Leviticus 21 gives rules for the priests of Israel so they can stay holy and set apart for God. These rules are stricter than those for regular Israelites because priests serve directly in God’s presence.
Rules About Mourning (Verses 1-6)
Priests must not touch a dead body because that makes them unclean.
The only exception is for close family members (mother, father, son, daughter, brother, or an unmarried sister).
Priests cannot shave their heads bald, cut their beards, or make cuts on their skin as part of mourning rituals (like the pagans did).
They must stay holy because they bring offerings to God.
Marriage Rules for Priests (Verses 7-9)
Priests cannot marry a prostitute, a divorced woman, or someone with a bad reputation they must marry a woman of good character.
If a priest’s daughter behaves in a way that dishonours her father (like prostitution), she could be severely punished.
Extra Rules for the High Priest (Verses 10-15)
The High Priest (the top priest) has even stricter rules: He cannot mourn for any dead person, even his parents.
He must not leave the Tabernacle (God’s holy place) to attend a funeral.
He must only marry a virgin to keep the priestly line pure.
Who Can Serve as a Priest? (Verses 16-24)
Men with physical defects cannot serve as priests in the holy place.
This includes those who are blind, crippled, deformed, have broken bones, skin diseases, or any serious injury.
These men can still eat the holy food, but they cannot enter the Most Holy Place or make offerings.
This rule was not about their worth as people but about symbolizing God’s perfection and holiness in worship.
Main Message of Leviticus 21
Priests had to stay holy because they represented God to the people. They had strict rules about mourning, marriage, and physical conditions to show the importance of purity.
This was not about discrimination, but about teaching Israel that worshiping God required special preparation and respect.
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