Leviticus 21:7 kjv
They shall not take a wife that is a whore, or profane; neither shall they take a woman put away from her husband: for he is holy unto his God.
Leviticus 21:7 nkjv
They shall not take a wife who is a harlot or a defiled woman, nor shall they take a woman divorced from her husband; for the priest is holy to his God.
Leviticus 21:7 niv
"?'They must not marry women defiled by prostitution or divorced from their husbands, because priests are holy to their God.
Leviticus 21:7 esv
They shall not marry a prostitute or a woman who has been defiled, neither shall they marry a woman divorced from her husband, for the priest is holy to his God.
Leviticus 21:7 nlt
"Priests may not marry a woman defiled by prostitution, and they may not marry a woman who is divorced from her husband, for the priests are set apart as holy to their God.
Leviticus 21 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Priestly Holiness & Separation: | ||
| Exod 19:6 | "You shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." | Foundation for Israel's priestly calling. |
| Lev 21:1-6 | Laws against priests defiling themselves with the dead or having blemishes. | Priests' need for physical/ritual purity. |
| Lev 21:8 | "You shall sanctify him...for he is holy to your God." | Command to respect priestly sacredness. |
| Num 3:9-10 | Aaron and his sons set apart for the priesthood. | Consecration to the priestly office. |
| Num 16:3 | Korah's rebellion claiming all are holy. | Uniqueness of ordained priesthood. |
| Ezek 44:23 | Priests to teach distinction between holy and common. | Requires their own exemplary distinction. |
| Marriage Restrictions for Priests: | ||
| Lev 21:13-15 | High Priest must marry a virgin from his own people. | Stricter rules for the highest priest. |
| Ezek 44:22 | Priests in the new temple not to marry widows or divorced women. | Reinforces marital purity for priests. |
| Holiness of God & its Basis: | ||
| Lev 11:44-45 | "For I am the Lord your God. You shall be holy, for I am holy." | God's character as the standard for holiness. |
| Lev 19:2 | "You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy." | Command for all Israel to be holy. |
| 1 Pet 1:15-16 | "Be holy yourselves in all your conduct...for I am holy." | New Covenant call to imitate God's holiness. |
| Prostitution & Sexual Purity: | ||
| Lev 19:29 | "Do not profane your daughter by making her a prostitute." | General prohibition of prostitution. |
| Deut 23:17-18 | No cult prostitutes among Israel; abominable to the Lord. | Against pagan practices. |
| Rev 17:1-5 | "Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes." | Spiritual unfaithfulness (idolatry). |
| Divorce: | ||
| Deut 24:1-4 | Laws on divorce certificates and remarriage. | Shows implications and potential for impurity. |
| Mal 2:16 | "For the man who hates and divorces, says the Lord..." | God's disdain for divorce. |
| Matt 5:31-32 | Jesus' teaching on divorce, exception for sexual immorality. | A higher ethical standard for followers. |
| Mark 10:2-12 | Jesus' teaching on marriage, one flesh, no divorce. | Emphasizes marital covenant permanence. |
| Spiritual Analogy - Christ & Church: | ||
| 2 Cor 11:2 | "I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ." | Church as a pure bride for Christ. |
| Eph 5:25-27 | Christ sanctifying the church to present it "holy and blameless." | Purity of Christ's Bride. |
| Rev 21:2 | The New Jerusalem as "a bride adorned for her husband." | Ultimate purity of God's dwelling place. |
| Ethical Example of Leaders: | ||
| 1 Tim 3:2, 12 | Overseer and deacons to be "husband of one wife." | Purity in family life for leaders. |
| Heb 7:26-28 | Christ, a High Priest, "holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners." | The ultimate, perfect priestly standard. |
Leviticus 21 verses
Leviticus 21 7 Meaning
Leviticus 21:7 sets out specific marital prohibitions for the ordinary priests in ancient Israel. It strictly forbids them from marrying a woman who is a prostitute, a woman who has been defiled (profaned), or a woman who has been divorced. The fundamental reason given for these restrictions is that the priest is consecrated and "holy to his God," requiring a purity in his domestic life that reflects his sacred office and divine calling.
Leviticus 21 7 Context
Leviticus 21 is part of a larger section (chapters 17-27) detailing the specific laws for the Israelite priesthood, building upon the general laws of holiness given to the entire community. This chapter outlines the regulations regarding the personal conduct, physical condition, and family purity of priests. The chapter aims to maintain the distinctive and set-apart nature of the priesthood, ensuring that those who minister directly to God and mediate for the people maintain an unblemished sanctity. Their lives, even their family choices, were to reflect the absolute holiness of the God they served, setting them apart from the common practices of surrounding nations. Verse 7 specifically ensures the sanctity of the priest's household, which was an extension of his public office.
