Leviticus 22:27

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

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}.

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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Leviticus 22:27 establishes a precise divine mandate for the age of animals designated for sacrifice to the Lord. It stipulates that any young bullock, sheep, or goat must remain with its mother for a full seven days, and only from the eighth day onward would it be considered acceptable for presentation as a fire offering to Yahweh. This regulation underscores God's meticulous standards for worship, emphasizing the animal's vitality and readiness, and symbolically pointing to principles of maturity and consecration in approaching the Holy One.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within a broader section of Leviticus (chapters 21-22) that meticulously details the requirements for priestly holiness and the purity of sacrificial offerings. Following the laws concerning priests' physical integrity and their conduct in the sanctuary ([Leviticus 21](/leviticus/21 "Leviticus 21 - Laws for Priests")), chapter 22 shifts focus to the offerings themselves. Verses 1-16 discuss who may eat the holy offerings, emphasizing the need for ritual purity. Verses 17-25 then outline the physical perfection required of animals presented for sacrifice, explicitly forbidding any blemished or defective animals. Leviticus 22:27, therefore, extends this principle of perfection to include the animal's age, ensuring it has passed its most vulnerable newborn stage and is robust enough to be a worthy offering. It precedes the prohibition against slaughtering an animal and its young on the same day ([Leviticus 22:28](/leviticus/22-28 "Leviticus 22:28 - Do Not Slaughter an Animal and Its Young on the Same Day")), further highlighting God's concern for the welfare and natural development of the sacrificial animals.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The ancient Israelite sacrificial system, as prescribed in the [Mosaic Law](/exodus/20 "Exodus 20 - The Ten Commandments and Covenant Law"), was the central means by which the people of God approached Him, sought atonement for sin, expressed gratitude, and entered into communion. These elaborate regulations were not arbitrary but deeply embedded in the theological understanding of God's absolute holiness and humanity's sinfulness. The requirement for animals to be "seven days under the dam" ensured that the animal was healthy and viable, having survived its most fragile neonatal period. This practice also respected the natural bond between mother and offspring, preventing the offering of a helpless newborn. The "eighth day" held profound symbolic significance in ancient Israelite culture and biblical numerology. Seven often represented completion, perfection, or divine rest, as seen in the [creation week](/genesis/1 "Genesis 1 - The Creation Account") and the Sabbath. The eighth day, therefore, frequently symbolized a new beginning, resurrection, or a fresh start, transcending the previous cycle. This is exemplified by the command for [circumcision on the eighth day](/genesis/17-12 "Genesis 17:12 - Circumcision on the Eighth Day"), signifying entry into the covenant and a new spiritual identity. Thus, an animal offered on the eighth day was not merely physically mature but also symbolically consecrated for a new, sacred purpose, distinct from its natural existence.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Seven days (Hebrew, שִׁבְעַת יָמִים, _shiv'at yamim'_):** This period denotes a full week, a cycle of completion. It ensures the animal has passed its initial, most vulnerable stage of life, demonstrating its viability and health. The number seven in biblical contexts often signifies completeness, perfection, or divine order.
* **Eighth day (Hebrew, הַשְּׁמִינִי, _ha-shemini'_):** Following the completion of the seven-day cycle, the eighth day marks a new beginning. This transition from seven to eight carries profound symbolic weight, representing new life, resurrection, or a new covenantal status. For the animal, it signifies a transition from natural dependence to a state of readiness and consecration for sacred use.
* **Accepted (Hebrew, יֵרָצֶה, _yeratzeh'_):** This verb, derived from the root רָצָה (ratsah), means "to be pleased with," "to be favorable," or "to accept." It highlights that the offering's acceptability is not merely a matter of fulfilling a rule but of gaining divine favor and pleasure. Only offerings meeting God's precise standards would be truly pleasing to Him.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"When a bullock, or a sheep, or a goat, is brought forth":** This introductory clause identifies the specific types of animals to which the regulation applies, covering the primary domestic animals used for various sacrificial offerings in Israelite worship.
* **"then it shall be seven days under the dam":** This establishes the mandatory initial period of care and development. The young animal must remain with its mother for a full week, ensuring it receives maternal nourishment and has sufficient time to develop strength and viability beyond its immediate birth. This also respects the natural bond and developmental process.
* **"and from the eighth day and thenceforth it shall be accepted for an offering made by fire unto the LORD":** This crucial phrase specifies the earliest point at which the animal becomes ritually pure and physically mature enough to be offered. The transition to the "eighth day" signifies a new status of readiness and consecration, making it pleasing and suitable for a burnt offering (a sacrifice consumed by fire on the altar) to Yahweh. The phrase "and thenceforth" indicates that animals older than eight days were also acceptable, provided they met other purity and perfection requirements.

