Leviticus 22:25
New International Version
and you must not accept such animals from the hand of a foreigner and offer them as the food of your God. They will not be accepted on your behalf, because they are deformed and have defects.’”

New Living Translation
and you must not accept such an animal from foreigners and then offer it as a sacrifice to your God. Such animals will not be accepted on your behalf, for they are mutilated or defective.”

English Standard Version
neither shall you offer as the bread of your God any such animals gotten from a foreigner. Since there is a blemish in them, because of their mutilation, they will not be accepted for you.”

Berean Standard Bible
Neither you nor a foreigner shall present food to your God from any such animal. They will not be accepted on your behalf, because they are deformed and flawed.’”

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
Nor from a foreigner’s hand shall you offer any of these as the bread of your God, because their corruption is in them, and defects are in them. They shall not be accepted on your behalf.’ ”

New American Standard Bible
nor shall you offer any of these animals taken from the hand of a foreigner as the food of your God; for their deformity is in them, they have an impairment. They will not be accepted for you.’”

NASB 1995
nor shall you accept any such from the hand of a foreigner for offering as the food of your God; for their corruption is in them, they have a defect, they shall not be accepted for you.’”

NASB 1977
nor shall you accept any such from the hand of a foreigner for offering as the food of your God; for their corruption is in them, they have a defect, they shall not be accepted for you.’”

Legacy Standard Bible
nor shall you bring near any such thing from the hand of a foreigner for offering as the food of your God; for their corruption is in them, they have a defect; they shall not be accepted for you.’”

Amplified Bible
Nor shall you offer as the food of your God any such [animals obtained] from a foreigner, because their corruption and blemish makes them unfit; there is a defect in them, they shall not be accepted for you.’”

Christian Standard Bible
Neither you nor a foreigner are to present food to your God from any of these animals. They will not be accepted for you because they are deformed and have a defect.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Neither you nor a foreigner are to present food to your God from any of these animals. They will not be accepted for you because they are deformed and have a defect.”

American Standard Version
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.

Contemporary English Version
And don't bring me animals you bought from a foreigner. I won't accept them, because they are no better than one that has something wrong with it.

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Never bring any kind of castrated animal received from a foreigner as a food offering for your God. A castrated animal will not be accepted on your behalf because castration is a physical defect."

Good News Translation
Do not offer as a food offering any animal obtained from a foreigner. Such animals are considered defective and are not acceptable.

International Standard Version
A resident alien is not to offer as food to your God any of these items, because they are afflicted with ritual corruption due to their defects. They're not acceptable for you."

Majority Standard Bible
Neither you nor a foreigner shall present food to your God from any such animal. They will not be accepted on your behalf, because they are deformed and flawed.??

NET Bible
Even from a foreigner you must not present the food of your God from such animals as these, for they are ruined and flawed; they will not be acceptable for your benefit.'"

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

Webster's Bible Translation
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 are in them: they shall not be accepted for you.

World English Bible
You must not offer any of these as the bread of your God from the hand of a foreigner, because their corruption is in them. There is a defect in them. They shall not be accepted for you.’”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And you do not bring the bread of your God near from the hand of a son of a stranger, from any of these, for their corruption [is] in them; blemish [is] in them; they are not pleasing for you.”

Young's Literal Translation
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.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And from the hand of the son of the stranger ye shall not bring near the bread of your God from all these, because their destruction is in them; a blemish in them; they shall not be accepted for you.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
You shall not offer bread to your God, from the hand of a stranger, nor any other thing that he would give: because they are all corrupted, and defiled: you shall not receive them.

Catholic Public Domain Version
From the hand of a foreigner, you shall not offer bread to your God, nor anything else that he would choose to give; for all this has been corrupted and blemished. You shall not accept them.

New American Bible
nor receive from a foreigner any such animals to offer up as the food of your God; since they are deformed or blemished, they will not be acceptable on your behalf.

