CINXE.COM

<!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 21:16 Then the LORD said to Moses,</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/leviticus/21-16.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/16/03_Lev_21_16.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Leviticus 21:16 - Restrictions Against Those with Blemishes" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Then the LORD said to Moses," /><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/leviticus/21-16.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/leviticus/21-16.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="/leviticus/">Leviticus</a> > <a href="/leviticus/21.htm">Chapter 21</a> > Verse 16</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="/ad16.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/21-15.htm" title="Leviticus 21:15">◄</a> Leviticus 21:16 <a href="/leviticus/21-17.htm" title="Leviticus 21:17">►</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 />The LORD said to Moses,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/leviticus/21.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Then the LORD said to Moses,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/leviticus/21.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/leviticus/21.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then the LORD said to Moses,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/leviticus/21.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/leviticus/21.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/leviticus/21.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/leviticus/21.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/leviticus/21.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/leviticus/21.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/leviticus/21.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/leviticus/21.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The LORD spoke to Moses:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/leviticus/21.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The LORD spoke to Moses: &#8220<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/leviticus/21.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/leviticus/21.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />The LORD told Moses <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/leviticus/21.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/leviticus/21.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />The LORD spoke to Moses,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/leviticus/21.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />The LORD commanded Moses <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/leviticus/21.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />The LORD told Moses, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/leviticus/21.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then the LORD said to Moses,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/leviticus/21.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />The LORD spoke to Moses:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/leviticus/21.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/leviticus/21.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/leviticus/21.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/leviticus/21.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And YHWH speaks to Moses, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/leviticus/21.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/leviticus/21.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And Jehovah will speak to Moses, saying,<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/leviticus/21.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/leviticus/21.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/leviticus/21.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />The LORD said to Moses:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/leviticus/21.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/leviticus/21.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/leviticus/21.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And LORD JEHOVAH spoke with Moshe and said to him,<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/leviticus/21.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/leviticus/21.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/leviticus/21-16.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=5669" 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">Restrictions Against Those with Blemishes</a></span><br> <span class="reftext">16</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">Then the LORD</a> <a href="/hebrew/1696.htm" title="1696: way·ḏab·bêr (Conj-w:: V-Piel-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To speak. A primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively, to speak; rarely to subdue.">said</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">to</a> <a href="/hebrew/4872.htm" title="4872: mō·šeh (N-proper-ms) -- A great Isr. leader, prophet and lawgiver. From mashah; drawing out, i.e. Rescued; Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver.">Moses,</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: lê·mōr (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say."></a> </span><span class="reftext">17</span>“Say to Aaron, ‘For the generations to come, none of your descendants who has a physical defect may approach to offer the food of his God.…<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="/exodus/4-11.htm">Exodus 4:11</a></span><br />And the LORD said to him, “Who gave man his mouth? Or who makes the mute or the deaf, the sighted or the blind? Is it not I, the LORD?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/15-21.htm">Deuteronomy 15:21</a></span><br />But if an animal has a defect, is lame or blind, or has any serious flaw, you must not sacrifice it to the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/malachi/1-8.htm">Malachi 1:8</a></span><br />When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is it not wrong? And when you present the lame and sick ones, is it not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you or show you favor?” asks the LORD of Hosts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/5-8.htm">2 Samuel 5:8</a></span><br />On that day he said, “Whoever attacks the Jebusites must use the water shaft to reach the lame and blind who are despised by David.” That is why it is said, “The blind and the lame will never enter the palace.