Leviticus 22 10

Leviticus 22:10 kjv

There shall no stranger eat of the holy thing: a sojourner of the priest, or an hired servant, shall not eat of the holy thing.

Leviticus 22:10 nkjv

'No outsider shall eat the holy offering; one who dwells with the priest, or a hired servant, shall not eat the holy thing.

Leviticus 22:10 niv

"?'No one outside a priest's family may eat the sacred offering, nor may the guest of a priest or his hired worker eat it.

Leviticus 22:10 esv

"A lay person shall not eat of a holy thing; no foreign guest of the priest or hired worker shall eat of a holy thing,

Leviticus 22:10 nlt

"No one outside a priest's family may eat the sacred offerings. Even guests and hired workers in a priest's home are not allowed to eat them.

Leviticus 22 verses

Leviticus 22 10 Meaning

Leviticus 22:10 defines a strict limitation on who may eat the "holy things," which refers to the portions of the sacrifices and offerings designated for the priests (the sons of Aaron) as their sustenance from God. Specifically, it prohibits any "outsider"—meaning anyone not of the priestly lineage or unauthorized for such sacred participation—as well as any "sojourner" (resident alien) or "hired servant" from partaking of these holy provisions. The verse underscores the sanctity and exclusivity of the priestly office and the sacred nature of God's provisions within the covenant community, maintaining the boundary between the sacred and the common.

Leviticus 22 10 Context

Leviticus chapter 22 outlines laws concerning the holiness required of priests and their households when handling and consuming the sacred offerings presented to the LORD. These regulations are vital for maintaining the sanctity of God's presence among His people and preventing the defilement of His holy name (Lev 22:2, 32). Verse 10 specifically addresses who among the priests' associates is excluded from partaking of these holy provisions. It follows a general admonition (vv. 1-9) for priests to maintain ritual purity, emphasizing that only those in a consecrated state or specifically authorized can interact with God's sacred things. This verse clarifies the boundaries of privilege and participation within the priestly establishment, ensuring that the sustenance given by God for His consecrated servants is consumed only by those deemed appropriate by covenant and familial relation. Historically, this reinforced the strict hierarchical structure of Israelite worship, emphasizing separation and the unique role of the Aaronic priesthood in mediating between God and His people, distinct from surrounding pagan practices where often anyone could partake in religious meals.

Leviticus 22 10 Word analysis

• No outsider (לֹא־זָ֭ר - lo'-zar):

  • זָר (zar): Means "foreigner," "stranger," "non-Aaronite," "unauthorized person," or "profane" when applied to sacred things.
  • Significance: This word critically defines the barrier to access. It highlights that proximity or even general affiliation with Israel is insufficient. The primary sense here refers to anyone who is not a direct descendant of Aaron and therefore not part of the priestly lineage or one consecrated for Tabernacle service, emphasizing hereditary and cultic qualification. This excludes those without the specific divine authorization or familial right for this sacred consumption.

• shall eat (יֹאכַ֥ל - yokhal):

  • אָכַל ('akhal): To eat, consume, partake.
  • Significance: This is not just a general command but a specific prohibition on physical consumption. Eating was a sign of participation, communion, and sustenance. To "eat of the holy thing" meant to partake in its benefits and blessings, which were exclusively for those dedicated to God's service, and this action implicitly declared a sacred identity and purity status.

• of the holy thing (קֹ֔דֶשׁ - qodesh):

  • קֹדֶשׁ (qodesh): Holy, consecrated, sacred, sanctuary.
  • Significance: This refers to any consecrated portion of an offering, vow, or tithe designated specifically for the priests. These were God's provisions, inherently holy, set apart from common use. Partaking implied sharing in divine sanctity, thus requiring holiness from the partaker. These were not merely foodstuffs but sacramental meals tied to covenant faithfulness and purity.

