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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 21:7 A priest must not marry a woman defiled by prostitution or divorced by her husband, for the priest is holy to his God.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/leviticus/21-7.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/6/03_Lev_21_07.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Leviticus 21:7 - Holiness Required of Priests" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="A priest must not marry a woman defiled by prostitution or divorced by her husband, for the priest is holy to his God." /><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'; 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neither shall they take a woman put away from her husband: for he <i>is</i> holy unto his God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/leviticus/21.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />They shall not take a wife <i>who is</i> a harlot or a defiled woman, nor shall they take a woman divorced from her husband; for <i>the priest</i> is holy to his God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/leviticus/21.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />They shall not take a woman who is a prostitute and profaned, nor shall they take a woman divorced from her husband; for he is holy to his God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/leviticus/21.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8216They shall not take a woman who is profaned by harlotry, nor shall they take a woman divorced from her husband; for he is holy to his God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/leviticus/21.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />‘They shall not take a woman who is profaned by harlotry, nor shall they take a woman divorced from her husband; for he is holy to his God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/leviticus/21.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />They shall not take a woman who is profaned by harlotry, nor shall they take a woman divorced from her husband; for he is holy to his God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/leviticus/21.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />They shall not take [as a wife] a woman who is a prostitute, nor a woman who is divorced from her husband; for the priest is holy to his God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/leviticus/21.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />They are not to marry a woman defiled by prostitution. They are not to marry one divorced by her husband, for the priest is holy to his God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/leviticus/21.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />They are not to marry a woman defiled by prostitution. They are not to marry one divorced by her husband, for the priest is holy to his God. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/leviticus/21.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />They shall not take a woman that is a harlot, or profane; neither shall they take a woman put away from her husband: for he is holy unto his God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/leviticus/21.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Don't marry a divorced woman or a woman who has served as a temple prostitute. You are holy, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/leviticus/21.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />They shall not take a woman that is a harlot, or profane; neither shall they take a woman put away from her husband: for he is holy unto his God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/leviticus/21.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />You should never marry prostitutes, those who have lost their virginity, or divorced women because a priest is God's holy man.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/leviticus/21.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />A priest shall not marry a woman who has been a prostitute or a woman who is not a virgin or who is divorced; he is holy. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/leviticus/21.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />"They are not to marry a prostitute or a woman who has been dishonored or who was divorced from her husband, because the priest is holy to his God. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/leviticus/21.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />A priest must not marry a woman defiled by prostitution or divorced by her husband, for the priest is holy to his God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/leviticus/21.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />They must not take a wife defiled by prostitution, nor are they to take a wife divorced from her husband, for the priest is holy to his God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/leviticus/21.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />"'They shall not marry a woman who is a prostitute, or profane; neither shall they marry a woman divorced from her husband: for he is holy to his God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/leviticus/21.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />They shall not take a wife that is a lewd woman, or profane; neither shall they take a woman put away from her husband: for he is holy to his God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/leviticus/21.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />“‘They shall not marry a woman who is a prostitute, or profane. A priest shall not marry a woman divorced from her husband; for he is holy to his God. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/leviticus/21.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />They do not take a woman of harlotry, or defiled, and they do not take a woman cast out from her husband, for he [is] holy to his God;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/leviticus/21.