The Tanakh · JPS 1917 Translation

Leviticus 21

Jewish Publication Society 1917 · Torah

Leviticus chapter 21 — part of the Torah in the Jewish Bible. In the classic JPS 1917 translation it opens: “And HaShem said unto Moses: Speak unto the priests the sons of Aaron, and say unto them: There shall none defile himself for the dead among…” — the complete text of all 24 verses is below, free to read online.

1And HaShem said unto Moses: Speak unto the priests the sons of Aaron, and say unto them: There shall none defile himself for the dead among his people;

2except for his kin, that is near unto him, for his mother, and for his father, and for his son, and for his daughter, and for his brother;

3and for his sister a virgin, that is near unto him, that hath had no husband, for her may he defile himself.

4He shall not defile himself, being a chief man among his people, to profane himself.

5They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corners of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh.

6They shall be holy unto their G-d, and not profane the name of their G-d; for the offerings of HaShem made by fire, the bread of their G-d, they do offer; therefore they shall be holy.

7They 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 G-d.

8Thou shalt sanctify him therefore; for he offereth the bread of thy G-d; he shall be holy unto thee; for I HaShem, who sanctify you, am holy.

9And the daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the harlot, she profaneth her father: she shall be burnt with fire.

10And the priest that is highest among his brethren, upon whose head the anointing oil is poured, and that is consecrated to put on the garments, shall not let the hair of his head go loose, nor rend his clothes;

11neither shall he go in to any dead body, nor defile himself for his father, or for his mother;

12neither shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his G-d; for the consecration of the anointing oil of his G-d is upon him: I am HaShem.

13And he shall take a wife in her virginity.

14A widow, or one divorced, or a profaned woman, or a harlot, these shall he not take; but a virgin of his own people shall he take to wife.

15And he shall not profane his seed among his people; for I am HaShem who sanctify him.

16And HaShem spoke unto Moses, saying:

17Speak unto Aaron, saying: Whosoever he be of thy seed throughout their generations that hath a blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his G-d.

18For whatsoever man he be that hath a blemish, he shall not approach: a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath any thing maimed, or anything too long,

19or a man that is broken-footed, or broken-handed,

20or crook-backed, or a dwarf, or that hath his eye overspread, or is scabbed, or scurvy, or hath his stones crushed;

21no man of the seed of Aaron the priest, that hath a blemish, shall come nigh to offer the offerings of HaShem made by fire; he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his G-d.

22He may eat the bread of his G-d, both of the most holy, and of the holy.

23Only he shall not go in unto the veil, nor come nigh unto the altar, because he hath a blemish; that he profane not My holy places; for I am HaShem who sanctify them.

24So Moses spoke unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel.

24 verses · JPS 1917 (public domain)

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