Der naturen bloeme - Jacob van Maerlant - KB KA 16 - folios 046v (left) and 047r (right)Jacob van Maerlant · 1350–00

Blemish(deformity)

/BLEM-ish/

Summary

A defect or imperfection that disqualified animals from sacrifice and priests from service, symbolizing the perfection required by God.

☩Sacrificial Requirements

Animals offered to the Lord had to be without blemish. Offering defective animals was an insult to God and was condemned by the prophets. Christ is the perfect lamb without blemish or spot.

Key verses:Leviticus 22:19-21Malachi 1:81 Peter 1:19

☩Priestly Requirements

Priests with physical blemishes could not approach the altar to offer sacrifices, though they could eat of the holy food. This symbolized the perfection required to stand before God.

Key verses:Leviticus 21:17-23

Related Verses56 mentions

Leviticus· 27 verses

1:3 1:10 3:1 3:6 4:3

Numbers· 12 verses

6:14 19:2 28:19 28:31 29:2

Ezekiel· 8 verses

43:22 43:23 43:25 45:18 45:23

Deuteronomy· 2 verses

15:21 17:1

References

1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Blemish," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. I (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).