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> A woman, a harlot, or polluted, they do not take, and a woman cast out from her husband they do not take, for he is holy to his God;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/leviticus/21.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />They shall not take a woman, a harlot, or profane; and they shall not take a wife driven away from her husband, for he is holy to his God.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/leviticus/21.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />They shall not take to wife a harlot or a vile prostitute, nor one that has been put away from her husband: because they are consecrated to their God, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/leviticus/21.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />They shall not take as a wife a promiscuous woman, or a prostitute, or her who has been repudiated by her husband. For they are consecrated to their God,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/leviticus/21.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />A priest shall not marry a woman debased by prostitution, nor a woman who has been divorced by her husband; for the priest is holy to his God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/leviticus/21.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />They shall not marry a prostitute or a woman who has been defiled; neither shall they marry a woman divorced from her husband. For they are holy to their God,<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/leviticus/21.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />They shall not marry a harlot or an unclean woman; neither shall they marry a woman who has been put away from her husband; for he is holy to his God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/leviticus/21.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />They shall not take a harlot woman and a polluted woman and they shall not take a woman who is divorced from her husband, because he is holy to his God.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/leviticus/21.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />They shall not take a woman that is a harlot, or profaned; neither shall they take a woman put away from her husband; for he is holy unto his God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/leviticus/21.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />They shall not take a woman who is a harlot and profaned, or a woman put away from her husband; for he is holy to the Lord his God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/leviticus/21-7.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=5591" 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">6</span>They must be holy to their God and not profane the name of their God. Because they present to the LORD the offerings made by fire, the food of their God, they must be holy. <span class="reftext">7</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/3947.htm" title="3947: yiq·qā·ḥū (V-Qal-Imperf-3mp) -- To take. A primitive root; to take.">marry</a> <a href="/hebrew/802.htm" title="802: wə·’iš·šāh (Conj-w:: N-fs) -- Woman, wife, female. Feminine of 'iysh or 'enowsh; irregular plural, nashiym; a woman."></a> <a href="/hebrew/802.htm" title="802: ’iš·šāh (N-fs) -- Woman, wife, female. Feminine of 'iysh or 'enowsh; irregular plural, nashiym; a woman.">a woman</a> <a href="/hebrew/2491.htm" title="2491: wa·ḥă·lā·lāh (Conj-w:: Adj-fs) -- Pierced, polluted. From chalal; pierced; figuratively, polluted.">defiled</a> <a href="/hebrew/2181.htm" title="2181: zō·nāh (N-fs) -- To commit fornication, be a harlot. A primitive root; to commit adultery; figuratively, to commit idolatry.">by prostitution</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</a> <a href="/hebrew/3947.htm" title="3947: yiq·qā·ḥū (V-Qal-Imperf-3mp) -- To take. A primitive root; to take."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1644.htm" title="1644: gə·rū·šāh (V-Qal-QalPassPrtcpl-fs) -- To drive out, cast out. A primitive root; to drive out from a possession; especially to expatriate or divorce.">divorced</a> <a href="/hebrew/376.htm" title="376: mê·’î·šāh (Prep-m:: N-msc:: 3fs) -- Man. Contracted for 'enowsh; a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term.">by her husband,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî- (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">for</a> <a href="/hebrew/1931.htm" title="1931: hū (Pro-3ms) -- He, she, it. ">the priest</a> <a href="/hebrew/6918.htm" title="6918: qā·ḏōš (Adj-ms) -- Sacred, holy. Or qadosh; from qadash; sacred; God, an angel, a saint, a sanctuary.">is holy</a> <a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: lê·lō·hāw (Prep-l:: N-mpc:: 3ms) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">to his God.</a> </span><span class="reftext">8</span>You are to regard him as holy, since he presents the food of your God. He shall be holy to you, because I the LORD am holy—I who set you apart.…<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="/ezekiel/44-22.htm">Ezekiel 44:22</a></span><br />And they shall not marry a widow or a divorced woman, but must marry a virgin of the descendants of the house of Israel, or a widow of a priest.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_timothy/3-2.htm">1 Timothy 3:2</a></span><br />An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_timothy/3-12.htm">1 Timothy 3:12</a></span><br />A deacon must be the husband of but one wife, a good manager of his children and of his own household.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/titus/1-6.htm">Titus 1:6</a></span><br />An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, having children who are believers and who are not open to accusation of indiscretion or insubordination.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/7-39.htm">1 Corinthians 7:39</a></span><br />A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, as long as he belongs to the Lord.