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Leviticus 21:18

in Leviticus 21

No man who has any defect may approach—no man who is blind, lame, disfigured, or deformed;

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

For whatsoever man he be that hath a blemish, he shall not approach: a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or anything superfluous,

KJV

For whatsoever man he be that hath a blemish, he shall not approach: a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or any thing superfluous,

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This verse in Leviticus 21

Commentary

6 notes on this verse

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

A blind man - That is, in one eye; for he that was utterly blind could not possibly be employed in such a service. A flat nose, like that of an ape; so the best versions. Any thing superfluous, such as six fingers, six toes, etc.

This site's exposition

Then the LORD said to Moses

on Leviticus 21:16-20

Twelve defects are listed across three verses and no reason is given for any of them. Calvin rested on the rule that only what was perfect came to the altar.

This site's exposition

blind, lame, disfigured, or deformed

Adam Clarke took blind to mean blind in one eye. He read the words behind disfigured and deformed as a flat nose and a superfluous part, such as six fingers or six toes. John Wesley reports a reading that pairs them as a member lacking and a member too many.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament (1765)

A flat nose - Most restrain this word to the nose, and to some great deformity relating to it. But according to others, it signifies more generally, a person that wants some member or members, because the next word, to which it is opposed, signifies one that hath more members than he should.
For whatsoever man he be that hath a blemish,....

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

Those are unworthy to be called Christians, and unfit to be employed as ministers, that are spiritually blind, and lame, and crooked, whose sins render them scandalous and deformed, so as that the offerings of the Lord are abhorred for their sakes.

The words behind it

16 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

9 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

1 Timothy 3:2–3An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,4 worksLeviticus 22:19–25must offer an unblemished male from the cattle, sheep, or goats in order for it to be accepted on your behalf.3 worksLeviticus 22:23You may present as a freewill offering an ox or sheep that has a deformed or stunted limb, but it is not acceptable in fulfillment of a vow.3 worksTitus 1:10For many are rebellious and full of empty talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision,2 works1 Timothy 3:7Furthermore, he must have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the snare of the devil.2 worksMatthew 23:16–17Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’2 works
The other 3 cross-references, with their words ▾
Isaiah 56:10Israel’s watchmen are blind, they are all oblivious; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they are dreamers lying around, loving to slumber.2 worksMatthew 23:19You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes it sacred?2 worksTitus 1:7As God’s steward, an overseer must be above reproach—not self-absorbed, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not greedy for money.2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    1 Timothy 3:7

    Furthermore, he must have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the snare of the devil.

    it leads to

    • 2 Corinthians 8:21

      For we are taking great care to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord, but also in the eyes of men.

    • Colossians 4:5

      Act wisely toward outsiders, redeeming the time.

    • 2 Timothy 2:26

      Then they will come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, who has taken them captive to his will.

    • 1 Timothy 6:9

      Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.

  • Through

    Titus 1:10

    For many are rebellious and full of empty talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision,

    it leads to

    • 1 Timothy 1:6

      Some have strayed from these ways and turned aside to empty talk.

    • 1 John 4:1

      Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.

    • Galatians 2:4

      This issue arose because some false brothers had come in under false pretenses to spy on our freedom in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us.

    • Ephesians 4:14

      Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming.

Where this verse is studied

About Leviticus

The Scapegoat, William Holman Hunt, 1854. Public domain.
The Scapegoat, William Holman Hunt, 1854. Public domain.
Leviticus: the study guide →Read Leviticus 21 →

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; John Calvin, Commentary on the Four Last Books of Moses Arranged in the Form of a Harmony; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in Leviticus 21 →