Mitzvah —
339
Not to sprinkle its (blemished animal's) blood
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כֹּ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־בּ֥וֹ מ֖וּם לֹ֣א תַקְרִ֑יבוּ כִּי־לֹ֥א לְרָצ֖וֹן יִהְיֶ֥ה לָכֶֽם׃ וְאִ֗ישׁ כִּֽי־יַקְרִ֤יב זֶֽבַח־שְׁלָמִים֙ לַיהֹוָ֔ה לְפַלֵּא־נֶ֙דֶר֙ א֣וֹ לִנְדָבָ֔ה בַּבָּקָ֖ר א֣וֹ בַצֹּ֑אן תָּמִ֤ים יִֽהְיֶה֙ לְרָצ֔וֹן כׇּל־מ֖וּם לֹ֥א יִהְיֶה־בּֽוֹ׃ עַוֶּ֩רֶת֩ א֨וֹ שָׁב֜וּר אוֹ־חָר֣וּץ אֽוֹ־יַבֶּ֗לֶת א֤וֹ גָרָב֙ א֣וֹ יַלֶּ֔פֶת לֹא־תַקְרִ֥יבוּ אֵ֖לֶּה לַיהֹוָ֑ה וְאִשֶּׁ֗ה לֹא־תִתְּנ֥וּ מֵהֶ֛ם עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ לַיהֹוָֽה׃ וְשׁ֥וֹר וָשֶׂ֖ה שָׂר֣וּעַ וְקָל֑וּט נְדָבָה֙ תַּעֲשֶׂ֣ה אֹת֔וֹ וּלְנֵ֖דֶר לֹ֥א יֵרָצֶֽה׃ וּמָע֤וּךְ וְכָתוּת֙ וְנָת֣וּק וְכָר֔וּת לֹ֥א תַקְרִ֖יבוּ לַֽיהֹוָ֑ה וּֽבְאַרְצְכֶ֖ם לֹ֥א תַעֲשֽׂוּ׃ - פָּרָשַׁת אֱמוֹר
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Leviticus 22:20-24 - "Any [animal] that has a blemish, you shall not offer up, for it will not be favorable for you. And if a man offers up a peace offering to the Lord for declaring a vow or as a donation from cattle or from the flock to be accepted, it shall be unblemished. It shall not have any defect in it. [An animal that has] blindness, or [a] broken [bone], or [a] split [eyelid or lip], or [one that has] warts, or dry lesions or weeping sores you shall not offer up [any of] these to the Lord, nor shall you place [any] of these as a fire offering upon the altar to the Lord. As for an ox or sheep that has mismatching limbs or uncloven hooves you may make it into a donation, but as a vow, it will not be accepted. [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
Sacrifices – קָרְבָּנוֹת
It is forbidden to sprinkle the blood of blemished animals upon the altar.
This mitzvah prohibits sprinkling the blood of animals with blemishes onto the altar in the Temple. Each stage of the sacrificial service is governed by its own sanctity, and sprinkling the blood — a central act of korbanot — must not be performed with animals deemed unfit.
Rambam clarifies that there are distinct prohibitions for consecrating blemished animals (337), slaughtering them (338), sprinkling their blood (339), and burning their fats (340). Sefer HaChinuch explains that sprinkling blemished blood invalidates the service and diminishes the awe of Hashem’s worship.
The Talmud teaches that sprinkling blood is the primary act through which atonement is achieved, and thus, performing it with blemished offerings undermines the essence of korbanot. Ramban emphasizes that blemishes symbolize imperfection, and Hashem’s service demands wholeness at every step.
Commentary & Classical Explanation:
- Rambam (Hilchot Issurei Mizbeach 1:7–8): Lists sprinkling blemished blood as a separate prohibition, reinforcing sanctity at each stage.
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 288): Notes that the prohibition preserves the honor of Hashem’s worship and ensures offerings reflect devotion.
- Rashi (Lev. 22:22): Interprets that no act of avodah, including sprinkling, is valid with blemished animals.
- Talmud (Zevachim 24a–25a): Defines sprinkling as the act through which atonement is achieved, highlighting why it cannot be done with disqualified offerings.
- Ramban: Explains that the Torah reinforces this mitzvah to stress that reverence for Hashem requires wholeness, not compromised offerings.
Commentaries
(Source: Chabad.org)
Applying this Mitzvah Today
Notes on this Mitzvah's Fundamentals
Holiness – קְדֻשָּׁה
- Rambam (Hilchot Issurei Mizbeach) emphasizes that holiness extends to every act of korbanot. Sprinkling blemished blood defiles sanctity by bringing imperfection into Hashem’s worship.
Temple – בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ
- Rashi (Lev. 22:22) stresses that no avodah act — whether slaughtering, sprinkling, or burning — may involve blemished animals, preserving the Mikdash as a place of awe and dignity.
Mizbeach – מִזְבֵּחַ
- Talmud (Zevachim 24b) highlights that sprinkling blood on the Mizbeach is the central act of atonement. If performed with a blemished animal, the altar is defiled rather than sanctified, distorting its purpose as the meeting point of Israel and Hashem.
Sacrifices – קָרְבָּנוֹת
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 288) teaches that korbanot symbolize perfection. Sprinkling blood of blemished animals contradicts this symbolism, nullifying the intended devotion.
Blood – דָּם
- The Talmud (Zevachim 25a) highlights that atonement comes through sprinkling blood. Using blemished blood undermines this central function, turning the act into a desecration rather than an offering.
Reverence – יִרְאַת שָׁמַיִם
- Ramban explains that Hashem’s service demands reverence at every step. Sprinkling flawed blood diminishes awe and dishonors the altar.
Justice – צֶדֶק
- The laws of blemishes apply impartially, ensuring justice. The Torah does not permit exceptions, reflecting fairness and equality in sacrificial worship.
Bein Adam L’Makom – בֵּין אָדָם לְמָקוֹם
- This mitzvah deepens Israel’s relationship with Hashem by teaching that devotion requires wholeness in all acts. Sprinkling blemished blood would distort that sacred bond.
