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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>Ezekiel 44:25 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,</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/ezekiel/44-25.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/8/26_Ezk_44_25.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Ezekiel 44:25 - The Duties of the Priests" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="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," /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/ezekiel/44-25.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/ezekiel/44-25.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/ezekiel/">Ezekiel</a> > <a href="/ezekiel/44.htm">Chapter 44</a> > Verse 25</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" 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="/ad5.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="/ezekiel/44-24.htm" title="Ezekiel 44:24">◄</a> Ezekiel 44:25 <a href="/ezekiel/44-26.htm" title="Ezekiel 44:26">►</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/ezekiel/44.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/ezekiel/44.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />&#8220&#8217A priest must not defile himself by going near a dead person; however, if the dead person was his father or mother, son or daughter, brother or unmarried sister, then he may defile himself.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/ezekiel/44.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />“A priest must not defile himself by being in the presence of a dead person unless it is his father, mother, child, brother, or unmarried sister. In such cases it is permitted.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/ezekiel/44.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />They shall not defile themselves by going near to a dead person. However, for father or mother, for son or daughter, for brother or unmarried sister they may defile themselves.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/ezekiel/44.htm">Berean Standard Bible</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,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/ezekiel/44.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And they shall come at no dead person to defile themselves: but for father, or for mother, or for son, or for daughter, for brother, or for sister that hath had no husband, they may defile themselves.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/ezekiel/44.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />“They shall not defile <i>themselves</i> by coming near a dead person. Only for father or mother, for son or daughter, for brother or unmarried sister may they defile themselves.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/ezekiel/44.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />They shall not go to a dead person to defile <i>themselves;</i> however, for father, for mother, for son, for daughter, for brother, or for a sister who has not had a husband, they may defile themselves.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/ezekiel/44.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220They shall not go to a dead person to defile themselves; however, for father, for mother, for son, for daughter, for brother, or for a sister who has not had a husband, they may defile themselves.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/ezekiel/44.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“And they shall not go to a dead person to defile <i>themselves;</i> however, for father, for mother, for son, for daughter, for brother, or for a sister who has not had a husband, they may defile themselves.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/ezekiel/44.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />But they shall not go to a dead person to make <i>themselves</i> unclean; however, for father, for mother, for son, for daughter, for brother, or for a sister who has not had a husband, they may make themselves unclean.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/ezekiel/44.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />They shall not go to a dead person to defile <i>themselves;</i> except for father or for mother, for son or for daughter, for brother or for sister who has had no husband; they may defile themselves.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/ezekiel/44.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />A priest may not come near a dead person so that he becomes defiled. However, he may defile himself for a father, a mother, a son, a daughter, a brother, or an unmarried sister.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/ezekiel/44.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />A priest may not come near a dead person so that he becomes defiled. However, he may defile himself for a father, a mother, a son, a daughter, a brother, or an unmarried sister. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/ezekiel/44.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And they shall go in to no dead person to defile themselves; but for father, or for mother, or for son, or for daughter, for brother, or for sister that hath had no husband, they may defile themselves.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/ezekiel/44.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Touching a dead body will make a person unclean. So a priest must not go near a dead body, unless it is one of his parents or children, or his brother or unmarried sister. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/ezekiel/44.