• no sojourner (וְתוֹשָׁ֥ב - wᵉthoshawv):

  • תּוֹשָׁב (toshawb): A resident alien, temporary resident, guest.
  • Significance: This refers to non-Israelites residing within Israel's territory. Though under Israelite law and often benefiting from society, they were not part of the covenant community by birth or formal conversion (like circumcision and becoming a proselyte, which was an option that granted fuller rights). Their exclusion emphasized that eating holy food was not based on residency but covenant relationship.

• or hired servant (שָׂכִ֥יר - sakir):

  • שָׂכִיר (sakir): A hired worker, wage-earner, employee.
  • Significance: This differentiates a temporary worker from a permanent member of a household (such as a bought slave who was circumcised and considered family; cf. Lev 22:11, Gen 17:12-13). A "hired servant" was in a contractual, transactional relationship, not an inherent familial or covenantal one. Their work might benefit the priest, but it did not grant them access to the sacred provisions meant for the priestly household proper, highlighting the distinction between service for wages and service rooted in covenant membership.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "No outsider shall eat...": This opening phrase establishes an absolute and exclusive prohibition. It sets the overarching principle: access to God's holy provisions is determined by sacred identity and lineage, not by proximity or secular association.
  • "...no sojourner or hired servant shall eat of the holy thing": This group specifically enumerates categories of individuals who, despite potential close contact or even employment with the priests, remain outside the boundaries of participation in the sacred meal. This reinforces the core principle that participation in the benefits of divine holiness requires more than just being physically near or working for God's servants; it demands covenant membership and/or integration into the consecrated household, distinguishing mere economic interaction from sacred privilege.

Leviticus 22 10 Bonus section

• Emphasis on Holiness: This verse contributes to the broader theme in Leviticus—God's absolute holiness and the careful boundaries He sets to protect it. Everything associated with God, especially His provisions, demanded sanctity.
• Exclusivity and Purity: The restrictions were not arbitrary but served to maintain ritual and spiritual purity within the Tabernacle system. Any unauthorized access was considered profanation and carried spiritual danger, as seen in instances like Uzzah touching the Ark (2 Sam 6:6-7) or Nadab and Abihu offering unauthorized fire (Lev 10:1-2).
• Foreshadowing Covenant Membership: The regulations in this verse foreshadow the concept of covenant membership determining access to spiritual privileges. Just as only specific individuals or household members could eat the holy food in the Old Covenant, in the New Covenant, access to the full spiritual blessings of God is granted to those who are "in Christ," part of His body through faith.
• Contrast with Lev 22:11: It's crucial to contrast verse 10 with verse 11, which explicitly states that a "purchased slave" (bought into the household, typically circumcised, cf. Gen 17:12-13) may eat of the holy things. This highlights that the distinction is not based on freedom vs. slavery, but on the depth of the covenantal/familial bond versus a temporary or transactional relationship.

Leviticus 22 10 Commentary

Leviticus 22:10 powerfully articulates the sanctity and exclusive nature of the "holy things" and those privileged to partake in them. The prohibition against "outsiders," "sojourners," and "hired servants" underscores that access to God's special provisions was not granted simply by being physically present in Israel or even working for a priest. Instead, it was strictly tied to either direct priestly lineage, being a circumcised member of a priestly household, or a Levite serving the sanctuary. This differentiation reinforced the divine call to separation and holiness, ensuring that only those in a proper covenantal or familial relationship with God's consecrated servants, and who were themselves ritually clean, could consume what was set apart for Him. The boundaries safeguarded the holiness of God's sanctuary and provisions, preventing defilement and upholding the specific, sacred role of the priesthood. In a New Covenant context, while all believers are a "royal priesthood," the spiritual principle remains: partaking of God's spiritual "food" (e.g., the Lord's Supper) still requires a state of faith, spiritual relationship, and discernment, underscoring that our access to Christ's blessings is through His redemptive work and our inclusion in His spiritual household by faith, not by mere association or performance.