Leviticus 21

1 And the LORD said unto Moses, "Speak unto the priests the sons of Aaron, and say unto them: `There shall none be defiled for the dead among his people,

2 except for his kin who 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,

3 and for his sister, a virgin who is nigh unto him, who hath had no husband; for her may he be defiled.

4 But he shall not defile himself, being a chief man among his people, to profane himself.

5 They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard nor make any cuttings in their flesh.

6 They shall be holy unto their God and not profane 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.

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

8 Thou shalt sanctify him therefore, for he offereth the bread of thy God. He shall be holy unto thee; for I the LORD, who sanctify you, am holy.

9 And the daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the whore, she profaneth her father. She shall be burned with fire.

10 "`And he that is the high priest among his brethren, upon whose head the anointing oil was poured and who is consecrated to put on the garments, shall not uncover his head nor rend his clothes;

11 neither shall he go in to any dead body, nor defile himself for his father or for his mother;

12 neither shall he 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 the LORD.

13 And he shall take a wife in her virginity.

14 A widow or a divorced woman or profane or a harlot, these shall he not take; but he shall take a virgin of his own people for a wife.

15 Neither shall he profane his seed among his people, for I the LORD do sanctify him.'"

16 And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying,

17 "Speak unto Aaron, saying, `Whosoever he be of thy seed in their generations who hath any blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God.

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

19 or a man who is brokenfooted, or brokenhanded,

20 or crookbacked, or a dwarf, or who hath a blemish in his eye, or hath scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken--

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.

22 He shall eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy and of the holy.

23 Only he shall not go in unto the veil nor come nigh unto the altar, because he hath a blemish, that he profane not My sanctuaries; for I the LORD do sanctify them.'"

24 And Moses told it unto Aaron and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel.

Leviticus 21 Commentary

Chapter 21

Laws concerning the priests.

- 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.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO LEVITICUS 21

This chapter respects the priests, the sons of Aaron, and forbids their mourning for the dead, unless in some cases, Le 21:1-6; or their marriage with an whore or a divorced woman, Le 21:7,8; and the daughters of any of them to commit fornication, which is made punishable with death, Le 21:9; and it contains particular laws for the high priest to observe, who was not to mourn for any, even for his parents, Le 21:10,11; nor to go out of the sanctuary, Le 21:12; nor to marry any woman but a virgin, Le 21:13-15; and it also directs, that none of the priests having any blemish in them should be employed in divine service, though they might eat of the holy things, Le 21:16-24.