New American Standard Bible 1995

Leviticus 21

Regulations concerning Priests

1Then the Lordיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Mosesמֹשֶׁ֔הmo.ShehH4872, “Speakאֱמֹ֥ר'e.MorH559to the priestsהַכֹּהֲנִ֖יםha.ko.ha.NimH3548,the sonsבְּנֵ֣יbe.NeiH1121of Aaronאַהֲרֹ֑ן'a.ha.RonH175,and sayוְאָמַרְתָּ֣ve.'a.mar.TaH559to them: ‘Noלֹֽא־lo'-H3808one shall defileיִטַּמָּ֖אyi.ta.Ma'H2930himself for a deadpersonלְנֶ֥פֶשׁle.Ne.feshH5315among his peopleבְּעַמָּֽיו׃be.'a.MavH5971,

2exceptכִּ֚י אִם־ki 'im-H3588 H518for his relativesלִשְׁאֵר֔וֹlish.'e.RoH7607who are nearestהַקָּרֹ֖בha.ka.RoH7138to him, his motherלְאִמּ֣וֹle.'i.MoH517and his fatherוּלְאָבִ֔יוu.le.'a.VivH1and his sonוְלִבְנ֥וֹve.liv.NoH1121and his daughterוּלְבִתּ֖וֹu.le.vi.ToH1323and his brotherוּלְאָחִֽיו׃u.le.'a.ChivH251,

3also for his virginהַבְּתוּלָה֙ha.be.tu.LahH1330sisterוְלַאֲחֹת֤וֹve.la.'a.cho.ToH269,who is nearהַקְּרוֹבָ֣הha.ke.ro.VahH7138to himbecauseאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834she hasH1961hadH1961noלֹֽא־lo'-H3808husbandלְאִ֑ישׁle.'IshH376;for her he may defileיִטַּמָּֽא׃yi.ta.Ma'H2930himself.

4He shall not defileיִטַּמָּ֖אyi.ta.Ma'H2930himself as arelativeH1167by marriageH1167among his peopleבְּעַמָּ֑יוbe.'a.MavH5971,and so profaneלְהֵ֖חַלּֽוֹ׃le.He.cha.LoH2490himself.

5They shall not makeיִקְרְח֤וּyik.re.chahH7139any baldnessקָרְחָה֙ka.re.ChahH7139 H7144on their headsבְּרֹאשָׁ֔םbe.ro.ShamH7218,norH3808shaveיְגַלֵּ֑חוּye.ga.Le.chuH1548offH1548the edgesוּפְאַ֥תu.fe.'AtH6285of their beardsזְקָנָ֖םze.ka.NamH2206,norH3808makeH8295any cutsH8295in their fleshוּבִ֨בְשָׂרָ֔םu.Viv.sa.RamH1320.

6They shall be holyקְדֹשִׁ֤יםke.do.ShimH6918to their Godלֵאלֹ֣הֵיהֶ֔םle.Lo.hei.HemH430andnot profaneיְחַלְּל֔וּye.cha.le.LuH2490the nameשֵׁ֖םshemH8034of their Godאֱלֹהֵיהֶ֑ם'e.lo.hei.HemH430,for they presentמַקְרִיבִ֖םmak.ri.VimH7126the offeringsH801by fireאִשֵּׁ֨י'i.SheiH801to the Lordיְהוָ֜הYah.wehH3068,the foodלֶ֧חֶםLe.chemH3899of their Godאֱלֹהֵיהֶ֛ם'e.lo.hei.HemH430;so they shall be holyקֹֽדֶשׁ׃Ko.deshH6944.

7They shall not takeיִקָּ֔חוּyi.Ka.chuH3947a womanאִשָּׁ֨ה'i.ShahH802who is profanedוַחֲלָלָה֙va.cha.la.LahH2491by harlotryזֹנָ֤הzo.NahH2181,norH3808shall they takeיִקָּ֑חוּyi.Ka.chuH3947a womanוְאִשָּׁ֛הve.'i.ShahH802divorcedגְּרוּשָׁ֥הge.ru.ShahH1644from her husbandמֵאִישָׁ֖הּme.'i.ShahH376;for he is holyקָדֹ֥שׁka.DoshH6918to his Godלֵאלֹהָֽיו׃le.lo.HavH430.

8You shall consecrateוְקִדַּשְׁתּ֔וֹve.ki.dash.ToH6942him, therefore, for he offersמַקְרִ֑יבmak.RivH7126the foodלֶ֥חֶםLe.chemH3899of your Godאֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ'e.lo.Hei.khaH430;he shall be holyקָדֹשׁ֙ka.DoshH6918to you; for I the Lordיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068,who sanctifiesמְקַדִּשְׁכֶֽם׃me.ka.dish.KhemH6942you, am holyקָד֔וֹשׁka.Do.oshH6918.