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/56-3.htm">Isaiah 56:3-5</a></span><br />Let no foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD say, “The LORD will utterly exclude me from His people.” And let the eunuch not say, “I am but a dry tree.” / For this is what the LORD says: “To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, who choose what pleases Me and hold fast to My covenant— / I will give them, in My house and within My walls, a memorial and a name better than that of sons and daughters. I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/18-19.htm">Numbers 18:19-22</a></span><br />All the holy offerings that the Israelites present to the LORD I give to you and to your sons and daughters as a permanent statute. It is a permanent covenant of salt before the LORD for you and your offspring.” / Then the LORD said to Aaron, “You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any portion among them. I am your portion and your inheritance among the Israelites. / Behold, I have given to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work they do, the service of the Tent of Meeting. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/44-10.htm">Ezekiel 44:10-16</a></span><br />Surely the Levites who wandered away from Me when Israel went astray, and who wandered away from Me after their idols, will bear the consequences of their iniquity. / Yet they shall be ministers in My sanctuary, having charge of the gates of the temple and ministering there. They shall slaughter the burnt offerings and other sacrifices for the people and stand before them to minister to them. / Because they ministered before their idols and became a stumbling block of iniquity to the house of Israel, therefore I swore with an uplifted hand concerning them that they would bear the consequences of their iniquity, declares the Lord GOD. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/2-9.htm">1 Peter 2:9</a></span><br />But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/7-26.htm">Hebrews 7:26-28</a></span><br />Such a high priest truly befits us—One who is holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. / Unlike the other high priests, He does not need to offer daily sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people; He sacrificed for sin once for all when He offered up Himself. / For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/5-48.htm">Matthew 5:48</a></span><br />Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/1-27.htm">1 Corinthians 1:27-29</a></span><br />But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. / He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are, / so that no one may boast in His presence.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/12-1.htm">Romans 12:1</a></span><br />Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.<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/6-14.htm">1 Timothy 6:14</a></span><br />Keep this commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ephesians/5-27.htm">Ephesians 5:27</a></span><br />and to present her to Himself as a glorious church, without stain or wrinkle or any such blemish, but holy and blameless.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/leviticus/21-1.htm">Moses</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-1.htm">Speaketh</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/leviticus/22-1.htm">Moses</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-24.htm">Speaketh</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>Then the LORD said to Moses,</b><br>*Biblical Context:* This phrase introduces a direct communication from God to Moses, a common occurrence in the Pentateuch, where Moses serves as the primary mediator between God and the Israelites. This underscores the divine authority behind the instructions that follow.<br><br>*Historical and Cultural Context:* Moses is the central figure in the Exodus narrative, leading the Israelites out of Egypt and receiving the Law at Mount Sinai. His role as a prophet and leader is crucial, as he conveys God's laws and instructions to the people.<br><br>*Connections to Other Scripture:* This phrase is reminiscent of other instances where God speaks directly to Moses, such as in <a href="/exodus/3-4.htm">Exodus 3:4</a> at the burning bush and throughout the giving of the Law. It highlights the unique relationship Moses had with God, as seen in <a href="/numbers/12-6.htm">Numbers 12:6-8</a>, where God speaks to Moses face to face.<br><br>*Types of Jesus Christ:* Moses is often seen as a type of Christ, a mediator between God and His people. Just as Moses received and delivered God's law, Jesus fulfills and embodies the law, serving as the ultimate mediator of the New Covenant (<a href="/hebrews/3.htm">Hebrews 3:1-6</a>).<br><br>*Prophecy:* While this specific phrase is not prophetic, the role of Moses as a lawgiver and leader foreshadows the coming of Christ, who would establish a new covenant and lead His people into spiritual freedom.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The LORD (Yahweh)</a></b><br>The covenant God of Israel, who is holy and sets the standards for His people.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/m/moses.htm">Moses</a></b><br>The prophet and leader of Israel, chosen by God to deliver His laws and commandments to the Israelites.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/i/israel.htm">Israel</a></b><br>The chosen people of God, to whom the laws of holiness and priestly conduct are being given.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/p/priests.htm">Priests</a></b><br>The descendants of Aaron, who are given specific instructions on maintaining holiness and purity in their service to God.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/h/holiness_in_leadership.htm">Holiness in Leadership</a></b><br>God’s instructions to Moses highlight the importance of holiness among those who lead and serve in spiritual capacities. Leaders today are called to a higher standard of conduct and purity.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_standards_are_unchanging.htm">God’s Standards are Unchanging</a></b><br>The call to holiness is consistent throughout Scripture. While the specific laws may differ, the principle of being set apart for God remains the same.