Leviticus 21:9-19

9 The daughter of any Kohen, if she profane herself by playing the prostitute, she profanes her father: she shall be burnt with fire.

10 He who is the Kohen Gadol among his brothers, on whose head the anointing oil is poured, and that is consecrated to put on the garments, shall not let the hair of his head go loose, nor tear his clothes;

11 neither shall he go in to any dead body, nor defile himself for his father, or for his mother;

12 neither shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the crown of the anointing oil of his God is on him: I am the LORD.

13 He shall take a wife in her virginity.

14 A widow, or one divorced, or a profane woman, a prostitute, these shall he not take: but a virgin of his own people shall he take as a wife.

15 He shall not profane his seed among his people: for I am the LORD who sanctifies him.

16 The LORD spoke to Moshe, saying,

17 Speak to Aharon, saying, Whoever he be of your seed throughout their generations that has a blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God.

18 For whatever man he be that has a blemish, he shall not approach: a blind man, or a lame, or he that has a flat nose, or any deformity,

19 or a man that is broken-footed, or broken-handed,

Leviticus 21:9-19 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.