King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
When a bullock, or a sheep, or a goat, is brought forth, then it shall be seven days under the dam; and from the eighth day and thenceforth it shall be accepted for an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
Complete Jewish Bible:
"When a bull, sheep or goat is born, it is to stay with its mother for seven days; but from the eighth day on, it may be accepted for an offering made by fire to ADONAI.
Berean Standard Bible:
“When an ox, a sheep, or a goat is born, it must remain with its mother for seven days. From the eighth day on, it will be acceptable as an offering made by fire to the LORD.
American Standard Version:
When a bullock, or a sheep, or a goat, is brought forth, then it shall be seven days under the dam; and from the eighth day and thenceforth it shall be accepted for the oblation of an offering made by fire unto Jehovah.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
When a bullock{H7794}, or a sheep{H3775}, or a goat{H5795}, is brought forth{H3205}, then it shall be seven{H7651} days{H3117} under the dam{H517}; and from the eighth{H8066} day{H3117} and thenceforth{H1973} it shall be accepted{H7521} for an offering{H7133} made by fire{H801} unto the LORD{H3068}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Exodus 22:30
- Likewise shalt thou do with thine oxen, [and] with thy sheep: seven days it shall be with his dam; on the eighth day thou shalt give it me.
Leviticus 12:2
- Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean.
Leviticus 12:3
- And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.
Leviticus 22:25
- 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.
Leviticus 19:23
- And when ye shall come into the land, and shall have planted all manner of trees for food, then ye shall count the fruit thereof as uncircumcised: three years shall it be as uncircumcised unto you: it shall not be eaten of.
Leviticus 19:24
- But in the fourth year all the fruit thereof shall be holy to praise the LORD [withal].
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Leviticus 22:27
Leviticus 22:27 is a verse that falls within the Holiness Code of the book of Leviticus, which is part of the Torah or Pentateuch in the Hebrew Bible. This code provides instructions for the Israelites to maintain ritual purity and holiness, particularly concerning sacrifices and offerings. The verse specifically addresses the proper timing for when an animal may be offered as a sacrifice to God.
In the historical context, the Israelites were a nomadic people who had recently been delivered from slavery in Egypt and were receiving instructions from God through Moses on how to live as a holy nation. Sacrifices were a central part of their worship and religious practice, serving as a means to atone for sins, express gratitude, and fulfill vows, among other purposes.
The verse mandates that a young bovine or ovine animal—a bullock (young bull), sheep, or goat—must be kept with its mother for the first seven days following its birth. This period of seven days under the dam (mother) ensures that the animal is sufficiently nurtured and robust. From the eighth day onward, the animal becomes eligible to be offered as a sacrifice made by fire to the Lord, indicating that it has reached an acceptable age and condition for sacred use.
The themes present in this verse include the sanctity of life, the importance of ritual procedure, and the distinction between the sacred and the common. By adhering to these regulations, the Israelites were reminded of their unique relationship with God and their responsibility to approach Him with reverence and in accordance with His prescribed manner. The waiting period also reflects a principle of allowing living creatures to experience a natural phase of life before being consecrated for divine service, emphasizing a balance between practical care and religious duty.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H7794
There are 69 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שׁוֹר
Transliteration: shôwr
Pronunciation: shore
Description: from שׁוּר; a bullock (as a traveller); bull(-ock), cow, ox, wall (by mistake for שׁוּר). - Strong's Number: H3775
There are 13 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כֶּשֶׂב
Transliteration: keseb
Pronunciation: keh'-seb
Description: apparently by transposition for כֶּבֶשׂ; a young sheep; lamb. - Strong's Number: H5795
There are 74 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֵז
Transliteration: ʻêz
Pronunciation: aze
Description: from עָזַז; a she-goat (as strong), but masculine in plural (which also is used elliptically for goat's hair); (she) goat, kid. - Strong's Number: H3205
There are 403 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָלַד
Transliteration: yâlad
Pronunciation: yaw-lad'
Description: a primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage; bear, beget, birth(-day), born, (make to) bring forth (children, young), bring up, calve, child, come, be delivered (of a child), time of delivery, gender, hatch, labour, (do the office of a) midwife, declare pedigrees, be the son of, (woman in, woman that) travail(-eth, -ing woman). - Strong's Number: H7651
There are 345 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שֶׁבַע
Transliteration: shebaʻ
Pronunciation: sheh'-bah
Description: or (masculine) (שִׁבְעָה); from שָׁבַע; a primitive cardinal number; seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week; by extension, an indefinite number; ([phrase] by) seven(-fold),-s, (-teen, -teenth), -th, times). Compare שִׁבְעָנָה. - Strong's Number: H3117
There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יוֹם
Transliteration: yôwm
Pronunciation: yome
Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger. - Strong's Number: H517
There are 387 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֵם
Transliteration: ʼêm
Pronunciation: ame
Description: a primitive word; a mother (as the bond of the family); in a wide sense (both literally and figuratively (like father)); dam, mother, [idiom] parting. - Strong's Number: H8066
There are 27 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שְׁמִינִי
Transliteration: shᵉmîynîy
Pronunciation: shem-ee-nee'
Description: from שְׁמֹנֶה; eight; eight. - Strong's Number: H1973
There are 16 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: הָלְאָה
Transliteration: hâlᵉʼâh
Pronunciation: haw-leh-aw'
Description: xlit hâlᵉâh corrected to hâlᵉʼâh; from the primitive form of the article (hal); to the distance, i.e. far away; also (of time) thus far; back, beyond, (hence,-) forward, hitherto, thence, forth, yonder. - Strong's Number: H7521
There are 55 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָצָה
Transliteration: râtsâh
Pronunciation: raw-tsaw'
Description: a primitive root; to be pleased with; specifically, to satisfy adebt; (be) accept(-able), accomplish, set affection, approve, consent with, delight (self), enjoy, (be, have a) favour(-able), like, observe, pardon, (be, have, take) please(-ure), reconcile self. - Strong's Number: H7133
There are 78 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קׇרְבָּן
Transliteration: qorbân
Pronunciation: kor-bawn'
Description: or קֻרְבָּן; from קָרַב; something brought near the altar, i.e. a sacrificial present; oblation, that is offered, offering. - Strong's Number: H801
There are 357 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אִשָּׁה
Transliteration: ʼishshâh
Pronunciation: ish-shaw'
Description: the same as אֶשָּׁה, but used in a liturgical sense; properly, a burnt-offering; but occasionally of any sacrifice; (offering, sacrifice), (made) by fire. - Strong's Number: H3068
There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהֹוָה
Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.