Worthy.Bible » Parallel » Leviticus » Chapter 22

Leviticus 22:1-33 King James Version (KJV)

1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

2 Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, that they separate themselves from the holy things of the children of Israel, and that they profane not my holy name in those things which they hallow unto me: I am the LORD.

3 Say unto them, Whosoever he be of all your seed among your generations, that goeth unto the holy things, which the children of Israel hallow unto the LORD, having his uncleanness upon him, that soul shall be cut off from my presence: I am the LORD.

4 What man soever of the seed of Aaron is a leper, or hath a running issue; he shall not eat of the holy things, until he be clean. And whoso toucheth any thing that is unclean by the dead, or a man whose seed goeth from him;

5 Or whosoever toucheth any creeping thing, whereby he may be made unclean, or a man of whom he may take uncleanness, whatsoever uncleanness he hath;

6 The soul which hath touched any such shall be unclean until even, and shall not eat of the holy things, unless he wash his flesh with water.

7 And when the sun is down, he shall be clean, and shall afterward eat of the holy things; because it is his food.

8 That which dieth of itself, or is torn with beasts, he shall not eat to defile himself therewith; I am the LORD.

9 They shall therefore keep mine ordinance, lest they bear sin for it, and die therefore, if they profane it: I the LORD do sanctify them.

10 There shall no stranger eat of the holy thing: a sojourner of the priest, or an hired servant, shall not eat of the holy thing.

11 But if the priest buy any soul with his money, he shall eat of it, and he that is born in his house: they shall eat of his meat.

12 If the priest's daughter also be married unto a stranger, she may not eat of an offering of the holy things.

13 But if the priest's daughter be a widow, or divorced, and have no child, and is returned unto her father's house, as in her youth, she shall eat of her father's meat: but there shall be no stranger eat thereof.

14 And if a man eat of the holy thing unwittingly, then he shall put the fifth part thereof unto it, and shall give it unto the priest with the holy thing.

15 And they shall not profane the holy things of the children of Israel, which they offer unto the LORD;

16 Or suffer them to bear the iniquity of trespass, when they eat their holy things: for I the LORD do sanctify them.

17 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

18 Speak unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them, Whatsoever he be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers in Israel, that will offer his oblation for all his vows, and for all his freewill offerings, which they will offer unto the LORD for a burnt offering;

19 Ye shall offer at your own will a male without blemish, of the beeves, of the sheep, or of the goats.

20 But whatsoever hath a blemish, that shall ye not offer: for it shall not be acceptable for you.

21 And whosoever offereth a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD to accomplish his vow, or a freewill offering in beeves or sheep, it shall be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no blemish therein.

22 Blind, or broken, or maimed, or having a wen, or scurvy, or scabbed, ye shall not offer these unto the LORD, nor make an offering by fire of them upon the altar unto the LORD.

23 Either a bullock or a lamb that hath any thing superfluous or lacking in his parts, that mayest thou offer for a freewill offering; but for a vow it shall not be accepted.

24 Ye shall not offer unto the LORD that which is bruised, or crushed, or broken, or cut; neither shall ye make any offering thereof in your land.

25 Neither from a stranger's hand shall ye offer the bread of your God of any of these; because their corruption is in them, and blemishes be in them: they shall not be accepted for you.

26 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

27 When a bullock, or a sheep, or a goat, is brought forth, then it shall be seven days under the dam; and from the eighth day and thenceforth it shall be accepted for an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

28 And whether it be cow, or ewe, ye shall not kill it and her young both in one day.

29 And when ye will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving unto the LORD, offer it at your own will.

30 On the same day it shall be eaten up; ye shall leave none of it until the morrow: I am the LORD.

31 Therefore shall ye keep my commandments, and do them: I am the LORD.

32 Neither shall ye profane my holy name; but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel: I am the LORD which hallow you,

33 That brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the LORD.


Leviticus 22:1-33 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 And the LORD H3068 spake H1696 unto Moses, H4872 saying, H559

2 Speak H1696 unto Aaron H175 and to his sons, H1121 that they separate H5144 themselves from the holy things H6944 of the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 and that they profane H2490 not my holy H6944 name H8034 in those things which they hallow H6942 unto me: I am the LORD. H3068

3 Say H559 unto them, Whosoever H376 he be of all your seed H2233 among your generations, H1755 that goeth H7126 unto the holy things, H6944 which the children H1121 of Israel H3478 hallow H6942 unto the LORD, H3068 having his uncleanness H2932 upon him, that soul H5315 shall be cut off H3772 from my presence: H6440 I am the LORD. H3068

4 What man soever H376 of the seed H2233 of Aaron H175 is a leper, H6879 or hath a running issue; H2100 he shall not eat H398 of the holy things, H6944 until he be clean. H2891 And whoso toucheth H5060 any thing that is unclean H2931 by the dead, H5315 or a man H376 whose seed H2233 H7902 goeth H3318 from him;

5 Or whosoever H376 toucheth H5060 any creeping thing, H8318 whereby he may be made unclean, H2930 or a man H120 of whom he may take uncleanness, H2930 whatsoever uncleanness H2932 he hath;

6 The soul H5315 which hath touched H5060 any such shall be unclean H2930 until even, H6153 and shall not eat H398 of the holy things, H6944 unless H518 he wash H7364 his flesh H1320 with water. H4325

7 And when the sun H8121 is down, H935 he shall be clean, H2891 and shall afterward H310 eat H398 of the holy things; H6944 because it is his food. H3899

8 That which dieth of itself, H5038 or is torn H2966 with beasts, he shall not eat H398 to defile H2930 himself therewith: I am the LORD. H3068

9 They shall therefore keep H8104 mine ordinance, H4931 lest they bear H5375 sin H2399 for it, and die H4191 therefore, if they profane H2490 it: I the LORD H3068 do sanctify H6942 them.

