Leviticus 21:11

Neither shall he go in to any dead body, nor defile himself for his father, or for his mother;

Neither shall he go in {H935} to any dead {H4191} body {H5315}, nor defile {H2930} himself for his father {H1}, or for his mother {H517};

go in to where any dead body is or make himself unclean, even when his father or mother dies.

He must not go near any dead body; he must not defile himself, even for his father or mother.

neither shall he go in to any dead body, nor defile himself for his father, or for his mother;

Leviticus 21:11 is part of a specific set of laws concerning the purity and conduct of the Israelite priesthood, particularly focusing on the High Priest. This verse highlights the extreme level of holiness and separation required of the individual who served as the nation's chief intercessor before God.

Context

This chapter outlines the unique regulations for priests, distinguishing between ordinary priests and the High Priest. The High Priest, identified in Leviticus 21:10 as "him that is the high priest among his brethren," held the most sacred office in ancient Israel. His consecration was marked by the anointing oil and special garments, signifying his unique dedication to God. Unlike ordinary priests, who were permitted to defile themselves for immediate family members (Leviticus 21:1-3), the High Priest was under an absolute prohibition from contact with the dead, even his closest relatives.

Key Themes

  • Absolute Holiness and Separation: The primary theme is the unparalleled standard of holiness demanded of the High Priest. His life was to be entirely consecrated to God, setting him apart from all defilement, including that associated with death.
  • Symbolic Purity: Death was considered the ultimate source of ritual impurity in the Mosaic Law (Numbers 19:11). The High Priest's avoidance of any dead body symbolized his complete dedication to life and God, who is the source of life.
  • Representational Role: The High Priest represented the entire nation before God. His personal purity was crucial for the efficacy of his priestly functions and for the spiritual well-being of Israel. Any defilement on his part could compromise the nation's standing before God.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "go in to any dead body" (Hebrew: nefesh met, literally "dead soul" or "dead person") refers to entering a place where a corpse lay or coming into direct contact with it. The word "defile himself" (Hebrew: tame) signifies becoming ritually unclean, which would render him unfit to perform his sacred duties in the tabernacle or temple. This was not necessarily a moral failing, but a state of impurity that prevented access to the holy presence of God.

Practical Application and Significance

For Christians, this verse, while part of the Old Covenant's ceremonial law, offers profound spiritual lessons:

  • The Nature of God's Holiness: It underscores God's absolute holiness and His demand for purity in those who serve Him. The strictness of the law for the High Priest reflects the infinite purity of the God he served.
  • Spiritual Separation: While believers are not bound by these ritual laws, the principle of spiritual separation from "dead works" and worldly defilement remains. We are called to live holy lives, set apart for God's purposes (1 Peter 1:15-16).
  • Christ, Our High Priest: This verse beautifully foreshadows the perfect holiness of Jesus, our great High Priest. Unlike the Levitical High Priest, who was limited by sin and death, Jesus is inherently pure and undefiled (Hebrews 7:26). He was able to touch the dead not to become defiled, but to bring life, as seen in His raising of the widow's son or Jairus's daughter. He perfectly fulfilled the demands of holiness and transcended the limitations of the Old Covenant, offering a new and living way to God.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Numbers 19:14

    This [is] the law, when a man dieth in a tent: all that come into the tent, and all that [is] in the tent, shall be unclean seven days.

  • Numbers 6:7

    He shall not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother, for his brother, or for his sister, when they die: because the consecration of his God [is] upon his head.

  • Leviticus 21:1

    ¶ And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto the priests the sons of Aaron, and say unto them, There shall none be defiled for the dead among his people:

  • Leviticus 21:2

    But for his kin, that is near unto him, [that is], for his mother, and for his father, and for his son, and for his daughter, and for his brother,

  • Leviticus 19:28

    Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I [am] the LORD.

  • Matthew 12:46

    ¶ While he yet talked to the people, behold, [his] mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.

  • Matthew 12:50

    For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
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