Berean Standard Bible

Leviticus 21

1Then the LORDיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559toאֶל־'el-H413Mosesמֹשֶׁ֔הmo.ShehH4872, “Speakאֱמֹ֥ר'e.MorH559toאֶל־'el-H413Aaron’sאַהֲרֹ֑ן'a.ha.RonH175sonsבְּנֵ֣יbe.NeiH1121,the priestsהַכֹּהֲנִ֖יםha.ko.ha.NimH3548,and tellוְאָמַרְתָּ֣ve.'a.mar.TaH559themאֲלֵהֶ֔ם'a.le.HemH413that a priestis notלֹֽא־lo'-H3808to defile himselfיִטַּמָּ֖אyi.ta.Ma'H2930for a dead personלְנֶ֥פֶשׁle.Ne.feshH5315among his peopleבְּעַמָּֽיו׃be.'a.MavH5971,

2exceptכִּ֚י אִם־ki 'im-H3588 H518for his immediateהַקָּרֹ֖ב אֵלָ֑יוha.ka.Ro 'e.LavH7138 H413familyלִשְׁאֵר֔וֹlish.'e.RoH7607—his motherלְאִמּ֣וֹle.'i.MoH517,fatherוּלְאָבִ֔יוu.le.'a.VivH1,sonוְלִבְנ֥וֹve.liv.NoH1121,daughterוּלְבִתּ֖וֹu.le.vi.ToH1323,or brotherוּלְאָחִֽיו׃u.le.'a.ChivH251,

3or his unmarriedהַבְּתוּלָה֙ha.be.tu.LahH1330sisterוְלַאֲחֹת֤וֹve.la.'a.cho.ToH269who is nearהַקְּרוֹבָ֣הha.ke.ro.VahH7138to himאֵלָ֔יו'e.LavH413,sinceאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834she hasהָיְתָ֖הha.ye.TahH1961noלֹֽא־lo'-H3808husbandלְאִ֑ישׁle.'IshH376יִטַּמָּֽא׃yi.ta.Ma'H2930.

4He is notלֹ֥אlo'H3808to defile himselfיִטַּמָּ֖אyi.ta.Ma'H2930for those related to him by marriageבַּ֣עַל בְּעַמָּ֑יוBa.'al be.'a.MavH1167 H5971,and so profane himselfלְהֵ֖חַלּֽוֹ׃le.He.cha.LoH2490.

5Priests must notלֹֽא־lo'-H3808make baldיִקְרְח֤וּ קָרְחָה֙yik.re.chah ka.re.ChahH7139 H7144spots on their headsבְּרֹאשָׁ֔םbe.ro.ShamH7218,shave off the edgesוּפְאַ֥תu.fe.'AtH6285of their beardsזְקָנָ֖ם לֹ֣א יְגַלֵּ֑חוּze.ka.Nam lo' ye.ga.Le.chuH2206 H3808 H1548,or makeיִשְׂרְט֖וּyis.re.TuH8295cutsשָׂרָֽטֶת׃sa.Ra.tetH8296in their bodiesוּבִ֨בְשָׂרָ֔ם לֹ֥אu.Viv.sa.Ram lo'H1320 H3808.

6They must beיִהְיוּ֙yih.YuH1961holyקְדֹשִׁ֤יםke.do.ShimH6918to their Godלֵאלֹ֣הֵיהֶ֔םle.Lo.hei.HemH430and notוְלֹ֣אve.Lo'H3808profaneיְחַלְּל֔וּye.cha.le.LuH2490the nameשֵׁ֖םshemH8034of their Godאֱלֹהֵיהֶ֑ם'e.lo.hei.HemH430.Becauseכִּי֩kiH3588אֶת־'et-H853theyהֵ֥םhemH1992presentמַקְרִיבִ֖םmak.ri.VimH7126to the LORDיְהוָ֜הYah.wehH3068the food offeringsאִשֵּׁ֨י'i.SheiH801,the foodלֶ֧חֶםLe.chemH3899of their Godאֱלֹהֵיהֶ֛ם'e.lo.hei.HemH430,they must beוְהָ֥יוּve.Ha.yuH1961holyקֹֽדֶשׁ׃Ko.deshH6944.