New Revised Standard Version
nor shall you accept any such animals from a foreigner to offer as food to your God; since they are mutilated, with a blemish in them, they shall not be accepted in your behalf.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Neither from a stranger's hand shall you offer the bread of your God of any of these; because they are corrupt and there is blemish in them; they shall not be accepted from you.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And you shall not bring the bread of your God from the hand of the son of a foreigner, of any of these, because they are corrupt and a defect is in them; they are not accepted from you.'"
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
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.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Neither shall ye offer the gifts of your God of all these things by the hand of a stranger, because there is corruption in them, a blemish in them: these shall not be accepted for you.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Worthy Offerings
24You are not to present to the LORD an animal whose testicles are bruised, crushed, torn, or cut; you are not to sacrifice them in your land. 25 Neither you nor a foreigner shall present food to your God from any such animal. They will not be accepted on your behalf, because they are deformed and flawed.’” 26Then the LORD said to Moses,…

Cross References
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.

Deuteronomy 15:21
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.

Deuteronomy 17:1
You shall not sacrifice to the LORD your God an ox or a sheep with any defect or serious flaw, for that is detestable to the LORD your God.

Ezekiel 44:7
In addition to all your other abominations, you brought in foreigners uncircumcised in both heart and flesh to occupy My sanctuary; you defiled My temple when you offered My food—the fat and the blood; you broke My covenant.

Ezekiel 44:9
This is what the Lord GOD says: No foreigner uncircumcised in heart and flesh may enter My sanctuary—not even a foreigner who lives among the Israelites.

Isaiah 56:6-7
And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD to minister to Him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be His servants—all who keep the Sabbath without profaning it and who hold fast to My covenant— / I will bring them to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on My altar, for My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations.”

Nehemiah 13:29
Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites.

1 Peter 1:18-19
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers, / 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!

Hebrews 10:10
And by that will, we have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

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.

1 Corinthians 6:20
you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.

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.

Ephesians 5:2
and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.


Treasury of Scripture

Neither from a stranger's hand shall you 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.

a stranger's

Numbers 15:14-16
And if a stranger sojourn with you, or whosoever be among you in your generations, and will offer an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD; as ye do, so he shall do…

Numbers 16:40
To be a memorial unto the children of Israel, that no stranger, which is not of the seed of Aaron, come near to offer incense before the LORD; that he be not as Korah, and as his company: as the LORD said to him by the hand of Moses.

Ezra 6:8-10
Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king's goods, even of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith expences be given unto these men, that they be not hindered…

the bread

Leviticus 21:6,8,21,22
They shall be holy unto their God, and not profane the name of their God: for the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and the bread of their God, they do offer: therefore they shall be holy…

Malachi 1:7,8,12-14
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…

because

Ephesians 2:12
That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

1 John 5:18
We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

Jump to Previous
Accept Accepted Animals Behalf Blemish Blemishes Bread Corruption Defect Deformed Food Foreigner Gotten Hand Israelite Mark Offer Offering Pleased Pleasing Present Stranger Stranger's Unclean
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Accept Accepted Animals Behalf Blemish Blemishes Bread Corruption Defect Deformed Food Foreigner Gotten Hand Israelite Mark Offer Offering Pleased Pleasing Present Stranger Stranger's Unclean
Leviticus 22
1. The priests in their uncleanness must abstain from the holy things
6. How they shall be cleansed
10. Who of the priest's house may eat of the holy things
17. The sacrifices must be without blemish
26. The age of the sacrifice
29. The law of eating the sacrifice of thanksgiving














Neither you nor a foreigner shall present food to your God from any such animal.
This phrase emphasizes the importance of purity and perfection in offerings made to God. In the context of Leviticus, the Israelites were given specific instructions on how to worship and present offerings. The inclusion of "nor a foreigner" indicates that these standards were not only for the Israelites but also for any non-Israelites living among them who wished to participate in worship. This reflects the universal nature of God's holiness and the requirement for all who approach Him to do so with reverence and respect. The prohibition against presenting deformed or flawed animals underscores the need for offerings to be without blemish, symbolizing the perfection and holiness of God. This requirement foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who is described in the New Testament as the Lamb without blemish or defect (1 Peter 1:19).

