Leviticus 21:1

The Lord told Moses, “Tell Aaron's sons, the priests: A priest is not to make himself unclean by touching the dead body of any of his relatives.

Free Bible Version

In The King James Version

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:

In Context

2The only exceptions are for his immediate family. This includes his mother, father, son, daughter, or brother,

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Cross References

Leviticus 10:6Then Moses told Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, “Don't leave your hair uncombed, and don't tear your clothes, otherwise you will die, and the Lord will be angry with everyone. But your relatives and all the other Israelites may mourn for those the Lord killed by fire.

Leviticus 21:11He is not to go near any dead body. He must not make himself unclean, even if it is for his own father or mother.

Numbers 19:14The following regulation applies when a person dies in a tent. Everyone who comes into the tent and everyone who is already in the tent will be unclean for seven days.

Ezekiel 44:25A priest must not make himself unclean by going near a dead body. However, if it's his father, mother, son, daughter, brother, or a sister that's not married, then he may do so.

Malachi 2:1Now this command is for you priests!

Matthew Henry on Leviticus 21:1

This chapter might borrow its title from Mal. ii. 1 , "And now, O you priests, this commandment is for you." It is a law obliging priests with the utmost care and jealousy to preserve the dignity of their priesthood. I. The inferior priests are here charged both concerning their mourning and concerning their marriages and their children, ver. 1-9 . II. The high priest is restrained more than any of them, ver. 10-15 . III. Neither the one nor the other must have any blemish, ver. 16 , &c. Read the whole commentary →

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