Leviticus 22

Priests and the Holy Things

1The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2“Tell Aaron and his sons to be careful with the holy things of the Israelites that they make holy to me, so that they do not profane my holy name. I am the LORD. 3Say to them: Throughout your generations, if any one of your offspring approaches the holy things that the Israelites make holy to the LORD while uncleanness is upon him, that person shall be cut off from my presence. I am the LORD.

4Any man among Aaron’s offspring who has a serious skin disease or a discharge shall not eat from the holy things until he is clean. Whoever touches anything made unclean by a dead person, or a man who has an emission of semen, 5or whoever touches any swarming creature by which he becomes unclean, or any person by whom he becomes unclean, whatever the uncleanness may be— 6the person who touches any of these shall be unclean until evening and shall not eat from the holy things unless he has bathed his body in water. 7When the sun goes down, he shall be clean, and afterward he may eat from the holy things, for they are his food. 8He shall not eat an animal that died by itself or was torn by wild animals, becoming unclean by it. I am the LORD. 9They shall keep my charge, so that they do not bear sin because of it and die for profaning it. I am the LORD who makes them holy.

Who May Eat Holy Food

10No outsider may eat a holy thing. A guest of a priest or a hired worker shall not eat a holy thing. 11But if a priest acquires a person with his money, that person may eat of it, and those born in his household may eat of his food. 12If a priest’s daughter marries an outsider, she shall not eat from the contribution of the holy things. 13But if a priest’s daughter becomes a widow or is divorced, has no child, and returns to her father’s house as in her youth, she may eat from her father’s food. No outsider may eat of it. 14If anyone eats a holy thing unintentionally, that person shall add one-fifth to it and give the holy thing to the priest. 15The priests shall not profane the holy things that the Israelites contribute to the LORD, 16causing them to bear guilt requiring reparation when they eat their holy things, for I am the LORD who makes them holy.”

Acceptable Animals for Offerings

17The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 18“Speak to Aaron and his sons and to all the Israelites and say to them: Anyone from the house of Israel or from the resident aliens in Israel who brings an offering, whether for any of their vows or any of their freewill offerings that they bring to the LORD as a burnt offering, 19shall bring, for acceptance, a male without defect from the cattle, sheep, or goats. 20You shall not bring anything with a defect, for it will not be accepted on your behalf. 21When anyone brings a sacrifice of well-being to the LORD to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering from the herd or flock, it shall be whole and without defect to be accepted; no defect shall be in it. 22You shall not bring to the LORD an animal that is blind, injured, maimed, has a discharge, an itching disease, or scabs. You shall not put any of these on the altar as an offering by fire to the LORD. 23A bull or lamb with an overgrown or stunted limb may be brought as a freewill offering, but it will not be accepted for a vow. 24You shall not bring to the LORD an animal whose testicles are bruised, crushed, torn, or cut. You shall not do this in your land. 25Nor shall you bring any of these from the hand of a foreigner as the food of your God, for their damage is in them; they have a defect. They will not be accepted for you.”

Further Requirements for Sacrifices

26The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 27“When an ox, sheep, or goat is born, it shall remain seven days with its mother. From the eighth day onward it shall be accepted as an offering by fire to the LORD. 28Whether cow or ewe, you shall not slaughter an animal and its young on the same day. 29When you sacrifice a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the LORD, you shall sacrifice it so that you may be accepted. 30It shall be eaten on the same day; you shall leave none of it until morning. I am the LORD.

Do Not Profane My Holy Name

31You shall keep my commandments and do them. I am the LORD. 32You shall not profane my holy name, and I will be made holy among the Israelites. I am the LORD who makes you holy, 33who brought you out from the land of Egypt to be your God. I am the LORD.”