10 There shall no stranger H2114 eat H398 of the holy thing: H6944 a sojourner H8453 of the priest, H3548 or an hired servant, H7916 shall not eat H398 of the holy thing. H6944

11 But if the priest H3548 buy H7069 any soul H5315 with H7075 his money, H3701 he shall eat H398 of it, and he that is born H3211 in his house: H1004 they shall eat H398 of his meat. H3899

12 If the priest's H3548 daughter H1323 also be married unto a stranger, H376 H2114 she may not eat H398 of an offering H8641 of the holy things. H6944

13 But if the priest's H3548 daughter H1323 be a widow, H490 or divorced, H1644 and have no child, H2233 and is returned H7725 unto her father's H1 house, H1004 as in her youth, H5271 she shall eat H398 of her father's H1 meat: H3899 but there shall no stranger H2114 eat H398 thereof.

14 And if a man H376 eat H398 of the holy thing H6944 unwittingly, H7684 then he shall put H3254 the fifth H2549 part thereof unto it, and shall give H5414 it unto the priest H3548 with the holy thing. H6944

15 And they shall not profane H2490 the holy things H6944 of the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 which they offer H7311 unto the LORD; H3068

16 Or suffer them to bear H5375 the iniquity H5771 of trespass, H819 when they eat H398 their holy things: H6944 for I the LORD H3068 do sanctify H6942 them.

17 And the LORD H3068 spake H1696 unto Moses, H4872 saying, H559

18 Speak H1696 unto Aaron, H175 and to his sons, H1121 and unto all the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 and say H559 unto them, Whatsoever H376 he be of the house H1004 of Israel, H3478 or of the strangers H1616 in Israel, H3478 that will offer H7126 his oblation H7133 for all his vows, H5088 and for all his freewill offerings, H5071 which they will offer H7126 unto the LORD H3068 for a burnt offering; H5930

19 Ye shall offer at your own will H7522 a male H2145 without blemish, H8549 of the beeves, H1241 of the sheep, H3775 or of the goats. H5795

20 But whatsoever hath a blemish, H3971 that shall ye not offer: H7126 for it shall not be acceptable H7522 for you.

21 And whosoever H376 offereth H7126 a sacrifice H2077 of peace offerings H8002 unto the LORD H3068 to accomplish H6381 his vow, H5088 or a freewill offering H5071 in beeves H1241 or sheep, H6629 it shall be perfect H8549 to be accepted; H7522 there shall be no blemish H3971 therein.

22 Blind, H5788 or broken, H7665 or maimed, H2782 or having a wen, H2990 or scurvy, H1618 or scabbed, H3217 ye shall not offer H7126 these unto the LORD, H3068 nor make H5414 an offering by fire H801 of them upon the altar H4196 unto the LORD. H3068

23 Either a bullock H7794 or a lamb H7716 that hath any thing superfluous H8311 or lacking in his parts, H7038 that mayest thou offer H6213 for a freewill offering; H5071 but for a vow H5088 it shall not be accepted. H7521

24 Ye shall not offer H7126 unto the LORD H3068 that which is bruised, H4600 or crushed, H3807 or broken, H5423 or cut; H3772 neither shall ye make H6213 any offering thereof in your land. H776

25 Neither from a stranger's H5236 hand H3027 H1121 shall ye offer H7126 the bread H3899 of your God H430 of any of these; because their corruption H4893 is in them, and blemishes H3971 be in them: they shall not be accepted H7521 for you.

26 And the LORD H3068 spake H1696 unto Moses, H4872 saying, H559

27 When a bullock, H7794 or a sheep, H3775 or a goat, H5795 is brought forth, H3205 then it shall be seven H7651 days H3117 under the dam; H517 and from the eighth H8066 day H3117 and thenceforth H1973 it shall be accepted H7521 for an offering H7133 made by fire H801 unto the LORD. H3068

28 And whether it be cow H7794 or ewe, H7716 ye shall not kill H7819 it and her young H1121 both in one H259 day. H3117

29 And when ye will offer H2076 a sacrifice H2077 of thanksgiving H8426 unto the LORD, H3068 offer H2076 it at your own will. H7522

30 On the same day H3117 it shall be eaten up; H398 ye shall leave H3498 none of it until the morrow: H1242 I am the LORD. H3068

31 Therefore shall ye keep H8104 my commandments, H4687 and do H6213 them: I am the LORD. H3068

32 Neither shall ye profane H2490 my holy H6944 name; H8034 but I will be hallowed H6942 among H8432 the children H1121 of Israel: H3478 I am the LORD H3068 which hallow H6942 you,

33 That brought you out H3318 of the land H776 of Egypt, H4714 to be your God: H430 I am the LORD. H3068


Leviticus 22:1-33 American Standard (ASV)

1 And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,

2 Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, that they separate themselves from the holy things of the children of Israel, which they hallow unto me, and that they profane not my holy name: I am Jehovah.