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And they shall come at no dead person to defile themselves: but for father, or for mother, or for son, or for daughter, for brother, or for sister that hath had no husband, they may defile themselves.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/ezekiel/44.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />" 'A priest must not make himself unclean by going near a dead body. But a priest may become unclean if the dead person is his father, mother, son, daughter, brother, or unmarried sister.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/ezekiel/44.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />"A priest is not to become ritually unclean by touching a corpse, unless it is one of his parents, one of his children or a brother or an unmarried sister. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/ezekiel/44.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />They are not to come in contact with a dead body, so they don't defile themselves, except in the case of their father, mother, son, daughter, brother, or for an unmarried sister, on whose behalf they may defile themselves. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/ezekiel/44.htm">Majority Standard Bible</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,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/ezekiel/44.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />"'They must not come near a dead person or they will be defiled; however, for father, mother, son, daughter, brother or sister, they may defile themselves.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/ezekiel/44.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />"'They shall go in to no dead person to defile themselves; but for father, or for mother, or for son, or for daughter, for brother, or for sister who has had no husband, they may defile themselves.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/ezekiel/44.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And they shall come at no dead person to defile themselves: but for father, or for mother, or for son, or for daughter, for brother, or for sister that hath had no husband, they may defile themselves.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/ezekiel/44.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />“‘“They shall go in to no dead person to defile themselves; but for father, or for mother, or for son, or for daughter, for brother, or for sister who has had no husband, they may defile themselves. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/ezekiel/44.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And he does not come near to any dead man to be defiled, but if for father, and for mother, and for son, and for daughter, for brother, for sister who has not been to a man, they may defile themselves.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/ezekiel/44.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And unto any dead man they come not for uncleanness, but for father, and for mother, and for son, and for daughter, for brother, for sister who hath not been to a man, they defile themselves.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/ezekiel/44.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And to a dead man they shall not come to be defiled: but for father and for mother, and for son and for daughter, for brother, for sister who was not to a husband, they shall be defiled.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/ezekiel/44.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And they shall come near no dead person, lest they be defiled, only their father and mother, and son and daughter, and brother and sister, that hath not had another husband: for whom they may become unclean. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/ezekiel/44.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And they shall not enter to a dead person, lest they be defiled, except to father or mother, or son or daughter, or brother, or to a sister who does not have another man. By these, they may become unclean.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/ezekiel/44.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />They shall not make themselves unclean by going near a dead body; only for their father, mother, son, daughter, brother, or unmarried sister may they make themselves unclean.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/ezekiel/44.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />They shall not defile themselves by going near to a dead person; for father or mother, however, and for son or daughter, and for brother or unmarried sister they may defile themselves.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/ezekiel/44.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And they shall not attend the funeral of a dead person, lest they defile themselves, except for father or for mother or for son or for daughter or for brother or for his virgin sister who had never been married, otherwise they may become unclean.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/ezekiel/44.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And they shall not come to the dead body of a son of man, that they shall not be defiled, but only for his father, or for his mother, or for his son, or for his daughter, or for his brother, or for his virgin sister who had no husband, may they be defiled<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/ezekiel/44.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And they shall come near no dead person to defile themselves; but for father, or for mother, or for son, or for daughter, for brother, or for sister that hath had no husband, they may defile themselves.