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_mediators.htm">The Role of Mediators</a></b><br>The priests served as mediators between God and the people. This foreshadows the ultimate mediation of Christ, who bridges the gap between humanity and God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/i/inclusivity_of_god's_call.htm">Inclusivity of God’s Call</a></b><br>While the Levitical laws were specific to the Israelites, the New Testament expands the call to holiness to all believers, emphasizing a personal relationship with God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/reflecting_god's_character.htm">Reflecting God’s Character</a></b><br>As God’s representatives, both the priests and modern believers are called to reflect His character in their daily lives, demonstrating His love and righteousness to the world.<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_is_ahaz's_idolatry_less_condemned.htm">Why doesn't 2 Kings 16 emphasize divine judgment on Ahaz's actions as clearly as other Old Testament passages condemn idolatry?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_blood_sprinkling_mean.htm">What does the sprinkling of the blood signify?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_leads_your_heart_to_truth.htm">What does the Bible say about aging?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/do_leviticus_22's_rules_seem_outdated_now.htm">Could Leviticus 22’s detailed purity regulations reflect historical or cultural practices now seen as scientifically or ethically questionable? </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>(16) <span class= "bld">And the Lord spake unto Moses.</span>--In the preceding part of this chapter the priests were forbidden voluntarily to disfigure themselves, or to disqualify themselves and their descendants for their sacred office by illegal alliances. The legislator, therefore, now passes on to other blemishes, which, though not voluntarily contracted, likewise disqualify the priests for performing sacerdotal duties in the sanctuary.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/leviticus/21.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 16-24.</span> - Perfection of the body being typical of perfection of the mind and of the whole man, and symbolical perfection being required of the priest of God, none may be admitted to the priesthood with bodily defects, or excrescences, or grievous blemishes. The translation <span class="cmt_word">dwarf</span>, in verse 20, is better than the marginal rendering "too slender," or withered. Being the descendants of Aaron, these priests, blemished as they were, were to be supported as the other priests were supported. <span class="cmt_word">He shall eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy, and of the holy;</span> that is, the priests' portions of the meat offerings (<a href="/leviticus/2-3.htm">Leviticus 2:3, 10</a>; <a href="/leviticus/6-17.htm">Leviticus 6:17</a>), of the sin offerings (<a href="/leviticus/6-29.htm">Leviticus 6:29</a>), of the trespass offerings (<a href="/leviticus/7-1.htm">Leviticus 7:1</a>), of the shewbread (<a href="/leviticus/24-9.htm">Leviticus 24:9</a>), which were most holy, and of the heave offerings, wave offerings, firstfruit offerings, firstlings, and things devoted (<a href="/numbers/11-11.htm">Numbers 11:11-19</a>), which were holy. They were also apparently employed in the less formal and conspicuous duties of the priests, such as examining lepers, and any other functions which did not bring them <span class="cmt_word">nigh unto the altar</span>. But they were not to <span class="cmt_word">profane God's sanctuaries</span>, by which is meant the holy of holies, the holy place, and the court in which the altar stood. To none of these is the blemished priest to be admitted for the purpose of officiating, though he might enter the court and probably the holy place for other purposes, and might eat the offerings of the priests in the accustomed place. <p> <p> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/leviticus/21-16.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">Then the LORD</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהוָ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(Yah·weh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> </span><span class="str2">LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">said</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר</span> <span class="translit">(way·ḏab·bêr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1696.htm">Strong's 1696: </a> </span><span class="str2">To arrange, to speak, to subdue</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶל־</span> <span class="translit">(’el-)</span><br /><span class="parse">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">Moses,</span><br /><span class="heb">מֹשֶׁ֥ה</span> <span class="translit">(mō·šeh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4872.htm">Strong's 4872: </a> </span><span class="str2">Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/leviticus/21-16.htm">Leviticus 21:16 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/leviticus/21-16.htm">Leviticus 21:16 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/leviticus/21-16.htm">Leviticus 21:16 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/leviticus/21-16.htm">Leviticus 21:16 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/leviticus/21-16.htm">Leviticus 21:16 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/leviticus/21-16.htm">Leviticus 21:16 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/leviticus/21-16.htm">Leviticus 21:16 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/leviticus/21-16.htm">Leviticus 21:16 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/leviticus/21-16.htm">Leviticus 21:16 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/leviticus/21-16.htm">Leviticus 21:16 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/leviticus/21-16.htm">OT Law: Leviticus 21:16 Yahweh spoke to Moses saying (Le Lv Lev.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/leviticus/21-15.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Leviticus 21:15"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Leviticus 21:15" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/leviticus/21-17.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Leviticus 21:17"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Leviticus 21:17" /></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>