Leviticus — Chapter 21

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1And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto the priests the sons of Aaron, and say unto them, There shall none be defiled for the dead among his people:

2But for his kin, that is near unto him,

3And for his sister a virgin, that is nigh unto him, which hath had no husband; for her may he be defiled.

4But he shall not defile himself,

5They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh.

6They shall be holy unto their God, and not profane the name of their God: for the offerings of the LORD made by fire,

7They shall not take a wife

8Thou shalt sanctify him therefore; for he offereth the bread of thy God: he shall be holy unto thee: for I the LORD, which sanctify you,

9And the daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the whore, she profaneth her father: she shall be burnt with fire.

10And

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

12Neither shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the crown of the anointing oil of his God

13And he shall take a wife in her virginity.

14A widow, or a divorced woman, or profane,

15Neither shall he profane his seed among his people: for I the LORD do sanctify him.

16And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

17Speak unto Aaron, saying, Whosoever

18For whatsoever man

19Or a man that is brokenfooted, or brokenhanded,

20Or crookbackt, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken;

21No man that hath a blemish of the seed of Aaron the priest shall come nigh to offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire: he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God.

22He shall eat the bread of his God,

23Only he shall not go in unto the vail, nor come nigh unto the altar, because he hath a blemish; that he profane not my sanctuaries: for I the LORD do sanctify them.

24And Moses told

1And Jehovah said unto Moses, Speak unto the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say unto them, There shall none defile himself for the dead among his people;

2except for his kin, that is near unto him, for his mother, and for his father, and for his son, and for his daughter, and for his brother,

3and for his sister a virgin, that is near unto him, that hath had no husband; for her may he defile himself.

4He shall not defile himself, [being] a chief man among his people, to profane himself.

5They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh.

6They shall be holy unto their God, and not profane the name of their God; for the offerings of Jehovah made by fire, the bread of their God, they do offer: therefore they shall be holy.

7They shall not take a woman that is a harlot, or profane; neither shall they take a woman put away from her husband: for he is holy unto his God.

8Thou shalt sanctify him therefore; for he offereth the bread of thy God: he shall be holy unto thee: for I Jehovah, who sanctify you, am holy.

9And the daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the harlot, she profaneth her father: she shall be burnt with fire.

10And he that is the high priest among his brethren, upon 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 rend his clothes;

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

12neither 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 upon him: I am Jehovah.

13And he shall take a wife in her virginity.

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

15And he shall not profane his seed among his people: for I am Jehovah who sanctifieth him.

16And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,

17Speak unto Aaron, saying, Whosoever he be of thy seed throughout their generations that hath a blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God.

18For whatsoever man he be that hath a blemish, he shall not approach: a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or anything superfluous,

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

20or crook-backed, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or is scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken;

21no man of the seed of Aaron the priest, that hath a blemish, shall come nigh to offer the offerings of Jehovah made by fire: he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God.

22He shall eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy, and of the holy:

23only he shall not go in unto the veil, nor come nigh unto the altar, because he hath a blemish; that he profane not my sanctuaries: for I am Jehovah who sanctifieth them.

24So Moses spake unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel.

1The Lord said to Moses, “Say to the priests, the sons of Aaron—say to them: ‘For a dead person no priest is to defile himself among his people,

2except for his close relative who is near to him—his mother, his father, his son, his daughter, his brother,

3and his virgin sister who is near to him, who has no husband—he may defile himself for her.

4He must not defile himself as a husband among his people so as to profane himself.

5Priests must not have a bald spot shaved on their head, they must not shave the corner of their beard, and they must not cut slashes in their body.

6“‘They must be holy to their God, and they must not profane the name of their God, because they are the ones who present the Lord’s gifts, the food of their God. Therefore they must be holy.

7They must not take a wife defiled by prostitution, nor are they to take a wife divorced from her husband, for the priest is holy to his God.

8You must sanctify him because he presents the food of your God. He must be holy to you because I, the Lord who sanctifies you all, am holy.

9If a daughter of a priest profanes herself by engaging in prostitution, she is profaning her father. She must be burned to death.

10“‘The high priest—who is greater than his brothers, and on whose head the anointing oil is poured, and who has been ordained to wear the priestly garments—must neither dishevel the hair of his head nor tear his garments.

11He must not go where there is any dead person; he must not defile himself even for his father or for his mother.

12He must not go out from the sanctuary and must not profane the sanctuary of his God, because the dedication of the anointing oil of his God is on him. I am the Lord.

13He must take a wife who is a virgin.

14He must not marry a widow, a divorced woman, or one profaned by prostitution; he may only take a virgin from his people as a wife,

15so that he does not profane his children among his people, for I am the Lord who sanctifies him.’”

16The Lord spoke to Moses:

17“Tell Aaron, ‘No man from your descendants throughout their generations who has a physical flaw is to approach to present the food of his God.

