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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Leviticus 21:2 except for his immediate family--his mother, father, son, daughter, or brother,</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/leviticus/21-2.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/20/03_Lev_21_02.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Leviticus 21:2 - Holiness Required of Priests" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="except for his immediate family--his mother, father, son, daughter, or brother," /><script type="application/javascript" 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border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad2.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/leviticus/21-1.htm" title="Leviticus 21:1">◄</a> Leviticus 21:2 <a href="/leviticus/21-3.htm" title="Leviticus 21:3">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/leviticus/21.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/leviticus/21.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />except for a close relative, such as his mother or father, his son or daughter, his brother,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/leviticus/21.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />The only exceptions are his closest relatives—his mother or father, son or daughter, brother,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/leviticus/21.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />except for his closest relatives, his mother, his father, his son, his daughter, his brother,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/leviticus/21.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />except for his immediate family—his mother, father, son, daughter, or brother,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/leviticus/21.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />But for his kin, that is near unto him, <i>that is</i>, for his mother, and for his father, and for his son, and for his daughter, and for his brother,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/leviticus/21.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />except for his relatives who are nearest to him: his mother, his father, his son, his daughter, and his brother;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/leviticus/21.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />except for his relatives who are nearest to him, his mother, his father, his son, his daughter, and his brother,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/leviticus/21.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />except for his relatives who are nearest to him, his mother and his father and his son and his daughter and his brother,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/leviticus/21.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />except for his relatives who are nearest to him, his mother and his father and his son and his daughter and his brother,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/leviticus/21.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />except for his blood relatives who are nearest to him, his mother and his father and his son and his daughter and his brother,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/leviticus/21.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />except for his relatives who are nearest to him, his mother, his father, his son, his daughter, and his brother,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/leviticus/21.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />except for his immediate family: his mother, father, son, daughter, or brother.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/leviticus/21.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />except for his immediate family: his mother, father, son, daughter, or brother. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/leviticus/21.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />except for his kin, that is near unto him, for his mother, and for his father, and for his son, and for his daughter, and for his brother,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/leviticus/21.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />except your mother, father, son, daughter, brother, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/leviticus/21.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />except for his kin, that is near unto him, for his mother, and for his father, and for his son, and for his daughter, and for his brother;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/leviticus/21.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />However, you are allowed to become unclean when one of your nearest relatives dies. These relatives include your mother, father, son, daughter, or brother,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/leviticus/21.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />unless it is his mother, father, son, daughter, brother, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/leviticus/21.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />except his close relatives—his mother, father, son, daughter, brother, or <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/leviticus/21.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />except for his close relative who is near to him: his mother, his father, his son, his daughter, his brother,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/leviticus/21.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />except for his relatives that are near to him: for his mother, for his father, for his son, for his daughter, for his brother,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/leviticus/21.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />But for his kin, that is near to him, that is, for his mother, and for his father, and for his son, and for his daughter, and for his brother,<div class="vheading2"><b>Majority Text Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/leviticus/21.