Leviticus 22:17-25
God requires offerings that reflect His holiness, not what is defective or diminished.
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 is any of their vows or any of their free will offerings, which they offer to Yahweh for a burnt offering:
19 that you may be accepted, you shall offer a male without defect, of the bulls, of the sheep, or of the goats.
20 But you shall not offer whatever has a defect, 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 free will offering of the herd or of the flock, it shall be perfect to be accepted. It shall have no defect.
22 You shall not offer what is blind, is injured, is maimed, has a wart, is festering, or has a running sore 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 free will offering; but for a vow it shall not be accepted.
24 You must not offer to Yahweh that which has its testicles bruised, crushed, broken, or cut. You must not do this in your land.
25 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.’ ”
God requires offerings that reflect His holiness, not what is defective or diminished.
This passage establishes that offerings presented to the LORD must be without defect, ensuring that what is given in worship reflects the holiness and worthiness of God.
After regulating priestly uncleanness and who may eat holy offerings in Leviticus 22:1-16, the chapter turns to the quality of animals presented by Israelites and resident foreigners. The concern moves from authorized handling of holy food to acceptable presentation at the altar, completing a priest-and-worshiper holiness frame before the sacred calendar of Leviticus 23.
Leviticus addresses Israel at Sinai as a redeemed people learning how the holy LORD dwells among them. In Leviticus 22:17-25 the LORD speaks through Moses to Aaron, his sons, and all Israel concerning animals presented from cattle, sheep, or goats for burnt and fellowship offerings. The regulations include Israelites and resident foreigners, showing that altar access among the covenant people is governed by the LORD's standard rather than by ethnic status or donor preference.
Holy Food, Acceptable Offerings, and Reverence for the LORD's Holy Name
The LORD's holy name must not be profaned by careless priests, unauthorized eating, or defective offerings, because He sanctifies Israel and redeemed them from Egypt to be their God.