3 Say unto them, Whosoever he be of all your seed throughout your generations, that approacheth unto the holy things, which the children of Israel hallow unto Jehovah, having his uncleanness upon him, that soul shall be cut off from before me: I am Jehovah.

4 What man soever of the seed of Aaron is a leper, or hath an issue; he shall not eat of the holy things, until he be clean. And whoso toucheth anything that is unclean by the dead, or a man whose seed goeth from him;

5 or whosoever toucheth any creeping thing, whereby he may be made unclean, or a man of whom he may take uncleanness, whatsoever uncleanness he hath;

6 the soul that toucheth any such shall be unclean until the even, and shall not eat of the holy things, unless he bathe his flesh in water.

7 And when the sun is down, he shall be clean; and afterward he shall eat of the holy things, because it is his bread.

8 That which dieth of itself, or is torn of beasts, he shall not eat, to defile himself therewith: I am Jehovah.

9 They shall therefore keep my charge, lest they bear sin for it, and die therein, if they profane it: I am Jehovah who sanctifieth them.

10 There shall no stranger eat of the holy thing: a sojourner of the priest's, or a hired servant, shall not eat of the holy thing.

11 But if a priest buy any soul, the purchase of his money, he shall eat of it; and such as are born in his house, they shall eat of his bread.

12 And if a priest's daughter be married unto a stranger, she shall not eat of the heave-offering of the holy things.

13 But if a priest's daughter be a widow, or divorced, and have no child, and be returned unto her father's house, as in her youth, she shall eat of her father's bread: but there shall no stranger eat thereof.

14 And if a man eat of the holy thing unwittingly, then he shall put the fifth part thereof unto it, and shall give unto the priest the holy thing.

15 And they shall not profane the holy things of the children of Israel, which they offer unto Jehovah,

16 and `so' cause them to bear the iniquity that bringeth guilt, when they eat their holy things: for I am Jehovah who sanctifieth them.

17 And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,

18 Speak unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them, Whosoever he be of the house of Israel, or of the sojourners in Israel, that offereth his oblation, whether it be any of their vows, or any of their freewill-offerings, which they offer unto Jehovah for a burnt-offering;

19 that ye may be accepted, `ye shall offer' a male without blemish, of the bullocks, of the sheep, or of the goats.

20 But whatsoever hath a blemish, that shall ye not offer: for it shall not be acceptable for you.

21 And whosoever offereth a sacrifice of peace-offerings unto Jehovah to accomplish a vow, or for a freewill-offering, of the herd or of the flock, it shall be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no blemish therein.

22 Blind, or broken, or maimed, or having a wen, or scurvy, or scabbed, ye shall not offer these unto Jehovah, nor make an offering by fire of them upon the altar unto Jehovah.

23 Either a bullock or a lamb that hath anything superfluous or lacking in his parts, that mayest thou offer for a freewill-offering; but for a vow it shall not be accepted.

24 That which hath its stones bruised, or crushed, or broken, or cut, ye shall not offer unto Jehovah; neither shall ye do `thus' in your land.

25 Neither from the hand of a foreigner shall ye offer the bread of your God of any of these; because their corruption is in them, there is a blemish in them: they shall not be accepted for you.

26 And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,

27 When a bullock, or a sheep, or a goat, is brought forth, then it shall be seven days under the dam; and from the eighth day and thenceforth it shall be accepted for the oblation of an offering made by fire unto Jehovah.

28 And whether it be cow or ewe, ye shall not kill it and its young both in one day.

29 And when ye sacrifice a sacrifice of thanksgiving unto Jehovah, ye shall sacrifice it that ye may be accepted.

30 On the same day it shall be eaten; ye shall leave none of it until the morning: I am Jehovah.

31 Therefore shall ye keep my commandments, and do them: I am Jehovah.

32 And ye shall not profane my holy name; but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel: I am Jehovah who halloweth you,

33 who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am Jehovah.


Leviticus 22:1-33 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses, saying,

2 `Speak unto Aaron, and unto his sons, and they are separated from the holy things of the sons of Israel, and they pollute not My holy name in what they are hallowing to Me; I `am' Jehovah.

3 `Say unto them, To your generations, any man who draweth near, out of all your seed, unto the holy things which the sons of Israel do sanctify to Jehovah, and his uncleanness on him -- even that person hath been cut off from before Me; I `am' Jehovah.

4 `Any man of the seed of Aaron, and is leprous or hath an issue -- of the holy things he doth not eat till that he is clean; and he who is coming against any uncleanness of a person, or a man whose seed of copulation goeth out from him,

5 or a man who cometh against any teeming thing which is unclean to him, or against a man who is unclean to him, even any of his uncleanness --

6 the person who cometh against it -- hath even been unclean till the evening, and doth not eat of the holy things, but hath bathed his flesh with water,

7 and the sun hath gone in, and he hath been clean, and afterwards he doth eat of the holy things, for it `is' his food;

8 a carcase or torn thing he doth not eat, for uncleanness thereby; I `am' Jehovah.

9 `And they have kept My charge, and bear no sin for it, that they have died for it when they pollute it; I `am' Jehovah sanctifying them.

10 `And no stranger doth eat of the holy thing; a settler of a priest and an hireling doth not eat of the holy thing;

11 and when a priest buyeth a person, the purchase of his money, he doth eat of it, also one born in his house; they do eat of his bread.

12 `And a priest's daughter, when she is a strange man's, -- she, of the heave-offering of the holy things doth not eat;

13 and a priest's daughter, when she is a widow, or cast out, and hath no seed, and hath turned back unto the house of her father, as `in' her youth, of her father's bread she doth eat; but no stranger doth eat of it.

