What Does Leviticus 22:20 Mean in the King James?

But whatsoever hath a blemish, that shall ye not offer: for it shall not be acceptable for you.

Leviticus 22:20 · KJV

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 verb translated “offer” means “bring near,” so the verse makes the offering’s condition part of the approach itself.

THE MEANING

A blemished offering is not acceptable to bring near; the verse holds the blemish and the refusal together. Its condition is part of what is presented, and presenting it does not make it acceptable.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The belief that giving something automatically makes it acceptable is undone here: the offering’s condition still matters.

THE ROOT

תַקְרִיבוּ

taqrîvû

GROWS FROM

קרב

qarav

Approach, draw near; in the causative form used here, bring near.

“offer” in this verse is taqrîvû. The Hebrew verb is a causative form of ⁨קרב⁩, “draw near,” so the offering is what someone brings near. The same consonants appear in ⁨קָרְבָּן⁩, “offering,” and ⁨קָרוֹב⁩, “near,” keeping the sense of approach inside the ritual word.

ALSO GROWS

qorbān: Offering; what is brought near.

קָרְבָּן

This word carries the same consonants and makes the approach sense of “offer” visible.

qarov: Near, close.

קָרוֹב

The same root names nearness itself, linking the offering to what is brought near.

THE PATTERN

A blemish in what is offered prevents it from being accepted as an offering brought near.

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.

Leviticus 22:21 · KJVThis verse states the same standard directly: the offering brought near is to be without blemish.

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.

Deuteronomy 15:21 · KJVThe blemish is named as the reason the animal cannot be offered.

But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

1 Peter 1:19 · KJVThe language of an unblemished offering appears again in the description of the lamb.

THE THREAD

But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.

Psalm 73:28 · KJV

“Draw near” here comes from the same root, ⁨קרב⁩ (qarav), “approach,” as “offer” in Leviticus. The psalm makes the root’s sense plain: the word for bringing an offering near also describes a person’s approach to God.

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