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/7-10.htm">1 Corinthians 7:10-11</a></span><br />To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. / But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/7-12.htm">1 Corinthians 7:12-15</a></span><br />To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If a brother has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. / And if a woman has an unbelieving husband and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. / For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his believing wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/5-32.htm">Matthew 5:32</a></span><br />But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, brings adultery upon her. And he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/19-9.htm">Matthew 19:9</a></span><br />Now I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/7-2.htm">Romans 7:2-3</a></span><br />For instance, a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. / So then, if she is joined to another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law and is not an adulteress if she marries another man.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/3-7.htm">1 Peter 3:7</a></span><br />Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as a delicate vessel, and with honor as fellow heirs of the gracious gift of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/24-1.htm">Deuteronomy 24:1-4</a></span><br />If a man marries a woman, but she becomes displeasing to him because he finds some indecency in her, he may write her a certificate of divorce, hand it to her, and send her away from his house. / If, after leaving his house, she goes and becomes another man’s wife, / and the second man hates her, writes her a certificate of divorce, hands it to her, and sends her away from his house, or if he dies, ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/18-11.htm">Numbers 18:11-13</a></span><br />And this is yours as well: the offering of their gifts, along with all the wave offerings of the Israelites. I have given this to you and your sons and daughters as a permanent statute. Every ceremonially clean person in your household may eat it. / I give you all the freshest olive oil and all the finest new wine and grain that the Israelites give to the LORD as their firstfruits. / The firstfruits of everything in their land that they bring to the LORD will belong to you. Every ceremonially clean person in your household may eat them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/leviticus/10-9.htm">Leviticus 10:9-11</a></span><br />“You and your sons are not to drink wine or strong drink when you enter the Tent of Meeting, or else you will die; this is a permanent statute for the generations to come. / You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the clean and the unclean, / so that you may teach the Israelites all the statutes that the LORD has given them through Moses.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/leviticus/22-12.htm">Leviticus 22:12-13</a></span><br />If the priest’s daughter is married to a man other than a priest, she is not to eat of the sacred contributions. / But if a priest’s daughter with no children becomes widowed or divorced and returns to her father’s house, she may share her father’s food as in her youth. But no outsider may share it.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">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.</p><p class="hdg">that is a whore</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/leviticus/21-8.htm">Leviticus 21:8</a></b></br> Thou shalt sanctify him therefore; for he offereth the bread of thy God: he shall be holy unto thee: for I the LORD, which sanctify you, <i>am</i> holy.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ezekiel/44-22.htm">Ezekiel 44:22</a></b></br> Neither shall they take for their wives a widow, nor her that is put away: but they shall take maidens of the seed of the house of Israel, or a widow that had a priest before.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_timothy/3-11.htm">1 Timothy 3:11</a></b></br> Even so <i>must their</i> wives <i>be</i> grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.</p><p class="hdg">put away</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/24-1.htm">Deuteronomy 24:1-4</a></b></br> When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give <i>it</i> in her hand, and send her out of his house… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/50-1.htm">Isaiah 50:1</a></b></br> Thus saith the LORD, Where <i>is</i> the bill of your mother's divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors <i>is it</i> to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/leviticus/20-23.htm">Cast</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-6.htm">Common</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-3.htm">Defiled</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/4-10.htm">Dishonoured</a> <a href="/luke/16-18.htm">Divorced</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-6.htm">Harlot</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-29.htm">Harlotry</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-8.htm">Holy</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-4.htm">Husband</a> <a href="/1_peter/3-7.htm">Husbands</a> <a href="/revelation/22-15.htm">Lewd</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-18.htm">Marry</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-12.htm">Polluted</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-4.htm">Priest</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-5.htm">Priests</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-6.htm">Profane</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-8.htm">Profaned</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-6.htm">Prostitute</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-29.htm">Prostitution</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-29.htm">Whore</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-21.htm">Wife</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-22.htm">Women</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/leviticus/21-14.htm">Cast</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-9.htm">Common</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-14.htm">Defiled</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/25-3.htm">Dishonoured</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-14.htm">Divorced</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-9.htm">Harlot</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-9.htm">Harlotry</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-8.htm">Holy</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-14.htm">Husband</a> <a