What Does Deuteronomy 15:21 Mean in the King James?
And if there be any blemish therein, as if it be lame, or blind, or have any ill blemish, thou shalt not sacrifice it unto the LORD thy God.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The Hebrew word for lame shares its root with pass over and Passover, placing bodily impairment and sparing in a word-family English separates.
THE MEANING
The verse states a direct boundary: an animal that is lame, blind, or otherwise blemished is not to be sacrificed to the LORD. Its condition is named as the reason it is not an acceptable offering.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The act of offering something does not erase the stated condition it must meet.
THE ROOT
פִּסֵּחַ
pissēaḥ
GROWS FROM
פ־ס־ח
p-s-ḥ
To limp or skip; other forms mean to pass over or spare.
The verse’s word for lame is פִּסֵּחַ (pissēaḥ), meaning lame, from a root whose other forms name passing over and Passover. The shared consonants join meanings that English separates, while the verse uses the word plainly to identify the animal’s condition.
ALSO GROWS
pāsaḥ: To pass over; to spare
פָּסַח
This verb shares the root’s three consonants with the word for lame, creating an echo English does not show.
pesaḥ: Passover
פֶּסַח
The Hebrew name for Passover grows from the same root, linking the festival’s name to the word-family found in this verse.
מוּם
mūm
GROWS FROM
מ־ו־ם
m-w-m
A physical defect or blemish.
The verse uses מוּם (mūm), meaning blemish or defect, first for the general condition and again after naming lameness and blindness. The repetition makes those examples instances of a wider category rather than a complete list.
ALSO GROWS
mūmîm: Blemishes; defects
מוּמִים
This plural form shows the same root naming multiple defects under one category.
lō-yihyeh bō mūm: There shall be no blemish in it
לֹא־יִהְיֶה בוֹ מוּם
Leviticus 22:21 uses this wording for an offering, repeating the same root in a closely related boundary.
תִּזְבָּחֶנּוּ
tizbāḥennû
GROWS FROM
ז־ב־ח
z-b-ḥ
To slaughter or sacrifice.
The Hebrew verb for sacrifice shares its root with the word for altar. That family keeps the verse’s boundary concrete: it concerns the animal brought to be slaughtered as an offering.
ALSO GROWS
zevaḥ: Sacrifice; slaughter
זֶבַח
This noun grows from the same root as the verb translated sacrifice in the verse.
mizbēaḥ: Altar
מִזְבֵּחַ
The altar’s name shares the slaughter-root, joining the place of offering to the act named here.
THE PATTERN
In sacrificial instruction, setting an animal apart does not erase the stated condition for presenting it.
And whosoever offereth a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD to accomplish his vow, or a freewill offering in beeves or sheep, it shall be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no blemish therein.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.How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?THE THREAD
And whosoever offereth a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD to accomplish his vow, or a freewill offering in beeves or sheep, it shall be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no blemish therein.The same Hebrew term מוּם (mūm), meaning blemish or defect, appears in both verses. Leviticus makes explicit the boundary Deuteronomy states through its examples: the animal presented as an offering is not to have a blemish.
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