KJV ORIGINAL
Neither shall they take for their wives a widow, nor her that is put away: but they shall take maidens of the seed of the house of Israel, or a widow that had a priest before.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
The priests can't marry just anyone — no divorced women or widows, except they can marry single women from Israeli families, or widows whose previous husbands were also priests.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
God had specific marriage rules for priests to keep their role sacred and set apart.
📜 Historical Context — Why was this verse written?
The prophet Ezekiel wrote this text to the Jewish exiles living in Babylon during the early 6th century BCE. It was written as part of a detailed vision for a future temple and its sacrificial system, outlining regulations for priestly conduct and purity in a restored Israel.
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