7A priestmust notלֹ֣אlo'H3808marryאִשָּׁ֨ה יִקָּ֔חוּ'i.Shah yi.Ka.chuH3947 H802a womanוְאִשָּׁ֛הve.'i.ShahH802defiledוַחֲלָלָה֙va.cha.la.LahH2491by prostitutionזֹנָ֤הzo.NahH2181orלֹ֣אlo'H3808יִקָּ֑חוּyi.Ka.chuH3947divorcedגְּרוּשָׁ֥הge.ru.ShahH1644by her husbandמֵאִישָׁ֖הּme.'i.ShahH376,forכִּֽי־ki-H3588the priestה֖וּאhu'H1931is holyקָדֹ֥שׁka.DoshH6918to his Godלֵאלֹהָֽיו׃le.lo.HavH430.

8You are to regard him as holyוְקִדַּשְׁתּ֔וֹve.ki.dash.ToH6942,sinceכִּֽי־ki-H3588אֶת־'et-H853heה֣וּאhu'H1931presentsמַקְרִ֑יבmak.RivH7126the foodלֶ֥חֶםLe.chemH3899of your Godאֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ'e.lo.Hei.khaH430.He shall beיִֽהְיֶה־yih.yeh-H1961holyקָדֹשׁ֙ka.DoshH6918to you,becauseכִּ֣יkiH3588Iאֲנִ֥י'a.NiH589the LORDיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068am holyקָד֔וֹשׁka.Do.oshH6918—I who set you apartמְקַדִּשְׁכֶֽם׃me.ka.dish.KhemH6942.

9Ifכִּ֥יkiH3588a priest’sכֹּהֵ֔ןko.HenH3548daughterוּבַת֙ אִ֣ישׁu.Vat 'ishH1323 H376defiles herselfתֵחֵ֖לte.ChelH2490by prostituting herselfלִזְנ֑וֹתliz.NotH2181אֶת־'et-H853,sheהִ֣יאhi'H1931profanesמְחַלֶּ֔לֶתme.cha.Le.letH2490her fatherאָבִ֙יהָ֙'a.Vi.haH1;she must be burnedתִּשָּׂרֵֽף׃ סti.sa.RefH8313in the fireבָּאֵ֖שׁba.'EshH784.

10The priestוְהַכֹּהֵן֩ve.ha.ko.HenH3548who is highestהַגָּד֨וֹלha.ga.DolH1419among his brothersמֵאֶחָ֜יוme.'e.ChavH251,whoאֲֽשֶׁר־'asher-H834has had the anointingהַמִּשְׁחָה֙ha.mish.ChahH4888oilשֶׁ֤מֶןShe.menH8081pouredיוּצַ֥קyu.TzakH3332onעַל־'al-H5921his headרֹאשׁ֣וֹ׀ro.ShoH7218and has been ordainedוּמִלֵּ֣אu.mi.Le'H4390אֶת־'et-H853יָד֔וֹya.DoH3027to wearלִלְבֹּ֖שׁlil.BoshH3847אֶת־'et-H853the priestly garmentsהַבְּגָדִ֑יםha.be.ga.DimH899אֶת־'et-H853,must not letלֹ֣אlo'H3808his hairרֹאשׁוֹ֙ro.ShoH7218hang looseיִפְרָ֔עyif.Ra'H6544or tearיִפְרֹֽם׃yif.RomH6533his garmentsוּבְגָדָ֖יו לֹ֥אu.ve.ga.Dav lo'H899 H3808.

11וְעַ֛לve.'AlH5921He must notלֹ֣אlo'H3808goיָבֹ֑אya.Vo'H935near anyכָּל־kol-H3605deadמֵ֖תmetH4191bodyנַפְשֹׁ֥תnaf.ShotH5315;he must notלֹ֥אlo'H3808defile himselfיִטַּמָּֽא׃yi.ta.Ma'H2930,even for his fatherלְאָבִ֥יוle.'a.VivH1or motherוּלְאִמּ֖וֹu.le.'i.MoH517.

