Leviticus 21:2
in Leviticus 21except for his immediate family—his mother, father, son, daughter, or brother,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
except for his kin, that is near unto him, for his mother, and for his father, and for his son, and for his daughter, and for his brother,
KJV
But for his kin, that is near unto him, that is, for his mother, and for his father, and for his son, and for his daughter, and for his brother,
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This verse in Leviticus 21
Commentary
5 notes on this verseNear to him - Under which general expression his wife seems to be comprehended, though she be not expressed. And hence it is noted as a peculiar case, that Ezekiel, who was a priest, was forbidden to mourn for his wife, Ezek. xxiv, 16, &c.
This site's exposition
a priest is not to defile himself for a dead person
on Leviticus 21:1-4
A priest may defile himself for "his mother, father, son, daughter, or brother" and an unmarried sister, and the list names no wife. Ezekiel 24:16-18, where a priest is told not to mourn his wife, raises the same question.
This site's exposition
his mother, father, son, daughter, or brother
The five named here are all kin by blood, his parents, his children and his brother. John Wesley took immediate family to include the priest's wife as well, though the list leaves her unnamed. Verse 4 then bars kin by marriage.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
But for his kin that is near unto him,....
A priest was permitted to do it for a parent or a child, for a brother or an unmarried sister, and therefore, no doubt (though this is not mentioned) for the wife of his bosom; for Ezekiel, a priest, would have mourned for his wife if he had not been particularly prohibited, Ezek. xxiv.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
SAY [UNTO THE PRIESTS] … AND THOU SHALT SAY UNTO THEM. “[The repetition of the verb say … and thou shalt say is] to warn the adults about the children” [that they observe this law]. This is Rashi’s language on the basis of the words of our Rabbis.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 4 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
10 Hebrew wordsEvery 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.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כִּ֚י | ki | that | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| אִם־ | ʾim- | except | H518 → | 1069 times |
| לִשְׁאֵר֔וֹ | lishero | for relative his | H7607 → | 16 times |
| הַקָּרֹ֖ב | hakaro | <the> near | H7138 → | 77 times |
| אֵלָ֑יו | ʾelav | to him | H413 → | 5510 times |
| לְאִמּ֣וֹ | leimo | for mother his | H517 → | 220 times |
| וּלְאָבִ֔יו | uleaviv | and for father his | H1 → | 1212 times |
| וְלִבְנ֥וֹ | velivno | and for son his | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| וּלְבִתּ֖וֹ | ulevito | and for daughter his | H1323 → | 588 times |
| וּלְאָחִֽיו׃ | uleachiv | and for brother his | H251 → | 630 times |
כִּ֚יthat
kiH3588 →4482 times
אִם־except
ʾim-H518 →1069 times
לִשְׁאֵר֔וֹfor relative his
lisheroH7607 →16 times
הַקָּרֹ֖ב<the> near
hakaroH7138 →77 times
אֵלָ֑יוto him
ʾelavH413 →5510 times
לְאִמּ֣וֹfor mother his
leimoH517 →220 times
וּלְאָבִ֔יוand for father his
uleavivH1 →1212 times
וְלִבְנ֥וֹand for son his
velivnoH1121 →4930 times
וּלְבִתּ֖וֹand for daughter his
ulevitoH1323 →588 times
וּלְאָחִֽיו׃and for brother his
uleachivH251 →630 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach 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 Thessalonians 4:13Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope.
it leads to
- Daniel 12:2
And many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, but others to shame and everlasting contempt.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:15
By the word of the Lord, we declare to you that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:10
He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him.
- 1 Corinthians 15:18–19
Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
- 2 Peter 3:4
“Where is the promise of His coming?” they will ask. “Ever since our fathers fell asleep, everything continues as it has from the beginning of creation.”
- Daniel 12:2
Through
Leviticus 18:6None of you are to approach any close relative to have sexual relations. I am the LORD.
it leads to
- Leviticus 20:17–21
If a man marries his sister, whether the daughter of his father or of his mother, and they have sexual relations, it is a disgrace. They must be cut off in the sight of…
- Leviticus 18:7–19
You must not expose the nakedness of your father by having sexual relations with your mother. She is your mother; you must not have sexual relations with her.
- Leviticus 20:11–12
If a man lies with his father’s wife, he has uncovered his father’s nakedness. Both must surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.
- Leviticus 20:17–21
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Leviticus
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; 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.