18Certainly no man who has a physical flaw is to approach: a blind man, or one who is lame, or one with a slit nose, or who has a limb too long,

19or a man who has had a broken leg or arm,

20or a hunchback, or a dwarf, or one with a spot in his eye, or a festering eruption, or a feverish rash, or a crushed testicle.

21No man from the descendants of Aaron the priest who has a physical flaw may step forward to present the Lord’s gifts; he has a physical flaw, so he must not step forward to present the food of his God.

22He may eat both the most holy and the holy food of his God,

23but he must not go near the special curtain or step forward to the altar because he has a physical flaw. Thus he must not profane my holy places, for I am the Lord who sanctifies them.’”

24So Moses spoke these things to Aaron, his sons, and all the Israelites.

1Yahweh said to Moses, “Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them, ‘A priest shall not defile himself for the dead among his people;

2except for his relatives that are near to him: for his mother, for his father, for his son, for his daughter, for his brother,

3and for his virgin sister who is near to him, who has had no husband; for her he may defile himself.

4He shall not defile himself, being a chief man among his people, to profane himself.

5“‘They shall not shave their heads or shave off the corners of their beards or make any cuttings in their flesh.

6They shall be holy to their God, and not profane the name of their God; for they offer the offerings of Yahweh made by fire, the bread of their God; therefore they shall be holy.

7“‘They shall not marry a woman who is a prostitute, or profane. They shall not marry a woman divorced from her husband; for he is holy to his God.

8You shall sanctify him therefore; for he offers the bread of your God. He shall be holy to you; for I Yahweh, who sanctify you, am holy.

9“‘The daughter of any priest, if she profanes herself by playing the prostitute, she profanes her father. She shall be burned with fire.

10“‘He who is the high priest among his brothers, upon whose head the anointing oil is poured, and that is consecrated to put on the garments, shall not let the hair of his head hang loose, or tear his clothes.

11He must not go in to any dead body, or defile himself for his father, or for his mother.

12He shall not go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the crown of the anointing oil of his God is upon him. I am Yahweh.

13“‘He shall take a wife in her virginity.

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

15He shall not profane his offspring among his people, for I am Yahweh who sanctifies him.’”

16Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

17“Say to Aaron, ‘None of your offspring throughout their generations who has a defect may approach to offer the bread of his God.

18For whatever man he is that has a defect, he shall not draw near: a blind man, or a lame, or he who has a flat nose, or any deformity,

19or a man who has an injured foot, or an injured hand,

20or hunchbacked, or a dwarf, or one who has a defect in his eye, or an itching disease, or scabs, or who has damaged testicles.

21No man of the offspring of Aaron the priest who has a defect shall come near to offer the offerings of Yahweh made by fire. Since he has a defect, he shall not come near to offer the bread of his God.

22He shall eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy, and of the holy.

23He shall not come near to the veil, nor come near to the altar, because he has a defect; that he may not profane my sanctuaries, for I am Yahweh who sanctifies them.’”

24So Moses spoke to Aaron, and to his sons, and to all the children of Israel.

Summary

Authorship & Background

Map & Geography

Commentary

Videos

Reflection

Summary

God sets higher standards of holiness for priests — restrictions on mourning, marriage, and physical qualifications for those who serve at His altar.

Authorship & Background

Author: Moses. Leviticus is the third book of the Pentateuch, written during the wilderness period (approximately 1445-1405 BC). Hebrew title: "Vayikra" — "And He called." God speaks from the newly completed Tabernacle, giving Israel instructions for worship, sacrifice, and holy living.

Historical Context: Chapter 21 shifts focus from the holiness required of ALL Israel (chapters 18-20) to the HIGHER holiness required of priests. If all Israel must be holy, the priests must be holier still — and the high priest holiest of all. The chapter establishes a graduated scale of holiness: common Israelite → priest → high priest. Each level has stricter requirements. The logic is proximity to God: the closer one serves to God's presence, the higher the standard. Priests handle holy things, offer God's "bread" (sacrifices), and mediate between God and the people. Their lives must reflect the holiness of the One they serve. The chapter addresses three areas: (1) restrictions on mourning and defilement by the dead (vv.1-6, 10-12); (2) restrictions on marriage (vv.7-8, 13-15); and (3) restrictions based on physical defects (vv.16-24). These regulations are not about the personal worth of the priest but about the symbolic integrity of the office. The priest represents God to the people — his life and person must visibly reflect God's wholeness and holiness. This chapter points forward to Christ, our perfect High Priest — without blemish, without defilement, wholly consecrated to God (Hebrews 7:26).

