Deuteronomy 15:21
New International Version
If an animal has a defect, is lame or blind, or has any serious flaw, you must not sacrifice it to the LORD your God.

New Living Translation
But if this firstborn animal has any defect, such as lameness or blindness, or if anything else is wrong with it, you must not sacrifice it to the LORD your God.

English Standard Version
But if it has any blemish, if it is lame or blind or has any serious blemish whatever, you shall not sacrifice it to the LORD your God.

Berean Standard Bible
But if an animal has a defect, is lame or blind, or has any serious flaw, you must not sacrifice it to the LORD your God.

King James Bible
And if there be any blemish therein, as if it be lame, or blind, or have any ill blemish, thou shalt not sacrifice it unto the LORD thy God.

New King James Version
But if there is a defect in it, if it is lame or blind or has any serious defect, you shall not sacrifice it to the LORD your God.

New American Standard Bible
But if it has any impairment, such as a limp, or blindness, or any serious impairment, you shall not sacrifice it to the LORD your God.

NASB 1995
“But if it has any defect, such as lameness or blindness, or any serious defect, you shall not sacrifice it to the LORD your God.

NASB 1977
“But if it has any defect, such as lameness or blindness, or any serious defect, you shall not sacrifice it to the LORD your God.

Legacy Standard Bible
But if it has any defect, such as lameness or blindness, or any serious defect, you shall not sacrifice it to Yahweh your God.

Amplified Bible
But if it has any defect or injury, such as lameness or blindness, or any serious defect, you shall not sacrifice it to the LORD your God.

Christian Standard Bible
But if there is a defect in the animal, if it is lame or blind or has any serious defect, you may not sacrifice it to the LORD your God.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But if there is a defect in the animal, if it is lame or blind or has any serious defect, you must not sacrifice it to the LORD your God.

American Standard Version
And if it have any blemish, as if it be lame or blind, any ill blemish whatsoever, thou shalt not sacrifice it unto Jehovah thy God.

Contemporary English Version
But if the animal is lame or blind or has something else wrong with it, you must not sacrifice it to the LORD your God.

English Revised Version
And if it have any blemish, as if it be lame or blind, any ill blemish whatsoever, thou shalt not sacrifice it unto the LORD thy God.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But if an animal is lame or blind or has any other serious defect-never sacrifice it to the LORD your God.

Good News Translation
But if there is anything wrong with the animals, if they are crippled or blind or have any other serious defect, you must not sacrifice them to the LORD your God.

International Standard Version
If it has a blemish—lameness, blindness, or any kind of defect—you must not sacrifice it to the LORD your God.

Majority Standard Bible
But if an animal has a defect, is lame or blind, or has any serious flaw, you must not sacrifice it to the LORD your God.

NET Bible
If they have any kind of blemish--lameness, blindness, or anything else--you may not offer them as a sacrifice to the LORD your God.

New Heart English Bible
If it has any blemish, is lame or blind, or has any defect whatever, you shall not sacrifice it to the LORD your God.

Webster's Bible Translation
And if there is any blemish in it, as if it is lame, or blind, or hath any ill blemish, thou shalt not sacrifice it to the LORD thy God.

World English Bible
If it has any defect—is lame or blind, or has any defect whatever, you shall not sacrifice it to Yahweh your God.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And when there is a blemish in it, [or it is] lame or blind, [or has] any evil blemish, you do not sacrifice it to your God YHWH;

Young's Literal Translation
'And when there is in it a blemish, lame, or blind, any evil blemish, thou dost not sacrifice it to Jehovah thy God;

Smith's Literal Translation
And when a blemish shall be in it, lame or blind, any evil blemish, thou shalt not sacrifice it to Jehovah thy God.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But if it have a blemish, or be lame, or blind, or in any part disfigured or feeble, it shall not be sacrificed to the Lord thy God.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But if it has a blemish, or is lame, or is blind, or if it is in any part deformed or debilitated, it shall not be immolated to the Lord your God.

New American Bible
But if a firstling has any defect, lameness or blindness, any such serious defect, you shall not sacrifice it to the LORD, your God,

New Revised Standard Version
But if it has any defect—any serious defect, such as lameness or blindness—you shall not sacrifice it to the LORD your God;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And if there is any blemish in it, or it is lame or blind, or have any ill blemish, you shall not sacrifice it to the LORD your God.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And if there shall be a defect in it, or it is lame, or blind, or anything bad, you shall not bring it to LORD JEHOVAH your God.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And if there be any blemish therein, lameness, or blindness, any ill blemish whatsoever, thou shalt not sacrifice it unto the LORD thy God.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And if there be in it a blemish, if it be lame or blind, an evil blemish, thou shalt not sacrifice it to the Lord thy God.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Firstborn Animals
20Each year you and your household are to eat it before the LORD your God in the place the LORD will choose. 21But if an animal has a defect, is lame or blind, or has any serious flaw, you must not sacrifice it to the LORD your God. 22Eat it within your gates; both the ceremonially unclean and clean may eat it as they would a gazelle or a deer.…

Cross References
Leviticus 22:20-25
You must not present anything with a defect, because it will not be accepted on your behalf. / When a man presents a peace offering to the LORD from the herd or flock to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering, it must be without blemish or defect to be acceptable. / You are not to present to the LORD any animal that is blind, injured, or maimed, or anything with a running sore, a festering rash, or a scab; you must not put any of these on the altar as a food offering to the LORD. ...

Malachi 1:8
When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is it not wrong? And when you present the lame and sick ones, is it not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you or show you favor?” asks the LORD of Hosts.

Malachi 1:14
“But cursed is the deceiver who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but sacrifices a defective animal to the Lord. For I am a great King,” says the LORD of Hosts, “and My name is to be feared among the nations.

