Bible Commentaries
Leviticus 21

Verse 1

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

said. See note on Leviticus 5:14 .

the priests the sons of Aaron. Occurs only here. In all the other seven passages it is in Hebrew "the sons of Aaron, the priests". See Leviticus 1:5 .

the dead = a dead soul. Hebrew. nephesh. See App-13 , and note on Leviticus 19:28 .

Verse 2

kin = flesh.

Verse 4

defile himself [for his wife]. Figure of speech Ellipsis. App-6 .

a chief = a lord, or leader. Hebrew. ba'al. Supply Figure of speech Ellipsis ( App-6 ) [a priest].

Verse 5

shave. Forbidden to the Israelites; but in Egypt a disgrace not to shave. See Genesis 41:14 . 1Sa 10:4 , 1 Samuel 10:5 .

the corner of their beard = their whiskers.

Verse 6

holy = set apart, or separate. See note on Exodus 3:5 . Here, a singular noun = a separated set.

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

offerings = Hebrew. ishsheh. App-43 .

bread = food of all kinds. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species). App-6 . See note on Leviticus 3:11 . of their God. Genitive of relation. App-17 .

offer = bring near. Hebrew. karab, App-43 .

holy. See note on Exodus 3:5 .

Verse 8

I the LORD, Which, &c. = Jehovah title. See note on Leviticus 20:8 , and App-4 .

Verse 9

burnt = burnt up Hebrew. saraph. App-43 .

Verse 10

high priest. See note on Leviticus 4:3 .

consecrated. See note on Exodus 28:41 .Exodus 9:17 .

rend. See notes on Leviticus 10:6 ; Leviticus 13:45 .

Verse 11

dead body = dead soul. Hebrew "dead nephesh ". The opposite of "living soul"in Genesis 2:7 . See note on Leviticus 19:28 , and App-13 .

Verse 12

crown = consecration: i.e. = Nazariteship.

Verse 16

spake . See note on Leviticus 5:14 .

Verse 17

generations = posterity.

Verse 18

flat = any deformity (of the nose).

any thing superfluous = any thing over long or excessive. Compare Leviticus 22:23 .

Verse 20

blemish in his eye = defective vision, or cataract.

Verse 24

children . Hebrew sons.