Leviticus 22:19 — Word Study
WLCלִֽרְצֹנְכֶ֑ם תָּמִ֣ים זָכָ֔ר בַּבָּקָ֕ר בַּכְּשָׂבִ֖ים וּבָֽעִזִּֽים׃
BSAmust offer an unblemishedtâmîym [without defects, perfect, complete, having no flaw] malezâkâr [a male animal, used for sacrifice] from the cattlebâqâr [domesticated oxen, used for work or sacrifice] sheepkeseb [young sheep, like a lamb] or goatsʻêz [female goats, often used for sacrifice] in order for it to be accepted on your behalfrâtsôwn [with delight, pleasing to God, for your benefit, in your place]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| לִֽרְצֹנְכֶ֑ם | for acceptance your | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| תָּמִ֣ים | unblemished | Adj |
| זָכָ֔ר | a male | Adj |
| בַּבָּקָ֕ר | among the cattle | Preposition, noun common both singular absolute |
| בַּכְּשָׂבִ֖ים | among the young rams | Preposition, noun common masculine plural absolute |
| וּבָֽעִזִּֽים׃ | and among the goats | Conjunction, preposition, noun common masculine plural absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | must offer an unblemished male from the cattle, sheep, or goats in order for it to be accepted on your behalf. |
| KJV | Ye shall offer at your own will a male without blemish, of the beeves, of the sheep, or of the goats. |
| ASV | that ye may be accepted, ye shall offer a male without blemish, of the bullocks, of the sheep, or of the goats. |
| YLT | at your pleasure a perfect one, a male of the herd, of the sheep or of the goats; |
| WEB | that you may be accepted, you shall offer a male without defect, of the bulls, of the sheep, or of the goats. |
| BBE | So that it may be pleasing to the Lord, let him give a male, without any mark, from among the oxen or the sheep or the goats. |
Where they part company is תָּמִ֣ים — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence is structured with a main clause followed by prepositional phrases specifying the source of the offering and its purpose.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Leviticus 22:19
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Laws of Sacrificegenerated
Leviticus 22:19 is part of the instructions regarding offerings to the LORD. It emphasizes the importance of presenting a sacrifice that is without blemish, which is a requirement for it to be accepted. This reflects the broader theme in Leviticus that God desires purity and perfection in the offerings made to Him, as seen throughout the book.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leviticus 1:3–10 | If one’s offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to present an unblemished male. He must bring it to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting for its acceptance before the LORD. |
| 2 | Leviticus 4:32 | If, however, he brings a lamb as a sin offering, he must bring an unblemished female. |
| 3 | Exodus 12:5 | Your lamb must be an unblemished year-old male, and you may take it from the sheep or the goats. |
| 4 | Matthew 27:4–19 | “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said. “What is that to us?” they replied. “You bear the responsibility.” |
| 5 | Luke 23:14–41 | and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined Him here in your presence and found Him not guilty of your charges against Him. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 12 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — תָּמִ֣ים, ta.Mimgenerated
The word תָּמִים (ta.Mim) means unblemished or perfect, indicating something that is whole and complete. It is often used to describe animals suitable for sacrifice, emphasizing their integrity and purity.
This adjective conveys the requirement for sacrifices to be without defects, reflecting God's standards for what is acceptable in worship. The parsing as an adjective highlights its descriptive role in qualifying the male animal being offered.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against. The BSB has unblemished, while the KJV and ASV also use unblemished but the LSV and YLT opt for perfect.
The translations agree on the essential meaning of the word תָּמִ֣ים, but differ in their choice of the English rendering, with without defects (FBV) also appearing.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main clause of the verse is governed by the verb לִֽרְצֹנְכֶ֑ם, for acceptance your, which sets the purpose for the offering. The structure includes several noun phrases describing the required sacrifice, emphasizing the types of animals acceptable for the offering.
The order of the words highlights the significance of the male animal being offered, with the prepositional phrases specifying the categories of cattle, sheep, and goats, demonstrating the inclusivity of the acceptable offerings.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates לִֽרְצֹנְכֶ֑ם as ὑμῖν, which means 'to you.' This choice shifts the focus slightly from the concept of acceptance to the direct address of the Israelites, emphasizing the personal responsibility in the sacrificial system.
The Greek word ἄμωμα corresponds to תָּמִ֣ים, indicating a consistent understanding of the need for perfection in the sacrifices.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Leviticus 22:19 instructs that a sacrifice must be an unblemished male from the cattle, sheep, or goats to be accepted by God. This highlights the importance of offering something perfect to please the LORD.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
An unblemished sacrifice means that the animal must be perfect, without any defects, which symbolizes purity and completeness in the offering to God.