Priests and Defilement by the Dead (vv.1-6): God speaks to Moses for "the priests the sons of Aaron" (v.1). A priest "shall none be defiled for the dead among his people" (v.1) — contact with a corpse makes one unclean for seven days (Numbers 19:11). Exceptions: immediate family — mother, father, son, daughter, brother (v.2), and a virgin sister who has no husband (v.3). For these closest relatives, a priest may defile himself. But he "shall not defile himself, being a chief man among his people" (v.4) — his position limits his mourning. Priests must not make bald patches on their heads, shave the edges of their beards, or cut their flesh (v.5) — these were pagan mourning customs. "They shall be holy unto their God, and not profane the name of their God" (v.6). The reason: "the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and the bread of their God, they do offer: therefore they shall be holy" (v.6). Their function demands their holiness.

Priestly Marriage Restrictions (vv.7-9): A priest shall not marry a prostitute, a defiled woman, or a divorced woman (v.7). "For he is holy unto his God" (v.7). The congregation must "sanctify him" — treat him as holy (v.8). "He shall be holy unto thee: for I the LORD, which sanctify you, am holy" (v.8). A priest's daughter who becomes a prostitute "profaneth her father" — she is burned with fire (v.9). The priest's family reflects on his office.

The High Priest — Highest Standard (vv.10-15): "He that is the high priest among his brethren" — the one anointed and consecrated to wear the garments (v.10). He shall NOT uncover his head (let hair hang loose) or tear his clothes (v.10) — the normal signs of mourning are forbidden to him entirely. He shall not go near ANY dead body — not even his father or mother (v.11). He shall not leave the sanctuary (v.12). "The crown of the anointing oil of his God is upon him" (v.12) — his consecration overrides all other obligations. Marriage: he must take a virgin (v.13). Not a widow, divorced woman, defiled woman, or prostitute — only "a virgin of his own people" (v.14). The purpose: "that he may not profane his seed among his people" (v.15). The high priest's family line must be pure. He represents the highest standard of holiness in Israel.

Physical Blemishes and Priestly Service (vv.16-24): God speaks to Moses for Aaron (v.16). No descendant of Aaron with a physical blemish may "approach to offer the bread of his God" (v.17). The list: blind, lame, mutilated face, limb too long (v.18), injured foot or hand (v.19), hunchback, dwarf, eye defect, skin disease, scabs, crushed testicles (v.20). No blemished priest may "come nigh to offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire" (v.21). However — he MAY eat the priestly food, "both of the most holy, and of the holy" (v.22). He retains his priestly identity and provision — he simply cannot serve at the altar or enter beyond the veil (v.23). "That he profane not my sanctuaries: for I the LORD do sanctify them" (v.23). Moses communicates this to Aaron, his sons, and all Israel (v.24).

Map & Geography

No specific geographic locations are referenced in this chapter.

Commentary

Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik emphasizes the graduated holiness: all Israel is holy, priests are holier, the high priest is holiest. He notes that the physical blemish restrictions are not about personal worth but about symbolic representation — the priest's body must visibly represent God's wholeness. He connects this to Christ as the perfect High Priest.
Charles Spurgeon: Sermon: "The Perfect Priest" "The priest must be without blemish — not because a lame man is less loved by God, but because the priest REPRESENTS God to the people. He is a living picture of the Holy One. And the picture must not be marred. Every physical requirement points forward to Christ — our High Priest who is 'holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens' (Hebrews 7:26). No blemish in Him — no sin, no defect, no weakness, no failure. He is the perfect Priest who perfectly represents the perfect God. And because He is perfect, His offering is perfect, and His intercession is perfect, and His salvation is perfect. What Aaron could only picture, Christ IS."

Videos

The Bible Project — Leviticus Overview

Reflection

1. Greater privilege = greater responsibility. Priests have higher standards than common Israelites. The high priest has higher standards than regular priests. "Unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required" (Luke 12:48). If God has given you a position of spiritual leadership — pastor, teacher, parent, elder — you are held to a higher standard. Not because you are better, but because you represent God to others.
2. The high priest cannot mourn even for his parents (v.11). His consecration overrides even the deepest human bonds. Christ said: "He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me" (Matthew 10:37). Is there any relationship or obligation you place above your consecration to God?
3. A blemished priest may eat but not serve (v.22). He is not rejected — he is still provided for, still part of the priestly family. But he cannot represent God at the altar. This is not cruelty but integrity of representation. God's representative must visibly reflect God's wholeness. Christ fulfills this perfectly — He is the unblemished Priest (Hebrews 7:26).
4. "I the LORD do sanctify them" (v.23). God sanctifies both the priests and the sanctuaries. Holiness is ultimately God's work, not man's achievement. He sets apart, He consecrates, He makes holy. Your job is to cooperate with His sanctifying work — not to resist it or neglect it.
5. Every requirement points to Christ. No human priest could perfectly fulfill these standards — they all had blemishes of character if not of body. But Christ is "holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners" (Hebrews 7:26). He is the perfect Priest that every Aaronic priest could only foreshadow. Rest in His perfection, not your own.