Leviticus 21:15 - He shall not profane his offspring among his people, for I am Yahweh who sanctifies him.’”
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What does "Leviticus 21:15" mean?
Leviticus 21:15 states, "He shall not profane his offspring among his people, for I am Yahweh who sanctifies him."
To understand this verse, we need to consider its context within Leviticus 21, which deals with the regulations and restrictions placed upon priests (specifically, the sons of Aaron). This chapter is about maintaining the holiness and purity of the priesthood.
Here's a breakdown of the verse's meaning:
"He": This refers to the priest.
"Shall not profane his offspring": This is the core of the verse. "Profane" means to make something unholy or impure. In this context, it refers to actions that would diminish the status or purity of the priest's children. This is primarily achieved through marriage. If a priest married a woman who was considered impure according to Levitical law (a prostitute, a divorced woman, or a woman of non-Israelite origin), the offspring of that union would be considered less holy or impure. They would be seen as having a compromised lineage and might be disqualified from certain priestly duties or viewed with less respect within the community.
"Among his people": This emphasizes that the consequences of the priest's actions affect his family's standing within the broader Israelite community. It’s not just a private matter, but one that has social ramifications. The priesthood held a certain status, and the actions of individual priests could impact that status, especially through their offspring.
"For I am Yahweh who sanctifies him": This is the justification for the restriction. Yahweh, as the one who set the priest apart for holy service, has the right to dictate the terms of that service. God sanctifies the priest, meaning He sets him apart and makes him holy. Because God has sanctified the priest, the priest must maintain that holiness by adhering to these regulations, including choosing a wife who will not compromise the holiness of his offspring. This is a declaration of divine authority and the reason the priest must adhere to these strict rules.
In summary, Leviticus 21:15 is a command to priests to choose their wives carefully to ensure that their children maintain a state of ritual purity and are not seen as defiled within the Israelite community. The verse emphasizes that the holiness of the priesthood is bestowed by God, and therefore priests must uphold the standards required to maintain that holiness.
The underlying principle is to maintain the sanctity of the priesthood through lineage and by avoiding relationships that would be considered ritually unclean. This verse reflects the importance of purity and holiness within the ancient Israelite religious system.
Leviticus 21:15 - He shall not profane his offspring among his people, for I am Yahweh who sanctifies him.’”
What does "Leviticus 21:15" mean?
Leviticus 21:15 states, "He shall not profane his offspring among his people, for I am Yahweh who sanctifies him."
To understand this verse, we need to consider its context within Leviticus 21, which deals with the regulations and restrictions placed upon priests (specifically, the sons of Aaron). This chapter is about maintaining the holiness and purity of the priesthood.
Here's a breakdown of the verse's meaning:
"He": This refers to the priest.
"Shall not profane his offspring": This is the core of the verse. "Profane" means to make something unholy or impure. In this context, it refers to actions that would diminish the status or purity of the priest's children. This is primarily achieved through marriage. If a priest married a woman who was considered impure according to Levitical law (a prostitute, a divorced woman, or a woman of non-Israelite origin), the offspring of that union would be considered less holy or impure. They would be seen as having a compromised lineage and might be disqualified from certain priestly duties or viewed with less respect within the community.
"Among his people": This emphasizes that the consequences of the priest's actions affect his family's standing within the broader Israelite community. It’s not just a private matter, but one that has social ramifications. The priesthood held a certain status, and the actions of individual priests could impact that status, especially through their offspring.
"For I am Yahweh who sanctifies him": This is the justification for the restriction. Yahweh, as the one who set the priest apart for holy service, has the right to dictate the terms of that service. God sanctifies the priest, meaning He sets him apart and makes him holy. Because God has sanctified the priest, the priest must maintain that holiness by adhering to these regulations, including choosing a wife who will not compromise the holiness of his offspring. This is a declaration of divine authority and the reason the priest must adhere to these strict rules.
In summary, Leviticus 21:15 is a command to priests to choose their wives carefully to ensure that their children maintain a state of ritual purity and are not seen as defiled within the Israelite community. The verse emphasizes that the holiness of the priesthood is bestowed by God, and therefore priests must uphold the standards required to maintain that holiness.
The underlying principle is to maintain the sanctity of the priesthood through lineage and by avoiding relationships that would be considered ritually unclean. This verse reflects the importance of purity and holiness within the ancient Israelite religious system.