Leviticus 21:4

"and for his virgin sister who is near to him, who has had no husband; for her he may defile himself."

Key Reflection

Leviticus 21:4 establishes a special privilege and responsibility for the priests. In this verse, it states that a priest may defile himself to care for his virgin sister who has no husband. This allowance is significant because traditionally, priests were expected to maintain a high level of purity. The cultural context highlights the importance of familial obligations, even if they temporarily conflicted with ritual duties. This provision underscores a balance between personal and communal responsibilities within the priestly role.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

The sense seems to be that, owing to his position in the nation, the priest is not to defile himself in any cases except those named inLeviticus 21:2-3. The Septuagint appear to have followed a different reading of the text which would mean, “he shall not defile himself for a moment.” The explanation in the margin of our version is hardly in keeping with the prohibition to Ezekiel on a special occasion. SeeEzekiel 24:16.

More from Leviticus 21

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