14 `And when a man doth eat of a holy thing through ignorance, then he hath added its fifth part to it, and hath given `it' to the priest, with the holy thing;

15 and they do not pollute the holy things of the sons of Israel -- that which they lift up to Jehovah,

16 nor have caused them to bear the iniquity of the guilt-offering in their eating their holy things; for I `am' Jehovah, sanctifying them.'

17 And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses, saying,

18 `Speak unto Aaron, and unto his sons, and unto all the sons of Israel, and thou hast said unto them, Any man of the house of Israel, or of the sojourners in Israel, who bringeth near his offering, of all his vows, or of all his willing offerings which they bring near to Jehovah for a burnt-offering;

19 at your pleasure a perfect one, a male of the herd, of the sheep or of the goats;

20 nothing in which `is' blemish do ye bring near, for it is not for a pleasing thing for you.

21 `And when a man bringeth near a sacrifice of peace-offerings to Jehovah, to complete a vow, or for a willing-offering, of the herd or of the flock, it is perfect for a pleasing thing: no blemish is in it;

22 blind, or broken, or maimed, or having a wen, or scurvy, or scabbed -- ye do not bring these near to Jehovah, and a fire-offering ye do not make of them on the altar to Jehovah.

23 `As to an ox or a sheep enlarged or dwarfed -- a willing-offering ye do make it, but for a vow it is not pleasing.

24 As to a bruised, or beaten, or enlarged, or cut thing -- ye do not bring `it' near to Jehovah; even in your land ye do not do it.

25 And from the hand of a son of a stranger ye do not bring near the bread of your God, of any of these, for their corruption `is' in them; blemish `is' in them; they are not pleasing for you.'

26 And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses, saying,

27 `When ox or lamb or goat is born, and it hath been seven days under its dam, then from the eighth day and henceforth, it is pleasing for an offering, a fire-offering to Jehovah;

28 but an ox or sheep -- it and its young one, ye do not slaughter in one day.

29 `And when ye sacrifice a sacrifice of thanksgiving to Jehovah, at your pleasure ye do sacrifice,

30 on that day it is eaten, ye do not leave of it till morning; I `am' Jehovah;

31 and ye have kept my commands, and have done them; I `am' Jehovah;

32 and ye do not pollute My holy name, and I have been hallowed in the midst of the sons of Israel; I `am' Jehovah, sanctifying you,

33 who am bringing you up out of the land of Egypt, to become your God; I `am' Jehovah.'


Leviticus 22:1-33 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

1 And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying,

2 Speak unto Aaron, and to his sons, that they separate themselves from the holy things of the children of Israel, and that they profane not my holy name in the things that they hallow unto me: I am Jehovah.

3 Say unto them, Every one of all your seed, throughout your generations, that approacheth the holy things, which the children of Israel hallow unto Jehovah, having his uncleanness upon him, that soul shall be cut off from before me: I am Jehovah.

4 Whatsoever man of the seed of Aaron is a leper, or hath a flux, he shall not eat of the holy things, until he is clean. And he that toucheth any one that is unclean by a dead person, or a man whose seed of copulation hath passed from him;

5 or a man that toucheth any crawling thing whereby he becometh unclean, or a man by whom he may become unclean, whatever may be his uncleanness,

6 -- a person that toucheth any such shall be unclean until even, and shall not eat of the holy things; but he shall bathe his flesh with water,

7 and when the sun goeth down, he shall be clean, and may afterwards eat of the holy things; for it is his food.

8 Of a dead carcase and what is torn shall he not eat, to make himself unclean therewith: I am Jehovah.

9 And they shall keep my charge, lest they bear sin for it, and die by it, if they profane it: I am Jehovah who do hallow them.

10 And no stranger shall eat the holy thing; the sojourner with the priest, and the hired servant, shall not eat of the holy thing.

11 But if a priest buy any one for money, he may eat of it, and he that is born in his house: they may eat of his food.

12 And a priest's daughter who is [married] to a stranger may not eat of the heave-offering of the holy things.

13 But a priest's daughter that becometh a widow, or is divorced, and hath no seed, and returneth unto her father's house, as in her youth, she may eat of her father's food; but no stranger shall eat thereof.

14 And if a man eat of a holy thing through inadvertence, then he shall put the fifth part thereof unto it, and shall give it unto the priest with the holy thing.

15 And they shall not profane the holy things of the children of Israel which they offer unto Jehovah,

16 and cause them to bear the iniquity of trespass when they eat their holy things; for I am Jehovah who do hallow them.

17 And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying,

18 Speak unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them, Whatever man of the house of Israel, or of the sojourners in Israel, that presenteth his offering for any of his vows, and for any of his voluntary offerings, which they present to Jehovah as a burnt-offering,

19 it shall be for your acceptance, without blemish, a male of the oxen, of the sheep, and of the goats.

20 Nothing that hath a defect shall ye present; for it shall not be acceptable for you.

21 And if any present a sacrifice of peace-offering to Jehovah to accomplish a vow, or a voluntary offering of oxen or small cattle, it shall be without blemish to be accepted: there shall be no defect therein.

22 Blind, or broken, or maimed, or ulcerous, or with itch, or scabbed -- ye shall not present these to Jehovah, nor make an offering by fire of them on the altar to Jehovah.

