Leviticus — Chapter 21

📖 Leviticus — Chapter 21 (KJV)

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Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.

Leviticus 21:1 And the LORD said unto Moses, ^RSpeak unto the priests the sons of Aaron, and say unto them, There shall none be defiled for the dead among his people:

Leviticus 21:2 But for his kin, that is near unto him, that is, for his mother, and for his father, and for his son, and for his daughter, and for his brother.

Leviticus 21:3 And for his sister a virgin, that is nigh unto him, which hath had no husband; for her may he be defiled.

Leviticus 21:4 But ^The shall not defile himself, being a chief man among his people, to profane himself.

Leviticus 21:5 They shall ^Rnot make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh.

Leviticus 21:6 They shall be holy unto their God, and not ^Rprofane the name of their God: for the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and the bread of their God, they do offer: therefore they shall be holy.

Leviticus 21:7 They shall not take a wife ^Rthat is a whore, or profane; neither shall they take a woman put away from her husband: for he is holy unto his God.

Leviticus 21:8 Thou shalt sanctify him therefore; for he offereth the bread of thy God: he shall be holy unto thee: ^Rfor I the LORD, which sanctify you, am holy.

Leviticus 21:9 And ^Rthe daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the whore, she profaneth her father: she shall be burnt with fire.

Leviticus 21:10 And he that is the high priest among his brethren, ^Rupon whose head the anointing oil was poured, and that is consecrated to put on the garments, shall not uncover his head, nor rend his clothes;

Leviticus 21:11 Neither shall he go in to any dead body, nor defile himself for ^Rhis father, or for his mother;

Leviticus 21:12 Neither shall he ^Rgo 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 the LORD.

Leviticus 21:13 ^RAnd he shall take a wife in her virginity.

Leviticus 21:14 A widow, or a divorced woman, or profane, or an harlot, these shall he not take: but he shall take a virgin of his own people to wife.

Leviticus 21:15 Neither shall he ^Rprofane his seed among his people: for I the LORD do sanctify him.

Leviticus 21:16 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Leviticus 21:17 Speak unto Aaron, saying, Whosoever he be of thy seed in their generations that hath any ^Rblemish, let him not approach to offer the ^Tbread of his God.

Leviticus 21:18 For whatsoever man he be that hath a blemish, he shall not approach: ^Ra blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or any thing superfluous,

Leviticus 21:19 Or a man that is brokenfooted, or brokenhanded,

Leviticus 21:20 Or crookbackt, or ^Ta dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, ^Ror hath his stones broken;

Leviticus 21:21 No man that hath a blemish of the seed of Aaron the priest shall come nigh to offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire: he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God.

Leviticus 21:22 He shall eat the bread of his God, ^Rboth of the most holy, and of the holy.

Leviticus 21:23 Only he shall not ^Rgo in unto the vail, nor come nigh unto the altar, because he hath a blemish; that he profane not my sanctuaries: for I the LORD do sanctify them.

Leviticus 21:24 And Moses told it unto ^RAaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel.

📚 Study This Chapter

📖 What We’re Reading

Leviticus 21:1–9 — Holiness among Aaron's Sons

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

The priests receive rules concerning contact with the dead, with exceptions for the close relatives named here. The passage also addresses mourning practices, marriage, and the priest's household. The priests are to be holy because they offer the LORD's offerings and must not profane his name.

Key Truth: The priestly calling has particular obligations under Israel's law.

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📖 What We’re Reading

Leviticus 21:10–15 — The High Priest

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

The high priest has stricter obligations concerning mourning, contact with the dead, remaining in the sanctuary, and marriage. The passage identifies him as the one anointed and consecrated to wear the garments. These commands are linked to the holiness of his sanctuary service.

Key Truth: The high priest's consecration brings the particular responsibilities stated here.

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📖 What We’re Reading

Leviticus 21:16–24 — Blemishes and Priestly Portions

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

The passage lists bodily conditions that restrict a descendant of Aaron from approaching to offer at the altar or entering unto the vail. It expressly says that he may still eat the holy and most holy priestly food. The distinction concerns the stated sanctuary duties and portions, which Moses communicates to Aaron, his sons, and Israel.

Key Truth: The law distinguishes eligibility for particular sanctuary duties from receiving the priestly portion.

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