King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
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.
Complete Jewish Bible:
only he is not to go in to the curtain or approach the altar, because he has a defect - so that he will not profane my holy places, because I am ADONAI, who makes them holy.'"
Berean Standard Bible:
but because he has a defect, he must not go near the veil or approach the altar, so as not to desecrate My sanctuaries. For I am the LORD who sanctifies them.’”
American Standard Version:
only he shall not go in unto the veil, nor come nigh unto the altar, because he hath a blemish; that he profane not my sanctuaries: for I am Jehovah who sanctifieth them.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Only he shall not go in{H935} unto the vail{H6532}, nor come nigh{H5066} unto the altar{H4196}, because he hath a blemish{H3971}; that he profane{H2490} not my sanctuaries{H4720}: for I the LORD{H3068} do sanctify{H6942} them.
Cross-References (KJV):
Leviticus 21:12
- 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.
Exodus 40:26
- And he put the golden altar in the tent of the congregation before the vail:
Exodus 40:27
- And he burnt sweet incense thereon; as the LORD commanded Moses.
Leviticus 15:31
- Thus shall ye separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness; that they die not in their uncleanness, when they defile my tabernacle that [is] among them.
Ezekiel 44:9
- Thus saith the Lord GOD; No stranger, uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any stranger that [is] among the children of Israel.
Ezekiel 44:14
- But I will make them keepers of the charge of the house, for all the service thereof, and for all that shall be done therein.
Exodus 30:6
- And thou shalt put it before the vail that [is] by the ark of the testimony, before the mercy seat that [is] over the testimony, where I will meet with thee.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Leviticus 21:23
1. **Themes:**
- **Holiness and Purity:** The verse emphasizes the need for priests to be without physical blemish when serving in the Tabernacle (and later the Temple), reflecting the broader theme of holiness and purity in the presence of God.
- **Separation from the Holy:** It underscores the separation between the sacred and the profane, reinforcing the idea that only the ritually perfect can approach the divine.
- **Respect for Sacred Spaces:** The command seeks to maintain the sanctity of the sanctuaries and altar by restricting access to those who meet the required physical standards.
2. **Historical Context:**
- **Mosaic Law:** Leviticus 21:23 is part of the priestly code within the Mosaic Law, given to the Israelites after their exodus from Egypt. This code provided regulations for worship, sacrifices, and priestly conduct.
- **Priestly Service:** The priests, particularly the high priest, had to be ceremonially pure and without physical defects when performing their duties, especially when entering the Holy of Holies, where God's presence was believed to dwell.
- **Ritual Purity:** In ancient Israel, physical defects or blemishes could disqualify a priest from certain aspects of service because they were seen as symbolic of ritual impurity or imperfection, which could not be in the presence of God's holiness.
- **God's Sanctification:** The verse concludes with a reiteration of God's sovereignty over the sanctuaries and His role in sanctifying them, highlighting the belief that it is God who makes places and people holy through adherence to His commands.
In summary, Leviticus 21:23 is a prescription within the priestly regulations of the Pentateuch that reflects the importance of physical perfection for priests in their approach to God's altar, symbolizing the overarching themes of divine holiness, ritual purity, and reverence for sacred spaces in the religious life of ancient Israel.
*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: H935
There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בּוֹא
Transliteration: bôwʼ
Pronunciation: bo
Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way. - Strong's Number: H6532
There are 23 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פֹּרֶכֶת
Transliteration: pôreketh
Pronunciation: po-reh'-keth
Description: feminine active participle of the same as פֶּרֶךְ; a separatrix, i.e. (the sacred) screen; vail. - Strong's Number: H5066
There are 112 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָגַשׁ
Transliteration: nâgash
Pronunciation: naw-gash'
Description: a primitive root; to be or come (causatively, bring) near (for any purpose); euphemistically, to lie with a woman; as an enemy, to attack; religious to worship; causatively, to present; figuratively, to adduce an argument; by reversal, to stand back; (make to) approach (nigh), bring (forth, hither, near), (cause to) come (hither, near, nigh), give place, go hard (up), (be, draw, go) near (nigh), offer, overtake, present, put, stand. - Strong's Number: H4196
There are 338 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִזְבֵּחַ
Transliteration: mizbêach
Pronunciation: miz-bay'-akh
Description: from זָבַח; an altar; altar. - Strong's Number: H3971
There are 19 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מאוּם
Transliteration: mʼûwm
Pronunciation: moom
Description: usually מוּם; as if passive participle from an unused root probably meaning; to stain; a blemish (physically or morally); blemish, blot, spot. - Strong's Number: H2490
There are 131 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָלַל
Transliteration: châlal
Pronunciation: khaw-lal'
Description: a primitive root (compare חָלָה); also denominative (from חָלִיל); properly, to bore, i.e. (by implication) to wound, to dissolve; figuratively, to profane (a person, place or thing), to break (one's word), to begin (as if by an 'opening wedge'); to play (the flute); begin ([idiom] men began), defile, [idiom] break, defile, [idiom] eat (as common things), [idiom] first, [idiom] gather the grape thereof, [idiom] take inheritance, pipe, player on instruments, pollute, (cast as) profane (self), prostitute, slay (slain), sorrow, stain, wound. - Strong's Number: H4720
There are 71 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִקְדָּשׁ
Transliteration: miqdâsh
Pronunciation: mik-dawsh'
Description: or מִקְּדָשׁ; (Exodus 15:17), from קָדַשׁ; a consecrated thing or place, especially, a palace, sanctuary (whether of Jehovah or of idols) or asylum; chapel, hallowed part, holy place, sanctuary. - Strong's Number: H3068
There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהֹוָה
Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה. - Strong's Number: H6942
There are 153 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קָדַשׁ
Transliteration: qâdash
Pronunciation: kaw-dash'
Description: a primitive root; to be (causatively, make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally); appoint, bid, consecrate, dedicate, defile, hallow, (be, keep) holy(-er, place), keep, prepare, proclaim, purify, sanctify(-ied one, self), [idiom] wholly.