Bible Commentaries
Leviticus 21

Introduction

Overview

Leviticus 21:1, Of the priests’ mourning; Leviticus 21:6, Of their holiness; Leviticus 21:7, Of their marriages; Leviticus 21:8, Of their estimation; Leviticus 21:9, Of the priest’s daughter convicted of whoredom; Leviticus 21:10, Of the high priest’s holiness; Leviticus 21:13, Of his marriage; Leviticus 21:16, The priests that have blemishes must not minister in the sanctuary.

Verse 1

Speak: Hosea 5:1, Malachi 2:1, Malachi 2:4

There: Leviticus 21:11, Leviticus 10:6, Leviticus 10:7, Numbers 19:14, Numbers 19:16, Ezekiel 44:25

Reciprocal: Leviticus 22:4 - unclean Numbers 5:2 - and whosoever Numbers 6:7 - unclean Numbers 19:11 - toucheth the dead Deuteronomy 26:14 - eaten 1 Chronicles 6:49 - Aaron Nehemiah 13:29 - because they have defiled

Verse 2

Leviticus 18:6, 1 Thessalonians 4:13

Reciprocal: Leviticus 21:11 - his father Numbers 6:7 - unclean

Verse 3

Reciprocal: Leviticus 22:12 - a stranger

Verse 4

Or, the verse may be read, being an husband among his people, he shall not defile himself for his wife, etc. Ezekiel 24:16, Ezekiel 24:17

Verse 5

not make baldness: This custom is also called rounding the corners of the head - Leviticus 19:27, and seems to have been performed in honour of some idol. Leviticus 10:6, Leviticus 19:27, Leviticus 19:28, Deuteronomy 14:1, Isaiah 15:2, Isaiah 22:12, Jeremiah 16:6, Jeremiah 48:37, Ezekiel 44:20, Amos 8:10, Micah 1:16

the corner: The Hebrew peath zakon, may denote the whiskers; as the Syriac phatho signifies. These are by the Arabs, according to Niebuhr, still cut entirely off, or worn quite short; and hence they are called by Jeremiah, קצוצי פאה, those with cropped whiskers. Perhaps some superstition, of which we are ignorant, was connected with this; but whether or not, it was the object of Moses to keep the Israelites distinct from other nations.

Reciprocal: Ezra 9:3 - off Jeremiah 9:26 - in the utmost corners Jeremiah 47:5 - how Ezekiel 5:1 - take Ezekiel 27:31 - they shall make

Verse 6

holy: Leviticus 21:8, Leviticus 10:3, Exodus 28:36, Exodus 29:44, Ezra 8:28, 1 Peter 2:9

profane: Leviticus 18:21, Leviticus 19:12, Malachi 1:6, Malachi 1:11, Malachi 1:12

bread: Leviticus 3:11, Ezekiel 44:7, Malachi 1:7

therefore: Isaiah 52:11

Reciprocal: Leviticus 21:21 - to offer Leviticus 22:2 - that they profane not Leviticus 22:25 - the bread Numbers 16:5 - who is holy Numbers 28:2 - my bread Psalms 106:16 - the saint Hosea 9:4 - their bread

Verse 7

that is a whore: Leviticus 21:8, Ezekiel 44:22, 1 Timothy 3:11

put away: Deuteronomy 24:1-4, Isaiah 50:1

Reciprocal: Genesis 21:10 - Cast out Exodus 19:6 - and an Leviticus 19:29 - to cause Leviticus 21:13 - General Numbers 30:9 - General Deuteronomy 24:2 - she may go Deuteronomy 33:8 - with thy Ezra 10:18 - the sons Titus 1:6 - the husband

Verse 8

sanctify: Leviticus 21:6, Exodus 19:10, Exodus 19:14, Exodus 28:41, Exodus 29:1, Exodus 29:43, Exodus 29:44

for I: Leviticus 11:44, Leviticus 11:45, Leviticus 19:2, Leviticus 20:7, Leviticus 20:8, John 10:36, John 17:19, Hebrews 7:26, Hebrews 10:29

Reciprocal: Exodus 19:6 - and an Exodus 31:13 - that ye may Leviticus 3:11 - the food Leviticus 10:3 - I will be Leviticus 21:7 - that is a whore Leviticus 21:15 - for I the Leviticus 21:21 - to offer Leviticus 21:23 - for I the Lord Leviticus 22:25 - the bread Leviticus 22:32 - hallow you Numbers 28:2 - my bread Ezekiel 20:12 - I am Ezekiel 37:28 - sanctify Ezekiel 44:7 - when Hosea 9:4 - their bread

Verse 9

the daughter: 1 Samuel 2:17, 1 Samuel 2:34, 1 Samuel 3:13, 1 Samuel 3:14, Ezekiel 9:6, Malachi 2:3, Matthew 11:20-24, 1 Timothy 3:4, 1 Timothy 3:5, Titus 1:6

she shall be burnt: Leviticus 20:14, Genesis 38:24, Joshua 7:15, Joshua 7:25, Isaiah 33:14

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 21:18 - obey the voice Deuteronomy 22:21 - she hath wrought Judges 19:2 - played Ezekiel 23:45 - after the manner of adulteresses Revelation 17:16 - and burn

Verse 10

upon: Leviticus 8:12, Leviticus 10:7, Leviticus 16:32, Exodus 29:29, Exodus 29:30, Numbers 35:25, Psalms 133:2

consecrated: Leviticus 8:7-9, Exodus 28:2-4

uncover: Leviticus 10:6, Leviticus 10:7, Leviticus 13:45, 2 Samuel 15:30, Esther 6:12, not rend, Genesis 37:34, Job 1:20, Matthew 26:65, All human corpses were considered as unclean. Whoever touched one was unclean for seven days, and was obliged on the third and seventh day to purify himself according to the Mosaic instructions. In the case of the priest it went still farther; insomuch, that even mourning for the dead by any external sign, such as tearing their clothes, defiled them. Hence such mournings were absolutely forbidden to be used in any case, and by the other priests also, except in the case of their very nearest relations, for whom they were allowed to mourn. This statue is founded on the importance of sustaining the decency and purity of Divine worship. The servants of the Deity were to keep themselves at a distance from every thing that in the least degree savoured of uncleanness.