23 A bullock and a sheep that hath a member too long or too short, that mayest thou offer as a voluntary offering; but as a vow it shall not be accepted.

24 That which is bruised, or crushed, or broken, or cut shall ye not present to Jehovah; neither in your land shall ye do [the like].

25 Nor from the hand of the stranger shall ye present the bread of your God, of any of these; for their corruption is in them: a defect is in them; they shall not be accepted for you.

26 And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying,

27 An ox, or a sheep, or a goat, when it is brought forth, shall be seven days under its dam; and from the eighth day and thenceforth it shall be accepted for an offering by fire to Jehovah.

28 A cow, or sheep -- it and its young shall ye not slaughter in one day.

29 And when ye sacrifice a sacrifice of thanksgiving to Jehovah, ye shall sacrifice it for your acceptance.

30 On that day shall it be eaten: ye shall leave none of it until morning: I am Jehovah.

31 And ye shall observe my commandments and do them: I am Jehovah.

32 And ye shall not profane my holy name; but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel: I am Jehovah who do hallow you,

33 who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am Jehovah.


Leviticus 22:1-33 World English Bible (WEB)

1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

2 "Tell Aaron and his sons to separate themselves from the holy things of the children of Israel, which they make holy to me, and that they not profane my holy name. I am Yahweh.

3 Tell them, 'If anyone of all your seed throughout your generations approaches the holy things, which the children of Israel make holy to Yahweh, having his uncleanness on him, that soul shall be cut off from before me. I am Yahweh.

4 "'Whoever of the seed of Aaron is a leper or has an issue; he shall not eat of the holy things, until he is clean. Whoever touches anything that is unclean by the dead, or a man whose seed goes from him;

5 or whoever touches any creeping thing, whereby he may be made unclean, or a man of whom he may take uncleanness, whatever uncleanness he has;

6 the person that touches any such shall be unclean until the evening, and shall not eat of the holy things, unless he bathe his body in water.

7 When the sun is down, he shall be clean; and afterward he shall eat of the holy things, because it is his bread.

8 That which dies of itself, or is torn by animals, he shall not eat, defiling himself by it. I am Yahweh.

9 "'They shall therefore keep my charge, lest they bear sin for it, and die therein, if they profane it. I am Yahweh who sanctifies them.

10 "'No stranger shall eat of the holy thing: a foreigner living with the priests, or a hired servant, shall not eat of the holy thing.

11 But if a priest buys a slave, purchased by his money, he shall eat of it; and such as are born in his house, they shall eat of his bread.

12 If a priest's daughter is married to an outsider, she shall not eat of the heave offering of the holy things.

13 But if a priest's daughter is a widow, or divorced, and has no child, and has returned to her father's house, as in her youth, she may eat of her father's bread: but no stranger shall eat any of it.

14 "'If a man eats something holy unwittingly, then he shall add the fifth part of its value to it, and shall give the holy thing to the priest.

15 The priests shall not profane the holy things of the children of Israel, which they offer to Yahweh,

16 and so cause them to bear the iniquity that brings guilt, when they eat their holy things: for I am Yahweh who sanctifies them.'"

17 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

18 "Speak to Aaron, and to his sons, and to all the children of Israel, and say to them, 'Whoever is of the house of Israel, or of the foreigners in Israel, who offers his offering, whether it be any of their vows, or any of their freewill offerings, which they offer to Yahweh for a burnt offering;

19 that you may be accepted, you shall offer a male without blemish, of the bulls, of the sheep, or of the goats.

20 But whatever has a blemish, that you shall not offer: for it shall not be acceptable for you.

21 Whoever offers a sacrifice of peace offerings to Yahweh to accomplish a vow, or for a freewill offering, of the herd or of the flock, it shall be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no blemish therein.

22 Blind, injured, maimed, having a wart, festering, or having a running sore, you shall not offer these to Yahweh, nor make an offering by fire of them on the altar to Yahweh.

23 Either a bull or a lamb that has any deformity or lacking in his parts, that you may offer for a freewill offering; but for a vow it shall not be accepted.

24 That which has its testicles bruised, crushed, broken, or cut, you shall not offer to Yahweh; neither shall you do thus in your land.

25 Neither from the hand of a foreigner shall you offer the bread of your God of any of these; because their corruption is in them. There is a blemish in them. They shall not be accepted for you.'"

26 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

27 "When a bull, or a sheep, or a goat, is born, then it shall remain seven days with its mother; and from the eighth day and thenceforth it shall be accepted for the offering of an offering made by fire to Yahweh.

28 Whether it is a cow or ewe, you shall not kill it and its young both in one day.

29 "When you sacrifice a sacrifice of thanksgiving to Yahweh, you shall sacrifice it so that you may be accepted.

30 It shall be eaten on the same day; you shall leave none of it until the morning. I am Yahweh.

31 "Therefore you shall keep my commandments, and do them. I am Yahweh.

32 You shall not profane my holy name, but I will be made holy among the children of Israel. I am Yahweh who makes you holy,

33 who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. I am Yahweh."


Leviticus 22:1-33 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 And the Lord said to Moses,

2 Give orders to Aaron and to his sons to keep themselves separate from the holy things of the children of Israel which they give to me, and not to make my holy name common: I am the Lord,

3 Say to them, If any man of all your seed through all your generations, being unclean, comes near the holy things which the children of Israel make holy to the Lord, he will be cut off from before me: I am the Lord.

