Leviticus 21:3 - and for his virgin sister who is near to him, who has had no husband; for her he may defile himself.
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What does "Leviticus 21:3" mean?
Leviticus 21 outlines specific rules for priests regarding mourning rituals and who they are permitted to come into contact with during a time of mourning, as contact with a dead body was considered a ritual defilement.
Leviticus 21:3 is an exception to the general rule that priests were to avoid ritual impurity through contact with the dead. It states that a priest is allowed to defile himself (become ritually impure) for his "virgin sister who is near to him, who has had no husband."
Here's a breakdown of the verse:
"and for his virgin sister": This refers to the priest's biological sister who has remained a virgin. The emphasis on virginity is important because it indicates that she is still under the protection and care of her family.
"who is near to him": This signifies a close familial relationship. It suggests a sister who is still dependent on her family, especially her brothers, for support and protection. This implies that there isn't any other male relative to perform the mourning rites, making the priest's involvement necessary and permissible.
"who has had no husband": The fact that she has never been married is the key aspect. This is the reason for the exception. If a woman was married, her husband or his family would be responsible for her burial. Because she is unmarried, the responsibility falls on her father or brothers.
"for her he may defile himself": This is the permission for the priest to participate in the mourning rituals and burial without being considered to have violated his priestly obligations. He can become ritually impure through contact with her dead body in order to fulfill his familial duty.
In essence, this verse is making a specific exception for the priest's responsibility to his unmarried, dependent sister. It recognizes the strong family obligation and allows him to mourn and care for her in death, even though it would normally be forbidden due to his priestly status and the need to maintain ritual purity. This situation is considered a special case of familial duty overriding the typical restrictions placed on priests.
Leviticus 21:3 - and for his virgin sister who is near to him, who has had no husband; for her he may defile himself.
What does "Leviticus 21:3" mean?
Leviticus 21 outlines specific rules for priests regarding mourning rituals and who they are permitted to come into contact with during a time of mourning, as contact with a dead body was considered a ritual defilement.
Leviticus 21:3 is an exception to the general rule that priests were to avoid ritual impurity through contact with the dead. It states that a priest is allowed to defile himself (become ritually impure) for his "virgin sister who is near to him, who has had no husband."
Here's a breakdown of the verse:
"and for his virgin sister": This refers to the priest's biological sister who has remained a virgin. The emphasis on virginity is important because it indicates that she is still under the protection and care of her family.
"who is near to him": This signifies a close familial relationship. It suggests a sister who is still dependent on her family, especially her brothers, for support and protection. This implies that there isn't any other male relative to perform the mourning rites, making the priest's involvement necessary and permissible.
"who has had no husband": The fact that she has never been married is the key aspect. This is the reason for the exception. If a woman was married, her husband or his family would be responsible for her burial. Because she is unmarried, the responsibility falls on her father or brothers.
"for her he may defile himself": This is the permission for the priest to participate in the mourning rituals and burial without being considered to have violated his priestly obligations. He can become ritually impure through contact with her dead body in order to fulfill his familial duty.
In essence, this verse is making a specific exception for the priest's responsibility to his unmarried, dependent sister. It recognizes the strong family obligation and allows him to mourn and care for her in death, even though it would normally be forbidden due to his priestly status and the need to maintain ritual purity. This situation is considered a special case of familial duty overriding the typical restrictions placed on priests.