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 21:13 The woman he marries must be a virgin.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/leviticus/21-13.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/12/03_Lev_21_13.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Leviticus 21:13 - Holiness Required of Priests" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="The woman he marries must be a virgin." /><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/21-13.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/21-13.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 13</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="/ad13.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/21-12.htm" title="Leviticus 21:12">◄</a> Leviticus 21:13 <a href="/leviticus/21-14.htm" title="Leviticus 21:14">►</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 />&#8220&#8217The woman he marries must be a virgin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/leviticus/21.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />“The high priest may marry only a virgin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/leviticus/21.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />And he shall take a wife in her virginity.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/leviticus/21.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />The woman he marries must be a virgin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/leviticus/21.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And he shall take a wife in her virginity.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/leviticus/21.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />And he shall take a wife in her virginity.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/leviticus/21.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />He shall take a wife in her virginity.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/leviticus/21.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8216He shall take a wife in her virginity.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/leviticus/21.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />‘And he shall take a wife in her virginity.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/leviticus/21.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And he shall take a wife in her virginity.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/leviticus/21.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />He shall take a wife in her virginity.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/leviticus/21.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />“He is to marry a woman who is a virgin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/leviticus/21.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />He is to marry a woman who is a virgin. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/leviticus/21.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And he shall take a wife in her virginity.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/leviticus/21.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />If you are the high priest, you must marry only a virgin <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/leviticus/21.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And he shall take a wife in her virginity.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/leviticus/21.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />"The anointed priest must marry a virgin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/leviticus/21.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />He shall marry a virgin, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/leviticus/21.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />"Furthermore, he is to marry a true virgin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/leviticus/21.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />The woman he marries must be a virgin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/leviticus/21.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />He must take a wife who is a virgin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/leviticus/21.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />"'He shall take a wife in her virginity.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/leviticus/21.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And he shall take a wife in her virginity.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/leviticus/21.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />“‘He shall take a wife in her virginity. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/leviticus/21.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And he takes a wife in her virginity;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/leviticus/21.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> 'And he taketh a wife in her virginity;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/leviticus/21.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And he shall take a wife in her virginity.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/leviticus/21.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />He shall take a virgin unto his wife: <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/leviticus/21.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />He shall take a virgin as his wife.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/leviticus/21.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />He shall marry only a woman who is a virgin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/leviticus/21.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />He shall marry only a woman who is a virgin.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/leviticus/21.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And he shall take a wife in her virginity.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/leviticus/21.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And this one shall take a virgin woman.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/leviticus/21.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And he shall take a wife in her virginity.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/leviticus/21.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />He shall take for a wife a virgin of his own tribe.