Catholic Bible
Mosaico decorativo

Leviticus, 21

1. The Lord said also to Moses: Speak to the priests the sons of Aaron, and thou shalt say to them: Let not a priest incur an uncleanness at the death of his citizens:

1. καὶ εἶπεν κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν λέγων εἰπὸν τοῖς ἱερεῦσιν τοῖς υἱοῖς Ααρων καὶ ἐρεῖς πρὸς αὐτούς ἐν ταῖς ψυχαῖς οὐ μιανθήσονται ἐν τῷ ἔθνει αὐτῶν

2. But only for his kin, such as are near in blood, that is to say, for his father and for his mother, and for his son, and for his daughter, for his brother also,

2. ἀλλ’ ἢ ἐν τῷ οἰκείῳ τῷ ἔγγιστα αὐτῶν ἐπὶ πατρὶ καὶ μητρὶ καὶ υἱοῖς καὶ θυγατράσιν ἐπ’ ἀδελφῷ

3. And for a maiden sister, who hath had no husband:

3. καὶ ἐπ’ ἀδελφῇ παρθένῳ τῇ ἐγγιζούσῃ αὐτῷ τῇ μὴ ἐκδεδομένῃ ἀνδρί ἐπὶ τούτοις μιανθήσεται

4. But not even for the prince of his people shall he do any thing that may make him unclean.

4. οὐ μιανθήσεται ἐξάπινα ἐν τῷ λαῷ αὐτοῦ εἰς βεβήλωσιν αὐτοῦ

5. Neither shall they shave their head, nor their beard, nor make incisions in their flesh.

5. καὶ φαλάκρωμα οὐ ξυρηθήσεσθε τὴν κεφαλὴν ἐπὶ νεκρῷ καὶ τὴν ὄψιν τοῦ πώγωνος οὐ ξυρήσονται καὶ ἐπὶ τὰς σάρκας αὐτῶν οὐ κατατεμοῦσιν ἐντομίδας

6. They shall be holy to their God, and shall not profane his name: for they offer the burnt offering of the Lord, and the bread of their God, and therefore they shall be holy.

6. ἅγιοι ἔσονται τῷ θεῷ αὐτῶν καὶ οὐ βεβηλώσουσιν τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ θεοῦ αὐτῶν τὰς γὰρ θυσίας κυρίου δῶρα τοῦ θεοῦ αὐτῶν αὐτοὶ προσφέρουσιν καὶ ἔσονται ἅγιοι

7. They shall not take to wife a harlot or a vile prostitute, nor one that has been put away from her husband: because they are consecrated to their God,

7. γυναῖκα πόρνην καὶ βεβηλωμένην οὐ λήμψονται καὶ γυναῖκα ἐκβεβλημένην ἀπὸ ἀνδρὸς αὐτῆς ἅγιός ἐστιν τῷ κυρίῳ θεῷ αὐτοῦ

8. And offer the leaves of proposition. Let them therefore be holy, because I also am holy, the Lord, who sanctify them.

8. καὶ ἁγιάσει αὐτόν τὰ δῶρα κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ ὑμῶν οὗτος προσφέρει ἅγιος ἔσται ὅτι ἅγιος ἐγὼ κύριος ὁ ἁγιάζων αὐτούς

9. If the daughter of a priest be taken in whoredom, and dishonour the name of her father, she shall be burnt with fire.

9. καὶ θυγάτηρ ἀνθρώπου ἱερέως ἐὰν βεβηλωθῇ τοῦ ἐκπορνεῦσαι τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτῆς αὐτὴ βεβηλοῖ ἐπὶ πυρὸς κατακαυθήσεται

10. The high priest, that is to say, the priest, is the greatest among his brethren. upon whose head the oil of unction hath been poured, and whose hands have been consecrated for the priesthood, and who hath been vested with the holy vestments, shall not uncover his head, he shall not rend his garments:

10. καὶ ὁ ἱερεὺς ὁ μέγας ἀπὸ τῶν ἀδελφῶν αὐτοῦ τοῦ ἐπικεχυμένου ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν τοῦ ἐλαίου τοῦ χριστοῦ καὶ τετελειωμένου ἐνδύσασθαι τὰ ἱμάτια τὴν κεφαλὴν οὐκ ἀποκιδαρώσει καὶ τὰ ἱμάτια οὐ διαρρήξει

11. Nor shall he go in at all to any dead person: not even for his father, or his mother, shall he be defiled:

11. καὶ ἐπὶ πάσῃ ψυχῇ τετελευτηκυίᾳ οὐκ εἰσελεύσεται ἐπὶ πατρὶ αὐτοῦ οὐδὲ ἐπὶ μητρὶ αὐτοῦ οὐ μιανθήσεται

12. Neither shall he go out of the holy places, lest he defile the sanctuary of the Lord, because the oil of the holy unction of his God is upon him. I am the Lord.

