Ezekiel 44:25

A priest must not defile himself by going near a dead person. However, for a father, a mother, a son, a daughter, a brother, or an unmarried sister, he may do so,

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — God issues this directive to Ezekiel during a vision outlining the operational laws for the restored temple. The instruction specifically addresses the priestly class, defining their ritual boundaries within the new worship system.

The words — The compound מֵת אָדָם (met 'adam) literally means "dead person" and establishes the primary prohibition. The conjunction אִם־ (im) functions as "except," structurally limiting the prohibition to a narrow list of kin.

The thread — This regulation extends the Levitical purity standards of Leviticus 21:1 and Leviticus 22:4, which restrict priestly contact with the dead to maintain ritual fitness. The boundary is later noted in Matthew 8:21, where a disciple requests permission to bury his father.

Why it lands — The text requires readers to accept that ritual service imposes strict boundaries that override normal social obligations. It establishes that priestly duty demands calculated restraint rather than unrestricted compassion.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וְאֶל־ve./'el-and/ to מֵ֣תmetdead אָדָ֔ם'a.Dama person לֹ֥אlo'not יָב֖וֹאya.Vo'he will go לְטָמְאָ֑הle./ta.me.'Ahto/ become unclean כִּ֣יkithat אִם־'im-except לְאָ֡בle./'Avfor/ a father וּ֠לְאֵםU./le./'emand/ for/ a mother וּלְבֵ֨ןu./le./Venand/ for/ a son וּלְבַ֜תu./le./Vatand/ for/ a daughter לְאָ֗חle./'Achfor/ a brother וּלְאָח֛וֹתu./le./'a.Chotand/ for/ a sister אֲשֶֽׁר־'a.Sher-who לֹא־lo'-not הָיְתָ֥הha.ye.Tahshe has belonged לְאִ֖ישׁle./'Ishto/ a husband יִטַּמָּֽאוּ׃yi.ta.Ma.'uthey will make themselves unclean

King James Version

And they shall come at no dead person to defile themselves: but for father, or for mother, or for son, or for daughter, for brother, or for sister that hath had no husband, they may defile themselves.

Cross-references

Leviticus 22:4 If a descendant of Aaron has a skin disease or a discharge, he may not eat the sacred offerings until he is clean. Whoever touches anything defiled by a corpse or by a man who has an emission of semen,
Leviticus 21:1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Speak to Aaron’s sons, the priests, and tell them that a priest is not to defile himself for a dead person among his people,
Matthew 8:21 Another of His disciples requested, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
Luke 9:59 Then He said to another man, “Follow Me.” The man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
2 Corinthians 5:16 So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.
1 Thessalonians 4:13 Brothers, 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.