Leviticus 22:27
New International Version
“When a calf, a lamb or a goat is born, it is to remain with its mother for seven days. From the eighth day on, it will be acceptable as a food offering presented to the LORD.

New Living Translation
“When a calf or lamb or goat is born, it must be left with its mother for seven days. From the eighth day on, it will be acceptable as a special gift to the LORD.

English Standard Version
“When an ox or sheep or goat is born, it shall remain seven days with its mother, and from the eighth day on it shall be acceptable as a food offering to the LORD.

Berean Standard Bible
“When an ox, a sheep, or a goat is born, it must remain with its mother for seven days. From the eighth day on, it will be acceptable as an offering made by fire to the LORD.

King James Bible
When a bullock, or a sheep, or a goat, is brought forth, then it shall be seven days under the dam; and from the eighth day and thenceforth it shall be accepted for an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

New King James Version
“When a bull or a sheep or a goat is born, it shall be seven days with its mother; and from the eighth day and thereafter it shall be accepted as an offering made by fire to the LORD.

New American Standard Bible
“When an ox or a sheep or a goat is born, it shall remain seven days with its mother, and from the eighth day on it will be considered acceptable as a sacrifice of an offering by fire to the LORD.

NASB 1995
“When an ox or a sheep or a goat is born, it shall remain seven days with its mother, and from the eighth day on it shall be accepted as a sacrifice of an offering by fire to the LORD.

NASB 1977
“When an ox or a sheep or a goat is born, it shall remain seven days with its mother, and from the eighth day on it shall be accepted as a sacrifice of an offering by fire to the LORD.

Legacy Standard Bible
“When an ox or a sheep or a goat is born, it shall remain seven days with its mother, and from the eighth day on it shall be accepted as a sacrifice of an offering by fire to Yahweh.

Amplified Bible
“When a bull or a sheep or a goat is born, it shall remain for seven days with its mother; and after the eighth day it shall be accepted as an offering by fire to the LORD.

Christian Standard Bible
“When an ox, sheep, or goat is born, it is to remain with its mother for seven days; from the eighth day on, it will be acceptable as an offering, a food offering to the LORD.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When an ox, sheep, or goat is born, it must remain with its mother for seven days; from the eighth day on, it will be acceptable as a gift, a fire offering to the LORD.

American Standard Version
When a bullock, or a sheep, or a goat, is brought forth, then it shall be seven days under the dam; and from the eighth day and thenceforth it shall be accepted for the oblation of an offering made by fire unto Jehovah.

Contemporary English Version
Newborn cattle, sheep, or goats must remain with their mothers for seven days, but on the eighth day, you may send them up in smoke to me, and I will accept the offering.

English Revised Version
When a bullock, or a sheep, or a goat, is brought forth, then it shall be seven days under the dam; and from the eighth day and thenceforth it shall be accepted for the oblation of an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"When a calf, a lamb, or a goat is born, it must stay with its mother for seven days. From the eighth day on it may be accepted as a sacrifice by fire to the LORD.

International Standard Version
"Whenever a bull, a sheep, or a goat is born, it is to remain for seven days under the care of its mother. But on the eighth day onwards, it may be accepted as an offering made by fire to the LORD.

Majority Standard Bible
“When an ox, a sheep, or a goat is born, it must remain with its mother for seven days. From the eighth day on, it will be acceptable as an offering made by fire to the LORD.

NET Bible
"When an ox, lamb, or goat is born, it must be under the care of its mother seven days, but from the eighth day onward it will be acceptable as an offering gift to the LORD.

New Heart English Bible
"When a bull, or a sheep, or a goat, is born, then it shall remain seven days with its mother; and from the eighth day and thenceforth it shall be accepted for the offering of an offering made by fire to the LORD.

Webster's Bible Translation
When a bullock, or a sheep, or a goat is brought forth, then it shall be seven days under the dam; and from the eighth day and thenceforth it shall be accepted for an offering made by fire to the LORD.

World English Bible
“When a bull, a sheep, or a goat is born, it shall remain seven days with its mother. From the eighth day on it shall be accepted for the offering of an offering made by fire to Yahweh.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
“When ox, or lamb, or goat is born, and it has been under its mother [for] seven days, then from the eighth day and from now on, it is pleasing for an offering, a fire-offering to YHWH;

Young's Literal Translation
'When ox or lamb or goat is born, and it hath been seven days under its dam, then from the eighth day and henceforth, it is pleasing for an offering, a fire-offering to Jehovah;

Smith's Literal Translation
When a calf or lamb, or goat, shall be brought forth, it shall be seven days under its mother; and from the eighth day and beyond, it shall be accepted for an offering, a sacrifice to Jehovah.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
When a bullock, or a sheep, or a goat, is brought forth, they shall be seven days under the udder of their dam: but the eighth day, and thenceforth, they may be offered to the Lord.

Catholic Public Domain Version
An ox, a sheep, or a goat, when they have been born, shall be under the udder of their mother for seven days. But on the eighth day and thereafter, they are able to be offered to the Lord.