The specific animals — cattle, sheep, and goats — were common livestock in ancient Israel, and each had particular significance in sacrificial practices, reflecting their value and the seriousness of the offering.
This verse reinforces the theme of holiness and the standards God sets for worship, emphasizing that only pure and perfect offerings are acceptable to Him.
The requirement teaches us about the importance of giving our best to God and the significance of purity in our worship and offerings.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How can I ensure that my offerings to God are pure and sincere?
- What does it mean for me to offer my best to God in my daily life?
- In what areas of my life do I need to seek greater integrity and completeness?
- How can understanding the significance of sacrifices deepen my appreciation for God's requirements?
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Leviticus 22:19 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleYe shall offer at your own will,.... For vows and freewill offerings were at their own option, and depended on their own will and pleasure, and when offered should be with a willing mind, and from
Read John Gill on Leviticus 22 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryYe shall offer at your own will a male without blemish, of the beeves, of the sheep, or of the goats. Ye shall offer at your own will - rather, to your being accepted. A male without blemish.
Read Robert Jamieson on Leviticus 22 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleA male for a burnt-offering, which was always of that kind; but the females were accepted in peace-offerings, , and sin-offerings, 5:6.
Read Matthew Poole on Leviticus 22 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsLeviticus 22:19 [Ye shall offer] at your own will a male without blemish, of the beeves, of the sheep, or of the goats.Ver. 19. At your own will.] Yet observing strictly the law in that case provided, with all the rites appointed. Such will worship is very acceptable.
Read John Trapp on Leviticus 22 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(19) Ye shall offer at your own will a male.—Better, that it may be accepted for you it shall be a male; or, ye shall offer for your acceptance a male. repeating the word offer; or, for your acceptance it must be a male, as the Authorised version renders the same phrase in Leviticus 22:20-21; Leviticus 22:27 (see Leviticus 1:3).
Read Charles John Ellicott on Leviticus 22 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges17–25. Directions as to the quality of offerings This passage retains clear signs of a remarkably composite character. Leviticus 22:17-18 a indicate (‘unto Aaron, and to his sons,’ ‘unto all etc.’) that what follows is a blending of directions referring to priests and to the people. But further, Leviticus 22:21 presents what is virtually a repetition of the directions in Leviticus 22:18-20, while the differences in phraseology between the two point to diversity of origin. We notice further that the classes of offerings dealt with differ, viz. Burnt-Offerings and Peace-Offerings respectively, while each of these have the same sub-divisions, i.e. Vows and Freewill-Offerings, the former…
Read Cambridge on Leviticus 22 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleYe shall offer at your own will a male - Rather, That it may be accepted (so Leviticus 22:29) for you it shall be a male. See Leviticus 1:3. It is the same phrase as in Leviticus 22:20-21, Leviticus 22:27.
Read Albert Barnes on Leviticus 22 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible19. At your own will — The better translation is, for your acceptance, or, as the R.V., “that ye may be accepted.” See Leviticus 1:3, note, and Leviticus 23:11, in the original.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Leviticus 22 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
must offer an unblemished male from the cattle, sheep, or goats in order for it to be accepted on your behalf.
that you may be accepted, you shall offer a male without defect, of the bulls, of the sheep, or of the goats.
must offer an unblemished male from the cattle, sheep, or goats in order for it to be accepted on your behalf.
if it is to be acceptable for your benefit it must be a flawless male from the cattle, sheep, or goats.
Tyndale line
Ye shall offer at your own will a male without blemish, of the beeves, of the sheep, or of the goats.
that ye may be accepted, ye shall offer a male without blemish, of the bullocks, of the sheep, or of the goats.
that ye may be accepted, ye shall offer a male without blemish, of the beeves, of the sheep, or of the goats.
Ye shall offer at your own will a male without blemish of the beeves, of the sheep, or of the goats.
Yee shall offer of your free minde a male without blemish of the beeues, of the sheepe, or of the goates.
Strictly literal
it shall be for your acceptance, without blemish, a male of the oxen, of the sheep, and of the goats.
at your pleasure a perfect one, a male of the herd, of the sheep or of the goats;
[you bring near] at your pleasure a perfect one, a male of the herd, of the sheep or of the goats;
Then shall it be, that it may be favorably received for you, a male without blemish, of the oxen, of the sheep, or of the goats.
if it is to be accepted, they must offer a male animal without blemish from the cattle, sheep, or goats.
From the Latin
To be offered by you, it shall be a male without blemish of the beeves, or of the sheep, or of the goats.
Simplified
If it is to be accepted on your behalf you must offer a male without defects from the herds of cattle, sheep, or goats.
So that it may be pleasing to the Lord, let him give a male, without any mark, from among the oxen or the sheep or the goats.
