Leviticus 21:1-6

1 The Lord commanded Moses to tell the Aaronite priests, "No priest is to make himself ritually unclean by taking part in the funeral ceremonies when a relative dies,

2 unless it is his mother, father, son, daughter, brother,

3 or unmarried sister living in his house.

4 He shall not make himself unclean at the death of those related to him by marriage.

5 "No priest shall shave any part of his head or trim his beard or cut gashes on his body to show that he is in mourning. ¹

6 He must be holy and must not disgrace my name. He offers food offerings to me, and he must be holy.

Leviticus 21:1-6 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. 21.5Leviticus 19.27, 28;Deuteronomy 14.1.

Footnotes

• [a] [Verse 4 in Hebrew is unclear.]