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Leviticus 21

The Lord said to Moses: Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them: None of them will make himself unclean for the dead among his people — Except for his close family, for his mother and for his father and for his son and for his daughter and for his brother, And for his sister who's a virgin, who's close to him and hasn't h

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Rules for the priests

The Lord said to Moses: Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them: None of them will make himself unclean for the dead among his people — Except for his close family, for his mother and for his father and for his son and for his daughter and for his brother, And for his sister who's a virgin, who's close to him and hasn't had a husband. For her he can make himself unclean. But he must not make himself unclean as a leading man among his people, to make himself unholy. They must not make bald patches on their head or shave off the corner of their beard, or make any cuts in their flesh. They'll be holy to their God and won't make the name of their God unholy. Because they offer the offerings of the Lord made by fire, the bread of their God. So they will be holy. They must not take a wife who's a prostitute or made unholy, and they must not take a woman divorced from her husband. Because he's holy to his God. So you will make him holy, because he offers the bread of your God. He will be holy to you, because I the Lord who make you holy am holy. If the daughter of a priest makes herself unholy by becoming a prostitute, she makes her father unholy. She will be burnt with fire. The high priest among his brothers, who had the anointing oil poured on his head and whose hand was filled to put on the clothes, won't uncover his head or tear his clothes. He must not go in to any dead body or make himself unclean for his father or for his mother. He must not go out of the sanctuary or make the sanctuary of his God unholy. Because the crown of the anointing oil of his God is on him. I am the Lord. He will take a wife in her virginity. He must not take a widow or a divorced woman or one made unholy or a prostitute. But he will take a virgin of his own people as a wife. He must not make his offspring unholy among his people. Because I the Lord make him holy.

And the Lord said to Moses: Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them: None of them will make himself unclean for the dead among his people — except for his close family, for his mother and for his father and for his son and for his daughter and for his brother, and for his sister who's a virgin, who's close to him and hasn't had a husband. For her he can make himself unclean. But he won't make himself unclean as a leading man among his people, to make himself common. They won't make bald patches on their head or shave off the corner of their beard, or make any cuts in their flesh. They'll be holy to their God and won't make the name of their God common. Because they offer the offerings of the Lord made by fire, the bread of their God. So they'll be holy. They won't take a wife who's a prostitute or made common, and they won't take a woman divorced from her husband. Because he's holy to his God. So you'll make him holy, because he offers the bread of your God. He'll be holy to you, because I the Lord who make you holy am holy. And the daughter of any priest who makes herself common by playing the whore — she makes her father common. She'll be burnt with fire. And the high priest among his brothers, who had the anointing oil poured on his head and whose hand was filled to put on the clothes, won't uncover his head or tear his clothes. And he won't go in to any dead body or make himself unclean for his father or for his mother. And he won't go out of the holy place or make the holy place of his God common. Because the crown of the anointing oil of his God is on him. I'm the Lord. And he'll take a wife in her virginity. He won't take a widow or a divorced woman or one made common or a prostitute. But he'll take a virgin of his own people as a wife. And he won't make his offspring common among his people. Because I the Lord make him holy.

And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto the priests the sons of Aaron, and say unto them, There shall none be defiled for the dead among his people: But for his kin, that is near unto him, that is, for his mother, and for his father, and for his son, and for his daughter, and for his brother, And for his sister a virgin, that is nigh unto him, which hath had no husband; for her may he be defiled. But he shall not defile himself, being a chief man among his people, to profane himself. They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh. They shall be holy unto their God, and not profane the name of their God: for the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and the bread of their God, they do offer: therefore they shall be holy. They shall not take a wife that is a whore, or profane; neither shall they take a woman put away from her husband: for he is holy unto his God. Thou shalt sanctify him therefore; for he offereth the bread of thy God: he shall be holy unto thee: for I the LORD, which sanctify you, am holy. And the daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the whore, she profaneth her father: she shall be burnt with fire. And he that is the high priest among his brethren, upon whose head the anointing oil was poured, and that is consecrated to put on the garments, shall not uncover his head, nor rend his clothes; Neither shall he go in to any dead body, nor defile himself for his father, or for his mother; Neither shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the crown of the anointing oil of his God is upon him: I am the LORD. And he shall take a wife in her virginity. A widow, or a divorced woman, or profane, or an harlot, these shall he not take: but he shall take a virgin of his own people to wife. Neither shall he profane his seed among his people: for I the LORD do sanctify him.

