Bible Strands
Leviticus 1:3
If his 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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — God, through Moses, instructs the Israelites at Sinai on the specifics of the herd burnt offering, following the general permission in 1:2 and preceding the hand-laying in 1:4.
The words — תָּמִים (tamim), "unblemished," carries the verse's weight: it denotes wholeness and absence of defect, a standard that recurs throughout the sacrificial code.
The thread — The unblemished requirement is reinforced in Leviticus 22:19 and Deuteronomy 15:21, and finds its ultimate fulfillment in Hebrews 9:14, where Christ is presented as the unblemished offering.
Why it lands — The verse makes unblemishedness a condition of acceptance, not a suggestion; the reader is asked to take that standard seriously rather than reduce it to mere ritual.
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
If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord.
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.
- 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!
- Leviticus 22:19 must offer an unblemished male from the cattle, sheep, or goats in order for it to be accepted on your behalf.
- Exodus 12:5 Your lamb must be an unblemished year-old male, and you may take it from the sheep or the goats.
- Ephesians 5:27 and to present her to Himself as a glorious church, without stain or wrinkle or any such blemish, but holy and blameless.
- Hebrews 10:8 In the passage above He says, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings You did not desire, nor did You delight in them” (although they are offered according to the law).
- 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.
- Hebrews 7:26 Such a high priest truly befits us—One who is holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
- Genesis 22:8 Abraham answered, “God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two walked on together.
- Ephesians 2:18 For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.