Leviticus 21:9-19

9 '1Also the daughter of any priest, if she profanes herself by harlotry, she profanes her father; she shall be burned with fire.
10 'The priest who is the highest among his brothers, on whose head the anointing oil has been poured and who has been consecrated * to wear the garments, 2shall not uncover his head nor tear his clothes;
11 3nor shall he approach any dead person, nor defile himself even for his father or his mother;
12 4nor shall he go out of the sanctuary nor profane the sanctuary of his God, for 5the consecration of the anointing oil of his God is on him; I am the LORD.
13 'He shall take a wife in her virginity.
14 '6A widow, or a divorced woman, or one who is profaned by harlotry, these he may not take; but rather * he is to marry a virgin of his own people,
15 so that he will not profane his offspring among his people; for I am the LORD who sanctifies him.' "
16 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
17 "Speak to Aaron, saying, 'No man of your offspring throughout their generations who has a defect shall approach to offer the 7food of his God.
18 '8For no * one who has a defect shall approach: a blind man, or a lame man, or he who has a 9disfigured face, or any deformed limb,
19 or a man who has a broken foot or broken hand,

Leviticus 21:9-19 Meaning and Commentary

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.

Cross References 9

  • 1. Genesis 38:24; Leviticus 19:29
  • 2. Leviticus 10:6
  • 3. Leviticus 19:28; Numbers 19:14
  • 4. Leviticus 10:7
  • 5. Exodus 29:6, 7
  • 6. Leviticus 21:7; Ezekiel 44:22
  • 7. Leviticus 21:6
  • 8. Leviticus 22:19-25
  • 9. Leviticus 22:19-25

Footnotes 6

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