Leviticus 21:12-22

12 The high priest must not go out of the Holy Place, because if he does and becomes unclean, he will make God's Holy Place unclean. The special oil used in appointing priests was poured on his head to separate him from the rest of the people. I am the Lord.

13 "'The high priest must marry a woman who is a virgin.

14 He must not marry a widow, a divorced woman, or a prostitute. He must marry a virgin from his own people

15 so the people will respect his children as his own. I am the Lord. I have set the high priest apart for his special job.'"

16 The Lord said to Moses,

17 "Tell Aaron: 'If any of your descendants have something wrong with them, they must never come near to offer the special food of their God.

18 Anyone who has something wrong with him must not come near: blind men, crippled men, men with damaged faces, deformed men,

19 men with a crippled foot or hand,

20 hunchbacks, dwarfs, men who have something wrong with their eyes, men who have an itching disease or a skin disease, or men who have damaged sex glands.

21 "'If one of Aaron's descendants has something wrong with him, he cannot come near to make the offerings made by fire to the Lord. He has something wrong with him; he cannot offer the food of his God.

22 He may eat the most holy food and also the holy food.

Leviticus 21:12-22 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.