Leviticus 21

Regulations concerning Priests

1Then the LordH3068 saidH559 to MosesH4872, “SpeakH559 to the priestsH3548, the sonsH1121 of AaronH175, and sayH559 to them:

‘1NoH3808 one shall defileH2930 himself for a dead personH5315 among his peopleH5971, 22exceptH3588H518 for his relativesH7607 who are nearestH7138 to him, his motherH517, his fatherH1, his sonH1121, his daughterH1323, and his brotherH251, 3also for his virginH1330 sisterH269 who is nearH7138 to him 3becauseH834 she hasH1961 not hadH1961 a husbandH376; for her, he may defileH2930 himself. 4He shall not defileH2930 himself as a 4relativeH1167 byH1167 marriageH1167 among his peopleH5971, so as to profaneH2490 himself. 55They shall not shaveH7139 any areaH7144 on their headsH7218 baldH7144, 6norH3808 shaveH1548 offH1548 the edgesH6285 of their beardsH2206, 7norH3808 makeH8295 any cutsH8296 in their fleshH1320. 6They shall be holyH6918 to their GodH430 and 8not profaneH2490 the nameH8034 of their GodH430, becauseH3588 they presentH7126 the offeringsH801 byH801 fireH801 9to the LordH3068, 10the foodH3899 of their GodH430; so they shall be holyH6944. 711They shall not takeH3947 a womanH802 who is a prostituteH2181 and 12profanedH2491, norH3808 shall they takeH3947 a womanH802 divorcedH1644 from her husbandH376; for he is holyH6918 to his GodH430. 8You shall consecrateH6942 him, therefore, becauseH3588 he offersH7126 13the foodH3899 of your GodH430. He shall be holyH6918 to you; for I the LordH3068, who sanctifiesH6942 you, am holyH6918. 914Also the daughterH1323 of anyH376 priestH3548, ifH3588 she profanesH2490 herself by prostitutionH2181, she profanesH2490 her fatherH1; she shall be burnedH8313 with fireH784.

10‘The priestH3548 who is 15highestH1419 amongH4480 his brothersH251, on whoseH834 headH7218 the anointingH4888 oilH8081 has been pouredH3332 and 16who has been consecratedH4390H3027 to wearH3847 the garmentsH899, 17shall not 18uncoverH6544 his headH7218 norH3808 tearH6533 his clothesH899; 1119norH3808 shall he approachH935 anyH3605 deadH4191 personH5315, norH3808 defileH2930 himself even for his fatherH1 or his motherH517; 1220norH3808 shall he leaveH3318 the sanctuaryH4720 norH3808 profaneH2490 the sanctuaryH4720 of his GodH430, for 21the consecrationH5145 of the anointingH4888 oilH8081 of his GodH430 is on him; I am the LordH3068. 13He shall takeH3947 a wifeH802 in her virginityH1331. 1422A widowH490, or a divorcedH1644 woman, or one who is profanedH2491 by prostitutionH2181, theseH428 he shall not takeH3947; but ratherH3588H518 he is to 23marryH3947 a virginH1330 of his own peopleH5971, 15so that he will not profaneH2490 his 24childrenH2233 among his peopleH5971; for I am the LordH3068 who sanctifiesH6942 him.’”

16Then the LordH3068 spokeH1696 to MosesH4872, sayingH559, 17“SpeakH1696 to AaronH175, sayingH559, ‘NoneH3808H376 of your 25descendantsH2233 throughout their generationsH1755 whoH834 hasH1961 an impairmentH4140 shall approachH7126 to offerH7126 the 26foodH3899 of his GodH430. 1827For noH3808H3605 oneH376 whoH834 has an impairmentH4140 shall approachH7126: a manH376 who is blindH5787, orH176 one who limpsH6455, orH176 one who has a 28slitH2763 noseH2763, orH176 one withH8311 any conspicuousH8311 featureH8311, 19orH176 someoneH376 whoH834 hasH1961 a brokenH7667 footH7272 orH176 brokenH7667 handH3027, 20orH176 a contortedH1384 backH1384, orH176 one who is a dwarfH1851, orH176 has a spotH8400 in his eyeH5869, orH176 a festeringH1618 rashH1618 orH176 scabsH3217, orH176 29crushedH4790 testiclesH810. 21NoH3808H3605 manH376 amongH4480 the 30descendantsH2233 of AaronH175 the priestH3548 whoH834 has an impairmentH4140 is to comeH5066 forwardH5066 to offerH7126 the Lord’sH3068 offeringsH801 byH801 fireH801; since he has an impairmentH4140, he shall not comeH5066 forwardH5066 to offerH7126 31the foodH3899 of his GodH430. 22He may eatH398 32the foodH3899 of his GodH430, both of the mostH6944 holyH6944 and of the holyH6944, 23onlyH389 he shall not comeH935 up to the veilH6532 or approachH5066 the altarH4196, sinceH3588 he has an impairmentH4140, so that he does not profaneH2490 My sanctuariesH4720. For I am the LordH3068 who sanctifiesH6942 them.’” 24So MosesH4872 spokeH1696 to AaronH175 and to his sonsH1121 and to allH3605 the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478.