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />except for his immediate family—his mother, father, son, daughter, or brother,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/leviticus/21.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />except for his relatives that are near to him: for his mother, for his father, for his son, for his daughter, for his brother, <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/leviticus/21.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />except for his relation who [is] near to him: for his mother, and for his father, and for his son, and for his daughter, and for his brother,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/leviticus/21.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> except for his relation who is near unto him -- for his mother, and for his father, and for his son, and for his daughter, and for his brother.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/leviticus/21.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />But if for his remainder coming near to him, for his mother and for his father, and for his son, and for his daughter, and for his brother,<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/leviticus/21.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />But only for his kin, such as are near in blood, that is to say, for his father and for his mother, and for his son, and for his daughter, for his brother also, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/leviticus/21.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />except only by his blood-relatives and near-relatives, that is, by a father or mother, or by a son or daughter, or also a brother,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/leviticus/21.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />except for his nearest relatives, his mother or father, his son or daughter, his brother<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/leviticus/21.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />except for his nearest kin: his mother, his father, his son, his daughter, his brother;<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/leviticus/21.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Except for his kin who is near to him, that is, for his father and for his mother and for his son and for his daughter and for his brother,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/leviticus/21.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Except with his near relative that is close to him: for his father or for his mother or for his son or for his daughter or for his brother,<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/leviticus/21.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />except for his kin, that is near unto him, for his mother, and for his father, and for his son, and for his daughter, and for his brother;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/leviticus/21.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />but <i>they may mourn</i> for a relative who is very near to them, for a father and mother, and sons and daughters, for a brother,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/leviticus/21-2.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NWs_V1RyMFo?start=5554" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/leviticus/21.htm">Holiness Required of Priests</a></span><br><span class="reftext">1</span>Then the LORD said to Moses, “Speak to Aaron’s sons, the priests, and tell them that a priest is not to defile himself for a dead person among his people, <span class="reftext">2</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">except</a> <a href="/hebrew/518.htm" title="518: ’im- (Conj) -- If. A primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!"></a> <a href="/hebrew/7138.htm" title="7138: haq·qā·rōḇ (Art:: Adj-ms) -- Near. Or qarob; from qarab; near.">for his immediate</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’ê·lāw (Prep:: 3ms) -- To, into, towards. "></a> <a href="/hebrew/7607.htm" title="7607: liš·’ê·rōw (Prep-l:: N-msc:: 3ms) -- Flesh. From sha'ar; flesh, as living or for food; generally food of any kind; figuratively, kindred by blood.">family—</a> <a href="/hebrew/517.htm" title="517: lə·’im·mōw (Prep-l:: N-fsc:: 3ms) -- A mother. A primitive word; a mother; in a wide sense (like 'ab).">his mother,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1.htm" title="1: ū·lə·’ā·ḇîw (Conj-w, Prep-l:: N-msc:: 3ms) -- Father. A primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application).">father,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1121.htm" title="1121: wə·liḇ·nōw (Conj-w, Prep-l:: N-msc:: 3ms) -- Son. From banah; a son, in the widest sense (like 'ab, 'ach, etc.).">son,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1323.htm" title="1323: ū·lə·ḇit·tōw (Conj-w, Prep-l:: N-fsc:: 3ms) -- Daughter. From banah; a daughter.">daughter,</a> <a href="/hebrew/251.htm" title="251: ū·lə·’ā·ḥîw (Conj-w, Prep-l:: N-msc:: 3ms) -- A brother. A primitive word; a brother (like 'ab).">or brother,</a> </span><span class="reftext">3</span>or his unmarried sister who is near to him, since she has no husband.