Dictionaries :: Blemish

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Blemish:

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 (1Pe 1:19).

International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia

Blemish:

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).

Written by H. L. E. Luering

Nave's Topical Bible

Blemish: Definition Of

A physical deformity

Blemish: Debarred Sons of Aaron from Exercise of Priestly Offices

Lev 21:17-23

Blemish: Animals With

Forbidden to be used for sacrifice,

Lev 22:19-25.

Blemish: Figurative

Eph 5:27; 1Pe 1:19

Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words

Blemish:

akin to momaomai (see BLAME, A), signifies

(a) "a blemish" (Sept. only);

(b) "a shame, a moral disgrace," metaphorical of the licentious, 2Pe 2:13.

Blemish:

"without blemish;" is always so rendered in the RV, Eph 1:4; 5:27; Phl 2:15; Col 1:22; Hbr 9:14; 1Pe 1:19; Jud 1:24; Rev 14:5. This meaning is to be preferred to the various AV renderings, "without blame," Eph 1:4, "unblameable," Col 1:22, "faultless," Jud 1:24, "without fault," Rev 14:5. The most authentic mss. haveamomos, "without blemish," in Phl 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.