King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
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.
Complete Jewish Bible:
he may not marry a widow, divorcee, profaned woman or prostitute; but he must marry a virgin from among his own people
Berean Standard Bible:
He is not to marry a widow, a divorced woman, or one defiled by prostitution. He is to marry a virgin from his own people,
American Standard Version:
A widow, or one divorced, or a profane woman, a harlot, these shall he not take: but a virgin of his own people shall he take to wife.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
A widow{H490}, or a divorced woman{H1644}, or profane{H2491}, or an harlot{H2181}, these shall he not take{H3947}: but he shall take{H3947} a virgin{H1330} of his own people{H5971} to wife{H802}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Leviticus 21:7
- 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.
Ezekiel 44:22
- Neither shall they take for their wives a widow, nor her that is put away: but they shall take maidens of the seed of the house of Israel, or a widow that had a priest before.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Leviticus 21:14
1. **Themes:**
- **Priestly Purity and Holiness:** Leviticus 21:14 emphasizes the importance of the priestly line maintaining ritual purity and holiness. The passage is part of a larger section detailing the conduct and qualifications for priests, particularly the high priest.
- **Marital Purity:** The verse underscores the expectation that priests, as mediators between God and the people, should exemplify moral and ritual standards, which includes marrying a woman of unblemished reputation.
- **Social Order and Distinctions:** The regulations serve to distinguish the priesthood from the rest of the community, reinforcing the special status of the priests in Israelite society.
2. **Historical Context:**
- **Israelite Priesthood:** The book of Leviticus contains laws given to Moses for the people of Israel. These laws were to govern the newly formed nation both spiritually and practically after their exodus from Egypt.
- **Holiness Code:** Leviticus 21 is part of the Holiness Code (Leviticus 17-26), which outlines various laws and rituals intended to set Israel apart as a holy nation. The code includes instructions for personal conduct, worship practices, and social justice.
- **Time Period:** The laws in Leviticus are traditionally understood to have been given around the 15th century BCE, during the time the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness before entering the Promised Land.
- **Cultural Practices:** Marriage to a virgin ensured that the priest's offspring would be of known lineage, which was important for maintaining the tribal and familial heritage central to Israelite identity and the inheritance of priestly roles.
In summary, Leviticus 21:14 reflects the strict standards of purity and holiness required of the Israelite priesthood, emphasizing the need for priests to marry within their community to a woman who was a virgin, thus preserving the sanctity of the priestly line. This command was part of a broader set of regulations designed to distinguish the priests and maintain the unique identity of the Israelites as a holy people set apart for God.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H490
There are 303 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַלְמָנָה
Transliteration: ʼalmânâh
Pronunciation: al-maw-naw'
Description: feminine of אַלְמָן; a widow; also a desolate place; desolate house (palace), widow. - Strong's Number: H1644
There are 45 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גָּרַשׁ
Transliteration: gârash
Pronunciation: gaw-rash'
Description: a primitive root; to drive out from a possession; especially to expatriate or divorce; cast up (out), divorced (woman), drive away (forth, out), expel, [idiom] surely put away, trouble, thrust out. - Strong's Number: H2491
There are 85 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָלָל
Transliteration: châlâl
Pronunciation: khaw-lawl'
Description: from חָלַל; pierced (especially to death); figuratively, polluted; kill, profane, slain (man), [idiom] slew, (deadly) wounded. - Strong's Number: H2181
There are 82 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: זָנָה
Transliteration: zânâh
Pronunciation: zaw-naw'
Description: a primitive root (highly-fed and therefore wanton); to commit adultery (usually of the female, and less often of simple fornication, rarely of involuntary ravishment); figuratively, to commit idolatry (the Jewish people being regarded as the spouse of Jehovah); (cause to) commit fornication, [idiom] continually, [idiom] great, (be an, play the) harlot, (cause to be, play the) whore, (commit, fall to) whoredom, (cause to) go a-whoring, whorish. - Strong's Number: H3947
There are 909 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לָקַח
Transliteration: lâqach
Pronunciation: law-kakh'
Description: a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications); accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, [idiom] many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win. - Strong's Number: H1330
There are 50 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בְּתוּלָה
Transliteration: bᵉthûwlâh
Pronunciation: beth-oo-law'
Description: feminine passive participle of an unused root meaning to separate; a virgin (from her privacy); sometimes (by continuation) a bride; also (figuratively) a city or state; maid, virgin. - Strong's Number: H5971
There are 1654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עַם
Transliteration: ʻam
Pronunciation: am
Description: from עָמַם; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock; folk, men, nation, people. - Strong's Number: H802
There are 729 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אִשָּׁה
Transliteration: ʼishshâh
Pronunciation: ish-shaw'
Description: feminine of אִישׁ or אֱנוֹשׁ; irregular plural, נָשִׁים;(used in the same wide sense as אֱנוֹשׁ); a woman; (adulter) ess, each, every, female, [idiom] many, [phrase] none, one, [phrase] together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English.