12וּמִן־u.min-H4480He must notלֹ֣אlo'H3808leaveיֵצֵ֔א וְלֹ֣אye.Tze' ve.Lo'H3318 H3808הַמִּקְדָּשׁ֙ha.mik.DashH4720or desecrateיְחַלֵּ֔לye.cha.LelH2490אֵ֖ת'etH853the sanctuaryמִקְדַּ֣שׁmik.DashH4720of his Godאֱלֹהָ֑יו'e.lo.HavH430,forכִּ֡יkiH3588the consecrationנֵ֠זֶרNe.zerH5145of the anointingמִשְׁחַ֧תmish.ChatH4888oilשֶׁ֣מֶןShe.menH8081of his Godאֱלֹהָ֛יו'e.lo.HavH430is on himעָלָ֖יו'a.LavH5921.Iאֲנִ֥י'a.NiH589am the LORDיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068.

13The womanאִשָּׁ֥ה'i.ShahH802heוְה֕וּאve.Hu'H1931marriesיִקָּֽח׃yi.KachH3947must be a virginבִבְתוּלֶ֖יהָviv.tu.Lei.haH1331.

14He is notלֹ֣אlo'H3808to marryיִקָּ֑ח כִּ֛י אִם־yi.Kach ki 'im-H3947 H3588 H518a widowאַלְמָנָ֤ה'al.ma.NahH490,a divorced womanוּגְרוּשָׁה֙u.ge.ru.ShahH1644,or one defiledוַחֲלָלָ֣הva.cha.la.LahH2491by prostitutionזֹנָ֔הzo.NahH2181אֶת־'et-H853אֵ֖לֶּה'E.lehH428.He is to marryיִקַּ֥ח אִשָּֽׁה׃yi.Kach 'i.ShahH3947 H802a virginבְּתוּלָ֥הbe.tu.LahH1330from his own peopleמֵעַמָּ֖יוme.'a.MavH5971,

15so that he does notוְלֹֽא־ve.lo'-H3808defileיְחַלֵּ֥לye.cha.LelH2490his offspringזַרְע֖וֹzar.'OH2233among his peopleבְּעַמָּ֑יוbe.'a.MavH5971,forכִּ֛יkiH3588Iאֲנִ֥י'a.NiH589am the LORDיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068who sanctifies himמְקַדְּשֽׁוֹ׃ פme.ka.de.ShoH6942.”

Restrictions against Those with Blemishes

16Then the LORDיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068saidוַיְדַבֵּ֥רvay.da.BerH1696toאֶל־'el-H413Mosesמֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃mo.Sheh le.MorH4872 H559,

17“Sayדַּבֵּ֥רda.BerH1696toאֶֽל־'el-H413Aaronאַהֲרֹ֖ן'a.ha.RonH175לֵאמֹ֑רle.MorH559, ‘For the generations to comeלְדֹרֹתָ֗םle.do.ro.TamH1755אִ֣ישׁ'ishH376,noneלֹ֣אlo'H3808of your descendantsמִֽזַּרְעֲךָ֞mi.zar.'a.KhaH2233whoאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834hasיִהְיֶ֥הyih.YehH1961a physical defectמ֔וּםMumH3971may approachיִקְרַ֔בyik.RavH7126to offerלְהַקְרִ֖יבle.hak.RivH7126the foodלֶ֥חֶםLe.chemH3899of his Godאֱלֹהָֽיו׃'e.lo.HavH430.

18כִּ֥יkiH3588Noכָל־ לֹ֣אkhol- lo'H3605 H3808manאִ֛ישׁ'ishH376whoאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834has any defectמ֖וּםmumH3971may approachיִקְרָ֑בyik.RavH7126—no manאִ֤ישׁ'ishH376who is blindעִוֵּר֙'i.VerH5787,lameא֣וֹ פִסֵּ֔חַ'o fi.Se.achH6455 H176,disfiguredא֥וֹ חָרֻ֖ם'o cha.RumH2763 H176,orא֥וֹ'oH176deformedשָׂרֽוּעַ׃sa.Ru.a'H8311;

