifice, in which there was nothing wanting ^F20; and so, among the Grecians, Homer ^F21 speaks of perfect goats offered in sacrifice to appease the gods: for it shall not be acceptable for you;
be grateful to God, and accepted by him on their account, if blemished; see ( Malachi 1:13 Malachi 1:14 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F19 Heredot. Euterpe, sive, l. 2. c. 38.
F20 Servius in Virgil. Aeneid. l. 4.
F21 Iliad. 1. ver. 66.

Leviticus 22:20 In-Context

18 Speak thou to Aaron, and to his sons, and to all the sons of Israel, and thou shalt say to them, A man of the house of Israel, and of the comelings that dwell with them, that offereth his offering to the Lord, and either payeth avows, either offereth by his free will, whatever thing he offereth into burnt sacrifice of the Lord (whatever thing he offereth for a burnt sacrifice to the Lord),

19 that it be offered by you, it shall be a male without wem, of oxen, and of sheep, and of goats; (that it be acceptable, ye shall offer a male without blemish, or without fault, of the oxen, or the sheep, or the goats;)

20 if it hath a wem (but if it hath a blemish, or a fault), ye shall not offer it, neither it shall be acceptable.

21 A man that offereth a sacrifice of peaceable things to the Lord, and either payeth avows, either offereth by free will, as well of oxen as of sheep, he shall offer a beast without wem, that it be acceptable; no wem shall be therein. (A man who offereth a peace offering to the Lord, whether he payeth a vow, or offereth by free will, whether of oxen or of sheep, he shall offer a beast without blemish, so that it be acceptable; yea, no blemish shall be upon it.)

22 If it is blind, if it is broken, if it hath a wound or a scar, if it hath whelks, either (a) scab, either (a) dry scab, ye shall not offer those beasts to the Lord, neither ye shall burn (any) of those beasts upon the altar of the Lord.