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(A)—presents a gift(B) for a burnt offering to the Lord, either to fulfill a vow(C) or as a freewill offering,(D) 19 you must present a male without defect(E) from the cattle, sheep or goats in order that it may be accepted on your behalf.(F) 20 Do not bring anything with a defect,(G) because it will not be accepted on your behalf.(H) 21 When anyone brings from the herd or flock(I) a fellowship offering(J) to the Lord to fulfill a special vow or as a freewill offering,(K) it must be without defect or blemish(L) to be acceptable.(M) 22 Do not offer to the Lord the blind, the injured or the maimed, or anything with warts or festering or running sores. Do not place any of these on the altar as a food offering presented to the Lord. 23 You may, however, present as a freewill offering an ox[a] or a sheep that is deformed or stunted, but it will not be accepted in fulfillment of a vow. 24 You must not offer to the Lord an animal whose testicles are bruised, crushed, torn or cut.(N) You must not do this in your own land, 25 and you must not accept such animals from the hand of a foreigner and offer them as the food of your God.(O) They will not be accepted on your behalf, because they are deformed and have defects.(P)’”

26 The Lord said to Moses, 27 “When a calf, a lamb or a goat(Q) is born, it is to remain with its mother for seven days.(R) From the eighth day(S) on, it will be acceptable(T) as a food offering presented to the Lord. 28 Do not slaughter a cow or a sheep and its young on the same day.(U)

29 “When you sacrifice a thank offering(V) to the Lord, sacrifice it in such a way that it will be accepted on your behalf. 30 It must be eaten that same day; leave none of it till morning.(W) I am the Lord.(X)

31 “Keep(Y) my commands and follow them.(Z) I am the Lord. 32 Do not profane my holy name,(AA) for I must be acknowledged as holy by the Israelites.(AB) I am the Lord, who made you holy(AC) 33 and who brought you out of Egypt(AD) to be your God.(AE) I am the Lord.”

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Footnotes

  1. Leviticus 22:23 The Hebrew word can refer to either male or female.

Acceptable Sacrifices

17 The Lord spoke to Moses: 18 “Speak to Aaron, his sons, and all the Israelites and tell them: Any man of the house of Israel or of the resident aliens(A) in Israel who presents his offering(B)—whether they present payment of vows or freewill gifts to the Lord as burnt offerings— 19 must offer an unblemished male(C) from the cattle, sheep, or goats in order for you to be accepted. 20 You are not to present anything that has a defect, because it will not be accepted on your behalf.

21 “When a man presents a fellowship sacrifice to the Lord to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering from the herd or flock, it has to be unblemished to be acceptable; there must be no defect in it. 22 You are not to present any animal to the Lord that is blind, injured, maimed, or has a running sore, festering rash,(D) or scabs; you may not put any of them on the altar as a food offering to the Lord.(E) 23 You may sacrifice as a freewill offering any animal from the herd or flock that has an elongated or stunted limb, but it is not acceptable as a vow offering. 24 You are not to present to the Lord anything that has bruised, crushed, torn, or severed testicles;(F) you must not sacrifice them in your land. 25 Neither you nor[a] a foreigner are to present food to your God from any of these animals. They will not be accepted for you because they are deformed and have a defect.”(G)

26 The Lord spoke to Moses: 27 “When an ox, sheep, or goat is born, it is to remain with[b] its mother for seven days; from the eighth day(H) on, it will be acceptable as an offering, a food offering to the Lord. 28 But you are not to slaughter an animal from the herd or flock on the same day as its young.(I) 29 When you offer a thanksgiving sacrifice(J) to the Lord, offer it so that you may be accepted. 30 It is to be eaten on the same day.(K) Do not let any of it remain until morning; I am the Lord.

31 “You are to keep my commands and do them; I am the Lord. 32 You must not profane my holy name; I must be treated as holy(L) among the Israelites. I am the Lord who sets you apart, 33 the one who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God; I am the Lord.”

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Footnotes

  1. 22:25 Lit nor from the hand of
  2. 22:27 Lit under