Leviticus 21:1-11

1 dixit quoque Dominus ad Mosen loquere ad sacerdotes filios Aaron et dices eis ne contaminetur sacerdos in mortibus civium suorum

2 nisi tantum in consanguineis ac propinquis id est super matre et patre et filio ac filia fratre quoque

3 et sorore virgine quae non est nupta viro

4 sed nec in principe populi sui contaminabitur

5 non radent caput nec barbam neque in carnibus suis facient incisuras

6 sancti erunt Deo suo et non polluent nomen eius incensum enim Domini et panes Dei sui offerunt et ideo sancti erunt

7 scortum et vile prostibulum non ducet uxorem nec eam quae repudiata est a marito quia consecratus est Deo suo

8 et panes propositionis offert sit ergo sanctus quia et ego sanctus sum Dominus qui sanctifico vos

9 sacerdotis filia si deprehensa fuerit in stupro et violaverit nomen patris sui flammis exuretur

10 pontifex id est sacerdos maximus inter fratres suos super cuius caput fusum est unctionis oleum et cuius manus in sacerdotio consecratae sunt vestitusque est sanctis vestibus caput suum non discoperiet vestimenta non scindet

11 et ad omnem mortuum non ingredietur omnino super patre quoque suo et matre non contaminabitur

Leviticus 21:1-11 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.