Skip to content
Journey Through the Bible

Leviticus 21:1-7

1 Rules for Priests
The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them: ‘A priest must not make himself ceremonially unclean for any of his people who die,

2 except for a close relative, such as his mother or father, his son or daughter, his brother,

3 or an unmarried sister who is dependent on him since she has no husband—for her he may make himself unclean.

4 He must not make himself unclean for people related to him by marriage, and so defile himself.

5 “‘Priests must not shave their heads or shave off the edges of their beards or cut their bodies.

6 They must be holy to their God and must not profane the name of their God. Because they present the offerings made to the Lord by fire, the food of their God, they are to be holy.

7 “‘They must not marry women defiled by prostitution or divorced from their husbands, because priests are holy to their God.

Cross References for Leviticus 21:1-7

Hosea 5:1 - Judgment Against Israel “Hear this, you priests! Pay attention, you Israelites! Listen, O royal... Click to read the verse Hosea 5:1 Click to read the verse Hosea 5:1

Numbers 19:11 - “Whoever touches the dead body of anyone will be unclean for seven days. Click to read the verse Numbers 19:11 Click to read the verse Numbers 19:11

Leviticus 22:4 - “‘If a descendant of Aaron has an infectious skin disease or a bodily discharge, he may not eat... Click to read the verse Leviticus 22:4 Click to read the verse Leviticus 22:4

Deuteronomy 26:14 - I have not eaten any of the sacred portion while I was in mourning, nor have I removed any of i... Click to read the verse Deuteronomy 26:14 Click to read the verse Deuteronomy 26:14

Numbers 19:16 - “Anyone out in the open who touches someone who has been killed with a sword or someone who has... Click to read the verse Numbers 19:16 Click to read the verse Numbers 19:16

Numbers 19:14 - “This is the law that applies when a person dies in a tent: Anyone who enters the tent and anyo... Click to read the verse Numbers 19:14 Click to read the verse Numbers 19:14

Numbers 5:2 - “Command the Israelites to send away from the camp anyone who has an infectious skin disease or... Click to read the verse Numbers 5:2 Click to read the verse Numbers 5:2

Leviticus 19:28 - “‘Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord. Click to read the verse Leviticus 19:28 Click to read the verse Leviticus 19:28

Malachi 2:4 - And you will know that I have sent you this warning so that my covenant with Levi may continue,... Click to read the verse Malachi 2:4 Click to read the verse Malachi 2:4

Malachi 2:1 - “And now, you priests, this warning is for you. Click to read the verse Malachi 2:1 Click to read the verse Malachi 2:1

Ezekiel 44:25 - “‘A priest must not defile himself by going near a dead person; however, if the dead person was... Click to read the verse Ezekiel 44:25 Click to read the verse Ezekiel 44:25

Leviticus 21:11 - He must not enter a place where there is a dead body. He must not make himself unclean, even fo... Click to read the verse Leviticus 21:11 Click to read the verse Leviticus 21:11

Leviticus 10:6-7 - Then Moses said to Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, “Do not let your hair become unkempt... Click to read the verse Leviticus 10:6-7 Click to read the verse Leviticus 10:6-7