1

The Lord said to Moses: Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them: None of them will make himself unclean for the dead among his people —

Plain English

And the Lord said to Moses: Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them: None of them will make himself unclean for the dead among his people —

King James Version, 1611

And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto the priests the sons of Aaron, and say unto them, There shall none be defiled for the dead among his people:

2

Except for his close family, for his mother and for his father and for his son and for his daughter and for his brother,

Plain English

except for his close family, for his mother and for his father and for his son and for his daughter and for his brother,

King James Version, 1611

But for his kin, that is near unto him, that is, for his mother, and for his father, and for his son, and for his daughter, and for his brother,

3

And for his sister who's a virgin, who's close to him and hasn't had a husband. For her he can make himself unclean.

Plain English

and for his sister who's a virgin, who's close to him and hasn't had a husband. For her he can make himself unclean.

King James Version, 1611

And for his sister a virgin, that is nigh unto him, which hath had no husband; for her may he be defiled.

4

But he must not make himself unclean as a leading man among his people, to make himself unholy.

Plain English

But he won't make himself unclean as a leading man among his people, to make himself common.

King James Version, 1611

But he shall not defile himself, being a chief man among his people, to profane himself.

5

They must not make bald patches on their head or shave off the corner of their beard, or make any cuts in their flesh.

Plain English

They won't make bald patches on their head or shave off the corner of their beard, or make any cuts in their flesh.

King James Version, 1611

They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh.

6

They'll be holy to their God and won't make the name of their God unholy. Because they offer the offerings of the Lord made by fire, the bread of their God. So they will be holy.

Plain English

They'll be holy to their God and won't make the name of their God common. Because they offer the offerings of the Lord made by fire, the bread of their God. So they'll be holy.

King James Version, 1611

They shall be holy unto their God, and not profane the name of their God: for the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and the bread of their God, they do offer: therefore they shall be holy.

7

They must not take a wife who's a prostitute or made unholy, and they must not take a woman divorced from her husband. Because he's holy to his God.

Plain English

They won't take a wife who's a prostitute or made common, and they won't take a woman divorced from her husband. Because he's holy to his God.

King James Version, 1611

They shall not take a wife that is a whore, or profane; neither shall they take a woman put away from her husband: for he is holy unto his God.

8

So you will make him holy, because he offers the bread of your God. He will be holy to you, because I the Lord who make you holy am holy.

Plain English

So you'll make him holy, because he offers the bread of your God. He'll be holy to you, because I the Lord who make you holy am holy.

King James Version, 1611

Thou shalt sanctify him therefore; for he offereth the bread of thy God: he shall be holy unto thee: for I the LORD, which sanctify you, am holy.

9

If the daughter of a priest makes herself unholy by becoming a prostitute, she makes her father unholy. She will be burnt with fire.

Plain English

And the daughter of any priest who makes herself common by playing the whore — she makes her father common. She'll be burnt with fire.

King James Version, 1611

And the daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the whore, she profaneth her father: she shall be burnt with fire.

10

The high priest among his brothers, who had the anointing oil poured on his head and whose hand was filled to put on the clothes, won't uncover his head or tear his clothes.

Plain English

And the high priest among his brothers, who had the anointing oil poured on his head and whose hand was filled to put on the clothes, won't uncover his head or tear his clothes.

King James Version, 1611

And he that is the high priest among his brethren, upon whose head the anointing oil was poured, and that is consecrated to put on the garments, shall not uncover his head, nor rend his clothes;

11

He must not go in to any dead body or make himself unclean for his father or for his mother.

Plain English

And he won't go in to any dead body or make himself unclean for his father or for his mother.

King James Version, 1611

Neither shall he go in to any dead body, nor defile himself for his father, or for his mother;

12

He must not go out of the sanctuary or make the sanctuary of his God unholy. Because the crown of the anointing oil of his God is on him. I am the Lord.

Plain English

And he won't go out of the holy place or make the holy place of his God common. Because the crown of the anointing oil of his God is on him. I'm the Lord.

King James Version, 1611

Neither shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the crown of the anointing oil of his God is upon him: I am the LORD.

13

He will take a wife in her virginity.

Plain English

And he'll take a wife in her virginity.

King James Version, 1611

And he shall take a wife in her virginity.

14

He must not take a widow or a divorced woman or one made unholy or a prostitute. But he will take a virgin of his own people as a wife.

Plain English

He won't take a widow or a divorced woman or one made common or a prostitute. But he'll take a virgin of his own people as a wife.

King James Version, 1611

A widow, or a divorced woman, or profane, or an harlot, these shall he not take: but he shall take a virgin of his own people to wife.

15

He must not make his offspring unholy among his people. Because I the Lord make him holy.

