Leviticus 21:2-12

2 But if the dead person was one of his close relatives, he may touch him. The priest may make himself unclean if the dead person is his mother or father, son or daughter, brother or
3 unmarried sister who is close to him because she has no husband. The priest may make himself unclean for her if she dies.
4 But a priest must not make himself unclean if the dead person was only related to him by marriage.
5 "'Priests must not shave their heads, or shave off the edges of their beards, or cut their bodies.
6 They must be holy to their God and show respect for God's name, because they present the offerings made by fire to the Lord, which is the food of their God. So they must be holy.
7 "'A priest must not marry an unclean prostitute or a divorced woman, because he is holy to his God.
8 Treat him as holy, because he offers up the food of your God. Think of him as holy; I am the Lord who makes you holy, and I am holy.
9 "'If a priest's daughter makes herself unclean by becoming a prostitute, she shames her father. She must be burned with fire.
10 "'The high priest, who was chosen from among his brothers, had the special olive oil poured on his head. He was also appointed to wear the priestly clothes. So he must not show his sadness by letting his hair go uncombed or tearing his clothes.
11 He must not go into a house where there is a dead body. He must not make himself unclean, even if it is for his own father or mother.
12 The high priest must not go out of the Holy Place, because if he does and becomes unclean, he will make God's Holy Place unclean. The special oil used in appointing priests was poured on his head to separate him from the rest of the people. I am the Lord.

Leviticus 21:2-12 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.

Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.