19א֣וֹ'oH176no manאִ֔ישׁ'IshH376whoאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834hasיִהְיֶ֥הyih.YehH1961a brokenשֶׁ֣בֶרShe.verH7667footרָ֑גֶלRa.gelH7272orא֖וֹ שֶׁ֥בֶר'o She.verH176 H7667handיָֽד׃YadH3027,

20orאֽוֹ־'ov-H176who is a hunchbackגִבֵּ֣ןgi.BenH1384orאוֹ־'ov-H176dwarfדַ֔קDakH1851,orא֖וֹ'oH176who has an eyeבְּעֵינ֑וֹbe.'ei.NoH5869defectתְּבַלֻּ֣לte.va.LulH8400,a festering rashא֤וֹ גָרָב֙'o ga.RavH1618 H176,scabsא֣וֹ יַלֶּ֔פֶת'o ya.Le.fetH3217 H176,orא֖וֹ'oH176a crushedמְר֥וֹחַme.Ro.achH4790testicleאָֽשֶׁךְ׃'A.shekhH810.

21Noכָּל־ אִ֞ישׁkol- 'ishH3605 H376descendantמִזֶּ֙רַע֙mi.Ze.ra'H2233of Aaronאַהֲרֹ֣ן'a.ha.RonH175the priestהַכֹּהֵ֔ן לֹ֣אha.ko.Hen lo'H3548 H3808whoאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834has a defectמ֗וּםMumH3971shall approachיִגַּ֔שׁyi.GashH5066to presentלְהַקְרִ֖יבle.hak.RivH7126אֶת־'et-H853the food offeringsאִשֵּׁ֣י'i.SheiH801to the LORDיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068. Sincehe has a defectמ֣וּםmumH3971אֵ֚ת'etH853,he is notלֹ֥אlo'H3808to come nearיִגַּ֖שׁyi.GashH5066to offerלְהַקְרִֽיב׃le.hak.RivH7126the foodלֶ֣חֶםLe.chemH3899of his Godאֱלֹהָ֔יו'e.lo.HavH430.

22He may eatיֹאכֵֽל׃yo.KhelH398the mostמִקָּדְשֵׁ֖יmi.ka.de.SheiH6944holyהַקֳּדָשִׁ֑יםha.ko.da.ShimH6944foodלֶ֣חֶםLe.chemH3899of his Godאֱלֹהָ֔יו'e.lo.HavH430as well asוּמִן־u.min-H4480the holyהַקֳּדָשִׁ֖יםha.ko.da.ShimH6944food,

23butאַ֣ךְ'akhH389becauseכִּֽי־ki-H3588he has a defectמ֣וּםmumH3971לֹ֣אlo'H3808,he must notלֹ֥אlo'H3808goאֶל־ יָבֹ֗א'el- ya.Vo'H935 H413nearוְאֶל־ve.'el-H413the veilהַפָּרֹ֜כֶתha.pa.Ro.khetH6532or approachיִגַּ֖שׁyi.GashH5066the altarהַמִּזְבֵּ֛חַha.miz.Be.achH4196,so as not to desecrateוְלֹ֤א יְחַלֵּל֙ve.Lo' ye.cha.LelH3808 H2490אֶת־'et-H853My sanctuariesמִקְדָּשַׁ֔יmik.da.ShaiH4720.Forכִּ֛יkiH3588Iאֲנִ֥י'a.NiH589am the LORDיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068who sanctifies themמְקַדְּשָֽׁם׃me.ka.de.ShamH6942.’”

24Mosesמֹשֶׁ֔הmo.ShehH4872toldוַיְדַבֵּ֣רvay.da.BerH1696this toאֶֽל־'el-H413Aaronאַהֲרֹ֖ן'a.ha.RonH175and his sonsוְאֶל־ בָּנָ֑יוve.'el- ba.NavH1121 H413and toוְאֶֽל־ve.'el-H413allכָּל־kol-H3605the Israelitesבְּנֵ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ פbe.Nei Yis.ra.'ElH1121 H3478.

Restrictions against Those with Blemishes

Commentaries on Leviticus 21