Exodus 12:5
Your lamb must be an unblemished year-old male, and you may take it from the sheep or the goats.

Leviticus 1:3
If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to present an unblemished male. He must bring it to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting for its acceptance before the LORD.

Leviticus 22:19
must offer an unblemished male from the cattle, sheep, or goats in order for it to be accepted on your behalf.

Numbers 19:2
“This is the statute of the law that the LORD has commanded: Instruct the Israelites to bring you an unblemished red heifer that has no defect and has never been placed under a yoke.

1 Peter 1:19
but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.

Hebrews 9:14
how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God!

1 Corinthians 5:7
Get rid of the old leaven, that you may be a new unleavened batch, as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.

Ephesians 5:27
and to present her to Himself as a glorious church, without stain or wrinkle or any such blemish, but holy and blameless.

Romans 12:1
Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

Philippians 2:15
so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world

2 Peter 3:14
Therefore, beloved, as you anticipate these things, make every effort to be found at peace—spotless and blameless in His sight.

Leviticus 3:1
“If one’s offering is a peace offering and he offers an animal from the herd, whether male or female, he must present it without blemish before the LORD.


Treasury of Scripture

And if there be any blemish therein, as if it be lame, or blind, or have any ill blemish, you shall not sacrifice it to the LORD your God.

Deuteronomy 17:1
Thou shalt not sacrifice unto the LORD thy God any bullock, or sheep, wherein is blemish, or any evilfavouredness: for that is an abomination unto the LORD thy God.

Leviticus 22:20,24
But whatsoever hath a blemish, that shall ye not offer: for it shall not be acceptable for you…

Malachi 1:7,8
Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible…

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Animal Blemish Blind Blindness Damaged Defect Evil Ill Lame Mark Sacrifice Serious Therein Whatever Whatsoever Wrong
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Animal Blemish Blind Blindness Damaged Defect Evil Ill Lame Mark Sacrifice Serious Therein Whatever Whatsoever Wrong
Deuteronomy 15
1. The seventh year a year of release for the poor
7. one must be generous in lending or giving
12. A Hebrew servant, except by choice, must be freed in the seventh year
19. All firstborn males of the cattle are to be sanctified unto the Lord.














But if an animal has a defect
In the context of ancient Israelite worship, offerings to God were to be without blemish, symbolizing purity and perfection. This requirement reflects God's holiness and the need for offerings to be worthy of Him. The concept of defect-free sacrifices is rooted in the broader Levitical laws (Leviticus 22:20-25), emphasizing the importance of giving God the best, not the leftovers or inferior goods.

is lame or blind
Lameness and blindness are specific examples of defects that disqualify an animal from being sacrificed. These physical imperfections symbolize spiritual shortcomings and are used to teach the Israelites about the importance of spiritual integrity and wholeness. The requirement for unblemished sacrifices foreshadows the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who was without sin (Hebrews 4:15).

or has any serious flaw
The term "serious flaw" encompasses any imperfection that would render an animal unfit for sacrifice. This broad category ensures that only the best is offered to God, reinforcing the principle of giving God the first and finest of one's possessions. This practice also served to instill a sense of reverence and respect for the divine.

you must not sacrifice it to the LORD your God
This command underscores the seriousness of offering only what is perfect to God. It reflects the covenant relationship between God and Israel, where obedience to His laws was a sign of faithfulness. The prohibition against sacrificing flawed animals is a reminder of God's standards and the call to holiness. It also points to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, the Lamb of God, who was without blemish or defect (1 Peter 1:19), fulfilling the sacrificial system and establishing a new covenant.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The author of Deuteronomy, delivering God's laws to the Israelites.

2. Israelites
The chosen people of God, receiving instructions on how to live in covenant with Him.

3. The Promised Land
The land of Canaan, where the Israelites are to live according to God's laws.

4. Sacrificial System
The system of offerings and sacrifices established by God for worship and atonement.

5. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant God of Israel, who requires pure and unblemished offerings.
Teaching Points
The Principle of Giving God Our Best
God deserves our best offerings, not our leftovers. This principle extends beyond physical sacrifices to our time, talents, and resources.

Holiness and Purity in Worship
The requirement for unblemished sacrifices underscores the holiness of God and the purity He demands in worship. Our worship should reflect His holiness.

Symbolism of Christ as the Perfect Sacrifice
The unblemished sacrifices in the Old Testament foreshadow Christ, the perfect Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.

Integrity in Our Offerings
Just as the Israelites were to offer unblemished animals, we are called to integrity in our offerings, ensuring they are given with a pure heart.

Reflecting God's Standards in Our Lives
The call to offer unblemished sacrifices is a reminder to live lives that reflect God's standards of holiness and righteousness.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But if
וְכִֽי־ (wə·ḵî-)
Conjunctive waw | Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

[an animal] has
יִהְיֶ֨ה (yih·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

a defect,
מ֗וּם (mūm)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3971: To stain, a blemish

is lame
פִּסֵּ֙חַ֙ (pis·sê·aḥ)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 6455: Lame

or
א֣וֹ (’ōw)
Conjunction
Strong's 176: Desire, if

blind,
עִוֵּ֔ר (‘iw·wêr)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 5787: Blind

or has any
כֹּ֖ל (kōl)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

serious
רָ֑ע (rā‘)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

flaw,
מ֣וּם (mūm)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3971: To stain, a blemish

you must not
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

sacrifice
תִזְבָּחֶ֔נּוּ (ṯiz·bā·ḥen·nū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2076: To slaughter for sacrifice

it to the LORD
לַיהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

your God.
אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃ (’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 15:21 If it have any blemish as if (Deut. De Du)
Deuteronomy 15:20
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