Reciprocal: Exodus 29:7 - General Exodus 30:31 - an holy Exodus 30:32 - man's Leviticus 4:3 - the priest Numbers 6:7 - unclean Numbers 18:8 - by reason Psalms 106:16 - the saint Ezekiel 24:17 - bind

Verse 11

his father: Leviticus 21:1, Leviticus 21:2, Numbers 6:7, Numbers 19:14, Deuteronomy 33:9, Matthew 8:21, Matthew 8:22, Matthew 12:46-50, Luke 9:59, Luke 9:60, Luke 14:26, 2 Corinthians 5:16

Reciprocal: Leviticus 8:12 - General Numbers 9:6 - defiled Numbers 19:11 - toucheth the dead Deuteronomy 26:14 - eaten

Verse 12

go out: Leviticus 10:7

for the crown: Leviticus 8:9-12, Leviticus 8:30, Exodus 28:36, Exodus 29:6, Exodus 29:7, Isaiah 61:1, Acts 10:38

Reciprocal: Exodus 25:8 - a sanctuary Leviticus 8:12 - General Leviticus 21:23 - profane Numbers 16:5 - who is holy Matthew 8:21 - suffer

Verse 13

Leviticus 21:7, Ezekiel 44:22, 2 Corinthians 11:2, Revelation 14:4

Reciprocal: Ezra 10:18 - the sons 1 Timothy 3:11 - their Hebrews 13:4 - Marriage

Verse 14

Reciprocal: Numbers 12:1 - married Deuteronomy 24:2 - she may go Ezekiel 44:22 - a widow Titus 1:6 - the husband

Verse 15

profane: Genesis 18:19, Ezra 2:62, Ezra 9:2, Nehemiah 13:23-29, Malachi 2:11, Malachi 2:15, Romans 11:16, 1 Corinthians 7:14

for I the: Leviticus 21:8

Reciprocal: Exodus 29:44 - sanctify also Leviticus 10:3 - I will be Leviticus 22:32 - hallow you Ezekiel 20:12 - I am Malachi 2:8 - ye have corrupted

Verse 17

blemish: Leviticus 22:20-25, 1 Thessalonians 2:10, 1 Timothy 3:2, Hebrews 7:26

let him: Leviticus 21:21, Leviticus 10:3, Numbers 16:5, Psalms 65:4

bread: or, food, Leviticus 3:11, Leviticus 3:16

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 23:1 - wounded 2 Chronicles 30:19 - though he be not Ezekiel 44:7 - when Hosea 9:4 - their bread

Verse 18

a blind man: Isaiah 56:10, Matthew 23:16, Matthew 23:17, Matthew 23:19, 1 Timothy 3:2, 1 Timothy 3:3, 1 Timothy 3:7, Titus 1:7, Titus 1:10

superfluous: Leviticus 22:23

Reciprocal: Leviticus 22:22 - Blind Daniel 1:4 - in whom

Verse 20

a dwarf: or, too slender

or hath: Deuteronomy 23:1

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 28:27 - scab Matthew 26:65 - the high priest

Verse 21

a blemish: In the above list of blemishes, we meet with some that might render the priest contemptible in the eyes of men; and others that would be very great impediments in the discharge of his ministerial duties.

to offer: Leviticus 21:6, Leviticus 21:8, Leviticus 21:17

Reciprocal: Leviticus 3:11 - the food Leviticus 6:18 - the males Leviticus 10:3 - I will be Leviticus 22:25 - the bread Deuteronomy 32:38 - eat the fat Ezra 2:62 - therefore Nehemiah 7:65 - that they should Ezekiel 44:7 - when Hosea 9:4 - their bread

Verse 22

both: Leviticus 2:3, Leviticus 2:10, Leviticus 6:16, Leviticus 6:17, Leviticus 6:29, Leviticus 7:1, Leviticus 24:8, Leviticus 24:9, Numbers 18:9, Numbers 18:10

and of the holy: Leviticus 22:10-13, Numbers 18:10, Numbers 18:19

Reciprocal: Leviticus 3:11 - the food Leviticus 6:18 - the males Leviticus 6:25 - it is Leviticus 10:12 - Take Leviticus 14:13 - it is most holy Leviticus 22:4 - holy things Leviticus 22:7 - General Leviticus 22:25 - the bread 2 Chronicles 31:16 - his daily Ezekiel 42:13 - the most holy

Verse 23

go in: Exodus 30:6-8, Exodus 40:26, Exodus 40:27, Ezekiel 44:9-14

profane: Leviticus 21:12, Leviticus 15:31

for I the Lord: Leviticus 21:8

Reciprocal: Exodus 19:6 - and an 2 Chronicles 31:16 - his daily Ezekiel 20:12 - I am Matthew 27:51 - the veil Hebrews 10:20 - through

Verse 24

Aaron: Malachi 2:1-7, Colossians 4:17, 1 Timothy 1:18, 2 Timothy 2:2

Reciprocal: Leviticus 23:44 - General