Leviticus 7:20

But the soul that eateth of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, that pertain unto the LORD, having his uncleanness upon him, even that soul shall be cut off from his people.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(20, 21) But the soul that eateth, &c—Any one who partakes of the Lord’s holy peace offering in a state of legal defilement, arising either from contact with unclean men or objects (see Leviticus 11:8-44; Leviticus 15:1-33), incurs the penalty of excision.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

7:11-27 As to the peace-offerings, in the expression of their sense of mercy, God left them more at liberty, than in the expression of their sense of sin; that their sacrifices, being free-will offerings, might be the more acceptable, while, by obliging them to bring the sacrifices of atonement, God shows the necessity of the great Propitiation. The main reason why blood was forbidden of old, was because the Lord had appointed blood for an atonement. This use, being figurative, had its end in Christ, who by his death and blood-shedding caused the sacrifices to cease. Therefore this law is not now in force on believers.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

It was proper that the sacrificial meat should not be polluted by any approach to putrefaction. But the exclusion of a mean-spirited economy may further have furnished the ground for the distinction between the thank-offerings and the others. The most liberal distribution of the meat of the offering, particularly among the poor who were invited to partake, would plainly be becoming when the sacrifice was intended especially to express gratitude for mercies received.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

20. cut off from his people—that is, excluded from the privileges of an Israelite—lie under a sentence of excommunication.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

The soul that eateth knowingly; for if it were done ignorantly, a sacrifice was accepted for it, Leviticus 5:2.

Having his uncleanness upon him, i.e. not being cleansed from his uncleanness according to the appointment, Leviticus 11:24, &c. This verse speaks of uncleanness from an internal cause, as by an issue, &c., for what was from an external cause is spoken of in the next verse.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

But the soul that eateth of the flesh of the sacrifice of the peace offerings, that pertain unto the Lord,.... That are offered up to him, and so are holy, and therefore not to be eaten by unholy persons, or by any

having his uncleanness upon him; a profluvious person that has an issue running out of him, a gonorrhoea; see Leviticus 15:2.

even that soul shall be cut off from his people; be disfranchised as an Israelite, be debarred the privileges of the sanctuary, or be cut off by death before the usual time and term of man's life; so those that eat and drink unworthily in the supper of our Lord, where his flesh is eaten and his blood drank, eat and drink damnation to themselves, 1 Corinthians 11:29.

Geneva Study Bible

But the soul that eateth of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, that pertain unto the LORD, having his uncleanness upon him, even that soul shall be cut off from his people.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Leviticus 7:20

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

In the same way all sacrificial flesh that had come into contact with what was unclean, and been defiled in consequence, was to be burned and not eaten. Leviticus 7:19, which is not found in the Septuagint and Vulgate, reads thus: "and as for the flesh, every clean person shall eat flesh," i.e., take part in the sacrificial meal.