Mitzvah —
168
Not to castrate any male (including animals)
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וּמָע֤וּךְ וְכָתוּת֙ וְנָת֣וּק וְכָר֔וּת לֹ֥א תַקְרִ֖יבוּ לַֽיהֹוָ֑ה וּֽבְאַרְצְכֶ֖ם לֹ֥א תַעֲשֽׂוּ׃ - פָּרָשַׁת אֱמוֹר
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Leviticus 22:24 - "[Any animal whose testicles were] squashed, crushed, pulled out, or severed, you shall not offer up to the Lord, and in your land, you shall not do [it]."
This Mitzvah's Summary
מִצְוָה עֲשֵׂה - Positive Commandment
מִצְוָה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה - Negative Commandment
Holiness – קְדוּשָּׁה
Forbidden to castrate a man or any male creature.
This mitzvah prohibits castrating any male — whether human or animal. The Torah forbids such an act both because it mutilates God’s creation and because it undermines the natural order of reproduction. The prohibition applies universally, not just to sacrificial animals, and reflects the Torah’s emphasis on preserving life, wholeness, and fertility.
Commentary & Classical Explanation:
- Rambam (Hilchot Issurei Bi’ah 16:10): States that castration of humans or animals is forbidden everywhere, at all times, and by any means.
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 291): The root is to uphold creation’s integrity and prevent destruction of its ability to reproduce, which is central to the divine plan.
- Talmud (Shabbat 110b): Discusses the prohibition’s application broadly, including non-sacrificial animals, underscoring its universal character.
Commentaries
(Source: Chabad.org)
