Leviticus 21:1-3

Holiness and the Priests

1 And the LORD said to Moses, "Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them: 1No one shall make himself unclean for the dead among his people,
2 except for his closest relatives, his mother, his father, his son, his daughter, his brother,
3 or his virgin sister (who is near to him because she has had no husband; for her he may make himself unclean).

Leviticus 21:1-3 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 1

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.