Focused Passage

Leviticus 21:10-15

Priestly Holiness, Nearness to God, and the Sanctity of Those Who Offer the LORD's Food

The LORD commands Moses to speak to Aaron's sons, giving restrictions on priestly contact with the dead, mourning customs, marriage, family dishonor, and the stricter holiness of the high priest. The chapter then addresses priests with physical defects: they may eat from the holy food but may not approach to offer the LORD's food or enter the sanctuary veil area, lest they profane the LORD's holy places.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

10The priest who is highest among his brothers, who has had the anointing oil poured on his head and has been ordained to wear the priestly garments, must not let his hair hang loose or tear his garments.

11He must not go near any dead body; he must not defile himself, even for his father or mother.

12He must not leave or desecrate the sanctuary of his God, for the consecration of the anointing oil of his God is on him. I am the LORD.

13The woman he marries must be a virgin.

14He is not to marry a widow, a divorced woman, or one defiled by prostitution. He is to marry a virgin from his own people,

15so that he does not defile his offspring among his people, for I am the LORD who sanctifies him.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 10

Cross-references

Leviticus 10:6Classic cross-references Leviticus 16:32Classic cross-references Matthew 26:65Classic cross-references Exodus 29:7Classic cross-references Exodus 29:29Classic cross-references

Original words

The priestוְהַכֹּהֵן֩H3548Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singularwho is highestהַגָּד֨וֹלH1419Article | Adjective - masculine singularamong his brothersמֵאֶחָ֜יוH251Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singularwhoאֲ‍ֽשֶׁר־H834Pronoun - relativehas had the anointingהַמִּשְׁחָה֙H4888Article | Noun - feminine singularoilשֶׁ֤מֶןH8081Noun - masculine singular constructpouredיוּצַ֥קH3332Verb - Hofal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularonעַל־H5921Prepositionhis headרֹאשׁ֣וֹ׀H7218Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularand has been ordainedוּמִלֵּ֣אH4390Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object marker-יָד֔וֹH3027Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularto wearלִלְבֹּ֖שׁH3847Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe priestly garmentsהַבְּגָדִ֑יםH899Article | Noun - masculine plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markermust not {let}לֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particlehis hairרֹאשׁוֹ֙H7218Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularhang looseיִפְרָ֔עH6544Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularor tearיִפְרֹֽם׃H6533Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularhis garmentsוּבְגָדָ֖יוH899Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular. . .לֹ֥אH3808Adverb - Negative particle

BSB notes

Or must not uncover his head

Verse 11

Cross-references

Matthew 8:21Classic cross-references Numbers 19:14Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 26:14Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 33:9Classic cross-references Leviticus 21:1Classic cross-references

Original words

-וְעַ֛לH5921Conjunctive waw | PrepositionHe must notלֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particlegoיָבֹ֑אH935Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularnear anyכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructdeadמֵ֖תH4191Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularbodyנַפְשֹׁ֥תH5315Noun - feminine plural constructhe must notלֹ֥אH3808Adverb - Negative particledefile himselfיִטַּמָּֽא׃H2930Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine singulareven for his fatherלְאָבִ֥יוH1Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularor motherוּלְאִמּ֖וֹH517Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular

Verse 12

Cross-references

Leviticus 10:7Classic cross-references Exodus 28:36Classic cross-references Exodus 29:6Classic cross-references Leviticus 21:23Classic cross-references Leviticus 8:9Classic cross-references

Original words

-וּמִן־H4480Conjunctive waw | PrepositionHe must notלֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particleleaveיֵצֵ֔אH3318Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular. . .וְלֹ֣אH3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle-הַמִּקְדָּשׁ֙H4720Article | Noun - masculine singularor desecrateיְחַלֵּ֔לH2490Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular-אֵ֖תH853Direct object markerthe sanctuaryמִקְדַּ֣שׁH4720Noun - masculine singular constructof his Godאֱלֹהָ֑יוH430Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singularforכִּ֡יH3588Conjunctionthe consecrationנֵ֠זֶרH5145Noun - masculine singular constructof the anointingמִשְׁחַ֧תH4888Noun - feminine singular constructoilשֶׁ֣מֶןH8081Noun - masculine singular constructof his Godאֱלֹהָ֛יוH430Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singularis on himעָלָ֖יוH5921Preposition | third person masculine singularIאֲנִ֥יH589Pronoun - first person common singularam the LORDיְהוָֽה׃H3068Noun - proper - masculine singular

Verse 13

Cross-references

Leviticus 21:7Classic cross-references Hebrews 13:4Classic cross-references 2 Corinthians 11:2Classic cross-references Ezekiel 44:22Classic cross-references Revelation 14:4Classic cross-references

Original words

The womanאִשָּׁ֥הH802Noun - feminine singularheוְה֕וּאH1931Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine singularmarriesיִקָּֽח׃H3947Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularmust be a virginבִבְתוּלֶ֖יהָH1331Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular

Verse 14

Cross-references

Leviticus 21:7Classic cross-references

Original words

He is notלֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particleto marryיִקָּ֑חH3947Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular. . .כִּ֛יH3588Conjunction. . .אִם־H518Conjunctiona widowאַלְמָנָ֤הH490Noun - feminine singulara divorced womanוּגְרוּשָׁה֙H1644Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singularor one defiledוַחֲלָלָ֣הH2491Conjunctive waw | Adjective - feminine singularby prostitutionזֹנָ֔הH2181Noun - feminine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object marker-אֵ֖לֶּהH428Pronoun - common pluralHe is to marryיִקַּ֥חH3947Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular. . .אִשָּֽׁה׃H802Noun - feminine singulara virginבְּתוּלָ֥הH1330Noun - feminine singularfrom his own peopleמֵעַמָּ֖יוH5971Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular

Verse 15

Cross-references

Leviticus 10:3Classic cross-references Exodus 29:44Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 7:14Classic cross-references Leviticus 22:32Classic cross-references Romans 11:16Classic cross-references

Original words

so that he does notוְלֹֽא־H3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particledefileיְחַלֵּ֥לH2490Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singularhis offspringזַרְע֖וֹH2233Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularamong his peopleבְּעַמָּ֑יוH5971Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singularforכִּ֛יH3588ConjunctionIאֲנִ֥יH589Pronoun - first person common singularam the LORDיְהוָ֖הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularwho sanctifies himמְקַדְּשֽׁוֹ׃פH6942Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular

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