Leviticus 21:5-15

5 "Priests may not make bald spots on their heads, shave the edge of their beards, or make gashes on their bodies.^[a]

6 They are to be holy to their God and not profane the name of their God,^[b] because they present the fire offerings to the Lord, the food of their God. They must be holy.

7 They are not to marry a woman defiled by prostitution^{[c] [d]} or divorced by her husband, for the priest is holy to his God.

8 You are to consider him holy since he presents the food of your God. He will be holy to you because I, the Lord who sets you apart, am holy.

9 If a priest's daughter defiles herself by promiscuity,^[e] she defiles her father; she must be burned up.^[f]

10 "The priest who is highest among his brothers, who has had the anointing oil poured on his head and has been ordained^[g] to wear the garments, must not dishevel his hair^[h] or tear his garments.^[i]

11 He must not go near any dead person or make himself unclean [even] for his father or mother.^[j]

12 He must not leave the sanctuary or he will desecrate the sanctuary of his God, for the consecration of the anointing oil of his God is on him;^[k] I am the Lord.

13 "He is to marry a woman who is a virgin.

14 He is not to marry a widow, a divorced woman, or one defiled by prostitution. He is to marry a virgin from his own people,

15 so that he does not corrupt his bloodline^[l] among his people, for I am the Lord who sets him apart."^[m]

Leviticus 21:5-15 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.

Footnotes

• [a] Lv 19:27-28; Dt 14:1; Ezk 44:20
• [b] Lv 18:21; 22:32
• [c] Or a woman who has been deflowered
• [d] Dt 24:1-4; Hs 1:2
• [e] Or prostitution
• [f] Lv 20:14; Gn 38:24; Jdg 15:6
• [g] Lit and one has filled his hand
• [h] Or not uncover his head
• [i] Lv 10:6; Ezk 44:20
• [j] Ezk 44:25
• [k] Lv 10:7
• [l] Lit not profane his seed
• [m] Ex 39:30