9Also the daughterוּבַת֙u.VatH1323of anyאִ֣ישׁ'ishH376priestכֹּהֵ֔ןko.HenH3548,ifכִּ֥יkiH3588she profanesתֵחֵ֖לte.ChelH2490herself by harlotryלִזְנ֑וֹתliz.NotH2181,she profanesמְחַלֶּ֔לֶתme.cha.Le.letH2490her fatherאָבִ֙יהָ֙'a.Vi.haH1;she shall be burnedתִּשָּׂרֵֽף׃ סti.sa.RefH8313with fireבָּאֵ֖שׁba.'EshH784.

10‘The priestוְהַכֹּהֵן֩ve.ha.ko.HenH3548who is the highestהַגָּד֨וֹלha.ga.DolH1419amongH4480his brothersמֵאֶחָ֜יוme.'e.ChavH251,on whoseאֲֽשֶׁר־'asher-H834headרֹאשׁ֣וֹ׀ro.ShoH7218the anointingהַמִּשְׁחָה֙ha.mish.ChahH4888oilשֶׁ֤מֶןShe.menH8081has been pouredיוּצַ֥קyu.TzakH3332andwho has been consecratedוּמִלֵּ֣א יָד֔וֹu.mi.Le' ya.DoH4390 H3027to wearלִלְבֹּ֖שׁlil.BoshH3847the garmentsהַבְּגָדִ֑יםha.be.ga.DimH899, shall notuncoverיִפְרָ֔עyif.Ra'H6544his headרֹאשׁוֹ֙ro.ShoH7218norH3808tearיִפְרֹֽם׃yif.RomH6533his clothesוּבְגָדָ֖יוu.ve.ga.DavH899;

11norלֹ֣אlo'H3808shall he approachיָבֹ֑אya.Vo'H935anyכָּל־kol-H3605deadמֵ֖תmetH4191personנַפְשֹׁ֥תnaf.ShotH5315,norלֹ֥אlo'H3808defileיִטַּמָּֽא׃yi.ta.Ma'H2930himself evenfor his fatherלְאָבִ֥יוle.'a.VivH1or his motherוּלְאִמּ֖וֹu.le.'i.MoH517;

12norלֹ֣אlo'H3808shall he goיֵצֵ֔אye.Tze'H3318out of the sanctuaryהַמִּקְדָּשׁ֙ha.mik.DashH4720norוְלֹ֣אve.Lo'H3808profaneיְחַלֵּ֔לye.cha.LelH2490the sanctuaryמִקְדַּ֣שׁmik.DashH4720of his Godאֱלֹהָ֑יו'e.lo.HavH430, forthe consecrationנֵ֠זֶרNe.zerH5145of the anointingמִשְׁחַ֧תmish.ChatH4888oilשֶׁ֣מֶןShe.menH8081of his Godאֱלֹהָ֛יו'e.lo.HavH430is on him; I am the Lordיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068.

13He shall takeיִקָּֽח׃yi.KachH3947a wifeאִשָּׁ֥ה'i.ShahH802in her virginityבִבְתוּלֶ֖יהָviv.tu.Lei.haH1331.

14A widowאַלְמָנָ֤ה'al.ma.NahH490,or a divorcedוּגְרוּשָׁה֙u.ge.ru.ShahH1644woman, or one who is profanedוַחֲלָלָ֣הva.cha.la.LahH2491by harlotryזֹנָ֔הzo.NahH2181,theseאֵ֖לֶּה'E.lehH428he may not takeיִקָּ֑חyi.KachH3947;but ratherכִּ֛י אִם־ki 'im-H3588 H518he is tomarryיִקַּ֥חyi.KachH3947a virginבְּתוּלָ֥הbe.tu.LahH1330of his own peopleמֵעַמָּ֖יוme.'a.MavH5971,

15so that he will not profaneיְחַלֵּ֥לye.cha.LelH2490hisoffspringזַרְע֖וֹzar.'OH2233among his peopleבְּעַמָּ֑יוbe.'a.MavH5971;for I am the Lordיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068who sanctifiesמְקַדְּשֽׁוֹ׃ פme.ka.de.ShoH6942him.’”