Leviticus 21 7 Word analysis
- They shall not marry (לֹא־יִקָּח֔וּ, lo' yiqqāḥū): This is a strong negative command, a prohibition indicating absolute avoidance. The priests were given specific restrictions regarding who they could take as a wife, highlighting that marriage was not merely a personal matter but affected their sacred duty and identity.
- a prostitute (אִשָּׁ֨ה זֹנָה֙, 'ishāh zonah): The Hebrew word zonah refers to a harlot or a woman who commits sexual immorality. In a broader sense, this also carries the connotation of spiritual infidelity, as prostitution is often used in the Old Testament to symbolize apostasy from God (e.g., idolatry). Marrying such a woman would bring disgrace, moral impurity, and would symbolize unfaithfulness, directly contradicting the priest's fidelity to God.
- or a woman who has been defiled (וַחֲלָלָ֖ה, waḥălālāh): The term chalalah comes from the root halal, meaning "to profane" or "make common." This refers to a woman who has been desecrated or rendered unholy. Interpretations vary: it could be a woman who has been sexually violated, or a priest's daughter who became defiled (e.g., by illicit sexual activity or by marrying outside priestly law). It fundamentally signifies a loss of sacred status or purity that would disqualify her from being a priest's wife, whose life must be utterly set apart.
- nor shall they marry a divorced woman (וּגְרוּשָׁ֛ה, ūḡĕrûšāh): The term gerushah derives from garash, "to drive out" or "put away." This refers to a woman who has been sent away by her husband. While divorce was permitted under Mosaic law (Deut 24:1-4), a divorced woman, regardless of fault, often carried a social stigma or was perceived as having been part of a broken covenant. For a priest, who embodied covenant faithfulness, marrying such a woman would be seen as introducing imperfection or a breach into the sanctity of his household, which was meant to reflect covenantal integrity.
- for he is holy (כִּי־קָדֹ֣שׁ ה֔וּא, kî-qāḏōš hûʾ): This phrase provides the ultimate justification for the prohibitions. Qadosh means "set apart," "sacred," or "consecrated." The priest's entire being and every aspect of his life, including his marriage, were dedicated to God. His holiness required him to maintain a pristine, distinct status, free from any hint of impurity, defilement, or societal stigma that would undermine his representational role. His family life was to mirror his consecration, acting as an unblemished example to the people and to God.
- to his God (לֵֽאלֹהָ֑יו, lēʾlōhāyw): This emphasizes the unique relationship between the priest and Yahweh. The priest belonged uniquely to God and served Him, making the purity of his personal and familial life not merely a social custom but a requirement stemming from his intimate and consecrated service to the Holy One of Israel.
Leviticus 21 7 Bonus section
The regulations in Leviticus 21, including verse 7, ensure that the Israelite priesthood served as a visible and living testament to God's own set-apart nature. By specifying the lineage, physical characteristics, and marital choices, God designed the priesthood to embody wholeness, purity, and unblemished service. This ideal type foreshadows the ultimate High Priest, Jesus Christ, who perfectly fulfills these demands without needing to meet them literally because He is Himself the embodiment of perfect holiness and unblemished righteousness, making Him a superior High Priest for the New Covenant (Heb 7:26). While these specific marital prohibitions do not apply literally to Christians, the underlying principle of those who serve God, especially leaders, living a life of integrity, purity, and spiritual distinctiveness from the world's values remains eternally relevant.
Leviticus 21 7 Commentary
Leviticus 21:7 is a critical regulation that underlines the sanctity and distinction required of the Aaronic priesthood. The marital restrictions imposed on ordinary priests—forbidding marriage to a prostitute, a defiled woman, or a divorced woman—were not arbitrary. They served to uphold the integrity and purity of the priest's office, ensuring that his entire life, including his family, would reflect the holiness of the God he represented. A priest's wife would directly influence his household and, by extension, his standing before both God and the community. By requiring a wife of unimpeachable character, these laws safeguarded the priesthood from ritual impurity, moral reproach, and social disgrace, all of which would compromise their mediatorial role. These stipulations foreshadow the profound purity expected of New Covenant believers, especially those in leadership, emphasizing that personal and familial conduct must be consistent with one's sacred calling.