Leviticus 22:25

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

Neither from a stranger's {H5236} hand {H3027}{H1121} shall ye offer {H7126} the bread {H3899} of your God {H430} of any of these; because their corruption {H4893} is in them, and blemishes {H3971} be in them: they shall not be accepted {H7521} for you.

Complete Jewish Bible

and you are not to receive any of these from a foreigner for you to offer as bread for your God, because their deformity is a defect in them - they will not be accepted from you.'"

Berean Standard Bible

Neither you nor a foreigner shall present food to your God from any such animal. They will not be accepted on your behalf, because they are deformed and flawed.’”

American Standard Version

Neither from the hand of a foreigner shall ye offer the bread of your God of any of these; because their corruption is in them, there is a blemish in them: they shall not be accepted for you.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Leviticus 22:25 establishes a stringent requirement for the purity of sacrificial offerings, stipulating that even gifts presented by non-Israelites ("strangers") must be free of any physical defect or blemish. This divine mandate underscores God's absolute holiness and the non-negotiable standard of perfection required for anything brought into His presence, emphasizing that flawed offerings, regardless of their origin, would be deemed unacceptable for atonement or worship.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within Leviticus chapters 21 and 22, which meticulously detail the laws concerning the holiness of the priests and the sanctity of the offerings presented to the Lord. Chapter 21 outlines the purity requirements for priests, emphasizing their separation and sanctification for service. Chapter 22 then extends this focus to the offerings themselves, ensuring that only perfect and unblemished animals or produce are brought to the altar. Verses [Leviticus 22:17-25](/leviticus/22-17 "Leviticus 22:17-25 - Requirements for Acceptable Offerings") specifically enumerate various physical defects that would disqualify an animal, such as blindness, broken limbs, or scabs. [Leviticus 22:25](/leviticus/22-25 "Leviticus 22:25 - Offerings from Strangers") serves as a culminating point in this section, reinforcing that these standards apply universally, even to offerings from "strangers," thereby safeguarding the integrity and holiness of God's sanctuary against any form of defilement or imperfection.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Near Eastern cultures, offerings to deities were common, often reflecting the best of a worshiper's possessions. However, Israel's sacrificial system, as prescribed in the Mosaic Law, was unique in its emphasis on absolute perfection and purity, reflecting the singular holiness of Yahweh. The term "stranger" (נֵכָר, _nekār_) refers to non-Israelites who resided among the Israelites or who might approach the tabernacle/temple to offer sacrifices. While Israel was called to be a distinct people, God's laws often made provisions for foreigners to interact with the covenant community, including participating in certain aspects of worship (e.g., [Numbers 15:14-16](/numbers/15-14 "Numbers 15:14-16 - Law for the Stranger")). This verse highlights that even when a "stranger" chose to participate in Israel's worship, they were not exempt from God's exacting standards. The "bread of your God" is a metonym for any food or animal offering presented to the Lord, signifying its sacred nature as consecrated to Him and often consumed by the priests or on the altar, thus being symbolically "food" for God Himself. This underscores that the holiness of the offering was paramount, transcending the identity or origin of the donor.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Stranger's Hand (Hebrew, _nekār_):** The Hebrew word נֵכָר (_nekār_) refers to a foreigner or alien, someone from outside the Israelite community. The phrase "stranger's hand" emphasizes that the source of the offering, whether Israelite or non-Israelite, does not diminish the divine requirement for purity. God's standards are universal for all who approach Him in worship.
* **Corruption (Hebrew, _mashḥāth_):** The term מַשְׁחָת (_mashḥāth_) denotes something marred, ruined, or disfigured, often implying a severe physical defect or decay that renders an object useless or unacceptable. In the context of sacrifices, it points to a fundamental flaw that compromises the integrity and symbolic perfection of the animal.
* **Blemishes (Hebrew, _mûm_):** The Hebrew word מוּם (_mûm_) refers to any physical defect, spot, or imperfection. This term is used broadly to encompass a range of physical impairments that would disqualify an animal from being an acceptable offering. Together with "corruption," it stresses the absolute necessity for the sacrificial animal to be physically whole, sound, and without any defect that would diminish its value or symbolism as a pure offering to a holy God.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Neither from a stranger's hand shall ye offer the bread of your God of any of these;":** This clause explicitly prohibits the acceptance of flawed offerings, even if they originate from a non-Israelite. "The bread of your God" is a collective term for any offering (animal or grain) presented to the Lord, signifying its sacred nature and consecration. The phrase "of any of these" refers back to the list of disqualifying defects mentioned in the preceding verses ([Leviticus 22:20-24](/leviticus/22-20 "Leviticus 22:20-24 - List of Unacceptable Blemishes")). This highlights that God's standards for purity are not dependent on the donor's identity but on the inherent quality of the offering itself, reflecting His universal holiness.
* **"because their corruption [is] in them, [and] blemishes [be] in them:":** This provides the divine rationale for the prohibition. The presence of "corruption" (severe marring or decay) or "blemishes" (any physical defect) renders the animal inherently unacceptable. These imperfections are not merely aesthetic issues but represent a lack of wholeness and perfection that God demands in all that is offered to Him. An imperfect offering would dishonor God and fail to adequately symbolize the purity required for atonement and fellowship.
* **"they shall not be accepted for you.":** This final declarative statement underscores the absolute unacceptability of such offerings. The phrase "for you" implies that these offerings would not achieve their intended purpose on behalf of the worshiper—whether for atonement, thanksgiving, or fellowship—because they fail to meet God's holy standard. Their rejection ensures that the sanctity of the altar and the integrity of the sacrificial system are maintained.

