Before the Temple was destroyed in 70 CE, Jews worshipped God primarily by bringing sacrifices in the Temple in Jerusalem, performed and overseen by priests. Sacrifices — ranging from animals to grains to wine and even incense — were burned up on the altar so the smoke went up to God. For most sacrifices, a portion was consumed either by the person who brought the sacrifice or by the priests who executed it.
The sacrificial system was governed by elaborate laws that dictated the choreography of every offering. But it wasn’t only actions that mattered — intentions of the priests who performed the sacrifices also mattered. One of the most striking examples of this idea is piggul, a category of invalid sacrifice that becomes disqualified not because something went wrong physically, but because of what the priest was thinking while performing the ritual. Specifically, because the priest intended to eat his portion of the sacrifice beyond the time limits set for consumption.
The concept of piggul is found in the Torah. Leviticus 7:18 reads:
If any of the flesh of that sacrifice of well-being is eaten on the third day, it shall not be acceptable; it shall not count for the one who offered it. It is an offensive thing (piggul), and the person who eats of it shall bear the guilt.
Similarly, Leviticus 19:6–7:
It shall be eaten on the day you sacrifice it, or on the day after; but what is left by the third day must be consumed in fire. If it should be eaten on the third day, it is an offensive thing (piggul), it will not be acceptable.
In both cases, the offense seems to be eating the sacrifice beyond the appointed time limit. Once the prescribed time has passed, the meat (or grain) itself becomes offensive and should be burned rather than eaten. However, in the Mishnah and Talmud, the rabbis affirm that even intending to eat a sacrifice too late can impart the status of piggul. The rabbis took this restriction so seriously that they imparted to the priest the penalty of karet, spiritual excision, for intending to eat a sacrifice beyond the appropriate time for consumption. They specified that this wrong intention had to be held during one of the key steps of offering the sacrifice for the offering to become piggul.
Wrong intentions with regard to time of consumption are not the only priestly thoughts that can spoil a sacrifice. Priests can also intend to eat a sacrifice in the wrong place — usually, beyond the Temple courtyard. This can also disqualify a sacrifice, but usually does not impart the status of piggul, nor does it incur the penalty of karet.
Since Jews no longer offer sacrifices, the concept of piggul is not immediately applicable to Jewish practice. However, the notion that intention matters remains an important part of Jewish tradition. For example, it is understood that prayer has replaced sacrifice as the primary mode of Jewish worship. Within prayer, there is a strong value of kavanah, holding proper intention while praying.