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/ezekiel/44.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And they shall not go in to the dead body of a man to defile themselves: only <i>a priest</i> may defile himself for a father, or for a mother, or for a son, or for a daughter, or for a brother, or for his sister, who has not been married.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/ezekiel/44-25.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/vET3Gmwku4s?start=13609" 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/ezekiel/44.htm">The Duties of the Priests</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">24</span>In any dispute, they shall officiate as judges and judge according to My ordinances. They must keep My laws and statutes regarding all My appointed feasts, and they must keep My Sabbaths holy. <span class="reftext">25</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">A priest must not</a> <a href="/hebrew/2930.htm" title="2930: lə·ṭā·mə·’āh (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf:: 3fs) -- To be or become unclean. A primitive root; to be foul, especially in a ceremial or moral sense.">defile himself</a> <a href="/hebrew/935.htm" title="935: yā·ḇō·w (V-Qal-Imperf-3ms) -- To come in, come, go in, go. A primitive root; to go or come.">by going</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: wə·’el- (Conj-w:: Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">near</a> <a href="/hebrew/4191.htm" title="4191: mêṯ (V-Qal-Prtcpl-msc) -- To die. A primitive root: to die; causatively, to kill.">a dead</a> <a href="/hebrew/120.htm" title="120: ’ā·ḏām (N-ms) -- Man, mankind. From 'adam; ruddy i.e. A human being.">person.</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">However,</a> <a href="/hebrew/518.htm" title="518: ’im- (Conj) -- If. A primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!"></a> <a href="/hebrew/1.htm" title="1: lə·’āḇ (Prep-l:: N-ms) -- Father. A primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application).">for a father,</a> <a href="/hebrew/517.htm" title="517: ū·lə·’êm (Conj-w, Prep-l:: N-fs) -- A mother. A primitive word; a mother; in a wide sense (like 'ab).">a mother,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1121.htm" title="1121: ū·lə·ḇên (Conj-w, Prep-l:: N-ms) -- Son. From banah; a son, in the widest sense (like 'ab, 'ach, etc.).">a son,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1323.htm" title="1323: ū·lə·ḇaṯ (Conj-w, Prep-l:: N-fs) -- Daughter. From banah; a daughter.">a daughter,</a> <a href="/hebrew/251.htm" title="251: lə·’āḥ (Prep-l:: N-ms) -- A brother. A primitive word; a brother (like 'ab).">a brother,</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer- (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō- (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">or an unmarried</a> <a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: hā·yə·ṯāh (V-Qal-Perf-3fs) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass."></a> <a href="/hebrew/376.htm" title="376: lə·’îš (Prep-l:: N-ms) -- Man. Contracted for 'enowsh; a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term."></a> <a href="/hebrew/269.htm" title="269: ū·lə·’ā·ḥō·wṯ (Conj-w, Prep-l:: N-fs) -- Sister. Irregular feminine of 'ach; a sister (like 'Ezrachiy), literally and figuratively).">sister,</a> <a href="/hebrew/2930.htm" title="2930: yiṭ·ṭam·mā·’ū (V-Hitpael-Imperf-3mp) -- To be or become unclean. A primitive root; to be foul, especially in a ceremial or moral sense.">he may do so,</a> </span><span class="reftext">26</span>and after he is cleansed, he must count off seven days for himself.…<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="/leviticus/21-1.htm">Leviticus 21:1-3</a></span><br />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, / except for his immediate family—his mother, father, son, daughter, or brother, / or his unmarried sister who is near to him, since she has no husband.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/19-11.htm">Numbers 19:11-16</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="/leviticus/10-6.htm">Leviticus 10:6-7</a></span><br />Then Moses said to Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, “Do not let your hair become disheveled and do not tear your garments, or else you will die, and the LORD will be angry with the whole congregation. But your brothers, the whole house of Israel, may mourn on account of the fire that the LORD has ignited. / You shall not go outside the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, or you will die, for the LORD’s anointing oil is on you.” So they did as Moses instructed.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/leviticus/21-10.htm">Leviticus 21:10-12</a></span><br />The priest who is highest among his brothers, who has had the anointing oil poured on his head and has been ordained to wear the priestly garments, must not let his hair hang loose or tear his garments. / He must not go near any dead body; he must not defile himself, even for his father or mother. / He must not leave or desecrate the sanctuary of his God, for the consecration of the anointing oil of his God is on him. I am the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/6-6.htm">Numbers 6:6-7</a></span><br />Throughout the days of his separation to the LORD, he must not go near a dead body. / Even if his father or mother or brother or sister should die, he is not to defile himself, because the symbol of consecration to his God is upon his head.