Lev 22:19-21 | NETfull | STEP | if it is to be acceptable for your benefit it must be a flawless male from the cattle, sheep, or goats.

Leviticus 22:19-21

19 if it is to be acceptable for your benefit ^{▼▼ Heb “for your acceptance.” See Lev 1:3–4 above and the notes there.} it must be a flawless male from the cattle, sheep, or goats. 20 You must not present anything that has a flaw, ^{▼▼ Heb “all which in it [is] a flaw.” Note that the same term is used for physical flaws of people in Lev 21:17–24. Cf. KJV, ASV, NRSV “blemish”; NASB, NIV, TEV “defect”; NLT “with physical defects.”} because it will not be acceptable for your benefit. ^{▼▼ Heb “not for acceptance shall it be for you”; NIV “it will not be accepted on your behalf” (NRSV and NLT both similar).} 21 If a man presents a peace offering sacrifice to the Lord for a special votive offering ^{▼▼ The meaning of the expression לְפַלֵּא־נֶדֶר (l^efalle’-neder) rendered here “for a special votive offering” is much debated. Some take it as an expression for fulfilling a vow, “to fulfill a vow” (e.g., HALOT 927-28 s.v. פלא piel and NASB; cf. NAB, NRSV “in fulfillment of a vow”) or, alternatively, “to make a vow” or “for making a vow” (HALOT 928 s.v. פלא piel [II פלא]). Perhaps it refers to the making a special vow, from the verb פָלַא (pala’, “to be wonderful, to be remarkable”); cf. J. Milgrom, Numbers (JPSTC), 44. B. A. Levine, Leviticus (JPSTC), 151 and 193, suggests that this is a special term for “setting aside a votive offering” (related to פָלָה [palah, “to set aside”]). In general, the point of the expression seems to be that this sacrifice arises as a special gift to God out of special circumstances in the life of the worshiper.} or for a freewill offering from the herd or the flock, it must be flawless to be acceptable; ^{▼▼ Heb “for acceptance”; NAB “if it is to find acceptance.”} it must have no flaw. ^{▼▼ Heb “all/any flaw shall not be in it.”}