Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical terminology, the concept of being "blemished" often refers to physical imperfections or defects, particularly in the context of sacrificial offerings and priestly qualifications. The term is primarily used in the Old Testament to describe animals that were not suitable for sacrifice and individuals who were restricted from certain religious duties due to physical imperfections.
Sacrificial OfferingsThe Mosaic Law provided specific instructions regarding the offerings that were to be made to God. A key requirement was that sacrificial animals be without blemish.
Leviticus 22:20-21 states, "You must not present anything with a defect, because it will not be accepted on your behalf. When a man presents a peace offering to the LORD to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering from the herd or flock, it must be without blemish to be acceptable; there must be no defect in it." This requirement underscored the holiness and perfection of God, who deserved the best offerings from His people.
The insistence on unblemished offerings symbolized the need for purity and perfection in worship. It foreshadowed the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who is described in the New Testament as the "Lamb of God" without blemish or defect (
1 Peter 1:19).
Priestly QualificationsThe concept of being blemished also applied to the Levitical priesthood.
Leviticus 21:17-23 outlines the physical qualifications for priests, stating that no descendant of Aaron with a defect could approach to offer the food of his God. This included blindness, lameness, disfigurement, or any other physical deformity. The purpose of these regulations was to maintain the sanctity and purity of the priestly service, reflecting the perfection and holiness required in the presence of God.
Spiritual ImplicationsWhile the Old Testament emphasizes physical perfection in offerings and priestly service, the New Testament shifts the focus to spiritual purity. The Apostle Paul, in
Romans 12:1 , urges believers to present their bodies as a "living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God," which is a spiritual act of worship. This indicates that God desires the inner purity and holiness of His people, rather than mere external compliance.
Christ as the Unblemished SacrificeThe ultimate fulfillment of the requirement for an unblemished sacrifice is found in Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 9:14 declares, "How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works to serve the living God?" Christ's perfect sacrifice provides the means for believers to be cleansed from sin and to stand blameless before God.
In summary, the biblical concept of being "blemished" serves as a powerful symbol of the need for purity and perfection in worship and service to God. It points to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who, as the unblemished Lamb, fulfills the requirements of the Law and offers redemption to all who believe.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
imp. & p. p.) of Blemish.
Strong's Hebrew
7843. shachath -- perhaps to go to ruin... to go to ruin NASB Word Usage act corruptly (4), act...corruptly (1), acted corruptly
(3), acted...corruptly (1), acting corruptly (1),
blemished animal (1
...Library
Blemished Offerings
... MALACHIBLEMISHED OFFERINGS. 'Offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased
with thee, or accept thy person? saith the Lord of Hosts.'"Malachi 1:8....
Expositions of Holy Scripture
... THE PRIEST OF THE WORLD AND KING OF MEN. MALACHI. A DIALOGUE WITH GOD.BLEMISHED
OFFERINGS. A DIALOGUE WITH GOD. THE LAST WORD OF PROPHECY. THE UNCHANGING LORD....
Argument. --And Thus Unclean Animals are not to be Reproached...
... And these are they who do both, as believers, and are clean; or one of the two,
as Jews and heretics, and areblemished; or neither, as the Gentiles, and are...
Malachi
... chiefly because it expresses a deep-seated indifference to God and His claims,
iii.8. The clergy or the laity who offer God their lame orblemished beasts are...
Our Bodies, However Mutilated Before or after Death, Shall Recover...
... substance of man. [7725] So that for the great future there need be no fear
ofblemished or defective bodies. Integrity, whether the...
An Act of Oblation as a victim of Divine Love
... my God, to take account of my works. All our works of justice areblemished
in Thine Eyes. I wish therefore to be robed with Thine...
The Fifty-Sixth Chapter: we Ought to Deny Ourselves and Imitate...
... Let no man fear any terrors. Let us be prepared to meet death valiantly in battle.
Let us not suffer our glory to beblemished by fleeing from the Cross....
Of the Life and Miracles of Jesus, and Testimonies Concerning Them...
... eloquently. He also opened the ears of the deaf, and caused them to hear;
[666] He cleansed the polluted and theblemished. [667...
Letter ccxxvii. (AD 428 or 429. )
... that he had, notwithstanding, learned the Creed, and still retained it in his memory;
and so that frivolous loquacity which, as you know,blemished his natural...
That the Poetical License which the Greeks, in Obedience to their...
... of pride to spare the good name of the leading men and the common citizens, when
the very deities did not grudge that their own reputation should beblemished....
Thesaurus
Blemished (1 Occurrence)... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Blemish. Multi-Version Concordance
Blemished (1 Occurrence). Malachi 1:14 "But the deceiver
...Good (8348 Occurrences)
... 10. (superl.) Notblemished or impeached; fair; honorable; unsullied; as in
the phrases a good name, a good report, good repute, etc. 11....
Unblemished (11 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Notblemished; pure; spotless; as, an unblemished
reputation or life. Multi-Version Concordance Unblemished (11 Occurrences)....
Lame (35 Occurrences)
... The offering of animals soblemished was one of the sins with which Malachi
charges the negligent Jews of his time (Malachi 1:8-13)....
Eyes (6285 Occurrences)
... The number of persons in any Palestine village whose eyes are more or less
blemished by disease is on this account phenomenally large....
Deceiver (9 Occurrences)
... Malachi 1:14 "But the deceiver is cursed, who has in his flock a male, and vows,
and sacrifices to the Lord ablemished thing; for I am a great King," says...
Dealeth (22 Occurrences)
... (YLT). Malachi 1:14 But cursed be the deceiver, who hath in his flock a male, and
voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord ablemished thing; for I am a great King...
Diseases (38 Occurrences)
... The number of persons in any Palestine village whose eyes are more or less
blemished by disease is on this account phenomenally large....
Blemishes (3 Occurrences)
Cheat (5 Occurrences)
... Malachi 1:14 "But the deceiver is cursed, who has in his flock a male, and vows,
and sacrifices to the Lord ablemished thing; for I am a great King," says...
Resources
How do we bring blemished offerings to God (Malachi 1:8)? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Judas Maccabeus? | GotQuestions.orgQuestions about Malachi | GotQuestions.orgBlemished: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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