4 No man of the seed of Aaron who is a leper, or who has a flow from his body, may take of the holy food till he is clean. And any man touching anything which is unclean because of the dead, or any man whose seed goes from him;

5 Or anyone touching any unclean thing which goes flat on the earth, or someone by whom he may be made unclean in any way whatever;

6 Any person touching any such unclean thing will be unclean till evening, and may not take of the holy food till his flesh has been bathed in water;

7 And when the sun has gone down he will be clean; and after that he may take part in the holy food, because it is his bread.

8 That which comes to a natural death, or is attacked by beasts, he may not take as food, for it will make him unclean: I am the Lord.

9 So then, let them keep what I have put into their care, for fear that sin may come on them because of it, so causing their death because they have made it common: I am the Lord, who make them holy.

10 No outside person may take of the holy food, or one living as a guest in the priest's house, or a servant working for payment.

11 But any person for whom the priest has given money, to make him his, may take of it with him; and those who come to birth in his house may take of his bread.

12 And if the daughter of a priest is married to an outside person she may not take of the holy things which are lifted up as offerings.

13 But if a priest's daughter is a widow, or parted from her husband, and has no child, and has come back to her father's house as when she was a girl, she may take of her father's bread; but no outside person may do so.

14 And if a man takes the holy food in error, he will have to give the holy thing back to the priest, with the addition of a fifth part.

15 And they may not make common the holy things which the children of Israel give to the Lord,

16 So causing sin to come on them when they take their holy things for food: I am the Lord who make them holy.

17 And the Lord said to Moses,

18 Say to Aaron and to his sons and to all the children of Israel, If any man of the children of Israel, or of another nation living in Israel, makes an offering, given because of an oath or freely given to the Lord for a burned offering;

19 So that it may be pleasing to the Lord, let him give a male, without any mark, from among the oxen or the sheep or the goats.

20 But anything which has a mark you may not give; it will not make you pleasing to the Lord.

21 And whoever makes a peace-offering to the Lord, in payment of an oath or as a free offering, from the herd or the flock, if it is to be pleasing to the Lord, let it be free from any mark or damage.

22 Anything blind or broken or damaged or having any disease or any mark on it may not be offered to the Lord; you may not make an offering of it by fire on the altar to the Lord.

23 An ox or a lamb which has more or less than its natural parts, may be given as a free offering; but it will not be taken in payment of an oath.

24 An animal which has its sex parts damaged or crushed or broken or cut, may not be offered to the Lord; such a thing may not be done anywhere in your land.

25 And from one who is not an Israelite you may not take any of these for an offering to the Lord; for they are unclean, there is a mark on them, and the Lord will not be pleased with them.

26 And the Lord said to Moses,

27 When an ox or a sheep or a goat is given birth, let it be with its mother for seven days; and after the eighth day it may be taken as an offering made by fire to the Lord.

28 A cow or a sheep may not be put to death with its young on the same day.

29 And when you make an offering of praise to the Lord, make it in a way which is pleasing to him.

30 Let it be used for food on the same day; do not keep any part of it till the morning: I am the Lord.

31 So then, keep my orders and do them: I am the Lord.

32 And do not make my holy name common; so that it may be kept holy by the children of Israel: I am the Lord who make you holy,

33 Who took you out of the land of Egypt that I might be your God: I am the Lord.

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Leviticus 22

Commentary on Leviticus 22 Matthew Henry Commentary


Chapter 22

In this chapter we have divers laws concerning the priests and sacrifices all for the preserving of the honour of the sanctuary.

  • I. That the priests should not eat the holy things in their uncleanness (v. 1-9).
  • II. That no stranger who did not belong to some family of the priests should eat of the holy things (v. 10-13), and, if he did it unwittingly, he must make restitution, (v. 14-16).
  • III. That the sacrifices which were offered must be without blemish (v. 17-25).
  • IV. That they must be more than eight days old (v. 26-28), and that the sacrifices of thanksgiving must be eaten the same day they were offered (v. 29, etc.).

Lev 22:1-9

Those that had a natural blemish, though they were forbidden to do the priests' work, were yet allowed to eat of the holy things: and the Jewish writers say that "to keep them from idleness they were employed in the wood-room, to pick out that which was worm-eaten, that it might not be used in the fire upon the altar; they might also be employed in the judgment of leprosy:' but,