#### Literary Devices
The passage employs several literary devices to convey its message with clarity and emphasis. **Legal Language** is predominant, characteristic of the book of Leviticus, using precise and prescriptive terms to establish divine law. The use of "neither...nor" and "shall not be accepted" provides a clear, unambiguous prohibition. **Metonymy** is present in the phrase "the bread of your God," where "bread" stands for all types of offerings, emphasizing their sacred nature as sustenance symbolically presented to God. The repetition of the concept of "corruption" and "blemishes" throughout the chapter, and specifically in this verse, serves as a form of **Emphasis**, reinforcing the non-negotiable requirement for physical perfection in sacrifices. This repetition ensures that the reader grasps the gravity of God's demand for unblemished offerings, regardless of the donor's background.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Leviticus 22:25 profoundly illustrates God's unwavering demand for holiness and perfection in all that approaches Him. This principle is foundational to understanding the nature of biblical worship and the character of God Himself. The meticulous regulations for sacrifices underscore that God is not content with mere offerings, but requires offerings that reflect His own perfect and unblemished nature. This absolute standard served to teach Israel about the gravity of sin and the impossibility of approaching a holy God with anything less than perfection, thus preparing them for a greater revelation. The unacceptability of flawed sacrifices, even from sincere "strangers," highlights that God's holiness transcends human distinctions and intentions, demanding adherence to His revealed will.

* [Malachi 1:8](/malachi/1-8 "Condemnation of Blemished Offerings")
* [Hebrews 9:14](/hebrews/9-14 "Christ's Unblemished Offering")
* [Romans 12:1](/romans/12-1 "Living Sacrifice")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The ancient command in Leviticus 22:25, though specific to Old Covenant animal sacrifices, carries profound and enduring spiritual principles for believers today. It calls us to examine the quality of our offerings to God, not in terms of physical perfection of animals, but in the sincerity, purity, and wholeheartedness of our spiritual worship and service. God still deserves our "unblemished" best—our undivided attention in prayer, our diligent study of His Word, our selfless acts of service, and our unwavering commitment to holiness in our daily lives. This verse challenges us to move beyond superficial religiosity or a "good enough" attitude, urging us to present ourselves and our gifts with excellence, recognizing that our God is worthy of nothing less than our very best, offered from a pure heart. It reminds us that true worship is not merely an outward act but an inward disposition of reverence and devotion.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be offering God "blemished" or "corrupt" sacrifices, rather than my best?**
* **How does the universal standard of purity in this verse challenge my understanding of God's holiness and His expectations for all who approach Him?**
* **What does it mean to offer myself as a "living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God" (Romans 12:1) in light of Leviticus 22:25?**