Word by word, the decisions they made
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text is supported by the Septuagint, which matches all six words of the verse. The Samaritan Pentateuch differs by using the word רצונכם (pleasure) and includes או (or), indicating a slight variation in the offering requirements. The Dead Sea Scrolls also reflect similar wording to the Masoretic Text, with some restoration noted.
לִֽרְצֹנְכֶ֑ם תָּמִ֣ים זָכָ֔ר בַּבָּקָ֕ר בַּכְּשָׂבִ֖ים וּבָֽעִזִּֽים׃
6 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
לרצונכם תמים זכר בבקר או בכשׂבים או בעזים
3 words differ from the Masoretic Text: רצונכם (pleasure), או (or), או (or)
לרצנ׳כם תמים זכר בבקר [בכשבים] ובעזים
3 words on the leather — 2 partly restored, 1 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Leviticus 22:19
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
רָצוֹן (ratsown) refers to concepts of goodwill, favor, acceptance, and will. It encompasses ideas of delight, desire, and pleasure, particularly in the context of personal relationships and sacrifices. The word is derived from a root meaning to delight, and it captures both voluntary will and the notion of being acceptable.
רָצוֹן n.[m.] goodwill, favour, acceptance, will
goodwill, favour
acceptance, of persons, offering sacrifice
will, desire, pleasure
base
H7522 רָצוֹן goodwill, favour, acceptance, will . goodwill, favour
. acceptance, of persons, offering sacrifice
. will, desire, pleasure
7522 ratsown raw-tsone'
or ratson {raw-tsone'}; from 7521; delight (especially as
shown):--(be) acceptable(-ance, -ed), delight, desire,
favour, (good) pleasure, (own, self, voluntary) will,
as...(what) would.
see HEBREW for 07521
רָצוֹן (ra.tson) — acceptance.
1) pleasure, delight, favour, goodwill, acceptance, will
1a) goodwill, favour
1b) acceptance
1c) will, desire, pleasure, self-will
Prep | N-ms | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHR/Ncmsc/Sp2mp
The Hebrew word תָּמִים (*tamiym*) means complete, sound, or whole. It encompasses notions of integrity, truth, and being unblemished or innocent. The word can function as both an adjective and a noun, referring to what is entire or in accord with truth. It is derived from a root that conveys the idea of being entire or perfect.
תָּמִים 91 adj. complete, sound
complete, whole, entire
whole, sound, healthful
complete, entire, of time
sound, wholesome, unimpaired, innocent, having integrity
as neuter adj. = subst. what is complete, entirely in accord with truth and fact
base
H8549 תָּמִים complete, sound . complete, whole, entire
. whole, sound, healthful
. complete, entire, of time
. sound, wholesome, unimpaired, innocent, having integrity
. as neuter adj. = subst. what is complete, entirely in accord with truth and fact
8549 tamiym taw-meem'
from 8552; entire (literally, figuratively or morally); also
(as noun) integrity, truth:--without blemish, complete, full,
perfect, sincerely (-ity), sound, without spot, undefiled,
upright(-ly), whole.
see HEBREW for 08552
תָּמִים (ta.mim) — unblemished.
: unblemished/perfect
1) complete, whole, entire, sound
1a) complete, whole, entire
1b) whole, sound, healthful
1c) complete, entire (of time)
1d) sound, wholesome, unimpaired, innocent, having integrity
1e) what is complete or entirely in accord with truth and fact (neuter adj/subst)
תָּמִים (ta.mim) — unblemished: blameless.
: blameless
1) complete, whole, entire, sound
1a) complete, whole, entire
1b) whole, sound, healthful
1c) complete, entire (of time)
1d) sound, wholesome, unimpaired, innocent, having integrity
1e) what is complete or entirely in accord with truth and fact (neuter adj/subst)
תָּמִים (ta.mim) — unblemished: complete.
: complete
1) complete, whole, entire, sound
1a) complete, whole, entire
1b) whole, sound, healthful
1c) complete, entire (of time)
1d) sound, wholesome, unimpaired, innocent, having integrity
Adj — AdjHAamsa
זָכָר (zakar) refers to a male, specifically the male of humans and animals. It is used both as a noun to denote male offspring and as an adjective to describe humans as male. The term is derived from a root meaning 'remembered,' emphasizing the male as a noteworthy sex.
זָכָר n.m. & adj. male
subst. male, offspring of men and animals
adj. sg. male (only human beings)
base
H2145 זָכָר male . subst. male, offspring of men and animals
. adj. sg. male (only human beings)
2145 zakar zaw-kawr'
from 2142; properly, remembered, i.e. a male (of man or
animals, as being the most noteworthy sex):--X him, male,
man(child, -kind).
see HEBREW for 02142
זָכָר (za.khar) — male.