#### Literary Devices
Leviticus 22:27 employs several literary devices to convey its divine instruction. **Precision** in legal language is paramount, with specific terms like "bullock," "sheep," and "goat" leaving no ambiguity about the animals in question. The numerical requirement of "seven days" and "eighth day" introduces **Symbolism**, where these numbers transcend mere temporal measurement. Seven typically signifies completion and perfection in biblical thought, while eight often denotes new beginnings, resurrection, or transcendence. This numerical progression from a completed cycle to a new start imbues the animal's readiness with theological significance, suggesting a new, consecrated status. The phrase "accepted for an offering" uses **Legal Language** to denote divine approval, emphasizing that God's pleasure is contingent upon adherence to His specific, non-negotiable standards. The passage also exhibits a form of **Merism** by specifying the minimum age ("eighth day and thenceforth"), implicitly covering all acceptable ages beyond the initial seven-day period.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Leviticus 22:27 profoundly underscores God's absolute holiness and His demand for perfection in worship. The meticulous nature of this law reveals that approaching God is not a casual endeavor but requires adherence to His precise, divinely ordained standards. This regulation ensures that the offering is not only physically sound but also symbolically mature and consecrated, reflecting a principle that God desires our very best, not something weak, incomplete, or hastily offered. The "eighth day" motif further connects to themes of new creation and resurrection, suggesting that what is offered to God must transcend its natural state and enter a realm of sacred newness.

* [Exodus 23:19](/exodus/23-19 "Exodus 23:19 - Do Not Boil a Kid in Its Mother's Milk")
* [Romans 12:1](/romans/12-1 "Romans 12:1 - Present Your Bodies as a Living Sacrifice")
* [Malachi 1:8](/malachi/1-8 "Malachi 1:8 - Offering Blemished Sacrifices")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Leviticus 22:27, though rooted in the ancient sacrificial system, offers enduring principles for contemporary believers. It challenges us to consider the quality of our offerings to God—not merely in terms of material possessions, but in the dedication of our time, talents, and spiritual lives. Just as God required an animal that had passed its initial vulnerability and entered a state of robust maturity, He desires our worship and service to be mature, intentional, and wholehearted. This means cultivating spiritual readiness, ensuring that our "offerings" of praise, service, and devotion are not given haphazardly or out of spiritual infancy, but from a place of genuine growth and consecrated purpose. We are called to present our "best" to God, not what is convenient or leftover, reflecting a deep reverence for His holiness and a desire for His acceptance.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life am I offering God less than my "eighth day" best, perhaps out of immaturity or complacency?**
* **How does the principle of spiritual readiness, implied by the "eight days," apply to my current spiritual walk and service?**
* **What does it mean for me to offer a "living sacrifice" that is "holy and pleasing to God" in light of the meticulous standards of Leviticus 22:27?**

### FAQ
**Why did the animal have to be at least eight days old?**

Answer: The requirement for an animal to be at least eight days old ensured its viability and health. A newborn animal is most vulnerable in its first few days; surviving seven days indicated it was robust and healthy, making it a more fitting and perfect offering to God. The "eighth day" also carries symbolic weight in biblical thought, often signifying a new beginning or a new creation, aligning the offering with a state of consecrated newness and readiness for sacred purpose. This principle is also seen in the command for [circumcision on the eighth day](/genesis/17-12 "Genesis 17:12 - Circumcision on the Eighth Day"), marking a covenantal new beginning.

**Does this verse mean God doesn't care about newborn animals?**

Answer: On the contrary, this verse, along with other laws in Leviticus, demonstrates God's concern for the welfare of animals. The requirement for the animal to remain with its dam for seven days ensures it receives vital maternal care and nourishment during its most fragile stage. This prevents the offering of a helpless or sickly newborn, reflecting a measure of respect for life and the natural order, as also seen in the prohibition against slaughtering an animal and its young on the same day ([Leviticus 22:28](/leviticus/22-28 "Leviticus 22:28 - Do Not Slaughter an Animal and Its Young on the Same Day")). God desires offerings that are whole and complete, not those that would cause undue hardship or disrespect to His creation.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Leviticus 22:27, with its precise regulations for acceptable sacrifices, finds its ultimate and perfect fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The requirement for an animal to be at least eight days old, symbolizing its vitality, completeness, and a new beginning, powerfully foreshadows the flawless nature of Christ's sacrifice. He was the [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God") who was "without blemish or defect" ([1 Peter 1:19](/1_peter/1-19 "1 Peter 1:19 - Christ, the Lamb Without Blemish")), not just physically, but morally and spiritually perfect from His conception. His resurrection on the "first day of the week" (which can be understood as the ultimate "eighth day" after the creation week's completion) inaugurated a new creation and a new covenant, making His sacrifice eternally "accepted" by God ([Hebrews 9:14](/hebrews/9-14 "Hebrews 9:14 - Christ's Perfect Sacrifice")). Unlike the temporary and imperfect animal sacrifices, Christ's offering was once for all, establishing a permanent means of atonement and access to God, fulfilling the symbolic "new beginning" inherent in the "eighth day" requirement of the Old Testament law. He is the true and living sacrifice, perfectly pleasing to the Father, through whom we now offer our spiritual sacrifices ([Hebrews 13:15-16](/hebrews/13-15 "Hebrews 13:15-16 - Sacrifices of Praise and Good Deeds")).

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.