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/19-11.htm">Numbers 19:11-13</a></span><br />Whoever touches any dead body will be unclean for seven days. / He must purify himself with the water on the third day and on the seventh day; then he will be clean. But if he does not purify himself on the third and seventh days, he will not be clean. / Anyone who touches a human corpse and fails to purify himself defiles the tabernacle of the LORD. That person must be cut off from Israel. He remains unclean, because the water of purification has not been sprinkled on him, and his uncleanness is still on him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/44-25.htm">Ezekiel 44:25-27</a></span><br />A priest must not defile himself by going near a dead person. However, for a father, a mother, a son, a daughter, a brother, or an unmarried sister, he may do so, / and after he is cleansed, he must count off seven days for himself. / And on the day he goes into the sanctuary, into the inner court, to minister in the sanctuary, he must present his sin offering, declares the Lord GOD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/8-21.htm">Matthew 8:21-22</a></span><br />Another of His disciples requested, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” / But Jesus told him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/9-59.htm">Luke 9:59-60</a></span><br />Then He said to another man, “Follow Me.” The man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” / But Jesus told him, “Let the dead bury their own dead. You, however, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/11-25.htm">John 11:25-26</a></span><br />Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies. / And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_thessalonians/4-13.htm">1 Thessalonians 4:13-14</a></span><br />Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope. / For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/50-5.htm">Genesis 50:5-7</a></span><br />my father made me swear an oath when he said, ‘I am about to die. You must bury me in the tomb that I dug for myself in the land of Canaan.’ Now let me go and bury my father, and then return.” / Pharaoh replied, “Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear to do.” / Then Joseph went to bury his father, and all the servants of Pharaoh accompanied him—the elders of Pharaoh’s household and all the elders of the land of Egypt—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/34-8.htm">Deuteronomy 34:8</a></span><br />The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning for Moses came to an end.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/19-1.htm">2 Samuel 19:1-4</a></span><br />Then it was reported to Joab, “The king is weeping and mourning over Absalom.” / And that day’s victory was turned into mourning for all the people, because on that day they were told, “The king is grieving over his son.” / So they returned to the city quietly that day, as people steal away in humiliation after fleeing a battle. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/4-32.htm">2 Kings 4:32-35</a></span><br />When Elisha reached the house, there was the boy lying dead on his bed. / So he went in, closed the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the LORD. / Then Elisha got on the bed and lay on the boy, mouth to mouth, eye to eye, and hand to hand. As he stretched himself out over him, the boy’s body became warm. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/16-5.htm">Jeremiah 16:5-7</a></span><br />Indeed, this is what the LORD says: “Do not enter a house where there is a funeral meal. Do not go to mourn or show sympathy, for I have removed from this people My peace, My loving devotion, and My compassion,” declares the LORD. / “Both great and small will die in this land. They will not be buried or mourned, nor will anyone cut himself or shave his head for them. / No food will be offered to comfort those who mourn the dead; not even a cup of consolation will be given for the loss of a father or mother.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/amos/6-10.htm">Amos 6:10</a></span><br />And when the relative who is to burn the bodies picks them up to remove them from the house, he will call to one inside, “Is anyone else with you?” “None,” that person will answer. “Silence,” the relative will retort, “for the name of the LORD must not be invoked.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/22-32.htm">Matthew 22:32</a></span><br />‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/12-27.htm">Mark 12:27</a></span><br />He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/20-38.htm">Luke 20:38</a></span><br />He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to Him all are alive.”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">But for his kin, that is near to him, that is, for his mother, and for his father, and for his son, and for his daughter, and for his brother.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/leviticus/18-6.htm">Leviticus 18:6</a></b></br> None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover <i>their</i> nakedness: I <i>am</i> the LORD.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_thessalonians/4-13.htm">1 Thessalonians 4:13</a></b></br> But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/leviticus/20-19.htm">Close</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-17.htm">Daughter</a> <a href="/leviticus/13-33.htm">Except</a> <a href="/1_timothy/5-8.htm">Immediate</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-19.htm">Kin</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-19.htm">Mother</a> <a href="/exodus/39-19.htm">Nearest</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-19.htm">Relation</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-20.htm">Relations</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-19.htm">Relative</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-17.htm">Relatives</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/leviticus/25-49.htm">Close</a> <a href="/leviticus/22-12.htm">Daughter</a> <a href="/numbers/11-6.htm">Except</a> <a href="/1_timothy/5-8.htm">Immediate</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-25.htm">Kin</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-11.htm">Mother</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-25.htm">Nearest</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-3.htm">Relation</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-13.htm">Relations</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-4.htm">Relative</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-48.htm">Relatives</a><div class="vheading2">Leviticus 21</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/leviticus/21-1.htm">Of the priests' mourning</a></span><br><span class="reftext">6. