Blemish

Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)

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).

Scripture References

ISBE

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