Leviticus 22:8-18

8 But he is not to eat anything that dies naturally or is torn to death by wild animals and thereby make himself unclean; I am ADONAI.
9 The cohanim must observe this charge of mine; otherwise, if they profane it, they will bear the consequences of their sin for doing so and die in it; I am ADONAI, who makes them holy.
10 "'No one who is not a cohen may eat anything holy, nor may a tenant or employee of a cohen eat anything holy.
11 But if a cohen acquires a slave, either through purchase or through his being born in his household, he may share his food.
12 If the daughter of a cohen is married to a man who is not a cohen, she is not to have a share of the food set aside from the holy things.
13 But if the daughter of a cohen is a widow or divorcee and has no child, and she is sent back to her father's house as when she was young, she may share in her father's food; but no one not a cohen is to share in it.
14 If a person eats holy food by mistake, he must add one-fifth to it and give the holy food to the cohen.
15 They are not to profane the holy things of the people of Isra'el that they have set apart for ADONAI
16 and thus cause them to bear guilt requiring a guilt offering, by eating their holy things; because I am ADONAI, who makes them holy.'"
17 ADONAI said to Moshe,
18 "Speak to Aharon and his sons and to the entire people of Isra'el; tell them: 'When anyone, whether a member of the house of Isra'el or a foreigner living in Isra'el, brings his offering, either in connection with a vow or as a voluntary offering, and brings it to ADONAI as a burnt offering,

Leviticus 22:8-18 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO LEVITICUS 22

In this chapter several laws are delivered out, forbidding the priests to eat of holy things, when in any uncleanness, or at any time what dies of itself, or is torn of beasts, Le 22:1-9; also showing who belonging to the priests might or might not eat of the holy things, Le 22:10-16; and others requiring that whatever offerings were brought by the children, of Israel, they should be perfect and without blemish, Le 22:17-25; and also declaring what age a creature should be of when sacrificed, and the time when thank offerings were to be eaten, Le 22:26-30; concluding with an exhortation to observe the commands of God, and sanctify him, and not profane his name, Le 22:31-33.

Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.