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/leviticus/21-13.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=5651" 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">12</span>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="reftext">13</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/802.htm" title="802: ’iš·šāh (N-fs) -- Woman, wife, female. Feminine of 'iysh or 'enowsh; irregular plural, nashiym; a woman.">The woman</a> <a href="/hebrew/1931.htm" title="1931: wə·hū (Conj-w:: Pro-3ms) -- He, she, it. ">he</a> <a href="/hebrew/3947.htm" title="3947: yiq·qāḥ (V-Qal-Imperf-3ms) -- To take. A primitive root; to take.">marries</a> <a href="/hebrew/1331.htm" title="1331: ḇiḇ·ṯū·le·hā (Prep-b:: N-mpc:: 3fs) -- Virginity. Masculine plural of the same as bthuwlah; virginity; by implication and concretely, the tokens of it.">must be a virgin.</a> </span><span class="reftext">14</span>He is not to marry a widow, a divorced woman, or one defiled by prostitution. He is to marry a virgin from his own people,…<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/7-2.htm">1 Corinthians 7:2</a></span><br />But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/24-3.htm">Genesis 24:3-4</a></span><br />and I will have you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I am dwelling, / but will go to my country and my kindred to take a wife for my son Isaac.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/28-1.htm">Genesis 28:1-2</a></span><br />So Isaac called for Jacob and blessed him. “Do not take a wife from the Canaanite women,” he commanded. / “Go at once to Paddan-aram, to the house of your mother’s father Bethuel, and take a wife from among the daughters of Laban, your mother’s brother.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/7-3.htm">Deuteronomy 7:3-4</a></span><br />Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, / because they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods. Then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and He will swiftly destroy you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/6-14.htm">2 Corinthians 6:14</a></span><br />Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/malachi/2-11.htm">Malachi 2:11</a></span><br />Judah has broken faith; an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned the LORD’s beloved sanctuary by marrying the daughter of a foreign god.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezra/9-12.htm">Ezra 9:12</a></span><br />Now, therefore, do not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters for your sons. Never seek their peace or prosperity, so that you may be strong and may eat the good things of the land, leaving it as an inheritance to your sons forever.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/13-25.htm">Nehemiah 13:25</a></span><br />I rebuked them and called down curses on them. I beat some of these men and pulled out their hair. Then I made them take an oath before God and said, “You must not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters as wives for your sons or for yourselves!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/9-5.htm">1 Corinthians 9:5</a></span><br />Have we no right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/19-4.htm">Matthew 19:4-6</a></span><br />Jesus answered, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ / and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? / So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ephesians/5-31.htm">Ephesians 5:31</a></span><br />“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And he shall take a wife in her virginity.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/leviticus/21-7.htm">Leviticus 21:7</a></b></br> They shall not take a wife <i>that is</i> a whore, or profane; neither shall they take a woman put away from her husband: for he <i>is</i> holy unto his God.</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="/2_corinthians/11-2.htm">2 Corinthians 11:2</a></b></br> For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present <i>you as</i> a chaste virgin to Christ.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/leviticus/20-21.htm">Marries</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-2.htm">Relations</a> <a href="/exodus/22-16.htm">Virgin</a> <a href="/luke/2-36.htm">Virginity</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-7.htm">Wife</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/leviticus/22-12.htm">Marries</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-49.htm">Relations</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-14.htm">Virgin</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/22-14.htm">Virginity</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-14.htm">Wife</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>The woman he marries</b><br>This phrase refers to the high priest's marital requirements, emphasizing the importance of purity and holiness in his personal life. The high priest held a unique position as the spiritual leader and mediator between God and the Israelites, symbolizing the need for a life set apart for God. This requirement underscores the importance of maintaining a holy lineage and reflects the broader biblical theme of marriage as a covenant relationship. In the New Testament, marriage is often used as a metaphor for Christ's relationship with the Church (<a href="/ephesians/5-25.htm">Ephesians 5:25-27</a>).<p><b>must be a virgin.</b><br>The stipulation that the high priest's wife must be a virgin highlights the emphasis on purity and the unblemished nature of those who serve in sacred roles. Virginity here symbolizes spiritual purity and dedication, reflecting the holiness required of those who approach God. This requirement can be seen as a type of Christ, who is the ultimate High Priest, pure and without sin (<a href="/hebrews/7-26.htm">Hebrews 7:26</a>). The concept of virginity also connects to the prophecy of the virgin birth of Jesus (<a href="/isaiah/7-14.htm">Isaiah 7:14</a>), emphasizing the purity and divine nature of Christ's incarnation.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_high_priest.htm">The High Priest</a></b><br>The primary subject of this verse, the high priest in Israel was held to a higher standard of holiness and purity due to his role in mediating between God and the people.