  • I. Those that were under any ceremonial uncleanness, which possibly they contracted by their own fault, might no so much as eat of the holy things while they continued in their pollution.
    • 1. Some pollutions were permanent, as a leprosy or a running issue, v. 4. These separated the people from the sanctuary, and God would show that they were so far from being more excusable that really they were more abominable in a priest.
    • 2. Others were more transient, as the touching of a dead body, or any thing else that was unclean, from which, after a certain time, a man was cleansed by bathing his flesh in water, v. 6. But whoever was thus defiled might not eat of the holy things, under pain of God's highest displeasure, who said, and ratified the saying, That soul shall be cut off from my presence, v. 3. Our being in the presence of God, and attending upon him, will be so far from securing us that it will but the more expose us to God's wrath, if we dare to draw nigh to him in our uncleanness. The destruction shall come from the presence of the Lord (2 Th. 1:9), as the fire by which Nadab and Abihu died came from before the Lord. Thus those who profane the holy word of God will be cut off by that word which they make so light of; it shall condemn them. They are again warned of their danger if they eat the holy thing in their uncleanness (v. 9), lest they bear sin, and die therefore. Note,
      • (1.) Those contract great guilt who profane sacred things, by touching them with unhallowed hands. Eating the holy things signified an interest in the atonement; but, if they ate of them in their uncleanness, they were so far from lessening their guilt that they increased it: They shall bear sin.
      • (2.) Sin is a burden which, if infinite mercy prevent not, will certainly sink those that bear it: They shall die therefore. Even priests may be ruined by their pollutions and presumptions.
  • II. As to the design of this law we may observe,
    • 1. This obliged the priests carefully to preserve their purity, and to dread every thing that would defile them. The holy things were their livelihood; if they might not eat of them, how must they subsist? The more we have to lose of comfort and honour by our defilement, the more careful we should be to preserve our purity.
    • 2. This impressed the people with a reverence for the holy things, when they saw the priests themselves separated from them (as the expression is, v. 2) so long as they were in their uncleanness. He is doubtless a God of infinite purity who kept his immediate attendants under so strict a discipline.
    • 3. This teaches us carefully to watch against all moral pollutions, because by them we are unfitted to receive the comfort of God's sanctuary. Though we labour not under habitual deformities, yet actual defilements deprive us of the pleasure of communion with God; and therefore he that is washed needeth to wash his feet (Jn. 13:10), to wash his hands, and so to compass the altar, Ps. 26:6. Herein we have need to be jealous over ourselves, lest (as it is observably expressed here) we profane God's holy name in those things which we hallow unto him, v. 2. If we affront God in those very performances wherein we pretend to honour him, and provoke him instead of pleasing him, we shall make up but a bad account shortly; yet thus we do if we profane God's name, by doing that in our uncleanness which pretends to be hallowed to him.

Lev 22:10-16

The holy things were to be eaten by the priests and their families. Now,

  • I. Here is a law that no stranger should eat of them, that is, no person whatsoever but the priests only, and those that pertained to them, v. 10. The priests are charged with this care, not to profane the holy things by permitting the strangers to eat of them (v. 15) or suffer them to bear the iniquity of trespass (v. 16); that is, suffer them to bring guilt upon themselves, by meddling with that which they have no right to. Thus it is commonly understood. Note, We must not only be careful that we do not bear iniquity ourselves, but we must do what we can to prevent others bearing it. We must not only not suffer sin to lie upon our brother, but, if we can help it, we must not suffer it to come upon him. But perhaps there is another meaning of those words: the priests' eating the sin-offerings is said to signify their bearing the iniquity of the congregation, to make an atonement for them, ch. 10:17. Let not a stranger therefore eat of that holy thing particularly, and so pretend to bear the iniquity of trespass; for it is daring presumption for any to do that, but such as are appointed to do it. Those that set up other mediators besides Christ our priest, to bear the iniquity of trespass, sacrilegiously rob Christ of his honour, and invade his rights. When we warn people not to trust to their own righteousness, nor dare to appear before God in it, but to rely on Christ's righteousness only for peace and pardon, it is because we dare not suffer them to bear the iniquity of trespass, for we know it is too heavy for them.
  • II. Here is an explanation of the law, showing who were to be looked upon as belonging to the priest's family, and who not.
    • 1. Sojourners and hired servants abode not in the house for ever; they were in the family, but not of it; and therefore they might not eat of the holy things (v. 10): but the servant that was born in the house or bought with money, being a heirloom to the family, though a servant, yet might eat of the holy things, v. 11. Note, Those only are entitled to the comforts of God's house who make it their rest for ever, and resolve to dwell in it all the days of their life. As for those who for a time only believe, to serve a present turn. They are looked upon but as sojourners and mercenaries, and have no part nor lot in the matter.
    • 2. As to the children of the family, concerning the sons there could be no dispute, they were themselves priests, but concerning the daughters there was a distinction. While they continued in their father's house they might eat of the holy things; but, if they married such as were not priests, they lost their right (v. 12), for now they were cut off from the family of the priests. Yet if a priest's daughter became a widow, and had no children in whom she might preserve a distinct family, and returned to her father's house again, being neither wife nor mother, she should again be looked upon as a daughter, and might eat of the holy things. If those whom Providence has made sorrowful widows, and who are dislodged from the rest they had in the house of a husband, yet find it again in a father's house, they have reason to be thankful to the widows' God, who does not leave them comfortless.
    • 3. Here is a demand of restitution to be made by him that had no right to the holy things, and yet should eat of them unwittingly, v. 14. If he did it presumptuously, and in contempt of the divine institution, he was liable to be cut off by the hand of God, and to be beaten by the magistrate; but, if he did it through weakness in inconsideration, he was to restore the value, adding a fifth part to it, besides which he was to bring an offering to atone for the trespass; see ch. 5:15, 16.
  • III. This law might be dispensed with in a case of necessity, as it was when David and his men ate of the show-bread, 1 Sa. 21:6. And our Saviour justifies them, and gives a reason for it, which furnishes us with a lasting rule in all such cases, that God will have mercy and not sacrifice, Mt. 12:3, 4, 7. Rituals must give way to morals.
  • IV. It is an instruction to gospel ministers, who are stewards of the mysteries of God, not to admit all, without distinction, to eat of the holy things, but to take out the precious from the vile. Those that are scandalously ignorant or profane are strangers and aliens to the family of the Lord's priests; and it is not meet to take the children's bread and to cast it to such. Holy things are for holy persons, for those who are holy, at least, in profession, Mt. 7:6.