New American Bible
When an ox or a lamb or a goat is born, it shall remain with its mother for seven days; only from the eighth day onward will it be acceptable, to be offered as an oblation to the LORD.

New Revised Standard Version
When an ox or a sheep or a goat is born, it shall remain seven days with its mother, and from the eighth day on it shall be acceptable as the LORD’s offering by fire.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
When a bullock or a lamb or a goat is born, it shall remain seven days with its dam; and from the eighth day on it shall be accepted for an offering made by fire to the LORD.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
“A bullock, or lamb, or a kid, when it will be born, shall be following its mother seven days, and from the eighth day and beyond his offering shall be accepted as an offering to LORD JEHOVAH.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
When a bullock, or a sheep, or a goat, is brought forth, then it shall be seven days under the dam; but from the eighth day and thenceforth it may be accepted for an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
As for a calf, or a sheep, or a goat, whenever it is born, then shall it be seven days under its mother; and on the eighth day and after they shall be accepted for sacrifices, a burnt-offering to the Lord.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Worthy Offerings
26Then the LORD said to Moses, 27“When an ox, a sheep, or a goat is born, it must remain with its mother for seven days. From the eighth day on, it will be acceptable as an offering made by fire to the LORD. 28But you must not slaughter an ox or a sheep on the same day as its young.…

Cross References
Exodus 22:30
You shall do likewise with your cattle and your sheep. Let them stay with their mothers for seven days, but on the eighth day you are to give them to Me.

Deuteronomy 15:19-23
You must set apart to the LORD your God every firstborn male produced by your herds and flocks. You are not to put the firstborn of your oxen to work, nor are you to shear the firstborn of your flock. / Each year you and your household are to eat it before the LORD your God in the place the LORD will choose. / But if an animal has a defect, is lame or blind, or has any serious flaw, you must not sacrifice it to the LORD your God. ...

Exodus 23:19
Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the LORD your God. You must not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.

Exodus 34:26
Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the LORD your God. You must not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.”

Deuteronomy 14:21
You are not to eat any carcass; you may give it to the foreigner residing within your gates, and he may eat it, or you may sell it to a foreigner. For you are a holy people belonging to the LORD your God. You must not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.

Numbers 18:17
But you must not redeem the firstborn of an ox, a sheep, or a goat; they are holy. You are to splatter their blood on the altar and burn their fat as a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

Genesis 17:12
Generation after generation, every male must be circumcised when he is eight days old, including those born in your household and those purchased from a foreigner—even those who are not your offspring.

1 Samuel 7:9
Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. He cried out to the LORD on behalf of Israel, and the LORD answered him.

1 Samuel 1:24-28
Once she had weaned him, Hannah took the boy with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine. Though the boy was still young, she brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh. / And when they had slaughtered the bull, they brought the boy to Eli. / “Please, my lord,” said Hannah, “as surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD. ...

2 Chronicles 31:6
And the Israelites and Judahites who lived in the cities of Judah also brought a tithe of their herds and flocks and a tithe of the holy things consecrated to the LORD their God, and they laid them in large heaps.

Isaiah 7:14-16
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will be with child and give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel. / By the time He knows enough to reject evil and choose good, He will be eating curds and honey. / For before the boy knows enough to reject evil and choose good, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste.

Luke 2:21-24
When the eight days before His circumcision had passed, He was named Jesus, the name the angel had given Him before He was conceived. / And when the time of purification according to the Law of Moses was complete, His parents brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord / (as it is written in the Law of the Lord: “Every firstborn male shall be consecrated to the Lord”), ...

Hebrews 10:5-10
Therefore, when Christ came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You prepared for Me. / In burnt offerings and sin offerings You took no delight. / Then I said, ‘Here I am, it is written about Me in the scroll: I have come to do Your will, O God.’” ...

Romans 12:1
Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

1 Peter 1:19
but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.


Treasury of Scripture

When a bullock, or a sheep, or a goat, is brought forth, then it shall be seven days under the dam; and from the eighth day and thereafter it shall be accepted for an offering made by fire to the LORD.

Leviticus 22:25
Neither from a stranger's hand shall ye offer the bread of your God of any of these; because their corruption is in them, and blemishes be in them: they shall not be accepted for you.

Leviticus 12:2,3
Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean…

Leviticus 19:23,24
And when ye shall come into the land, and shall have planted all manner of trees for food, then ye shall count the fruit thereof as uncircumcised: three years shall it be as uncircumcised unto you: it shall not be eaten of…

Jump to Previous
Acceptable Accepted Birth Born Bull Bullock Calf Dam Eighth Fire Forth Goat Mother Oblation Offering Ox Sacrifice Seven Sheep Thenceforth
Jump to Next
Acceptable Accepted Birth Born Bull Bullock Calf Dam Eighth Fire Forth Goat Mother Oblation Offering Ox Sacrifice Seven Sheep Thenceforth
Leviticus 22
1. The priests in their uncleanness must abstain from the holy things
6. How they shall be cleansed
10. Who of the priest's house may eat of the holy things
17. The sacrifices must be without blemish
26. The age of the sacrifice
29. The law of eating the sacrifice of thanksgiving