16Then the Lordיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068spokeוַיְדַבֵּ֥רvay.da.BerH1696to Mosesמֹשֶׁ֥הmo.ShehH4872,sayingלֵּאמֹֽר׃le.MorH559,

17“Speakדַּבֵּ֥רda.BerH1696to Aaronאַהֲרֹ֖ן'a.ha.RonH175,sayingלֵאמֹ֑רle.MorH559, ‘Noלֹ֣אlo'H3808manאִ֣ישׁ'ishH376of youroffspringמִֽזַּרְעֲךָ֞mi.zar.'a.KhaH2233throughout their generationsלְדֹרֹתָ֗םle.do.ro.TamH1755whoאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834hasיִהְיֶ֥הyih.YehH1961a defectH4140shall approachיִקְרַ֔בyik.RavH7126to offerלְהַקְרִ֖יבle.hak.RivH7126thefoodלֶ֥חֶםLe.chemH3899of his Godאֱלֹהָֽיו׃'e.lo.HavH430.

18For noכָל־ לֹ֣אkhol- lo'H3808 H3605oneאִ֛ישׁ'ishH376whoאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834has a defectH4140shall approachיִקְרָ֑בyik.RavH7126:a blindעִוֵּר֙'i.VerH5787manאִ֤ישׁ'ishH376,orא֣וֹ'oH176a lameפִסֵּ֔חַfi.Se.achH6455manH6455,orא֥וֹ'oH176he who has adisfiguredחָרֻ֖םcha.RumH2763face,orא֥וֹ'oH176any deformedשָׂרֽוּעַ׃sa.Ru.a'H8311limb,

19orא֣וֹ'oH176a manאִ֔ישׁ'IshH376whoאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834hasיִהְיֶ֥הyih.YehH1961a brokenשֶׁ֣בֶרShe.verH7667footרָ֑גֶלRa.gelH7272orא֖וֹ'oH176brokenשֶׁ֥בֶרShe.verH7667handיָֽד׃YadH3027,

20orאֽוֹ־'ov-H176a hunchbackגִבֵּ֣ןgi.BenH1384orאוֹ־'ov-H176a dwarfדַ֔קDakH1851,orא֖וֹ'oH176one who has adefectתְּבַלֻּ֣לte.va.LulH8400in his eyeבְּעֵינ֑וֹbe.'ei.NoH5869orא֤וֹ'oH176eczemaגָרָב֙ga.RavH1618orא֣וֹ'oH176scabsיַלֶּ֔פֶתya.Le.fetH3217orא֖וֹ'oH176crushedמְר֥וֹחַme.Ro.achH4790testiclesאָֽשֶׁךְ׃'A.shekhH810.

21Noכָּל־kol-H3808 H3605manאִ֞ישׁ'ishH376amongH4480thedescendantsמִזֶּ֙רַע֙mi.Ze.ra'H2233of Aaronאַהֲרֹ֣ן'a.ha.RonH175the priestהַכֹּהֵ֔ןha.ko.HenH3548whoאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834has a defectH4140is to comeH5066nearH5066to offerלְהַקְרִ֖יבle.hak.RivH7126the Lord’sיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068offeringsH801by fireאִשֵּׁ֣י'i.SheiH801; sincehe has a defectH4140,he shall not comeH5066nearH5066to offerלְהַקְרִֽיב׃le.hak.RivH7126the foodלֶ֣חֶםLe.chemH3899of his Godאֱלֹהָ֔יו'e.lo.HavH430.

22He may eatיֹאכֵֽל׃yo.KhelH398the foodלֶ֣חֶםLe.chemH3899of his Godאֱלֹהָ֔יו'e.lo.HavH430, bothof the mostמִקָּדְשֵׁ֖יmi.ka.de.SheiH6944holyהַקֳּדָשִׁ֑יםha.ko.da.ShimH6944and of the holyהַקֳּדָשִׁ֖יםha.ko.da.ShimH6944,

23onlyאַ֣ךְ'akhH389he shall not goיָבֹ֗אya.Vo'H935in to the veilהַפָּרֹ֜כֶתha.pa.Ro.khetH6532or comeH5066nearH5066the altarהַמִּזְבֵּ֛חַha.miz.Be.achH4196becauseH3588he has a defectH4140,so that he will not profaneיְחַלֵּל֙ye.cha.LelH2490My sanctuariesמִקְדָּשַׁ֔יmik.da.ShaiH4720.For I am the Lordיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068who sanctifiesמְקַדְּשָֽׁם׃me.ka.de.ShamH6942them.’”

24So Mosesמֹשֶׁ֔הmo.ShehH4872spokeוַיְדַבֵּ֣רvay.da.BerH1696to Aaronאַהֲרֹ֖ן'a.ha.RonH175and to his sonsבָּנָ֑יוba.NavH1121and to allכָּל־kol-H3605the sonsבְּנֵ֖יbe.NeiH1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ פYis.ra.'ElH3478.

Regulations concerning Priests

Commentaries on Leviticus 21