They will not be accepted on your behalf,
The rejection of flawed offerings highlights the seriousness with which God views worship and sacrifice. In the ancient Near Eastern context, offerings were a central part of religious practice, serving as a means of atonement and communion with the divine. The phrase "on your behalf" indicates that offerings were made not just as gifts, but as representatives of the offerer. A flawed offering would therefore reflect a lack of respect or understanding of God's holiness. This principle is echoed in Malachi 1:8, where God rebukes the Israelites for offering blind and lame animals, questioning whether such offerings would be acceptable to their earthly governors. The emphasis on acceptance points to the need for sincerity and integrity in worship.

because they are deformed and flawed.’”
The terms "deformed" and "flawed" refer to physical imperfections that would render an animal unsuitable for sacrifice. In the Levitical system, such imperfections symbolized moral and spiritual corruption, which could not be associated with the divine. The requirement for offerings to be without defect is a recurring theme in Leviticus (e.g., Leviticus 1:3, 3:1), reinforcing the idea that God deserves the best of what His people have to offer. This concept is further developed in the New Testament, where believers are called to present themselves as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God (Romans 12:1). The emphasis on perfection in offerings serves as a type of Christ, who, as the perfect and sinless sacrifice, fulfills the requirements of the law and provides a way for humanity to be reconciled to God.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Israelites
The chosen people of God, to whom the laws of Leviticus were given. They were called to be holy and set apart from other nations.

2. Foreigners
Non-Israelites who lived among or interacted with the Israelites. They were often seen as outsiders to the covenant community.

3. The Priests
The descendants of Aaron, responsible for maintaining the sanctity of the offerings and ensuring that the sacrifices met God's standards.

4. The Tabernacle
The dwelling place of God among His people, where sacrifices and offerings were made.

5. Offerings
Sacrifices made to God, which had to be without defect to be acceptable.
Teaching Points
Holiness in Worship
God demands purity and holiness in our worship. Just as the Israelites were to offer unblemished sacrifices, we are called to offer our lives as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.

Integrity in Offerings
The prohibition against accepting defective offerings from foreigners underscores the importance of integrity in what we offer to God. Our offerings, whether time, resources, or talents, should be our best.

Separation from Worldly Practices
The Israelites were to be distinct from the surrounding nations. As believers, we are called to live in a way that reflects God's holiness and not conform to worldly standards.

Christ as the Perfect Sacrifice
The requirement for unblemished offerings points to Jesus Christ, the perfect and ultimate sacrifice for our sins. Our faith rests on His perfection and righteousness.(25) Neither from a stranger's hand shall ye offer.--That is, the prohibition to sacrifice these animals is not restricted to beasts castrated in the land, but extends to all such as have been so treated out of the land, and are imported and sold to the Israelites by the hands of foreigners.

Because their corruption is in them.--That is, their mutilation is in them, though not effected by an Israelite nor in the land. The circumstance that such an animal is purchased from the hand of a foreigner does not alter the case.

They shall not be accepted for you.--That is, if the Israelites bring such mutilated sacrifices, thinking that, because they have been procured from a stranger's hand, they do not transgress the law laid down in the preceding verse, they will not be accepted by God, who regards them as blemished and illegal. Jewish canonists, however, regard this verse as regulating the sacrifices offered by Gentiles, and maintain that the same law about defective animals is here laid down in their case. But the manifest contrast between the expression, when the deed is done "in your land," at the end of the preceding verse, and the words "from the hand of a foreigner," at the beginning of this verse; and more especially the declaration in the clause before us, "they shall not be acceptable for you," i.e., the Israelites, show beyond doubt that the Israelites themselves are here spoken of as the offerers.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Neither you nor
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

a foreigner
בֶּן־ (ben-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

shall present
תַקְרִ֛יבוּ (ṯaq·rî·ḇū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 7126: To come near, approach

food
לֶ֥חֶם (le·ḥem)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3899: Food, bread, grain

to your God
אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֖ם (’ĕ·lō·hê·ḵem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

from any
מִכָּל־ (mik·kāl)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

such [animal].
אֵ֑לֶּה (’êl·leh)
Pronoun - common plural
Strong's 428: These, those

They will not
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

be accepted
יֵרָצ֖וּ (yê·rā·ṣū)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7521: To be pleased with, to satisfy a, debt

on your behalf,
לָכֶֽם׃ (lā·ḵem)
Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew

because
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

they are deformed
מָשְׁחָתָ֤ם (mā·šə·ḥā·ṯām)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 4893: Corruption (ceremonial)

and flawed.’”
מ֣וּם (mūm)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3971: To stain, a blemish


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OT Law: Leviticus 22:25 Neither shall you offer the bread (Le Lv Lev.)
Leviticus 22:24
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