Blemish

Blemish - (Easton's Bible Dictionary)

Imperfection or bodily deformity excluding men from the priesthood, and rendering animals unfit to be offered in sacrifice (Lev. 21:17-23; 22:19-25). The Christian church, as justified in Christ, is "without blemish" (Eph. 5:27). Christ offered himself a sacrifice "without blemish," acceptable to God (1 Pet. 1:19).

Blemish - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

BLEM'ISH, v.t.

1. Too mark with any deformity; to injure or impair any thing which is well formed, or excellent; to mar,or make defective,either the body or mind.

2. To tarnish, as reputation or character; to defame.

BLEM'ISH, n. Any mark of deformity; any scar or defect that diminishes beauty, or renders imperfect that which is well formed.

1. Reproach; disgrace; that which impairs reputation; taint; turpitude; deformity.

blem'-ish:

(1) mum, me'um; momos: This word signifies no particular skin disease, as has been supposed; but is used generally for any and all disfiguring affections of the skin, such as eczema, herpes, scabies, etc., even for scratches and scars, as in Le 24:19,20; and thence for moral defects, as in Eph 5:27. The existence of a blemish in a person of priestly descent prevented him from the execution of the priestly office; similarly an animal fit for sacrifice was to be without blemish. In the New Testament Christ is presented as the antitype of a pure and ritually acceptable sacrifice "as a lamb without blemish and without spot" (Heb 9:14; 1Pe 1:19), and the disciples are admonished to be blameless, "without blemish" (Eph 5:27). Rarely the word is used to designate a reprobate person (2Pe 2:13).

(2) Blemish in the eye, tebhallul (from a root balal, "to overflow"; Arabic balla, balal, "to moisten"), cataract, white spots in the eye (Le 21:20).

H. L. E. Luering

de-fekt', de-fekt'-iv (hettema, "loss," "a defect"): Occurs in 1Co 6:7: "Nay, already it is altogether a defect in you (the King James Version "there is utterly a fault among you"), that ye have lawsuits one with another." "Defect" means "want or absence of something necessary for completeness" (the Revised Version, margin "a loss to you"). The meaning of the passage in the Revised Version (British and American) is that when Christians have lawsuits one with another it produces a lack of something which brings them short of completeness, they suffer a spiritual loss or defeat, and perhaps defect is not quite strong enough fully to express that idea.

Defective: Sirach 49:4 the King James Version, the Revised Version (British and American) "committed trespass."

A. W. Fortune

Definition

The term “blemish” refers to a physical defect or imperfection on an animal or person. It can also refer to spiritual imperfections and faults in people.

• For certain sacrifices, God instructed the Israelites to offer an animal with no blemishes or defects.
• This is a picture of how Jesus Christ was the perfect sacrifice, without any sin.
• Believers in Christ have been cleansed from their sin by his blood and are considered to be without blemish.
• Ways to translate this term could include “defect” or “imperfection” or “sin,” depending on the context.

(See also: believe, clean, sacrifice, sin)

Bible References

• 1 Peter 1:19
• 2 Peter 2:13
• Deuteronomy 15:19-21
• Numbers 6:13-15
• Song of Songs 4:7

Word Data

• Strong’s: H3971, H8400, H8549, G34700