<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="/1_corinthians/15-20.htm">1 Corinthians 15:20-22</a></span><br />But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. / For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. / For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/leviticus/22-4.htm">Leviticus 22:4-7</a></span><br />If a descendant of Aaron has a skin disease or a discharge, he may not eat the sacred offerings until he is clean. Whoever touches anything defiled by a corpse or by a man who has an emission of semen, / or whoever touches a crawling creature or a person that makes him unclean, whatever the uncleanness may be— / the man who touches any of these will remain unclean until evening. He must not eat from the sacred offerings unless he has bathed himself with water. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/5-2.htm">Numbers 5:2-3</a></span><br />“Command the Israelites to send away from the camp anyone with a skin disease, anyone who has a bodily discharge, and anyone who is defiled by a dead body. / You must send away male and female alike; send them outside the camp so they will not defile their camp, where I dwell among them.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/haggai/2-13.htm">Haggai 2:13</a></span><br />So Haggai asked, “If one who is defiled by contact with a corpse touches any of these, does it become defiled?” “Yes, it becomes defiled,” the priests answered.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/22-31.htm">Matthew 22:31-32</a></span><br />But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what God said to you: / ‘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/12-26.htm">Mark 12:26-27</a></span><br />But concerning the dead rising, have you not read about the burning bush in the Book of Moses, how God told him, ‘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. You are badly mistaken!”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And they shall come at no dead person to defile themselves: but for father, or for mother, or for son, or for daughter, for brother, or for sister that has had no husband, they may defile themselves.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/leviticus/21-1.htm">Leviticus 21:1-6</a></b></br> 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: … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/leviticus/22-4.htm">Leviticus 22:4</a></b></br> What man soever of the seed of Aaron <i>is</i> a leper, or hath a running issue; he shall not eat of the holy things, until he be clean. And whoso toucheth any thing <i>that is</i> unclean <i>by</i> the dead, or a man whose seed goeth from him;</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/8-21.htm">Matthew 8:21,22</a></b></br> And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/ezekiel/22-11.htm">Daughter</a> <a href="/ezekiel/43-9.htm">Dead</a> <a href="/ezekiel/43-7.htm">Defile</a> <a href="/ezekiel/16-53.htm">However</a> <a href="/ezekiel/44-22.htm">Husband</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-2.htm">Mother</a> <a href="/ezekiel/44-22.htm">Priest</a> <a href="/ezekiel/23-42.htm">Sister</a> <a href="/ezekiel/44-18.htm">Themselves</a> <a href="/ezekiel/44-23.htm">Unclean</a> <a href="/ezekiel/39-24.htm">Uncleanness</a> <a href="/ruth/1-13.htm">Unmarried</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/daniel/11-6.htm">Daughter</a> <a href="/ezekiel/44-31.htm">Dead</a> <a href="/daniel/1-8.htm">Defile</a> <a href="/ezekiel/46-17.htm">However</a> <a href="/hosea/2-2.htm">Husband</a> <a href="/hosea/2-2.htm">Mother</a> <a href="/ezekiel/44-30.htm">Priest</a> <a href="/hosea/2-1.htm">Sister</a> <a href="/ezekiel/45-5.htm">Themselves</a> <a href="/daniel/11-31.htm">Unclean</a> <a href="/micah/2-10.htm">Uncleanness</a> <a href="/acts/21-9.htm">Unmarried</a><div class="vheading2">Ezekiel 44</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezekiel/44-1.htm">The east gate assigned only to the prince</a></span><br><span class="reftext">4. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezekiel/44-4.htm">The priests reproved for polluting the sanctuary</a></span><br><span class="reftext">9. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezekiel/44-9.htm">Idolaters incapable of the priests office</a></span><br><span class="reftext">15. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezekiel/44-15.htm">The sons of Zadok are accepted thereto</a></span><br><span class="reftext">17. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezekiel/44-17.htm">Ordinances for the priests</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/ezekiel/44.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/ezekiel/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/ezekiel/44.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>A priest must not defile himself by going near a dead person.</b><br>In the Levitical law, priests were held to a higher standard of purity due to their role in the temple and their service to God. Contact with a dead body was considered a source of ritual impurity (<a href="/leviticus/21.htm">Leviticus 21:1-4</a>). This regulation underscores the holiness required of those who minister before the Lord, reflecting God's own holiness (<a href="/leviticus/11-44.htm">Leviticus 11:44-45</a>). The prohibition against defilement by the dead is also a reminder of the separation between life and death, purity and impurity, which is a recurring theme in the Old Testament. This separation is symbolic of the spiritual purity required to approach God.