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/leviticus/21-6.htm">Of their holiness</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/leviticus/21-7.htm">Of their marriages</a></span><br><span class="reftext">8. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/leviticus/21-8.htm">Of their estimation</a></span><br><span class="reftext">9. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/leviticus/21-9.htm">Of the high priest's holiness</a></span><br><span class="reftext">10. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/leviticus/21-10.htm">Of his marriage</a></span><br><span class="reftext">13. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/leviticus/21-13.htm">The priests that have blemishes must not minister in the sanctuary</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/leviticus/21.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/leviticus/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/leviticus/21.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>except for his immediate family—</b><br>In the context of <a href="/leviticus/21.htm">Leviticus 21</a>, the instructions are given to the priests regarding their conduct and purity. The term "immediate family" highlights the close kinship ties that were recognized in ancient Israelite society. The priestly role required a higher standard of holiness, and contact with the dead was generally avoided to maintain ritual purity. However, allowances were made for immediate family, emphasizing the importance of familial bonds. This reflects the broader biblical theme of family as a fundamental social unit, seen in Genesis with the creation of family through Adam and Eve.<p><b>his mother, father,</b><br>The inclusion of both parents underscores the respect and honor due to one's parents, a principle enshrined in the Ten Commandments (<a href="/exodus/20-12.htm">Exodus 20:12</a>). In ancient Israel, the family was patriarchal, but the mention of the mother alongside the father indicates her significant role within the family structure. This respect for parents is echoed in the New Testament, where honoring one's parents is reiterated (<a href="/ephesians/6-2.htm">Ephesians 6:2</a>).<p><b>son, daughter,</b><br>The mention of children highlights the continuation of the family line and the importance of offspring in Israelite culture. Sons and daughters were seen as blessings from God (<a href="/psalms/127-3.htm">Psalm 127:3-5</a>). The priest's allowance to mourn for his children reflects the deep emotional bonds and responsibilities within the family. This familial care is mirrored in the New Testament, where Jesus shows compassion for children (<a href="/mark/10-14.htm">Mark 10:14</a>).<p><b>or brother,</b><br>The inclusion of a brother in the list of immediate family members for whom a priest could mourn indicates the strong fraternal bonds in Israelite society. Brothers often shared inheritance and responsibilities, as seen in the stories of Jacob and Esau or Moses and Aaron. The New Testament also emphasizes brotherly love, as seen in the epistles (1 <a href="/john/3-16.htm">John 3:16</a>), reflecting the enduring importance of sibling relationships.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/p/priests.htm">Priests</a></b><br>The primary audience of <a href="/bsb/leviticus/21.htm">Leviticus 21</a>, the priests were set apart for service in the tabernacle and later the temple. They were held to higher standards of holiness and conduct.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/i/immediate_family.htm">Immediate Family</a></b><br>This term refers to the close kin of the priest, specifically mentioned as mother, father, son, daughter, or brother. The Hebrew word for "immediate family" emphasizes the closeness and personal connection.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/l/levitical_law.htm">Levitical Law</a></b><br>The context of this verse is within the Levitical laws, which were given to guide the Israelites in holiness and worship.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/h/holiness_and_separation.htm">Holiness and Separation</a></b><br>Priests were called to a higher standard of holiness, reflecting God's holiness. This principle of being set apart is applicable to all believers today, as we are called to be a "royal priesthood."<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/family_and_responsibility.htm">Family and Responsibility</a></b><br>The allowance for priests to mourn their immediate family highlights the importance of family responsibilities and relationships. It reminds us of the balance between our spiritual duties and familial obligations.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/p/purity_and_worship.htm">Purity and Worship</a></b><br>The laws concerning purity were not just about physical cleanliness but were symbolic of spiritual purity. As believers, we are called to maintain purity in our worship and daily lives.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/compassion_and_community.htm">Compassion and Community</a></b><br>While the priests had restrictions, the allowance for mourning immediate family members shows God's compassion and understanding of human emotions and community bonds.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_leviticus_21.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Leviticus 21</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/am_i_responsible_for_my_brother.htm">Am I responsible for my brother?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_leviticus_21_1-4_historically_accurate.htm">How historically accurate is the claim in Leviticus 21:1-4 that any contact with the dead (apart from immediate family) defiled a priest?