href="/numbers/36-6.htm">Husbands</a> <a href="/numbers/14-33.htm">Lewd</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-14.htm">Marry</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-14.htm">Polluted</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-9.htm">Priest</a> <a href="/leviticus/22-9.htm">Priests</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-9.htm">Profane</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-14.htm">Profaned</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-9.htm">Prostitute</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-14.htm">Prostitution</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-9.htm">Whore</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-13.htm">Wife</a> <a href="/leviticus/26-26.htm">Women</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>A priest must not marry a woman defiled by prostitution</b><br>This phrase emphasizes the high standard of purity required for priests, who served as mediators between God and the people. In ancient Israel, priests were expected to maintain a level of holiness that reflected their sacred duties. The prohibition against marrying a woman involved in prostitution underscores the importance of sexual purity and the avoidance of relationships that could compromise the priest's sanctity. This reflects the broader biblical theme of holiness, as seen in passages like <a href="/1_peter/1-16.htm">1 Peter 1:16</a>, "Be holy, because I am holy."<p><b>or divorced by her husband</b><br>The restriction against marrying a divorced woman highlights the importance of marital fidelity and the sanctity of marriage. In the cultural context of ancient Israel, divorce could carry a stigma, and a divorced woman might be seen as having a compromised status. This regulation ensured that priests maintained a reputation of integrity and holiness. The New Testament also addresses the sanctity of marriage in passages like <a href="/matthew/19-6.htm">Matthew 19:6</a>, where Jesus speaks against divorce, reinforcing the idea of marriage as a lifelong covenant.<p><b>for the priest is holy to his God</b><br>This phrase underscores the unique role of the priest as set apart for God's service. The concept of holiness is central to the priestly identity, as priests were consecrated to perform sacred duties and rituals. This holiness was not only a personal attribute but also a reflection of their divine calling. The idea of being "holy to his God" is echoed in the New Testament, where believers are called to be a "royal priesthood" (<a href="/1_peter/2-9.htm">1 Peter 2:9</a>), indicating that all Christians are set apart for God's purposes. The priest's holiness serves as a type of Christ, the ultimate High Priest, who is perfectly holy and mediates between God and humanity (<a href="/hebrews/7-26.htm">Hebrews 7:26</a>).<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 is on the priests, who were set apart for service to God in the Israelite community. They were held to higher standards of holiness and purity.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/w/women_defiled_by_prostitution.htm">Women Defiled by Prostitution</a></b><br>This refers to women who have engaged in sexual immorality, which was considered a defilement under the Mosaic Law.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/d/divorced_women.htm">Divorced Women</a></b><br>Women who have been divorced from their husbands. In the cultural context of ancient Israel, divorce carried a stigma and was often associated with impurity.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/h/holiness.htm">Holiness</a></b><br>A central theme in Leviticus, emphasizing the separation and dedication of the priests to God.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God</a></b><br>The ultimate authority who sets the standards for holiness and purity among His people, especially those serving in priestly roles.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/h/holiness_in_leadership.htm">Holiness in Leadership</a></b><br>Leaders in the church are called to a higher standard of holiness, reflecting God's character to the community.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/p/purity_in_relationships.htm">Purity in Relationships</a></b><br>The relationships we form, especially in marriage, should reflect God's standards of purity and commitment.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_the_priesthood.htm">The Role of the Priesthood</a></b><br>While the specific regulations for priests in Leviticus may not apply directly to all believers today, the principle of being set apart for God's service remains relevant.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/u/understanding_cultural_context.htm">Understanding Cultural Context</a></b><br>Recognizing the cultural and historical context of biblical commands helps us apply their principles appropriately in our lives today.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_unchanging_standards.htm">God's Unchanging Standards</a></b><br>God's standards of holiness and purity are consistent throughout Scripture, calling us to live lives that honor Him.<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/why_restrict_priests'_marriages_evidence.htm">Why does Leviticus 21:7–14 restrict whom priests can marry, and does archaeology support such specialized priestly conduct? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/were_leviticus_21_laws_enforced_in_israel.htm">Are there any scientific or historical indications that the laws in Leviticus 21 were uniformly enforced or widely practiced in ancient Israel?