<p><b>However, for a father, a mother, a son, a daughter, a brother, or an unmarried sister, he may do so,</b><br>The allowance for priests to become ritually impure for close family members highlights the importance of familial obligations and the value placed on family relationships in ancient Israelite society. This exception demonstrates a balance between the demands of religious duty and the natural human need to mourn and honor one's family. The inclusion of "an unmarried sister" is significant, as she would have been under the care and protection of her family, emphasizing the responsibility of the priest to his immediate kin. This provision reflects the compassionate nature of the law, recognizing the deep bonds of family and the necessity of mourning. It also points to the humanity of the priesthood, acknowledging that priests, though set apart, are still part of the community and family structures.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/p/priests.htm">Priests</a></b><br>The primary focus of this verse, priests were set apart for service in the temple and were required to maintain ritual purity.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/d/dead_body.htm">Dead Body</a></b><br>Contact with a dead body was considered a source of ritual impurity in ancient Israelite culture.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/f/family_members.htm">Family Members</a></b><br>The verse lists specific family members for whom a priest may make an exception to the rule of avoiding defilement.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/temple.htm">Temple</a></b><br>The place where priests served, requiring them to maintain a state of ritual purity.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/e/ezekiel.htm">Ezekiel</a></b><br>A prophet during the Babylonian exile, who conveyed God's instructions and visions to the Israelites.<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, symbolizing the need for believers to live set apart for God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/family_and_duty.htm">Family and Duty</a></b><br>While family obligations are important, they must be balanced with spiritual responsibilities and commitments.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/ritual_purity_and_spiritual_purity.htm">Ritual Purity and Spiritual Purity</a></b><br>The Old Testament laws on ritual purity point to the New Testament call for spiritual purity and holiness in the life of a believer.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/e/exceptions_and_compassion.htm">Exceptions and Compassion</a></b><br>The allowance for priests to defile themselves for close family members shows God's compassion and understanding of human relationships.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/symbolism_of_death.htm">Symbolism of Death</a></b><br>Death as a source of impurity symbolizes the spiritual death that sin brings, reminding believers of the need for spiritual cleansing through Christ.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_ezekiel_44.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Ezekiel 44</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/how_do_priests'_inheritances_align_biblically.htm">Ezekiel 44:28 indicates priests have no inheritance apart from the Lord--how does this align with land allotment practices known from other biblical or historical sources?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/where's_proof_zadokites_stayed_faithful.htm">Ezekiel 44:15 singles out Zadokite priests for special privileges--where is the historical record or proof that this priestly line remained uniquely faithful?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_ezekiel_44's_temple_purely_symbolic.htm">Ezekiel 44's temple regulations appear highly specific, yet no archaeological site conclusively matches this description--could this be evidence the prophecy was purely symbolic or never fulfilled?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/ezekiel/44.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 25-27.</span> - Regulations are next given for preserving the priesthood from defilement through coming in contact with the dead, and for removing such defilement in case of its having been contracted. As under the Law, so in the ideal constitution of Ezekiel, the priests should not be at liberty to contract ceremonial impurity through touching a corpse except in the case of near relations (comp. <a href="/leviticus/21-1.htm">Leviticus 21:1-4</a>). That neither in Leviticus nor in Ezekiel is the priest's wife among the excepted is surprising, and hardly to be explained, with Knobel, on the ground that a wife is not a blood-relation, since according to the Divine conception of marriage husband and wife are one (<a href="/genesis/2-24.htm">Genesis 2:24</a>), but either by holding, with Keil, that the wife, who stands nearer her husband than any of the relatives named, was viewed as included under the phrase, "and for his kin that is near unto him" (<a href="/leviticus/21-2.htm">Leviticus 21:2</a>), or by supposing it self-evident that such defilement could not be avoided in the case of a wife and was therefore tacitly allowed. Smend, as usual, finds signs of Ezekiel's priority to the priest-code, first in the circumstance that Ezekiel regarded it as perfectly natural that a priest should sorrow for his wife (<a href="/ezekiel/24-15.htm">Ezekiel 24:15-18</a>), which showed he had no acquaintance with <a href="/leviticus/21.htm">Leviticus 21</a>; and secondly, in the fact that <a href="/leviticus/21-11.htm">Leviticus 21:11</a> prohibits absolutely to the high priest all contact with a corpse, which, it is argued, betrays a greater strictness than existed in the days of Ezekiel. But as the prohibition in <a href="/leviticus/21-11.htm">Leviticus 21:11</a> applies only to the high priest, who in Ezekiel's temple has no place, an argument as to which of the books had priority of origin cannot properly be founded on so insecure a Basis. Knobel remarks on <a href="/leviticus/21-1.htm">Leviticus 21:1-4</a> that "among the Greeks, priests and