Blemish

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Leviticus 21:17-23 22:19-25 Ephesians 5:27 1 Peter 1:19

Holman Bible Dictionary

Leviticus 22:17-25 Leviticus 21:17-24 Hebrews 9:14 1 Peter 1:19 Ephesians 5:27 Philippians 2:15 2 Peter 3:14

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

BLEMISH . See Medicine.

King James Dictionary

BLEM'ISH,

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.

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

A — 1: Μῶμος

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(Strong'S #3470 — Noun Masculine — momos — mo'-mos )

akin to momaomai (see Blame , A), signifies (a) "a blemish" (Sept. only); (b) "a shame, a moral disgrace," metaphorical of the licentious, 2 Peter 2:13 .

B — 1: Ἄμωμος

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(Strong'S #299 — Adjective — amomos — am'-o-mos )

"without blemish;" is always so rendered in the RV, Ephesians 1:4; 5:27; Philippians 2:15; Colossians 1:22; Hebrews 9:14; 1 Peter 1:19; Jude 1:24; Revelation 14:5 . This meaning is to be preferred to the various AV renderings, "without blame," Ephesians 1:4 , "unblameable," Colossians 1:22 , "faultless," Jude 1:24 , "without fault," Revelation 14:5 . The most authentic mss. have amomos, "without blemish," in Philippians 2:15 , for amometos, "without rebuke." In the Sept., in reference to sacrifices, especially in Lev. and Num., the Psalms and Ezek., "of blamelessness in character and conduct." See Blame , Fault.

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

whatever renders a person or thing imperfect or uncomely. The Jewish law required the priests to be free from blemishes of person, Leviticus 21:17-23; Leviticus 22:20-24 . Scandalous professors are blemishes to the church of God, 2 Peter 2:13; Judges 1:12 , and therefore ought to be put away from it, in the exercise of a godly discipline.

Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types

Leviticus 21:18 (c) The word is used to remind us that the believer must have a sacrifice that is absolutely perfect in every respect. The only sacrifice that GOD will accept as being perfect is the Lord JESUS. Nothing else and no one else can be truly perfect.

2 Peter 2:13 (b) This reference is to those people who are unsaved and therefore untaught in the Word of GOD who come among GOD's people bringing damage, hurt and injury to GOD's program.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

blem´ish :

(1) מוּם , mūm , מאוּם , me'ūm  ; μῶμος , mō̇mos ̌ : 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 Leviticus 24:19 , Leviticus 24:20; and thence for moral defects, as in Ephesians 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" ( Hebrews 9:14; 1 Peter 1:19 ), and the disciples are admonished to be blameless, "without blemish" ( Ephesians 5:27 ). Rarely the word is used to designate a reprobate person ( 2 Peter 2:13 ).

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

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

( מוּם, μῶμος; once תְּבִלֻּל, blear-eyed, Leviticus 21:20). There were various kinds of blemishes, i.e. imperfections or deformities, which excluded men from the priesthood, and animals from being offered in sacrifice. These blemishes are described in Leviticus 21:17-23; Leviticus 22:19-25; Deuteronomy 15:21. We learn from the Mishna (Zebachim, 12:1; Becoroth. 7:1) that temporary blemishes excluded a man from the priesthood only as long as those blemishes continued. The rule concerning animals was extended to imperfections of the inward parts: thus, if an animal, free from outward blemish, was found, after being slain, internally defective, it was not offered in sacrifice. The natural feeling that only that which was in a perfect condition was fit for sacred purposes, or was a becoming offering to the gods, produced similar rules concerning blemishes among the heathen nations (comp. Pompon. Let. De Sacerdot. cap. 6; Herodot. ii, 38; Iliad, i; 66; Ser. vius, ad Virg. AEn. ii, 4).