Lev 22:17-33

Here are four laws concerning sacrifices:-

  • I. Whatever was offered in sacrifice to God should be without blemish, otherwise it should not be accepted. This had often been mentioned in the particular institutions of the several sorts of offerings. Now here they are told what was to be accounted a blemish which rendered a beast unfit for sacrifice: if it was blind, or lame, had a wen, or the mange (v. 22),-if it was bruised, or crushed, or broken, or cut (v. 24), that is, as the Jewish writers understand it, if it was, in any of these ways, castrated, if bulls and rams were made into oxen and weathers, they might not be offered. Moreover a difference is made between what was brought as a free-will offering and what was brought as a vow, v. 23. And, though none that had any of the forementioned blemishes might be brought for either, yet if a beast had any thing superfluous or lacking (that is, as the Jews understand it, if there was a disproportion or inequality between those parts that are pairs, when one eye, or ear, or leg, was bigger than it should be, or less than it should be)-if there was no other blemish than this, it might be accepted for a free-will offering, to which a man had not before laid himself, nor had the divine law laid him, under any particular obligation; but for a vow it might not be accepted. Thus God would teach us to make conscience of performing our promises to him very exactly, and not afterwards to abate in quantity or value of what we had solemnly engaged to devote to him. What was, before the vow, in our own power, as in the case of a free-will offering, afterwards is not, Acts 5:4. It is again and again declared that no sacrifice should be accepted if it was thus blemished, v. 20, 21. According to this law great care was taken to search all the beasts that were brought to be sacrificed, that there might, to a certainty, be no blemish in them. A blemished sacrifice might not be accepted even from the hand of a stranger, though to such all possible encouragement should be given to do honour to the God of Israel, v. 25. By this it appears that strangers were expected to come to the house of God from a far country (1 Ki. 8:41, 42), and that they should be welcome, and their offerings accepted, as those of Darius, Ezra 6:9, 10; Isa. 56:6, 7. The heathen priests were many of them not so strict in this matter, but would receive sacrifices for their gods that were ever so scandalous; but let strangers know that the God of Israel would not be so served. Now,
    • 1. This law was then necessary for the preserving of the honour of the sanctuary, and of the God that was there worshipped. It was fit that every thing that was employed for his honour should be the best of the kind; for, as he is the greatest and brightest, so he is the best of beings; and he that is the best must have the best. See how greatly and justly displeasing the breach of this law was to the holy God, Mal. 1:8, 13, 14.
    • 2. This law made all the legal sacrifices the fitter to be types of Christ, the great sacrifice from which all these derived their virtue. In allusion to this law, he is said to be a Lamb without blemish and without spot, 1 Pt. 1:19. As such a priest, so such a sacrifice, became us, who was harmless and undefiled. When Pilate declared, I find no fault in this man, he did thereby in effect pronounce the sacrifice without blemish. The Jews say it was the work of the sagan, or suffragan, high priest, to view the sacrifices, and see whether they were without blemish or no; when Christ suffered, Annas was in that office; but little did those who brought Christ to Annas first, by whom he was sent bound to Caiaphas, as a sacrifice fit to be offered (Jn. 18:13, 24), think that they were answering the type of this law.
    • 3. It is an instruction to us to offer to God the best we have in our spiritual sacrifices. If our devotions are ignorant, and cold, and trifling, and full of distractions, we offer the blind, and the lame, and the sick, for sacrifice; but cursed be the deceiver that does so, for, while he thinks to put a cheat upon God, he puts a damning cheat upon his own soul.
  • II. That no beast should be offered in sacrifice before it was eight days old, v. 26, 27. It was provided before that the firstlings of their cattle, which were to be dedicated to God, should not be brought to him till after the eighth day, Ex. 22:30. Here it is provided that no creature should be offered in sacrifice till it was eight days old complete. Sooner than that it was not fit to be used at men's tables, and therefore not a God's altar. The Jews say, "It was because the sabbath sanctifies all things, and nothing should be offered to God till at least one sabbath had passed over it.' It was in conformity to the law of circumcision, which children were to receive on the eighth day. Christ was sacrificed for us, not in his infancy, though then Herod sought to slay him, but in the prime of his time.
  • III. That the dam and her young should not both be killed in one day, whether in sacrifice or for common use, v. 28. There is such a law as this concerning birds, Deu. 22:6. This was forbidden, not as evil in itself, but because it looked barbarous and cruel to the brute creatures; like the tyranny of the king of Babylon, that slew Zedekiah's sons before his eyes, and then put out his eyes. It looked ill-natured towards the species to kill two generations at once, as if one designed the ruin of the kind.
  • IV. That the flesh of their thank-offerings should be eaten on the same day that they were sacrificed, v. 29, 30. This is a repetition of what we had before, ch. 7:15; 19:6, 7. The chapter concludes with such a general charge as we have often met with, to keep God's commandments, and not to profane his holy name, v. 31, 32. Those that profess God's name, if they do not make conscience of keeping his commandments, do but profane his name. The general reasons are added: God's authority over them-I am the Lord; his interest in them-I am your God; the title he had to them by redemption-"I brought you out of the land of Egypt, on purpose that I might be your God;' the designs of his grace concerning them-I am the Lord that hallow you; and the resolutions of his justice, if he had not honour from them, to get himself honour upon them-I will be hallowed among the children of Israel. God will be a loser in his glory by no man at last; but sooner or later will recover his right, either in the repentance of sinners or in their ruin.