Leviticus 21

1Then the LORDH3068 saidH559 toH413 MosesH4872, “SpeakH559 toH413 Aaron’sH175 sonsH1121, the priestsH3548, and tellH559 themH413 that a priest is notH3808 to defile himselfH2930 for a dead personH5315 among his peopleH5971, 2exceptH3588H518 for his immediateH7138H413 familyH7607—his motherH517, fatherH1, sonH1121, daughterH1323, or brotherH251, 3or his unmarriedH1330 sisterH269 who is nearH7138 to himH413, sinceH834 she hasH1961 noH3808 husbandH376. 4He is notH3808 to defile himselfH2930 for those related to him by marriageH1167H5971, and so profane himselfH2490.

5Priests must notH3808 make baldH7139H7144 spots on their headsH7218, shave off the edgesH6285 of their beardsH2206H3808H1548, or makeH8295 cutsH8296 in their bodiesH1320H3808. 6They must beH1961 holyH6918 to their GodH430 and notH3808 profaneH2490 the nameH8034 of their GodH430. BecauseH3588 theyH1992 presentH7126 to the LORDH3068 the food offeringsH801, the foodH3899 of their GodH430, they must beH1961 holyH6944.

7A priest must notH3808 marryH3947H802 a womanH802 defiledH2491 by prostitutionH2181 orH3808 divorcedH1644 by her husbandH376, forH3588 the priest is holyH6918 to his GodH430. 8You are to regard him as holyH6942, sinceH3588 heH1931 presentsH7126 the foodH3899 of your GodH430. He shall beH1961 holyH6918 to you, becauseH3588 IH589 the LORDH3068 am holyH6918—I who set you apartH6942. 9IfH3588 a priest’sH3548 daughterH1323H376 defiles herselfH2490 by prostituting herselfH2181, sheH1931 profanesH2490 her fatherH1; she must be burnedH8313 in the fireH784.

10The priestH3548 who is highestH1419 among his brothersH251, whoH834 has had the anointingH4888 oilH8081 pouredH3332 onH5921 his headH7218 and has been ordainedH4390 to wearH3847 the priestly garmentsH899, must not letH3808 his hairH7218 hang looseH65441 or tearH6533 his garmentsH899H3808. 11He must notH3808 goH935 near anyH3605 deadH4191 bodyH5315; he must notH3808 defile himselfH2930, even for his fatherH1 or motherH517. 12He must notH3808 leaveH3318H3808 or desecrateH2490 the sanctuaryH4720 of his GodH430, forH3588 the consecrationH5145 of the anointingH4888 oilH8081 of his GodH430 is on himH5921. IH589 am the LORDH3068.

13The womanH802 heH1931 marriesH3947 must be a virginH1331. 14He is notH3808 to marryH3947H3588H518 a widowH490, a divorced womanH1644, or one defiledH2491 by prostitutionH2181. He is to marryH3947H802 a virginH1330 from his own peopleH5971, 15so that he does notH3808 defileH2490 his offspringH2233 among his peopleH5971, forH3588 IH589 am the LORDH3068 who sanctifies himH6942.”

Restrictions against Those with Blemishes

16Then the LORDH3068 saidH1696 toH413 MosesH4872H559, 17“SayH1696 toH413 AaronH175, ‘For the generations to comeH1755, noneH3808 of your descendantsH2233 whoH834 hasH1961 a physical defectH3971 may approachH7126 to offerH7126 the foodH3899 of his GodH430.

18

NoH3605H3808 manH376 whoH834 has any defectH3971 may approachH7126—no manH376 who is blindH5787, lameH6455H176, disfiguredH2763H176, orH176 deformedH8311; 19no manH376 whoH834 hasH1961 a brokenH7667 footH7272 orH176H7667 handH3027, 20orH176 who is a hunchbackH1384 orH176 dwarfH1851, orH176 who has an eyeH5869 defectH8400, a festering rashH1618H176, scabsH3217H176, orH176 a crushedH4790 testicleH810.

21NoH3605H376 descendantH2233 of AaronH175 the priestH3548H3808 whoH834 has a defectH3971 shall approachH5066 to presentH7126 the food offeringsH801 to the LORDH3068. Since he has a defectH3971, he is notH3808 to come nearH5066 to offerH7126 the foodH3899 of his GodH430. 22He may eatH398 the mostH6944 holyH6944 foodH3899 of his GodH430 as well asH4480 the holyH6944 food, 23butH389 becauseH3588 he has a defectH3971, he must notH3808 goH935H413 nearH413 the veilH6532 or approachH5066 the altarH4196, so as not to desecrateH3808H2490 My sanctuariesH4720. ForH3588 IH589 am the LORDH3068 who sanctifies themH6942.’”

24MosesH4872 toldH1696 this toH413 AaronH175 and his sonsH1121H413 and toH413 allH3605 the IsraelitesH1121H3478.