1) male (of humans and animals)
adj
2) male (of humans)
Adj — AdjHAamsa
mal
(1) zakhar, zakhar, zakhur (the root means "to stand out," "to be prominent," here a physiological differentiation of the sex, as neqebhah, "female," which see);
(2) 'ish literally, "man";
(3) by circumlocution, only in the books of Samuel and Kings, mashtin beqir; ouron pros toichon, which the Revised Version (British and American) euphemistically renders "man-child" (1Sa 25:22,34; 1Ki 14:10)):
Gesenius has rightly pointed out that this phrase designates young boys, who do not as yet wear clothes, of whom the above description is accurate, while it does not apply in the case of adults, even in the modern Orient. We know this from the statement of Herodotus ii.35, relating to Egypt, and from Jud 3:24;
בָּקַר (baqar) refers to cattle, specifically oxen and herds, and can denote individual animals or a collective group. It is derived from a root meaning related to cattle and encompasses various forms such as beef cattle and oxen used for plowing. The term appears in contexts discussing livestock in the Old Testament.
בָּקַר 182 n.m. cattle, herd, ox
base
H1241 בָּקַר cattle, herd, ox
1241 baqar baw-kawr'
from 1239; beef cattle or an animal of the ox family of
either gender (as used for plowing); collectively, a herd:--
beeve, bull (+ -ock), + calf, + cow, great (cattle), + heifer,
herd, kine, ox.
see HEBREW for 01239
בָּקָר (ba.qar) — cattle.
1) cattle, herd, oxen, ox
1a) cattle (generic pl. but sing. in form-coll)
1b) herd (particular one)
1c) head of cattle (individually)
Prep | N-cs — Preposition · noun common both singular absoluteHRd/Ncbsa
kat'-'-l (behemah, "a dumb beast"; miqneh, "a possession" from qanah, "to acquire" (compare Arabic qana', "to acquire," and Greek kienos, "beast," and plural ktenea, "flocks," from ktaomai, "to acquire," flocks being both with the Homeric peoples and with the patriarchs an important form of property; compare English "fee"); tso'n "small cattle," "sheep" or goats (compare Arabic da'n, "sheep"); seh, a single sheep or goat (compare Arabic shah); mela'khah, "property," from la'akh, "to minister" (compare Arabic malakah and mulk, "property," from malak, "to possess"); meri' "fatling" (1Ki 19); thremma (Joh 4:12), "cattle," i.e. "that which is nourished," from trepho, "to nourish"; baqar, "kine," "oxen" (compare Arabic baqar, "cattle"); shor, tor (Da 4:25), tauros (
Cattle
Abounded in the Holy Land. To the rearing and management of them the inhabitants chiefly devoted themselves (Deut. 8:13; 12:21; 1 Sam. 11:5; 12:3; Ps. 144:14; Jer. 3:24). They may be classified as,
(1.) Neat cattle. Many hundreds of these were yearly consumed in sacrifices or used for food. The finest herds were found in Bashan, beyond Jordan (Num. 32:4). Large herds also pastured on the wide fertile plains of Sharon. They were yoked to the plough (1 Kings 19:19), and were employed for carrying burdens (1 Chr.…
[BULL, BULLOCK].
כֶּ֫שֶׂב (keseb) refers to a lamb or young sheep. The entries indicate it is a masculine noun and suggest a close relationship to another word, כֶּבֶשׂ (keves), which is not detailed here. The term appears in contexts related to sheep, but no specific verses are cited.
כֶּ֫שֶׂב n.[m.] lamb
base
H3775 כֶּ֫שֶׂב lamb
3775 keseb keh'-seb
apparently by transposition for 3532; a young sheep:--lamb.
see HEBREW for 03532
כֶּ֫שֶׂב (ke.sev) — sheep.
lamb, young ram, sheep
Prep | N-mp — Preposition · noun common masculine plural absoluteHRd/Ncmpa
עֵז (ez) refers to a she-goat or female goat, and can also denote a kid. It is derived from a root meaning strength, and in the plural form, it can refer to goats in general or goat's hair. The word appears in various contexts in the Old Testament.
עֵז 74 n.f. she-goat
base
H5795 עֵז she-goat
5795 `ez aze
from 5810; a she-goat (as strong), but masculine in plural
(which also is used ellipt. for goat's hair):--(she) goat,
kid.
see HEBREW for 05810
עֵז (ez) — goat.
female goat, she-goat, goat, kid
Aramaic equivalent: ez (עֵז "goat" H5796)
Conj | Prep | N-fp — Conjunction · preposition · noun common masculine plural absoluteHC/Rd/Ncmpa