Bible Strands
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Moses addresses the Israelites regarding covenant obedience and worship standards as they prepare to settle the land.
The words — The Hebrew תִזְבַּח (tiz.Bach) translates to "you will sacrifice," paired with לֹא (lo'-) for "not," forming a direct prohibition against offering flawed livestock to Yahweh.
The thread — This prohibition against defective sacrifices appears in Deuteronomy 15:21, is reiterated in Malachi 1:8 regarding blind and lame offerings, and aligns with the ban on bringing prostitute wages into the temple in Deuteronomy 23:18.
Why it lands — The text commands worshipers to present only unblemished animals to God, and interpreters infer this establishes a standard of reverence that rejects careless or degraded offerings.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Thou shalt not sacrifice unto the Lord thy God any bullock, or sheep, wherein is blemish, or any evilfavouredness: for that is an abomination unto the Lord thy God.
Cross-references
- 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.
- 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.
- Deuteronomy 23:18 You must not bring the wages of a prostitute, whether female or male, into the house of the LORD your God to fulfill any vow, because both are detestable to the LORD your God.
- Leviticus 22:20 You must not present anything with a defect, because it will not be accepted on your behalf.
- Deuteronomy 24:4 then the husband who divorced her first may not remarry her after she has been defiled, for that is an abomination to the LORD. You must not bring sin upon the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.
- Malachi 1:13 You also say: ‘Oh, what a nuisance!’ And you turn up your nose at it,” says the LORD of Hosts. “You bring offerings that are stolen, lame, or sick! Should I accept these from your hands?” asks the LORD.
- Genesis 41:3 After them, seven other cows, sickly and thin, came up from the Nile and stood beside the well-fed cows on the bank of the river.
- Genesis 41:19 After them, seven other cows—sickly, ugly, and thin—came up. I have never seen such ugly cows in all the land of Egypt!
- Exodus 12:5 Your lamb must be an unblemished year-old male, and you may take it from the sheep or the goats.
- Deuteronomy 25:16 For everyone who behaves dishonestly in regard to these things is detestable to the LORD your God.