Plain English

And he won't make his offspring common among his people. Because I the Lord make him holy.

King James Version, 1611

Neither shall he profane his seed among his people: for I the LORD do sanctify him.

No fault in the one who offers

The Lord spoke to Moses: Speak to Aaron: Whoever of your offspring through their generations has any fault won't come near to offer the bread of his God. Because no man with a fault will come near — a blind man or a lame man, or one with a flat nose or anything out of shape, Or a man with a broken foot or a broken hand, Or a hunchback or a dwarf, or one with something wrong with his eye, or a man with a rash or scabs, or crushed stones. No man of the offspring of Aaron the priest with a fault will come near to offer the offerings of the Lord made by fire. He has a fault. He must not come near to offer the bread of his God. He will eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy and of the holy. Only he must not go in to the curtain or come near the altar, because he has a fault — so he doesn't make my sanctuaries unholy. Because I the Lord make them holy. Moses told this to Aaron and to his sons and to all the Israelites.

And the Lord spoke to Moses: Speak to Aaron: Whoever of your offspring through their generations has any fault won't come near to offer the bread of his God. Because no man with a fault will come near — a blind man or a lame man, or one with a flat nose or anything out of shape, or a man with a broken foot or a broken hand, or a hunchback or a dwarf, or one with something wrong with his eye, or a man with a rash or scabs, or crushed stones. No man of the offspring of Aaron the priest with a fault will come near to offer the offerings of the Lord made by fire. He's got a fault. He won't come near to offer the bread of his God. He'll eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy and of the holy. Only he won't go in to the curtain or come near the altar, because he's got a fault — so he doesn't make my holy places common. Because I the Lord make them holy. And Moses told this to Aaron and to his sons and to all the people of Israel.

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron, saying, Whosoever he be of thy seed in their generations that hath any blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God. For whatsoever man he be that hath a blemish, he shall not approach: a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or any thing superfluous, Or a man that is brokenfooted, or brokenhanded, Or crookbackt, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken; No man that hath a blemish of the seed of Aaron the priest shall come nigh to offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire: he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God. He shall eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy, and of the holy. Only he shall not go in unto the vail, nor come nigh unto the altar, because he hath a blemish; that he profane not my sanctuaries: for I the LORD do sanctify them. And Moses told it unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel.

16

The Lord spoke to Moses:

Plain English

And the Lord spoke to Moses:

King James Version, 1611

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

17

Speak to Aaron: Whoever of your offspring through their generations has any fault won't come near to offer the bread of his God.

King James Version, 1611

Speak unto Aaron, saying, Whosoever he be of thy seed in their generations that hath any blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God.

18

Because no man with a fault will come near — a blind man or a lame man, or one with a flat nose or anything out of shape,

King James Version, 1611

For whatsoever man he be that hath a blemish, he shall not approach: a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or any thing superfluous,

19

Or a man with a broken foot or a broken hand,

Plain English

or a man with a broken foot or a broken hand,

King James Version, 1611

Or a man that is brokenfooted, or brokenhanded,

20

Or a hunchback or a dwarf, or one with something wrong with his eye, or a man with a rash or scabs, or crushed stones.

Plain English

or a hunchback or a dwarf, or one with something wrong with his eye, or a man with a rash or scabs, or crushed stones.

King James Version, 1611

Or crookbackt, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken;

21

No man of the offspring of Aaron the priest with a fault will come near to offer the offerings of the Lord made by fire. He has a fault. He must not come near to offer the bread of his God.

Plain English

No man of the offspring of Aaron the priest with a fault will come near to offer the offerings of the Lord made by fire. He's got a fault. He won't come near to offer the bread of his God.

King James Version, 1611

No man that hath a blemish of the seed of Aaron the priest shall come nigh to offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire: he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God.

22

He will eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy and of the holy.

Plain English

He'll eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy and of the holy.

King James Version, 1611

He shall eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy, and of the holy.

23

Only he must not go in to the curtain or come near the altar, because he has a fault — so he doesn't make my sanctuaries unholy. Because I the Lord make them holy.

Plain English

Only he won't go in to the curtain or come near the altar, because he's got a fault — so he doesn't make my holy places common. Because I the Lord make them holy.

King James Version, 1611

Only he shall not go in unto the vail, nor come nigh unto the altar, because he hath a blemish; that he profane not my sanctuaries: for I the LORD do sanctify them.

24

Moses told this to Aaron and to his sons and to all the Israelites.

Plain English

And Moses told this to Aaron and to his sons and to all the people of Israel.

King James Version, 1611

And Moses told it unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel.