Leviticus 22
1 The LORD spoke to Moses:
2 “Tell Aaron and his sons to keep away from the sacred offerings of the Israelites, so they do not profane my holy name through the things they dedicate to me. I am the LORD.
3 Tell them: ‘Throughout your generations, if anyone of your descendants approaches the sacred offerings that the Israelites dedicate to the LORD while unclean, that person will be cut off from my presence. I am the LORD.
4 No man among Aaron’s descendants who has a skin disease or a discharge may eat the sacred offerings until he becomes clean. Anyone who touches something made unclean by a dead person is also unclean, as is a man who has an emission of semen.
5 Also unclean is anyone who touches a swarming creature that makes him unclean, or a person who makes him unclean, whatever that person’s uncleanness may be.
6 Anyone who touches these things will be unclean until evening and may not eat any of the sacred offerings unless he bathes his body in water.
7 When the sun sets, he will be clean. After that he may eat the sacred offerings, for they are his food.
8 He must not eat an animal that died on its own or one torn apart by wild animals, and so make himself unclean by it. I am the LORD.
9 They must keep what I have charged them to keep, so they will not incur guilt over it and die for profaning it. I am the LORD, who makes them holy.
10 No outsider may eat anything sacred; neither a priest’s guest nor his hired worker may eat anything sacred.
11 But if a priest buys someone with his money, that person may eat of it; those born in his household may also eat his food.’”
12 “‘If a priest’s daughter marries an outsider, she may not eat any of the sacred contribution.
13 But if a priest’s daughter becomes a widow or is divorced, has no children, and returns to her father’s house as in her youth, she may eat her father’s food. But no outsider may eat of it.
14 If someone eats something sacred unintentionally, he must add a fifth of its value and give the sacred offering to the priest.
15 The priests must not profane the sacred offerings of the Israelites, the things they present to the LORD.
16 They must not let the people incur guilt requiring restitution by eating their sacred offerings, for I am the LORD, who makes them holy.’”
17 The LORD spoke to Moses:
18 “Tell Aaron, his sons, and all the Israelites, and say to them: ‘Any man from the house of Israel, or from the resident foreigners in Israel, may present his offering to the LORD as a burnt offering, whether to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering.
19 For it to be accepted for you, it must be an unblemished male from the cattle, sheep, or goats.
20 Do not present anything defective, for it will not be accepted on your behalf.
21 When anyone presents a fellowship offering to the LORD from the herd or flock, whether to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering, the animal must be unblemished to be accepted; it must have no defect.
22 Do not present to the LORD an animal that is blind, injured, mutilated, or has growths, a skin disease, or sores. Do not place any of these on the altar as a food offering to the LORD.’”
23 “‘You may offer an ox or a sheep with a deformed or stunted limb as a freewill offering, but it will not be accepted for a vow.
24 Do not present to the LORD an animal whose testicles are bruised, crushed, torn, or cut. You must not do this in your land.
25 Do not present any of these as food for your God from the hand of a foreigner, for they are damaged and defective. They will not be accepted on your behalf.’”
26 The LORD spoke to Moses:
27 “When an ox, a sheep, or a goat is born, it must remain with its mother for seven days. From the eighth day onward it will be acceptable as a burnt offering to the LORD.
28 Do not slaughter an ox or a sheep together with its young on the same day.
29 When you offer a thanksgiving sacrifice to the LORD, offer it so that it may be accepted for you.
30 It must be eaten that same day; leave none of it until morning. I am the LORD.
31 Keep my commandments and carry them out. I am the LORD.
32 Do not profane my holy name; I will be sanctified among the Israelites. I am the LORD, who makes you holy.
33 I brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God. I am the LORD.”
Read and listen to this chapter in the Shalem app, free: narration, chapter video and reading progress. Get the app