Leviticus 21:20

Leviticus 21:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Or crookbackt, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken;
• New International Version (NIV)or who is a hunchback or a dwarf, or who has any eye defect, or who has festering or running sores or damaged testicles.
• English Standard Version (ESV)or a hunchback or a dwarf or a man with a defect in his sight or an itching disease or scabs or crushed testicles.
• New King James Version (NKJV)or is a hunchback or a dwarf, or a man who has a defect in his eye, or eczema or scab, or is a eunuch.

Context of Leviticus 21:20

18Indeed, no one who has a physical defect may ever come near ⌞the altar⌟. That means anyone who is blind or lame, who has a disfigured face, a deformity, 19or a crippled hand or foot, who is a hunchback or dwarf, who has defective sight, skin diseases, or crushed testicles. 21If a descendant of the priest Aaron has a physical defect, he must never bring sacrifices by fire to the Lord. He has a defect. He must never bring food to offer to God. 22He may eat the food of his God—what is holy and what is very holy.

Leviticus 21:20 word by word

אֽוֹ־גִבֵּ֣ן אוֹ־דַ֔ק א֖וֹ תְּבַלֻּ֣ל בְּעֵינ֑וֹ א֤וֹ גָרָב֙ א֣וֹ יַלֶּ֔פֶת א֖וֹ מְר֥וֹחַ אָֽשֶׁךְ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Or crookbacktגִּבֵּןgibbên · humpbackedH1384
• or a dwarfדַּקdaq · thinH1851
• or that hath a blemishתְּבַלֻּלteballûl · defectH8400
• in his eyeעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eye: seeingH5869
• or be scurvyגָּרָבgârâb · scabH1618
• or scabbedיַלֶּ֫פֶתyallepheth · scabH3217
• or hath his stonesאֶ֫שֶׁךְ'eshek · testicleH810
• brokenמְרוֹחַmerôach · crushedH4790

Cross-references for Leviticus 21:20

• Deuteronomy 23:1A man whose testicles are crushed or whose penis is cut off may never join the assembly of the Lord.

Commentaries on Leviticus 21:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20Crooked-backed - Hunch-backed or gibbous. A dwarf, דק dak, a person too short or too thin, so as to be either particularly observable, or ridiculous in his appearance. A blemish in his eye - A protuberance on the eye, observable spots or suffusions. Scurvy, or scabbed - A bad habit of body, evidenced by scorbutic or scrofulous affections. Stones broken - Is ruptured; an infirmity which would render him incapable of fulfilling the duties of his office…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16-24Verses 16-24 He was not treated as an outcast, but enjoyed his privileges as a son of Aaron, except in regard to active duties. Leviticus 21:20 A dwarf - One who is small and wasted, either short, as in the text, or slender, as in the margin. It is hardly likely that dwarfishness would be overlooked in this enumeration. So most critical authorities. Scurry or scabbed - These words most probably include all affected with any skin disease. Leviticus 21:22…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-24This section, which discusses priestly rules, six times repeats the phrase I am the Lord who sanctifies (Leviticus 21:15, 23; 22:9, 16, 32; see also 21:8). These words emphasize the link between God's holiness and the holiness expected of priests. This extended to all of Israel (see 8:10; 11:44–45; 19:2). The text specifically addresses priests in 21:1–22:16, while including both clergy and common people in 22:17–33.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 16-2416-24. Whosoever he be ... hath any blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God--As visible things exert a strong influence on the minds of men, any physical infirmity or malformation of body in the ministers of religion, which disturbs the associations or excites ridicule, tends to detract from the weight and authority of the sacred office. Priests laboring under any personal defect were not allowed to officiate in the public service…Read the comment

Topics related to Leviticus 21:20

• Blemish
• Dwarfs
• Priest
• Sanctification
• Scab

In the dictionaries

• Baldness
• Blemish
• Corner
• Dwarf
• Hair
• Priest
• Profane
• Shave
• Broken
• Criticism

Commentaries on Leviticus 21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings