Leviticus 21 – Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

The Holiness of the Priests

1 Then Yahweh ^H3068 said ^H559 to Moses ^H4872, “Speak ^H559 to the priests ^H3548, the sons ^H1121 of Aaron ^H175, and say ^H559 to them:

‘No ^H3808 one shall defile ^H2930 himself for a dead person ^H5315 among his people ^H5971,

2 except ^H3588 H518 for his [fn]blood ^H7607 relatives ^H7607 who are nearest ^H7138 to him, his mother ^H517 and his father ^H1 and his son ^H1121 and his daughter ^H1323 and his brother ^H251, 3 also for his virgin ^H1330 sister ^H269, who is near ^H7138 to him [fn]because ^H834 she has ^H1961 had ^H1961 no husband ^H376; for her he may defile ^H2930 himself. 4 He shall not defile ^H2930 himself as a [fn]relative ^H1167 by ^H1167 marriage ^H1167 among his people ^H5971, and so profane ^H2490 himself. 5 They shall not make ^H7139 any baldness ^H7139 H7144 on their heads ^H7218 nor ^H3808 shave ^H1548 off ^H1548 the edges ^H6285 of their beards ^H2206 nor ^H3808 make ^H8295 any cuts ^H8295 in their flesh ^H1320. 6 They shall be holy ^H6918 to their God ^H430 and not profane ^H2490 the name ^H8034 of their God ^H430, for they bring ^H7126 near ^H7126 the offerings ^H801 [fn]to Yahweh ^H3068 by ^H801 fire ^H801, the food ^H3899 of their God ^H430; so they shall be holy ^H6944. 7 They shall not take ^H3947 a woman ^H802 who is profaned ^H2491 by harlotry ^H2181, nor ^H3808 shall they take ^H3947 a woman ^H802 divorced ^H1644 from her husband ^H376; for he is holy ^H6918 to his God ^H430. 8 Therefore, you shall set ^H6942 him apart ^H6942 as ^H6942 holy ^H6942, for he brings ^H7126 near ^H7126 the food ^H3899 of your God ^H430; he shall be holy ^H6918 to you; for I Yahweh ^H3068, who makes ^H6942 you holy ^H6942, am holy ^H6918. 9 Also the daughter ^H1323 of any ^H376 priest ^H3548, if ^H3588 she profanes ^H2490 herself by harlotry ^H2181, she profanes ^H2490 her father ^H1; she shall be burned ^H8313 with fire ^H784.

10 ‘And the priest ^H3548 who is the highest ^H1419 among ^H4480 his brothers ^H251, on whose ^H834 head ^H7218 the anointing ^H4888 oil ^H8081 has been poured ^H3332 and [fn]who has been ordained ^H4390 H3027 to wear ^H3847 the garments ^H899, shall not [fn]uncover ^H6544 his head ^H7218 nor ^H3808 tear ^H6533 his clothes ^H899; 11 nor ^H3808 shall he approach ^H935 any ^H3605 dead ^H4191 person ^H5315 nor ^H3808 defile ^H2930 himself even for his father ^H1 or his mother ^H517; 12 nor ^H3808 shall he go ^H3318 out ^H3318 of the sanctuary ^H4720 nor ^H3808 profane ^H2490 the sanctuary ^H4720 of his God ^H430, for the dedication ^H5145 of the anointing ^H4888 oil ^H8081 of his God ^H430 is on him; I am Yahweh ^H3068. 13 And he shall take ^H3947 a wife ^H802 in her virginity ^H1331. 14 A widow ^H490 or a divorced ^H1644 woman or one who is profaned ^H2491 by harlotry ^H2181, these ^H428 he may not take ^H3947; but rather ^H3588 H518 he shall take ^H3947 a virgin ^H1330 of his own people ^H5971 as a wife ^H802, 15 so that he will not profane ^H2490 his seed ^H2233 among his people ^H5971; for I am Yahweh ^H3068 who makes ^H6942 him holy ^H6942.’”

16 Then Yahweh ^H3068 spoke ^H1696 to Moses ^H4872, saying ^H559, 17 “Speak ^H1696 to Aaron ^H175, saying ^H559, ‘No ^H3808 man ^H376 of your seed ^H2233 throughout their generations ^H1755 who ^H834 has ^H1961 a defect ^H3971 shall come ^H7126 near ^H7126 to offer ^H7126 the food ^H3899 of his God ^H430. 18 For no ^H3808 H3605 one ^H376 who ^H834 has a defect ^H3971 shall come ^H7126 near ^H7126: a blind ^H5787 man ^H376 or ^H176 a lame ^H6455 man ^H6455 or ^H176 he who has a [fn]disfigured ^H2763 face or ^H176 any deformed ^H8311 limb, 19 or ^H176 a man ^H376 who ^H834 has ^H1961 a broken ^H7667 foot ^H7272 or ^H176 broken ^H7667 hand ^H3027, 20 or ^H176 a hunchback ^H1384 or ^H176 a dwarf ^H1851, or ^H176 one who has a [fn]defect ^H8400 in his eye ^H5869 or ^H176 eczema ^H1618 or ^H176 scabs ^H3217 or ^H176 crushed ^H4790 testicles ^H810. 21 No ^H3808 H3605 man ^H376 among ^H4480 the seed ^H2233 of Aaron ^H175 the priest ^H3548 who ^H834 has a defect ^H3971 shall approach ^H5066 to bring ^H7126 near ^H7126 the offerings ^H801 to Yahweh ^H3068 by ^H801 fire ^H801; since he has a defect ^H3971, he shall not approach ^H5066 to bring ^H7126 near ^H7126 the food ^H3899 of his God ^H430. 22 He may eat ^H398 the food ^H3899 of his God ^H430, both of the most ^H6944 holy ^H6944 and of the holy ^H6944, 23 only ^H389 he shall not go ^H935 in ^H935 to the veil ^H6532 or approach ^H5066 the altar ^H4196 because ^H3588 he has a defect ^H3971, so that he will not profane ^H2490 My sanctuaries ^H4720. For I am Yahweh ^H3068 who makes ^H6942 them holy ^H6942.’” 24 So Moses ^H4872 spoke ^H1696 to Aaron ^H175 and to his sons ^H1121 and to all ^H3605 the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478.