Leviticus 21 10

Leviticus 21:10 kjv

And he that is the high priest among his brethren, upon whose head the anointing oil was poured, and that is consecrated to put on the garments, shall not uncover his head, nor rend his clothes;

Leviticus 21:10 nkjv

'He who is the high priest among his brethren, on whose head the anointing oil was poured and who is consecrated to wear the garments, shall not uncover his head nor tear his clothes;

Leviticus 21:10 niv

"?'The high priest, the one among his brothers who has had the anointing oil poured on his head and who has been ordained to wear the priestly garments, must not let his hair become unkempt or tear his clothes.

Leviticus 21:10 esv

"The priest who is chief among his brothers, on whose head the anointing oil is poured and who has been consecrated to wear the garments, shall not let the hair of his head hang loose nor tear his clothes.

Leviticus 21:10 nlt

"The high priest has the highest rank of all the priests. The anointing oil has been poured on his head, and he has been ordained to wear the priestly garments. He must never leave his hair uncombed or tear his clothing.

Leviticus 21 verses

Leviticus 21 10 Meaning

Leviticus 21:10 specifies unique, stricter regulations for the High Priest among his brethren. It states that because of his sacred anointing and consecration, he is prohibited from expressing common mourning rituals such as disheveling his hair or tearing his garments. This underscores his supreme holiness and exclusive dedication to God's service, distinguishing him from ordinary priests and all other Israelites. His personal grief was superseded by his public office as mediator, maintaining an unbroken image of sacred decorum before God and the people.

Leviticus 21 10 Context

Leviticus Chapter 21 provides specific regulations for the holiness of the priests in Israel, setting them apart from the general population due to their sacred office and their proximity to God in service. The chapter begins with rules for all priests (vv. 1-9) concerning contact with the dead, mourning practices, and marriage. Verse 10, however, marks a distinct elevation, focusing solely on the High Priest. He is held to an even higher standard of purity and decorum because of his singular role as the nation's spiritual representative before God in the Holy of Holies. This emphasis on his sanctity underscores the absolute holiness required in ministering before the Most High and sets him as a unique type foreshadowing the perfect High Priest, Christ Jesus.

Leviticus 21 10 Word analysis

• And he that is the high priest: הַכֹּהֵן הַגָּדֹל (hak-kohen hag-gadol). Literally "the great priest." This title distinguishes him absolutely from the other priests. His spiritual office carries the heaviest responsibility and requires the greatest holiness and decorum.

• among his brethren: Though human and from the same priestly lineage, his unique office elevates him above his fellow priests, creating a different set of rules for him. This phrase acknowledges his human connection while highlighting his ritual separation.

• upon whose head the anointing oil was poured: שֶׁיֻּצַק עַל רֹאשׁוֹ שֶׁמֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה (she-yutzak al rosho shemen ham-mishḥah). This act, unique to the High Priest (Ex 29:7, Lv 8:12), signifies divine selection, consecration, and endowment with sacred power. The oil (שֶׁמֶן, shemen) signifies set-apartness, cleansing, and empowering for service, making his person holy unto God.

• and that is consecrated to put on the garments: וּמֻלָּא אֶת־יָדוֹ לִלְבֹּשׁ אֶת־הַבְּגָדִים (u-mulah et-yado lilbosh et-hab-begadim). Literally "whose hand was filled to wear the garments." This refers to the ordination ceremony where his hands were "filled" or consecrated for service (Ex 29:9), symbolizing his full installation and authority for priestly duties, specifically those associated with his unique garments (Ex 28). The garments themselves are "holy garments" (Ex 28:2), conveying glory and beauty, which must not be desecrated by an act like tearing.

• shall not uncover his head: לֹא־יִפְרַע אֶת־רֹאשׁוֹ (lo-yifra et-rosho). This means "shall not let his hair become disheveled" or "let loose." It was a common mourning custom (e.g., in pagan cultures or in severe grief), symbolizing a lack of control, sorrow, or a disregard for appearance. For the High Priest, this would indicate an inappropriate emotional outburst or lack of sacred self-control, unfit for his perpetually sacred presence before God. Contrast this with Nadab and Abihu's death in Lv 10:6, where ordinary priests were forbidden this specific action in that extraordinary case.

• nor rend his clothes: וּבְגָדָיו לֹא־יִפְרֹם (u-vekhadav lo-yifrom). Tearing clothes was a universally recognized expression of intense grief or distress (e.g., Gen 37:34, 2 Sam 1:11). However, the High Priest's special garments were integral to his office and sanctification. Tearing them would not only desecrate his holy person but also the sacred garments and by extension, his entire office and the divine institution he represented.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "High Priest... anointing oil... garments": This sequence establishes the foundational elements of the High Priest's distinct identity and supreme consecration. The title signifies his role, the oil signifies his divine selection and enabling, and the garments symbolize his unique authority and sacred apparel that must always be intact for service.
  • "shall not uncover his head, nor rend his clothes": These two specific prohibitions against traditional mourning practices underscore the High Priest's paramount dedication. Even personal grief, no matter how profound, must not interfere with his public function of continuous and untainted holiness before God. His human sorrow must not override his divine consecration. This demonstrates a standard of perpetual self-mastery and ritual purity expected from him, highlighting that his service transcended his individual feelings or relationships.

Leviticus 21 10 Bonus section

The strictures on the High Priest were not meant as a burden, but as an honor, distinguishing him and providing him with the highest form of holiness on earth. These laws prevented him from becoming defiled by expressions of human sorrow, ensuring he always presented a dignified and unblemished figure for the holy service. This also meant that even in personal tragedy (such as the death of his parents or children), the High Priest could not show external signs of mourning, emphasizing that his public, sacred duty outweighed all private emotion. His body, from the anointing of his head to the hem of his garment, was consecrated, making any defilement of his person or attire a transgression against the holiness of God. The tearing of clothes by Caiaphas, the High Priest during Jesus' trial (Mt 26:65), demonstrates the moral failure of that priesthood, where what was forbidden to a holy priest became an act of false indignation and blasphemy against the very Messiah he was supposed to prefigure.

Leviticus 21 10 Commentary

Leviticus 21:10 establishes an elevated standard of holiness for the High Priest, a standard unmatched by any other figure in Israel. His sacred office, marked by unique anointing and special garments, rendered his person intrinsically consecrated to God. Therefore, he was forbidden from expressions of personal mourning such as disheveling his hair or tearing his garments, acts common among others. This mandate ensured his continual ritual purity and symbolic composure, allowing nothing—not even profound sorrow—to mar his complete dedication and representational dignity before the Most High. This law not only underscored the immense sanctity demanded in God's presence but also served to highlight the high priest's ultimate role as mediator for the entire nation, foreshadowing the perfect, undefiled, and perpetually interceding priesthood of Jesus Christ, who faced suffering yet remained spotless (Heb 7:26-28).