Leviticus 21 13

Leviticus 21:13 kjv

And he shall take a wife in her virginity.

Leviticus 21:13 nkjv

And he shall take a wife in her virginity.

Leviticus 21:13 niv

"?'The woman he marries must be a virgin.

Leviticus 21:13 esv

And he shall take a wife in her virginity.

Leviticus 21:13 nlt

"The high priest may marry only a virgin.

Leviticus 21 verses

Leviticus 21 13 Meaning

Leviticus 21:13 states that the High Priest of Israel was strictly commanded to marry a woman who was a virgin. This specific directive underscores the exceptionally high standard of purity and holiness required for the one who served as the spiritual head of the nation and mediated between God and His people in the Tabernacle. It signified an untainted lineage, undefiled personhood, and an unblemished representation of God’s absolute holiness. The physical purity of his bride was a visible sign of the spiritual integrity expected of his office.

Leviticus 21 13 Context

Leviticus chapter 21 delineates specific holiness and purity laws for the Israelite priesthood. While general rules are given for all priests (Lev 21:1-9), the focus intensifies for the High Priest from verse 10 onward. This heightened expectation is due to his unparalleled role as the primary mediator and intercessor between God and Israel. He alone was permitted to enter the Most Holy Place once a year on the Day of Atonement. His personal sanctity was critical because he represented the entire nation before God, bearing "the iniquity of the holy things" (Exo 28:38).

Verse 13 specifically addresses the marital requirement for the High Priest, setting him apart even from other priests. Common priests could not marry prostitutes, profaned women, or divorced women (Lev 21:7), but they were allowed to marry a widow or a woman who was not explicitly a virgin as long as she wasn't one of the forbidden categories. The High Priest, however, was held to an even stricter standard: he could marry only a virgin of his own people (Lev 21:14). This stricture served to safeguard the absolute ritual purity of his lineage and person, ensuring he remained entirely unstained. It also starkly contrasted with pagan priestly practices, which often involved cult prostitution or relaxed moral standards. The divine insistence on such marital purity for the High Priest highlighted God's demand for unblemished holiness in His sacred service.

Leviticus 21 13 Word analysis

• And he shall take / Then he is to marry (וְלָקַח, wəlaqaḥ):

  • This is a strong verbal form indicating a decisive action.
  • The Hebrew verb laqaḥ (לָקַח) primarily means "to take" or "to receive," but in the context of a man and woman, it commonly signifies "to marry" or "to acquire as a wife" (e.g., Gen 2:23; Gen 4:19).
  • It emphasizes the High Priest's direct, personal responsibility in selecting his wife.
  • The "he" specifically refers to "the priest who is highest among his brothers" (Lev 21:10), indicating a unique command for him.

• a wife (אִשָּׁה, ’ishshah):

  • The general term for a woman or wife.
  • The term itself does not specify her status, but it sets up the necessary noun to be qualified by the following critical phrase.

• in her virginity / a virgin woman (בְּתוּלֶיהָ, bitūleha):

  • This is the crucial qualification. B’tulim (בְּתוּלִים) refers to virginity, encompassing physical and moral purity. The suffix -ha denotes "her."
  • It specifies a woman who has not been sexually defiled, has never been married, and remains untouched.
  • This ensures the absolute purity of the High Priest's family line and personal life. Any taint in his family would reflect upon his holy office and the offerings he made for the nation.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "And he shall take a wife in her virginity": This complete phrase sets the unparalleled standard for the High Priest's marital life. Unlike common priests who could marry certain women, the High Priest's unique role as mediator and intercessor demanded an absolutely unblemished state. This specific requirement underscores the sanctity and separation required for the most holy office in Israel. His private domestic life was as much a part of his holy calling as his public Tabernacle service. This rule guaranteed that his family line, especially if he bore sons who would follow him as high priests, would be pure and consecrated, minimizing any possibility of blemish from an already compromised source.

Leviticus 21 13 Bonus section

The specific laws for the High Priest regarding marriage in Leviticus 21 were unique and distinguished him even from the general Levitical priesthood. Common priests were permitted to marry widows (Lev 21:7), provided they were not profaned women or prostitutes, while the High Priest was explicitly forbidden from doing so (Lev 21:14), emphasizing his singular dedication. This hyper-specific regulation underscores that the High Priest’s sanctity was seen as encompassing not just his personal conduct and physical body, but also the very composition of his most intimate relationship and therefore, his future lineage. The emphasis on "virginity from his own people" ensured both ritual and national purity, maintaining the High Priest as an uncontaminated representation of Israel’s holiness before God and preventing any foreign or mixed alliances from influencing the highest spiritual office. This pointed to the ultimate high priestly function of Christ, who, being perfectly pure and separate from sinners, would establish a lineage (spiritual, not carnal) of holiness for all who believe.

Leviticus 21 13 Commentary

Leviticus 21:13 encapsulates a foundational principle of the Mosaic covenant: the imperative of holiness in God's service. The command for the High Priest to marry only a virgin was not arbitrary, but deeply symbolic and practical. Symbolically, it underscored the high priest's ultimate separation and dedication to Yahweh. His person, actions, and even his household were to mirror the unblemished perfection of God. The physical purity of his bride was a visible type of the moral and spiritual purity required of him, who was to minister in the presence of a holy God. Practically, this command protected the integrity of the priesthood, preventing any stain of impurity from entering his lineage or office through his most intimate relationship. This provision guarded against alliances that might introduce defilement, spiritual compromise, or mixed allegiances, ensuring the High Priest remained "holy to his God" (Lev 21:6, 7). This standard served as a constant visual sermon to the people of Israel about God’s absolute purity and the unstained reverence due to Him. Ultimately, this rigid requirement finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, our great High Priest, who was (and is) absolutely pure, holy, blameless, and undefiled (Heb 7:26). His 'bride,' the Church, is similarly being sanctified and purified, awaiting presentation to Him as a "pure virgin" (2 Cor 11:2), without stain or wrinkle (Eph 5:27), mirroring the divine purity in the spiritual realm.

Examples for practical usage:

• Ministers or spiritual leaders today should embody moral purity and integrity in their private lives as well as public.
• The high standards set for the high priest encourage all believers to strive for personal holiness and separation from worldly defilements.
• The sacredness of marriage, especially within Christian leadership, is reflected in this ancient decree, reminding us that marital integrity honors God.