Leviticus21
World English Bible · Public Domain
1 Yahweh said to Moses, “Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them, ‘A priest shall not defile himself for the dead among his people,
2 except for his relatives that are near to him: for his mother, for his father, for his son, for his daughter, for his brother,
3 and for his virgin sister who is near to him, who has had no husband; for her he may defile himself.
4 He shall not defile himself, being a chief man among his people, to profane himself.
5 “‘They shall not shave their heads or shave off the corners of their beards or make any cuttings in their flesh.
6 They shall be holy to their God, and not profane the name of their God, for they offer the offerings of Yahweh made by fire, the bread of their God. Therefore they shall be holy.
7 “‘They shall not marry a woman who is a prostitute, or profane. A priest shall not marry a woman divorced from her husband; for he is holy to his God.
8 Therefore you shall sanctify him, for he offers the bread of your God. He shall be holy to you, for I Yahweh, who sanctify you, am holy.
9 “‘The daughter of any priest, if she profanes herself by playing the prostitute, she profanes her father. She shall be burned with fire.
10 “‘He who is the high priest among his brothers, upon whose head the anointing oil is poured, and who is consecrated to put on the garments, shall not let the hair of his head hang loose, or tear his clothes.
11 He must not go in to any dead body, or defile himself for his father or for his mother.
12 He shall not go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the crown of the anointing oil of his God is upon him. I am Yahweh.
13 “‘He shall take a wife in her virginity.
14 He shall not marry a widow, or one divorced, or a woman who has been defiled, or a prostitute. He shall take a virgin of his own people as a wife.
15 He shall not profane his offspring among his people, for I am Yahweh who sanctifies him.’”
16 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
17 “Say to Aaron, ‘None of your offspring throughout their generations who has a defect may approach to offer the bread of his God.
18 For whatever man he is that has a defect, he shall not draw near: a blind man, or a lame, or he who has a flat nose, or any deformity,
19 or a man who has an injured foot, or an injured hand,
20 or hunchbacked, or a dwarf, or one who has a defect in his eye, or an itching disease, or scabs, or who has damaged testicles.
21 No man of the offspring of Aaron the priest who has a defect shall come near to offer the offerings of Yahweh made by fire. Since he has a defect, he shall not come near to offer the bread of his God.
22 He shall eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy, and of the holy.
23 He shall not come near to the veil, nor come near to the altar, because he has a defect; that he may not profane my sanctuaries, for I am Yahweh who sanctifies them.’”
24 So Moses spoke to Aaron, and to his sons, and to all the children of Israel.
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Leviticus 21Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Leviticus 21. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
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