12. καὶ ἐκ τῶν ἁγίων οὐκ ἐξελεύσεται καὶ οὐ βεβηλώσει τὸ ἡγιασμένον τοῦ θεοῦ αὐτοῦ ὅτι τὸ ἅγιον ἔλαιον τὸ χριστὸν τοῦ θεοῦ ἐπ’ αὐτῷ ἐγὼ κύριος

13. He shall take a virgin unto his wife:

13. οὗτος γυναῖκα παρθένον ἐκ τοῦ γένους αὐτοῦ λήμψεται

14. But a widow or one that is divorced, or defiled, or a harlot, he shall not take, but a maid of his own people :

14. χήραν δὲ καὶ ἐκβεβλημένην καὶ βεβηλωμένην καὶ πόρνην ταύτας οὐ λήμψεται ἀλλ’ ἢ παρθένον ἐκ τοῦ γένους αὐτοῦ λήμψεται γυναῖκα

15. He shall not mingle the stock of his kindred with the common people of his nation: for I am the Lord who sanctify him.

15. καὶ οὐ βεβηλώσει τὸ σπέρμα αὐτοῦ ἐν τῷ λαῷ αὐτοῦ ἐγὼ κύριος ὁ ἁγιάζων αὐτόν

16. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:

16. καὶ ἐλάλησεν κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν λέγων

17. Say to Aaron: Whosoever of thy seed throughout their families, hath a blemish, he shall not offer bread to his God.

17. εἰπὸν Ααρων ἄνθρωπος ἐκ τοῦ γένους σου εἰς τὰς γενεὰς ὑμῶν τίνι ἐὰν ᾖ ἐν αὐτῷ μῶμος οὐ προσελεύσεται προσφέρειν τὰ δῶρα τοῦ θεοῦ αὐτοῦ

18. Neither shall he approach to minister to him: If he be blind, if he be lame, if he have a little, or a great, or a crooked nose,

18. πᾶς ἄνθρωπος ᾧ ἂν ᾖ ἐν αὐτῷ μῶμος οὐ προσελεύσεται ἄνθρωπος χωλὸς ἢ τυφλὸς ἢ κολοβόρριν ἢ ὠτότμητος

19. If his foot, or if his hand be broken,

19. ἢ ἄνθρωπος ᾧ ἐστιν ἐν αὐτῷ σύντριμμα χειρὸς ἢ σύντριμμα ποδός

20. If he be crookbacked, or blear eyed, or have a pearl in his eye, or a continual scab, or a dry scurf in his body, or a rupture:

20. ἢ κυρτὸς ἢ ἔφηλος ἢ πτίλος τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ἢ ἄνθρωπος ᾧ ἂν ᾖ ἐν αὐτῷ ψώρα ἀγρία ἢ λιχήν ἢ μόνορχις

21. Whosoever of the seed of Aaron the priest hath a blemish, he shall not approach to offer sacrifices to the Lord, nor bread to his God.

21. πᾶς ᾧ ἐστιν ἐν αὐτῷ μῶμος ἐκ τοῦ σπέρματος Ααρων τοῦ ἱερέως οὐκ ἐγγιεῖ τοῦ προσενεγκεῖν τὰς θυσίας τῷ θεῷ σου ὅτι μῶμος ἐν αὐτῷ τὰ δῶρα τοῦ θεοῦ οὐ προσελεύσεται προσενεγκεῖν

22. He shall eat nevertheless of the loaves, that are offered in the sanctuary,

22. τὰ δῶρα τοῦ θεοῦ τὰ ἅγια τῶν ἁγίων καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν ἁγίων φάγεται

23. Yet so that he enter not within the veil, nor approach to the altar, because he hath a blemish, and he must not defile my sanctuary. I am the Lord who sanctify them.

