Leviticus 21:1 Made Simple

KJV ORIGINAL

And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto the priests the sons of Aaron, and say unto them, There shall none be defiled for the dead among his people:

Close to the original. Clear modern English.

✦ MADE SIMPLE

The LORD said to Moses, 'Tell the priests who are Aaron's descendants: None of you should make yourselves ceremonially unclean by touching dead bodies among your people.'

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

God is giving Moses special rules for priests, telling them they must not become ceremonially unclean by contact with dead bodies.

📚 Historical Context

This instruction was given to Moses during Israel's time in the wilderness, establishing the holiness code for the Levitical priesthood. Aaron was Moses' brother and the first high priest of Israel, and his descendants would serve as priests in the tabernacle and later the temple. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, contact with dead bodies made someone ceremonially unclean and unfit for religious duties.

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1 Chronicles 15:9

From the descendants of Hebron: Eliel was the leader, and he had eighty relatives with him.

Exodus 40:15

You must anoint them with oil, just as you anointed their father, so they can serve me as priests. Their anointing will establish a priesthood that lasts forever, passed down through all their generations.

Leviticus 6:18

All the male descendants of Aaron are allowed to eat from these offerings. This is a permanent law for all future generations regarding the LORD's fire offerings: anyone who touches these holy offerings must be ceremonially clean and set apart.

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