Leviticus 21

Within the regulations on "holy living" that begin in Leviticus 17, this chapter opens the section on the holiness of the priests. Whereas Leviticus 20 addresses the sins and punishments of the people as a whole, this chapter and Leviticus 22 deal with regulations given to the priests.

Outline

• Verses 1–4 A priest must not defile himself for the dead among his people. Exceptions are made, however, for his parents, his children, his brother, and his unmarried sister.
• Verses 5–6 The priests must not shave their heads bald, shave off the corners of their beards, or make cuttings in their flesh, because they offer the bread (food) of God.
• Verses 7–9 A priest must not marry a harlot, a profane woman, or a woman put away from her husband. A priest's daughter who plays the whore is to be burned with fire.
• Verses 10–15 These verses give regulations for the high priest, upon whose head the anointing oil (the oil of consecration) has been poured. The high priest must not uncover his head or rend his clothes, must not go near the dead body even of his father or mother, and must marry a virgin of his own people.
• Verses 16–24 No descendant of Aaron who has a blemish may approach the altar to present the offerings made by fire. He may, however, eat of the holy and the most holy things. Moses delivers these words to Aaron, to his sons, and to all the children of Israel.

Key Verses

• Leviticus 21:8 "For I the LORD, which sanctify you, am holy." — This verse expresses the chapter's recurring theme that the holiness of the priests comes from God.
• Leviticus 21:22 "He shall eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy, and of the holy." — This verse shows that even a priest with a blemish is not excluded from the portion belonging to the priestly family.

People and Places

• The LORD, Moses, Aaron
• Priests: The descendants of Aaron, charged with offering sacrifices.
• High priest: The chief priest, anointed with the anointing oil.
• The sanctuary and the altar: The sanctuary is the holy place where God is served, and the altar is where offerings are presented.

Points for Reflection

• The prohibition against the high priest rending his clothes (v. 10) recalls the command Aaron received when he lost his two sons in Leviticus 10. The scene at the trial of Jesus in which the high priest rends his clothes (Matthew 26:65) is often cited in connection with this regulation.
• Many interpreters do not regard the regulation concerning priests with blemishes as a judgment on a person's worth. Instead, they read it as symbolizing the "wholeness" expressed in sacrificial worship. In discussions of the church's attitude toward people with disabilities, it is sometimes considered alongside the instruction to invite the poor, the lame, and the blind to a feast (Luke 14:13).
• Christians commonly read this chapter in light of Hebrews. Hebrews 7:26 presents Jesus as a high priest who is holy and undefiled. Protestants hold to the priesthood of all believers, the view that all believers are priests, and generally do not apply the regulations of this chapter literally to the qualifications of ministers today.