Leviticus 22 3

Leviticus 22:3 kjv

Say unto them, Whosoever he be of all your seed among your generations, that goeth unto the holy things, which the children of Israel hallow unto the LORD, having his uncleanness upon him, that soul shall be cut off from my presence: I am the LORD.

Leviticus 22:3 nkjv

Say to them: 'Whoever of all your descendants throughout your generations, who goes near the holy things which the children of Israel dedicate to the LORD, while he has uncleanness upon him, that person shall be cut off from My presence: I am the LORD.

Leviticus 22:3 niv

"Say to them: 'For the generations to come, if any of your descendants is ceremonially unclean and yet comes near the sacred offerings that the Israelites consecrate to the LORD, that person must be cut off from my presence. I am the LORD.

Leviticus 22:3 esv

Say to them, 'If any one of all your offspring throughout your generations approaches the holy things that the people of Israel dedicate to the LORD, while he has an uncleanness, that person shall be cut off from my presence: I am the LORD.

Leviticus 22:3 nlt

Give them the following instructions. "In all future generations, if any of your descendants is ceremonially unclean when he approaches the sacred offerings that the people of Israel consecrate to the LORD, he must be cut off from my presence. I am the LORD.

Leviticus 22 verses

Leviticus 22 3 Meaning

Leviticus 22:3 sternly addresses the priests, specifically the descendants of Aaron, concerning the critical requirement of ritual purity when dealing with "holy things"—sacrifices and offerings consecrated to the Lord. It decrees that any priest who approaches or handles these sacred objects while in a state of ritual uncleanness will face the severe consequence of being "cut off from my presence," a divine judgment signifying exclusion from God's holy tabernacle, loss of priestly function, and potentially physical death or ostracization from the covenant community. The verse underscores God's absolute holiness and the sacred distinction between clean and unclean, common and holy, emphasizing the vital necessity for those serving Him to maintain a state of ceremonial purity in their service.

Leviticus 22 3 Context

Leviticus 22, continuing from Chapter 21, focuses on the special regulations and laws governing the Aaronic priesthood. Chapter 21 outlined requirements for their physical integrity, marital status, and ritual purity to qualify them for service. Chapter 22 shifts to the specific conditions under which priests, once qualified, may partake in or handle "holy things" (sacred offerings and sacrifices presented to the Lord). Verse 3 serves as a foundational declaration of this principle, establishing that despite being chosen, priests must maintain ritual cleanness. It follows directly after regulations regarding a priest's general blamelessness and precedes specific instances of defilement (e.g., touching a dead body, suffering from certain skin conditions or discharges) that would render a priest unclean and disqualify him from approaching holy things. The historical and cultural context underscores the acute awareness of ritual purity in ancient Israel, which distinguished their worship of Yahweh from surrounding pagan practices. Maintaining purity was vital for approaching a holy God in the Tabernacle/Temple, a concept rooted in the covenant and God's self-revelation at Sinai.