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_reliable_is_the_urim_and_thummim_claim.htm">Exodus 28:30: How reliable is the claim about the Urim and Thummim, given the lack of concrete archeological evidence or consistent references elsewhere?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/does_lev._22_10_conflict_with_inclusivity.htm">In Leviticus 22:10, does the exclusion of non-priests from eating sacred offerings conflict with later biblical themes of inclusivity?</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>(7) <span class= "bld">Not take a wife.</span>--From the defilement arising through contact with the dead, the lawgiver passes to' regulation about the priest's alliances with the living, which might be fraught with still more serious consequences to his sacred office. In selecting a wife he is to be careful both about her chastity and legitimate descent.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/leviticus/21.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 7-9.</span> - Moral uncleanness or defilement passes to the husband and father kern an immoral wife or daughter, and therefore the priest is to be specially careful in the selection of his wife; and his daughter, if she leads a licentious life, is to be stoned to death, and then <span class="cmt_word">burnt with fire,</span> because <span class="cmt_word">she profaneth her father</span> (cf. <a href="/1_samuel/2-17.htm">1 Samuel 2:17</a>). In a similar spirit, St. Paul gives directions as to the families of those to whom the ministry of the Spirit is assigned (<a href="/1_timothy/3-11.htm">1 Timothy 3:11</a>; <a href="/titus/1-6.htm">Titus 1:6</a>). Keil would unite verse 4 in sense with verses 7-9, and argues that <span class="accented">he shall not defile himself, being a chief man among his people, to profane himself</span>, refers to the kind of marriage which the priest is to make, but the interposition of verses 5 and 6 forbid this explanation of verse 4. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/leviticus/21-7.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">לֹ֣א</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">marry</span><br /><span class="heb">יִקָּ֔חוּ</span> <span class="translit">(yiq·qā·ḥū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3947.htm">Strong's 3947: </a> </span><span class="str2">To take</span><br /><br /><span class="word">a woman</span><br /><span class="heb">אִשָּׁ֨ה</span> <span class="translit">(’iš·šāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_802.htm">Strong's 802: </a> </span><span class="str2">Woman, wife, female</span><br /><br /><span class="word">defiled</span><br /><span class="heb">וַחֲלָלָה֙</span> <span class="translit">(wa·ḥă·lā·lāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Adjective - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2491.htm">Strong's 2491: </a> </span><span class="str2">Pierced, polluted</span><br /><br /><span class="word">by prostitution</span><br /><span class="heb">זֹנָ֤ה</span> <span class="translit">(zō·nāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2181.htm">Strong's 2181: </a> </span><span class="str2">To commit adultery, to commit idolatry</span><br /><br /><span class="word">or</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹ֣א</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">divorced</span><br /><span class="heb">גְּרוּשָׁ֥ה</span> <span class="translit">(gə·rū·šāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1644.htm">Strong's 1644: </a> </span><span class="str2">To drive out from a, possession, to expatriate, divorce</span><br /><br /><span class="word">by her husband,</span><br /><span class="heb">מֵאִישָׁ֖הּ</span> <span class="translit">(mê·’î·šāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_376.htm">Strong's 376: </a> </span><span class="str2">A man as an individual, a male person</span><br /><br /><span class="word">for</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּֽי־</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">[the priest]</span><br /><span class="heb">ה֖וּא</span> <span class="translit">(hū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1931.htm">Strong's 1931: </a> </span><span class="str2">He, self, the same, this, that, as, are</span><br /><br /><span class="word">is holy</span><br /><span class="heb">קָדֹ֥שׁ</span> <span class="translit">(qā·ḏōš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6918.htm">Strong's 6918: </a> </span><span class="str2">Sacred, God, an angel, a saint, a sanctuary</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to his God.</span><br /><span class="heb">לֵאלֹהָֽיו׃</span> <span class="translit">(lê·lō·hāw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> </span><span class="str2">gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/leviticus/21-7.htm">Leviticus 21:7 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/leviticus/21-7.htm">Leviticus 21:7 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/leviticus/21-7.htm">Leviticus 21:7 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/leviticus/21-7.htm">Leviticus 21:7 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/leviticus/21-7.htm">Leviticus 21:7 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/leviticus/21-7.htm">Leviticus 21:7 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/leviticus/21-7.htm">Leviticus 21:7 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/leviticus/21-7.htm">Leviticus 21:7 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/leviticus/21-7.htm">Leviticus 21:7 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/leviticus/21-7.htm">Leviticus 21:7 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/leviticus/21-7.htm">OT Law: Leviticus 21:7 They shall not marry a woman who (Le Lv Lev.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/leviticus/21-6.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Leviticus 21:6"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Leviticus 21:6" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/leviticus/21-8.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Leviticus 21:8"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Leviticus 21:8" /></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>