23. πλὴν πρὸς τὸ καταπέτασμα οὐ προσελεύσεται καὶ πρὸς τὸ θυσιαστήριον οὐκ ἐγγιεῖ ὅτι μῶμον ἔχει καὶ οὐ βεβηλώσει τὸ ἅγιον τοῦ θεοῦ αὐτοῦ ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι κύριος ὁ ἁγιάζων αὐτούς

24. Moses therefore spoke to Aaron, and to his sons and to all Israel, all the things that had been commanded him.

24. καὶ ἐλάλησεν Μωυσῆς πρὸς Ααρων καὶ τοὺς υἱοὺς αὐτοῦ καὶ πρὸς πάντας υἱοὺς Ισραηλ



Read the Bible in a Year

Join our community and complete the entire Bible in 365 days. A structured and inspiring path to deepen your faith and knowledge of Scripture.

Join the Program Download the PDF Plan

Footnotes:

21:1-4 - God establishes purity standards for priests, forbidding them to defile themselves with the dead, except through close relatives. This emphasizes the holiness that should mark the lives of priests, reflecting their role as intercessors between God and the people (see also Numbers 6:6-7 and Ezekiel 44:25).

21:5-6 - The priests are instructed to avoid pagan practices such as shaving their heads or cutting their bodies, common mourning practices. This emphasizes the separation between the children of Israel and the pagan nations, and the need for holiness for those who serve God (see also Deuteronomy 14:1-2).

21:7-9 - God forbids priests from marrying dishonorable women, such as prostitutes or divorcees, to preserve the sanctity of the priestly office and maintain the purity of God's service (see also 1 Timothy 3:2 and Titus 1:6).

21:10-12 - The high priest has even more restrictions, such as being forbidden from tearing his garments or leaving the sanctuary, even in the event of the death of close family members. This highlights the high spiritual responsibility and holiness that must be maintained (see also Hebrews 7:26 and Matthew 26:65).

21:16-23 - Priests with physical defects are forbidden from offering sacrifices, symbolizing that holiness and perfection were necessary to serve directly before God. This prefigures the perfect high priest, Jesus Christ (see also Hebrews 4:14-15 and Malachi 1:8).

Verses related to Leviticus, 21:

Leviticus chapter 21 outlines special rules for priests. What high standards does God require of His ministers? This specific text addresses personal purity, marital restrictions, and physical qualifications for priestly service. The chapter emphasizes the holiness necessary for those who approach God on behalf of the people. These laws reflect the honor of the priestly office and point to the perfect priesthood of Christ. Investigate with us five biblical passages that reveal the relevance of these principles for spiritual leaders today.

Ezekiel 44:22: "They shall not marry widows or divorced women, but only virgin girls of the descendants of the nation of Israel, or widows of priests." - This verse reflects the marriage laws for priests established in Leviticus 21, showing their continuity in Ezekiel's vision for the future temple.

1 Peter 2:9: "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, to proclaim the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." - Peter applies the language of priestly holiness from Leviticus 21 to all believers, expanding the concept of priesthood.

Malachi 2:7: "For the lips of the priest must keep knowledge, and from his mouth everyone expects instruction, because he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts." - This verse echoes the responsibility of priests to maintain holiness and teach the law, as set forth in Leviticus 21.

Hebrews 7:26: "It is a high priest like this that we need: holy, blameless, pure, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens." - The author of Hebrews uses the language of priestly holiness from Leviticus 21 to describe Jesus as the perfect high priest.

Titus 1:7-9: "The bishop must be blameless, as God's administrator; not arrogant, not quarrelsome, not fond of wine, not violent, not greedy for dishonest gain. On the contrary, he must be hospitable, a friend of good, sensible, just, consecrated, have self-control and hold firmly to the faithful message, in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able to encourage others through sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it." - Paul applies principles similar to those in Leviticus 21 to church leaders, adapting the concept of priestly holiness to the Christian context.

FAQ:

What are the purity requirements for priests in Leviticus 21?

Priests must avoid contact with dead bodies and maintain moral purity, for they are responsible for presenting the sacred offerings to the Lord. (Leviticus 21:1-9)

Why were priests with physical defects not allowed to offer sacrifices in Leviticus 21?

Priests with physical defects were forbidden to offer sacrifices to preserve the holiness and perfection required for service before God. (Leviticus 21:16-23)

How does Leviticus 21 address the marriage of priests?

Priests could not marry prostitutes or divorced women, maintaining moral and spiritual purity in their families. (Leviticus 21:7, 13-15)

How important was the holiness of the priests in Leviticus 21?

The holiness of the priests was vital, for they represented the people before God and offered sacrifices of atonement. (Leviticus 21:6-8)

What does Leviticus 21 teach about the role of priests?

Leviticus 21 teaches that priests were to maintain exemplary purity, both physical and spiritual, in order to serve before God. (Leviticus 21:1-24)


Bibles

Old Testament

New Testament

Follow us