Leviticus 22 3 Word analysis

• Say unto them: (וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵהֶם, ve'amarta alehem) - A direct, authoritative command from God through Moses to the priests, emphasizing the binding nature of the instruction. This isn't a suggestion but a divine edict.
• Whosoever he be: (אִישׁ אִישׁ, ish ish) - A repetition of the word "man," meaning "any man whomsoever" or "each man," which intensifies the universal application of the rule to all priestly descendants without exception. It emphasizes that no one is exempt.
• of all your seed: (מִכׇּל־זַרְעֲכֶם, mikkol zar'akhem) - Refers specifically to the male descendants of Aaron, who alone were authorized to serve as priests. Zera (זרע) signifies "seed" or "offspring," reinforcing the hereditary nature of the priesthood.
• among your generations: (לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶם, le'doroteikhem) - Implies that this commandment is not temporary but perpetual, applying to every successive generation of priests throughout Israel's history. Dorot (דורות) means "generations."
• that goeth unto the holy things: (אֲשֶׁר יִקְרַב אֶל־הַקֳּדָשִׁים, asher yiqrav el-haqqodashim) - "Goeth unto" translates yaqrav el, which means "draw near to" or "approach." It signifies active engagement with the sacred offerings and consecrated items (sacrifices, grain offerings, firstfruits, tithes given to the priests, etc.) designated for divine use. Qodashim (קָדָשִׁים) literally means "holy things" and encompasses all items hallowed, or set apart, for the Lord's service, implying the offerings themselves or elements used in the sanctuary.
• which the children of Israel hallow unto the LORD: (אֲשֶׁר יַקְדִּישׁוּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לַיהוָה, asher yaqdishu benei Yisrael l'Yahweh) - Highlights that the "holy things" are those specifically consecrated (yaqdishu, from qadash, "to set apart as holy") by the community for Yahweh. This reinforces the sanctity and divine ownership of these items.
• having his uncleanness upon him: (וְטֻמְאָתוֹ עָלָיו, vetum'ato alav) - Refers to any state of ritual impurity. Tum'ah (טֻמְאָה) is a state of defilement, usually temporary, often caused by contact with a corpse, certain bodily discharges, or specific animal carcasses. It is not necessarily a moral sin but makes one ceremonially unfit for participation in sacred acts. The phrase "upon him" (עָלָיו, alav) suggests that the uncleanness adheres to him and must be removed.
• that soul shall be cut off from my presence: (וְנִכְרְתָה הַנֶּפֶשׁ הַהִוא מִלְּפָנָי, venikhretah hannephesh hahi mil’lefanay) - This is the severe penalty for violating the purity laws. Nephesh (נפש) here means "person" or "being." Nikhretah is a Niphal form of karat (כרת), "to cut off." This refers to karet, a divine judgment often implying expulsion from the covenant community, exclusion from the sanctuary and priestly privileges, denial of offspring, or even premature death. "From my presence" (mill'lefanay) intensifies the meaning, indicating direct divine punishment and expulsion from access to God’s holiness and tabernacle service.
• I am the LORD: (אֲנִי יְהוָה, Ani Yahweh) - This is a divine self-attestation, found frequently in Leviticus. It functions as a signature of divine authority, asserting that the command comes directly from the sovereign, covenant-keeping God (Yahweh), and therefore it is binding and immutable. It underpins the entire demand for holiness and purity in priestly service.

Leviticus 22 3 Bonus section

The concept of "cut off" (karet) in this verse represents one of the most severe punishments in the Pentateuch, a direct divine judgment often implying cessation from covenant benefits, removal from the community, and even loss of life or offspring. It serves as a strong deterrent against any act that would contaminate God's sacred space or attributes. This precise separation between the holy and the unclean, especially in priestly service, highlights God's demand for reverence and integrity in worship. This legal principle served as a prophetic shadow, demonstrating that fallen humanity could not directly approach a perfectly holy God without divinely ordained purification. Its ultimate fulfillment and resolution are found in Christ's work, who, as our Great High Priest, uniquely consecrated himself, fulfilling the requirements of holiness and ritual purity, allowing sinful humanity to draw near to God through His ultimate, purifying sacrifice (Heb 7:26-27; 9:11-14).

Leviticus 22 3 Commentary

Leviticus 22:3 establishes a critical principle governing the sacred service of the Aaronic priesthood: the indispensable requirement of ritual purity when engaging with items consecrated to God. This verse is not merely about hygiene but about maintaining the boundary between the sacred and the common, between God's holiness and humanity's fallen state. Any priest, regardless of his lineage, who, in a state of ritual uncleanness, dared to approach the "holy things"—which represented God's tangible presence and covenant with Israel—faced divine judgment of being "cut off." This penalty underscored the gravity of profaning God's holiness. It taught that God cannot be approached flippantly or defiled, emphasizing the divine standard of sanctity for His presence and worship. This meticulousness for physical purity prefigures the New Testament emphasis on spiritual purity for those who draw near to God through Christ (Heb 10:19-22, 12:14), with believers becoming a "holy priesthood" (1 Pet 2:5) called to offer spiritual sacrifices from a pure heart.