priestesses remained at a distance from funerals (Plato, 'De Legg.,' 12. p. 947); while among the Romans ought the <span class="accented">Flamen dialis</span> to touch no corpse (Gell., 10:15), the augur perform no funeral rites (Tacit., 'Ann.,' 1:31), and the pontifex accompany no funeral procession (Die Cass., 56:31); not at all should he behold a dead body (Serv., 'Ad AEn.,' 6:176),and in case he had occasion to pronounce a funeral oration, a curtain should hang between him and the corpse." As to the cleansing of a defiled priest, that should be conducted in accordance with the customary regulations (comp. <a href="/numbers/19.htm">Numbers 19</a>.),with this difference - that on the termination of the ordinary rites, which extended over seven days, an additional seven days, according to Havernick and Keil (though Hengstenberg and Plumptre decide for only one heptade), should elapse, at the end of which, on the presentation of a sin offering, he should be restored to service in the inner sanctuary. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/ezekiel/44-25.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">A priest must not</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹ֥א</span> <span class="translit">(lō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">defile himself</span><br /><span class="heb">לְטָמְאָ֑ה</span> <span class="translit">(lə·ṭā·mə·’āh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2930.htm">Strong's 2930: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be or become unclean</span><br /><br /><span class="word">by going</span><br /><span class="heb">יָב֖וֹא</span> <span class="translit">(yā·ḇō·w)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_935.htm">Strong's 935: </a> </span><span class="str2">To come in, come, go in, go</span><br /><br /><span class="word">near</span><br /><span class="heb">וְאֶל־</span> <span class="translit">(wə·’el-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">a dead</span><br /><span class="heb">מֵ֣ת</span> <span class="translit">(mêṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4191.htm">Strong's 4191: </a> </span><span class="str2">To die, to kill</span><br /><br /><span class="word">person.</span><br /><span class="heb">אָדָ֔ם</span> <span class="translit">(’ā·ḏām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_120.htm">Strong's 120: </a> </span><span class="str2">Ruddy, a human being</span><br /><br /><span class="word">However,</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּ֣י</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 a father,</span><br /><span class="heb">לְאָ֡ב</span> <span class="translit">(lə·’āḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - 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">a mother,</span><br /><span class="heb">וּ֠לְאֵם</span> <span class="translit">(ū·lə·’êm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - feminine 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">a son,</span><br /><span class="heb">וּלְבֵ֨ן</span> <span class="translit">(ū·lə·ḇên)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - 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">a daughter,</span><br /><span class="heb">וּלְבַ֜ת</span> <span class="translit">(ū·lə·ḇaṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - feminine 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">a brother,</span><br /><span class="heb">לְאָ֗ח</span> <span class="translit">(lə·’āḥ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - 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 /><br /><span class="word">or an unmarried</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹא־</span> <span class="translit">(lō-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">sister,</span><br /><span class="heb">וּלְאָח֛וֹת</span> <span class="translit">(ū·lə·’ā·ḥō·wṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_269.htm">Strong's 269: </a> </span><span class="str2">Sister -- a sister</span><br /><br /><span class="word">he may do so,</span><br /><span class="heb">יִטַּמָּֽאוּ׃</span> <span class="translit">(yiṭ·ṭam·mā·’ū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2930.htm">Strong's 2930: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be or become unclean</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/ezekiel/44-25.htm">Ezekiel 44:25 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/ezekiel/44-25.htm">Ezekiel 44:25 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/ezekiel/44-25.htm">Ezekiel 44:25 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/ezekiel/44-25.htm">Ezekiel 44:25 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/ezekiel/44-25.htm">Ezekiel 44:25 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/ezekiel/44-25.htm">Ezekiel 44:25 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/ezekiel/44-25.htm">Ezekiel 44:25 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/ezekiel/44-25.htm">Ezekiel 44:25 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/ezekiel/44-25.htm">Ezekiel 44:25 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/ezekiel/44-25.htm">Ezekiel 44:25 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/ezekiel/44-25.htm">OT Prophets: Ezekiel 44:25 They shall go in to no dead (Ezek. Eze Ezk) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/ezekiel/44-24.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Ezekiel 44:24"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Ezekiel 44:24" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/ezekiel/44-26.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Ezekiel 44:26"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Ezekiel 44:26" /></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>