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_elhanan_kill_goliath's_brother.htm">1 Chronicles 20:5: Why does this text say Elhanan killed Goliath's brother, whereas 2 Samuel 21:19 seems to conflict about who killed Goliath?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_no_divine_judgment_on_amnon.htm">Why is there no direct divine judgment against Amnon for his actions in 2 Samuel 13:1-14?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/leviticus/21.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(2) <span class= "bld">But for his kin, that is near unto him.</span>--There are, however, seven exceptions to the general rule. According to the administrators of the Law during the second Temple, the phrase, "his kin that is near unto him," or rather, "his flesh that is near unto him" (comp. <a href="/leviticus/18-6.htm" title="None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness: I am the LORD.">Leviticus 18:6</a> with <a href="/genesis/2-24.htm" title="Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall join to his wife: and they shall be one flesh.">Genesis 2:24</a>), denotes "wife." Hence the Chaldee version of Jonathan renders it, "but for a wife who is of kin to his flesh."<p><span class= "bld">For his mother, and for his father.--</span>This is the second of the three instances in the Bible where the mother is mentioned before the father (see <a href="/leviticus/19-3.htm" title="You shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths: I am the LORD your God.">Leviticus 19:3</a>). The Jewish canonists, who call attention to this unusual phrase, account for it by saying that she is placed first because the son's qualifications for the priesthood depend more upon his having a good mother (see <a href="/leviticus/21-7.htm" title="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 to his God.">Leviticus 21:7</a>). This will be readily understood when it is borne in mind that the regulations about the woman whom a priest was allowed to marry during the second Temple were of the most stringent nature, and that the slightest infringement of them disqualified the son for performing sacerdotal functions. Thus the daughter of a foreigner or of a released captive was forbidden to the priest, and when a city was besieged and taken by the enemy all the wives of the priests had to be divorced for fear lest they had suffered violence.<p><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/leviticus/21-2.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">except</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּ֚י</span> <span class="translit">(kî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative conjunction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">for his immediate</span><br /><span class="heb">הַקָּרֹ֖ב</span> <span class="translit">(haq·qā·rōḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Adjective - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7138.htm">Strong's 7138: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near</span><br /><br /><span class="word">family—</span><br /><span class="heb">לִשְׁאֵר֔וֹ</span> <span class="translit">(liš·’ê·rōw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7607.htm">Strong's 7607: </a> </span><span class="str2">Flesh, as living, for, food, food of any kind, kindred by blood</span><br /><br /><span class="word">his mother,</span><br /><span class="heb">לְאִמּ֣וֹ</span> <span class="translit">(lə·’im·mōw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_517.htm">Strong's 517: </a> </span><span class="str2">A mother, )</span><br /><br /><span class="word">father,</span><br /><span class="heb">וּלְאָבִ֔יו</span> <span class="translit">(ū·lə·’ā·ḇîw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1.htm">Strong's 1: </a> </span><span class="str2">Father</span><br /><br /><span class="word">son,</span><br /><span class="heb">וְלִבְנ֥וֹ</span> <span class="translit">(wə·liḇ·nōw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1121.htm">Strong's 1121: </a> </span><span class="str2">A son</span><br /><br /><span class="word">daughter,</span><br /><span class="heb">וּלְבִתּ֖וֹ</span> <span class="translit">(ū·lə·ḇit·tōw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1323.htm">Strong's 1323: </a> </span><span class="str2">A daughter</span><br /><br /><span class="word">brother,</span><br /><span class="heb">וּלְאָחִֽיו׃</span> <span class="translit">(ū·lə·’ā·ḥîw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_251.htm">Strong's 251: </a> </span><span class="str2">A brother, )</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/leviticus/21-2.htm">Leviticus 21:2 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/leviticus/21-2.htm">Leviticus 21:2 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/leviticus/21-2.htm">Leviticus 21:2 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/leviticus/21-2.htm">Leviticus 21:2 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/leviticus/21-2.htm">Leviticus 21:2 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/leviticus/21-2.htm">Leviticus 21:2 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/leviticus/21-2.htm">Leviticus 21:2 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/leviticus/21-2.htm">Leviticus 21:2 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/leviticus/21-2.htm">Leviticus 21:2 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/leviticus/21-2.htm">Leviticus 21:2 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/leviticus/21-2.htm">OT Law: Leviticus 21:2 Except for his relatives that are near (Le Lv Lev.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/leviticus/21-1.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Leviticus 21:1"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Leviticus 21:1" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/leviticus/21-3.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Leviticus 21:3"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Leviticus 21:3" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>