You shall not offer anything that has a blemish, for it will not be acceptable for you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Leviticus 22:20
What does Leviticus 22:20 mean?
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Leviticus 22:20
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The verse doesn't just say "don't offer a damaged animal," it emphasizes that it will not be acceptable for you. This highlights that a blemished sacrifice wasn't just a ritual error, but a failure to offer God the very best, impacting the worshipper's relationship with Him. It's a powerful reminder that our offerings to God, whatever form they take, should reflect our highest regard for Him, not just a perfunctory duty.
You shall not offer anything that has a blemish, for it will not be acceptable for you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage is part of a larger set of laws God gives Moses concerning the sacrifices offered by the Israelites. Immediately before, God details specific physical imperfections that would disqualify an animal from being sacrificed. Following this verse, the list of disqualifying blemishes continues, emphasizing that such imperfect offerings were unacceptable to God and even potentially offensive.
Why did God demand animals without any flaws for sacrifice? It wasn't just about keeping the priests busy finding perfect animals.
A Flawless Offering
The instruction in Leviticus 22:20, 'You shall not offer anything that has a blemish, for it will not be acceptable for you,' points to a profound truth about worship. God's requirement for unblemished animals wasn't arbitrary. It was meant to reflect His own perfect nature and His standard of holiness.
Ever felt like you were just going through the motions in your faith? This ancient command has something to say about that.
Beyond the Surface Level
The prohibition against blemished sacrifices is more than just an Old Testament ritual. It calls us to examine the behind our worship. God wasn't just looking for perfect animals; He was looking for sincere devotion.
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Understand the original words
mum · Hebrew Noun
Any physical defect, injury, or imperfection. In the context of sacrifice, it renders an offering unacceptable because it fails to represent the standard of perfection required for approaching a holy God.
This passage echoes Leviticus by rebuking Israel for offering blemished sacrifices, highlighting that such offerings were unacceptable to God and showed a lack of reverence for Him.
Hebrews 9:13-14This New Testament passage speaks to the ultimate fulfillment of the Old Testament sacrificial system, explaining that while animal sacrifices under the Law had limitations, Christ's perfect sacrifice offered a far greater cleansing and acceptance before God.
Romans 12:1Paul calls believers to offer their bodies as 'living sacrifices,' which are holy and pleasing to God. This is a spiritual parallel to the requirement for physical perfection in the Old Testament sacrifices, urging a wholehearted and unblemished devotion to God.
1 Peter 1:18-19This passage reminds believers they were redeemed with the 'precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot,' directly linking the perfection required of sacrificial animals to the incomparable perfection of Jesus.
pooleLeviticus 22:20: "But whatsoever hath a blemish, that shall ye not offer: for it shall not be acceptable for you."
No text from Poole on this verse.
gillLeviticus 22:20: "But whatsoever hath a blemish, that shall ye not offer: for it shall not be acceptable for you."
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 (s); and it was a custom among the Romans, that such sheep s…
The verse doesn't just say "don't offer a damaged animal," it emphasizes that it will not be acceptable for you. This highlights that a blemished sacrifice wasn't just a ritual error, but a failure to offer God the very best, impacting the worshipper's relationship with Him. It's a powerful reminder that our offerings to God, whatever form they take, should reflect our highest regard for Him, not just a perfunctory duty.
This passage is part of a larger set of laws God gives Moses concerning the sacrifices offered by the Israelites. Immediately before, God details specific physical imperfections that would disqualify an animal from being sacrificed. Following this verse, the list of disqualifying blemishes continues, emphasizing that such imperfect offerings were unacceptable to God and even potentially offensive.
This passage is part of a larger set of laws God gives Moses concerning the sacrifices offered by the Israelites. Immediately before, God details specific physical imperfections that would disqualify an animal from being sacrificed. Following this verse, the list of disqualifying blemishes continues, emphasizing that such imperfect offerings were unacceptable to God and even potentially offensive.
"You shall not offer anything that has a blemish, for it will not be acceptable for you." — The verse doesn't just say "don't offer a damaged animal," it emphasizes that it will not be acceptable for you. This highlights that a blemished sacrifice wasn't just a ritual error, but a failure…
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Last reviewed October 2026