Leviticus 21:16-24

Listen to Leviticus 21:16-24
16 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
17 “Speak to Aaron, saying, None of your offspring throughout their generations who has a blemish may 1approach to offer the bread of his God.
18 For no one who has a blemish shall draw near, a man 2blind or lame, or one who has a mutilated face 3or a limb too long,
19 or a man who has an injured foot or an injured hand,
20 or a hunchback or a dwarf or a man with a 4defect in his sight or an itching disease or scabs or 5crushed testicles.
21 No man of the offspring of Aaron the priest who has a blemish shall come near to 6offer the Lord’s food offerings; since he has a blemish, he shall not come near to offer the bread of his God.
22 He may eat the bread of his God, both of 7the most holy and of the 8holy things,
23 but he shall not go through the veil or approach the altar, because he has a blemish, that he may not 9profane my sanctuaries, 10for I am the Lord who sanctifies them. ”
24 So Moses spoke to Aaron and to his sons and to all the people of Israel.

Leviticus 21:16-24 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.

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Cross References 10

  • 1. 21:17 ch. 10:3; [Num. 16:5; Ps. 65:4]
  • 2. 21:18 ch. 22:22
  • 3. 21:18 [ch. 22:23]
  • 4. 21:20 [See ver. 18 above]
  • 5. 21:20 [Deut. 23:1]
  • 6. 21:21 ver. 6
  • 7. 21:22 ch. 2:3, 10; 6:17, 25; 7:1; 10:12, 17; 14:13; 24:9; Num. 18:9
  • 8. 21:22 ch. 22:10, 12
  • 9. 21:23 ver. 12
  • 10. 21:23 ch. 22:9, 16
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025