must offer an unblemished male from the cattle, sheep, or goats in order for it to be accepted on your behalf.
Parallel translations
- WEB that you may be accepted, you shall offer a male without defect, of the bulls, of the sheep, or of the goats.
- KJV Ye shall offer at your own will a male without blemish, of the beeves, of the sheep, or of the goats.
- NKJV you shall offer of your own free will a male without blemish from the cattle, from the sheep, or from the goats.
- NASB for you to be accepted—it must be a male without defect from the cattle, the sheep, or the goats.
- NLT you will be accepted only if your offering is a male animal with no defects. It may be a bull, a ram, or a male goat.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
To be accepted, the offering must be a male without defect from the cattle, sheep, or goats.
Overview
Acceptability hinged on bringing an unblemished male animal, the best of the flock, not a leftover. God's worth required worship that cost something and was free of defect. This standard of a flawless offering points directly to Christ, 'a lamb without blemish or defect,' whose perfect sacrifice alone is fully accepted by God (1 Peter 1:19).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 18
- Lev 1:3If one’s 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.
- Lev 1:10If, however, one’s offering is a burnt offering from the flock—from the sheep or goats—he is to present an unblemished male.
- 1 Pet 2:22–24“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.”
- 2 Cor 5:21God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
- Exod 12:5Your lamb must be an unblemished year-old male, and you may take it from the sheep or the goats.
- 1 Pet 1:19but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.
- Eph 5:27and to present her to Himself as a glorious church, without stain or wrinkle or any such blemish, but holy and blameless.
- Matt 27:24When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but that instead a riot was breaking out, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “You bear the responsibility.”
- Heb 9:14how 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!
- Matt 27:54When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified and said, “Truly this was the Son of God.”
- Matt 27:4“I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said. “What is that to us?” they replied. “You bear the responsibility.”
- Lev 4:32If, however, he brings a lamb as a sin offering, he must bring an unblemished female.
- 1 Pet 3:18For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit,
- John 19:4Once again Pilate came out and said to the Jews, “Look, I am bringing Him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against Him.”
- Luke 23:14and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined Him here in your presence and found Him not guilty of your charges against Him.
- Luke 23:41We are punished justly, for we are receiving what our actions deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
- Luke 23:47When the centurion saw what had happened, he gave glory to God, saying, “Surely this was a righteous man.”
- Matt 27:19While Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered terribly in a dream today because of Him.”
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Christ at the center
Every sacrifice, every priest, and every day of atonement points beyond itself to the one perfect offering and the great High Priest who, by his own blood, makes the unclean holy once for all.
How Leviticus 22:19 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.