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The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Online
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 Leviticus 24:19-20; 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, tebhallul (from a root balal, "to overflow"; Arabic balla, balal, "to moisten"), cataract, white spots in the eye (Leviticus 21:20).
H. L. E. Luering