When an ox, a sheep, or a goat is born
This phrase introduces the specific animals considered for sacrificial offerings. In ancient Israel, livestock such as oxen, sheep, and goats were integral to both daily life and religious practices. The Hebrew words for these animals—*shor* (ox), *seh* (sheep), and *ez* (goat)—highlight their importance in agrarian society. These animals were not only sources of food and clothing but also central to sacrificial rituals, symbolizing wealth and sustenance. The birth of these animals was a significant event, marking the continuation of God's provision and blessing.

it shall remain with its mother for seven days
The requirement for the newborn animal to stay with its mother for seven days underscores the importance of the natural order and the nurturing process. The number seven in Hebrew culture often signifies completeness or perfection, reflecting God's creation week. This period allows the animal to gain strength and ensures its viability, symbolizing the care and provision of God for His creation. It also reflects a respect for the natural bond between mother and offspring, acknowledging the sanctity of life and the divine order established by God.

From the eighth day onward
The eighth day marks a new beginning, a theme consistent throughout Scripture. The number eight often symbolizes renewal and a new order, as seen in the practice of circumcision on the eighth day (Genesis 17:12). This transition from the seventh to the eighth day signifies readiness and maturity, making the animal suitable for offering. It reflects the idea that offerings to God should be whole and complete, having passed through a period of growth and preparation.

it will be acceptable as an offering made by fire
The phrase "acceptable as an offering" emphasizes the need for offerings to meet specific divine standards. The Hebrew word *ratson* (acceptable) conveys the idea of pleasure or favor, indicating that the offering must be pleasing to God. "Made by fire" refers to the method of sacrifice, where the offering is consumed by fire on the altar. Fire in biblical terms often represents God's presence and purification. This act of offering by fire symbolizes the complete dedication and surrender to God, transforming the physical into a spiritual act of worship.

to the LORD
The ultimate recipient of the offering is the LORD, the covenant name of God, *Yahweh*. This highlights the personal relationship between God and His people, where offerings are not mere rituals but acts of devotion and obedience. The use of God's covenant name underscores His faithfulness and the Israelites' commitment to honor Him. It serves as a reminder that all acts of worship are directed towards God, who is holy and deserving of reverence and praise.

(27) When a bullock, or a sheep, or a goat--The three sacrificial quadrupeds. (See Leviticus 22:19 and Leviticus 17:3-6.)

Is brought forth.--From this expression it was enacted during the second Temple that the animal fit for a sacrifice had to be born naturally. One brought into the world by artificial aid was disqualified for the altar.

It shall be seven days under the dam.--Under seven days the animal is extremely weak, and unfit for human food, and hence must not be offered as the food of God, as sacrifices are called. (See Leviticus 22:25.) For the same reason children could not be circumcised before the eighth day from their birth. (See Exodus 22:29.) Because the text here says that the newly born animal is to be with the dam seven days, it was enacted that if the mother died before the seven days (in which case it could not be with the dam seven days), it was for ever disqualified for a sacrifice.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“When
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

an ox,
שׁ֣וֹר (šō·wr)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7794: A head of cattle (bullock, ox, etcetera)

a sheep,
כֶ֤שֶׂב (ḵe·śeḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3775: A young sheep

or
אוֹ־ (’ōw-)
Conjunction
Strong's 176: Desire, if

a goat
עֵז֙ (‘êz)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5795: Female goat

is born,
יִוָּלֵ֔ד (yiw·wā·lêḏ)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3205: To bear young, to beget, medically, to act as midwife, to show lineage

it must remain
וְהָיָ֛ה (wə·hā·yāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

with
תַּ֣חַת (ta·ḥaṯ)
Preposition
Strong's 8478: The bottom, below, in lieu of

its mother
אִמּ֑וֹ (’im·mōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 517: A mother, )

for seven
שִׁבְעַ֥ת (šiḇ·‘aṯ)
Number - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7651: Seven, seven times, a week, an indefinite number

days.
יָמִ֖ים (yā·mîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3117: A day

From the eighth
הַשְּׁמִינִי֙ (haš·šə·mî·nî)
Article | Number - ordinal masculine singular
Strong's 8066: Eighth (an ordinal number)

day
וּמִיּ֤וֹם (ū·mî·yō·wm)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3117: A day

on,
וָהָ֔לְאָה (wā·hā·lə·’āh)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 1973: To the distance, far away, thus far

it will be acceptable
יֵרָצֶ֕ה (yê·rā·ṣeh)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7521: To be pleased with, to satisfy a, debt

as an offering
לְקָרְבַּ֥ן (lə·qā·rə·ban)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7133: Something brought near the altar, a sacrificial present

to the LORD
לַיהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

made by fire.
אִשֶּׁ֖ה (’iš·šeh)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 801: A burnt-offering, a sacrifice


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OT Law: Leviticus 22:27 When a bull or a sheep (Le Lv Lev.)
Leviticus 22:26
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