Leviticus 21

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 21 of 27

¹ And Jehovah said to Moses, Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them, There shall none defile himself for the dead among his people,

² except for his relatives who are nearest to him, his mother, and his father, and his son, and his daughter, and his brother,

³ and for his sister, a virgin, who is near to him, who has had no husband; for her he may defile himself.

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Chapter Summary

1 Of the priests' mourning. 6 Of their holiness. 7,13 Of their marriages. 17 The priests that have blemishes cannot minister in the sanctuary.

Key Hebrew Words

כֹּהֵן priest H3548 · TWOT 959a

קָדוֹשׁ holy H6918 · TWOT 1990b

חָלַל to profane H2490 · TWOT 660

טָמְאָה to defile oneself H2930 · TWOT 809c

מוּם blemish H3971 · TWOT 1137a

קָדַשׁ to sanctify, set apart H6942 · TWOT 1990

People & Context

Jehovah

Speaks the laws of priestly holiness, mourning, marriage, and blemishes, declaring He sanctifies the priests.

Moses

Receives Jehovah's commands and tells them to Aaron, his sons, and all the sons of Israel.

Aaron

The priest to whom the rules apply; his sons with blemishes may not approach to offer the bread of God.

Timeline

Regulations for Priests

Priests not to defile for dead except closest relatives. High priest restrictions. Marriage restrictions (not harlot/divorced, high priest must marry virgin). Priests with blemishes cannot offer offerings but may eat holy food.

Leviticus 21:1-24

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