### FAQ
**Why was it important that even a stranger's offering be unblemished?**

Answer: It was crucial for several reasons. Firstly, it underscored God's universal standard of holiness; His perfection and purity are not relative to the identity of the worshiper. The sanctity of the tabernacle and the sacrificial system had to be maintained regardless of who brought the offering. Accepting a blemished sacrifice, even from a non-Israelite, would have defiled the sacred space and diminished the profound theological truth that only perfection could approach a perfect God. This also taught both Israelites and "strangers" that God's laws applied to all who sought to interact with Him through the covenant system, demonstrating His impartiality and the absolute nature of His requirements for worship, as seen in [Numbers 15:14-16](/numbers/15-14 "One Law for All").

**What does "the bread of your God" mean in this context?**

Answer: "The bread of your God" (לֶחֶם אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, _lechem Eloheichem_) is a comprehensive term used in Leviticus to refer to any offering or sacrifice presented to the Lord. While "bread" literally means food, here it functions as a metonym, signifying that these offerings were consecrated to God and, in a symbolic sense, constituted "food" for Him, or that which was consumed on His altar. This phrase emphasizes the sacredness of the offerings and their direct dedication to God, whether they were burnt offerings, peace offerings, or other sacrifices. It highlights that these items were not merely gifts but were integral to the divine-human covenant relationship and were treated with the utmost reverence, as detailed throughout [Leviticus chapter 7](/leviticus/7 "Laws of Peace, Sin, and Trespass Offerings").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Leviticus 22:25, with its insistence on unblemished offerings, finds its ultimate and glorious fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The Old Testament sacrificial system, with its countless perfect animals, served as a profound foreshadowing of the one truly perfect sacrifice. Jesus, the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "Jesus, the Lamb of God"), was born without sin and lived a life of absolute perfection, making Him the only "unblemished" and "unspotted" offering capable of atoning for humanity's sin ([1 Peter 1:18-19](/1_peter/1-18 "Redemption through Christ's Blood")). Unlike the animal sacrifices, which had to be repeated because their blood could only temporarily cover sins ([Hebrews 10:1-4](/hebrews/10-1 "The Inadequacy of Animal Sacrifices")), Christ offered Himself "through the eternal Spirit" as a "blameless" sacrifice, thereby purifying our consciences and securing eternal redemption ([Hebrews 9:11-14](/hebrews/9-11 "Christ's Superior Sacrifice")). His perfect sacrifice, offered once for all, perfectly satisfies God's demand for holiness and provides the true acceptance that no blemished offering, from Jew or Gentile, could ever achieve. In Christ, God's perfect standard is met, and all who believe are made acceptable in the Beloved ([Ephesians 1:6](/ephesians/1-6 "Accepted in the Beloved")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Leviticus 21:6

They shall be holy unto their God, and not profane the name of their God: for the offerings of the LORD made by fire, [and] the bread of their God, they do offer: therefore they shall be holy.

Leviticus 21:8

Thou shalt sanctify him therefore; for he offereth the bread of thy God: he shall be holy unto thee: for I the LORD, which sanctify you, [am] holy.

Ezra 6:8

Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king's goods, [even] of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith expenses be given unto these men, that they be not hindered.

Ezra 6:10

That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.

1 John 5:18

¶ We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

Malachi 1:7

Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD [is] contemptible.

Malachi 1:8

And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, [is it] not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, [is it] not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.