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_virgin.htm">The Virgin</a></b><br>The woman whom the high priest is commanded to marry. This requirement underscores the importance of purity and holiness in the priestly office.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/i/israel.htm">Israel</a></b><br>The nation to whom these laws were given, emphasizing the distinctiveness and holiness required of those who serve in the tabernacle.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/m/moses.htm">Moses</a></b><br>The mediator of the Law, through whom God communicated these instructions to the Israelites.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_tabernacle.htm">The Tabernacle</a></b><br>The central place of worship for Israel, where the high priest performed his duties, symbolizing God's presence among His people.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/h/holiness_in_leadership.htm">Holiness in Leadership</a></b><br>The high priest's requirement to marry a virgin underscores the call to purity and holiness for those in spiritual leadership. Leaders today are similarly called to live lives that reflect God's holiness.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/symbolism_of_purity.htm">Symbolism of Purity</a></b><br>The marriage to a virgin symbolizes the purity and dedication required in our relationship with God. Believers are called to present themselves as pure and holy, set apart for God's purposes.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/m/marriage_as_a_reflection_of_spiritual_truths.htm">Marriage as a Reflection of Spiritual Truths</a></b><br>The high priest's marriage serves as a metaphor for Christ's relationship with the Church. Just as the high priest was to marry a virgin, Christ seeks a pure and spotless bride.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/cultural_context_and_timeless_principles.htm">Cultural Context and Timeless Principles</a></b><br>While the specific cultural context of Leviticus may differ from today, the underlying principles of holiness, purity, and dedication to God remain relevant.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_the_law.htm">The Role of the Law</a></b><br>The laws in Leviticus, including those about marriage, point to the need for a Savior who perfectly fulfills the law and enables us to live holy lives through His Spirit.<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/bible_on_refusing_medical_treatment.htm">What happened to the Midianite virgins in the Bible?</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/why_does_leviticus_20_10_mandate_death.htm">In Leviticus 20:10, how can this text mandate capital punishment for adultery when other passages in the Bible offer alternative outcomes for similar offenses (e.g., John 8:1-11)?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_allow_forced_marriages_in_deut._21.htm">Why does the Old Testament allow forced marriages of female captives (Deuteronomy 21:10-14)?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/leviticus/21.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(13) <span class= "bld">A wife in her virginity.</span>--From this verse the administrators of the Law during the second Temple concluded that (1) the high priest must be the husband of one wife, though the ordinary priests might have several; (2) that she must be a virgin, under the age of thirteen; (3) that she must not even have been betrothed to another person; and that (4) she must be the daughter of Jewish parents by race, as it is stated in the next verse, though the ordinary priest was allowed to marry the daughter of proselytes. The first of these enactments is also enjoined by St. Paul on Christian bishops (<a href="/1_timothy/3-2.htm" title="A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach;">1Timothy 3:2</a>; <a href="/titus/1-16.htm" title="They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and to every good work reprobate.">Titus 1:16</a>); whilst the fourth is actually expressed in the Greek version (LXX.), which has at the end of the verse, "of his own race."<p><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/leviticus/21-13.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">The woman</span><br /><span class="heb">אִשָּׁ֥ה</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">he</span><br /><span class="heb">וְה֕וּא</span> <span class="translit">(wə·hū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | 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">marries</span><br /><span class="heb">יִקָּֽח׃</span> <span class="translit">(yiq·qāḥ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular<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">must be a virgin.</span><br /><span class="heb">בִבְתוּלֶ֖יהָ</span> <span class="translit">(ḇiḇ·ṯū·le·hā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1331.htm">Strong's 1331: </a> </span><span class="str2">Virginity, the tokens of it</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/leviticus/21-13.htm">Leviticus 21:13 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/leviticus/21-13.htm">Leviticus 21:13 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/leviticus/21-13.htm">Leviticus 21:13 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/leviticus/21-13.htm">Leviticus 21:13 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/leviticus/21-13.htm">Leviticus 21:13 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/leviticus/21-13.htm">Leviticus 21:13 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/leviticus/21-13.htm">Leviticus 21:13 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/leviticus/21-13.htm">Leviticus 21:13 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/leviticus/21-13.htm">Leviticus 21:13 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/leviticus/21-13.htm">Leviticus 21:13 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/leviticus/21-13.htm">OT Law: Leviticus 21:13 He shall take a wife in her (Le Lv Lev.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/leviticus/21-12.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Leviticus 21:12"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Leviticus 21:12" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/leviticus/21-14.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Leviticus 21:14"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Leviticus 21:14" /></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>