Leviticus21
English Standard Version
1And the Lord to , to the , the of , and to them, No one shall make himself for the among his ,
2except for his , his , his , his , his , his ,
3or his (who is to him because she has had no ; for her he may make himself ).
4He shall not make himself as a among his and so himself.
5They shall not on their , nor the of their , nor any on their .
6They shall be to their and not the of their . For they the Lord ’s , the of their ; therefore they shall be .
7They shall not a or a who has been , neither shall they a from her , for the priest is to his .
8You shall him, for he the of your . He shall be to you, for I, the Lord, who you, am .
9And the of , if she herself by , her ; she shall be with .
10The who is among his , on whose the is and who has been to the , shall not let the hair of his nor his .
11He shall not to any nor make himself , even for his or for his .
12He shall not of the , lest he the of his , for the of the of his is on him: I am the Lord.
13And he shall a in her .
14A , or a , or a woman who has been , or a , these he shall not . But he shall as his a of his own ,
15that he may not his among his , for I am the Lord who him.
16And the Lord to , ,
17 to , , of your throughout their who has a may to the of his .
18For no who has a shall draw , a or , or one who has a or a limb too ,
19or a who has an or an ,
20or a or a or a man with a in his or an or or .
21No of the of the who has a shall come to the Lord ’s ; since he has a , he shall not come to the of his .
22He may the of his , both of the and of the ,
23but he shall not the or the , because he has a , that he may not my , for I am the Lord who them.
24So to and to his and to all the of .
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Leviticus 21.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Laws concerning the priests. (1-24).
vv1-24
As these priests were types of Christ, so all ministers must be followers of him, that their example may teach others to imitate the Saviour. Without blemish, and separate from sinners, He executed his priestly office on earth. What manner of persons then should his ministers be! But all are, if Christians, spiritual priests; the minister especially is called to set a good example, that the people may follow it. Our bodily infirmities, blessed be God, cannot now shut us out from his service, from these privileges, or from his heavenly glory. Many a healthful, beautiful soul is lodged in a feeble, deformed body. And those who may not be suited for the work of the ministry, may serve God with comfort in other duties in his church.
Key Words
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
מֹשֶׁה: Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver
כֹּהֵן: literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
אַהֲרוֹן: Aharon, the brother of Moses
טָמֵא: to be foul, especially in a ceremial or moral sense (contaminated)
נֶפֶשׁ: properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental)
עַם: a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
קָרוֹב: near (in place, kindred or time)
שְׁאֵר: flesh (as swelling out), as living or forfood; generally food of any kind; figuratively, kindred by blood
Cross References
Leviticus 21Ezekiel's temple ordinances repeat these strict marriage laws limiting who a priest may marry.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Priests must prioritize their holy office over natural family affections or bereavement.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Repeats the restriction on priests touching dead bodies except for immediate family.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Shaving and cutting restrictions given to all Israel, here enforced strictly upon priests.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Physical unblemished holiness in Aaronic priests typified Christ's perfect, spotless spiritual purity.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin, JFB
Christ's command to let the dead bury their dead echoes the absolute priestly restriction.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Ezekiel was uniquely forbidden to mourn for his wife, contrasting with standard priestly concessions.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Prohibits pagan, excessive mourning customs like self-cuttings and shaving heads for the dead.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Aaron's remaining sons were forbidden from uncovering heads or rending clothes after Nadab/Abihu's deaths.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Like the Nazirite, the high priest cannot defile himself even for his parents.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel rules requiring offered sacrifices, like the priests offering them, to be completely without blemish.
Supported by John Calvin
Identifies the uncleanness that disqualifies a priest from eating of holy things.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Bread associated with mourning is defiled and cannot be offered to God.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Under the New Covenant, ministers must still maintain blameless families and conduct.
Supported by JFB