Leviticus 21:12

He must not leave or desecrate the sanctuary of his God, for the consecration of the anointing oil of his God is on him. I am the LORD.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — God issues this command to the high priest during the priestly consecration regulations. The directive establishes a permanent boundary for the anointed priest’s movement relative to the sanctuary.

The words — יְחַלֵּ֔ל (ye.cha.Lel) translates literally as “he will profane,” and מִקְדַּשׁ (mik.Dash) means “sanctuary.” These terms define the violation as a breach of sacred separation rather than a simple geographic error.

The thread — The restriction against departing the sanctuary while bearing the anointing oil appears in Leviticus 10:7. The motif of consecrated separation runs through Exodus 28:36 and Exodus 29:6.

Why it lands — The text states that the high priest’s consecration imposes fixed limits on his location and conduct. It requires readers to accept that ritual marking demands permanent obedience to sacred boundaries.

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

וּמִן־u./min-and/ from הַמִּקְדָּשׁ֙ha./mik.Dashthe/ sanctuary לֹ֣אlo'not יֵצֵ֔אye.Tze'he will go out וְלֹ֣אve./Lo'and/ not יְחַלֵּ֔לye.cha.Lelhe will profane אֵ֖ת'et<obj.>מִקְדַּ֣שׁmik.Dash[the] sanctuary of אֱלֹהָ֑יו'e.lo.Ha/vGod/ his כִּ֡יkifor נֵ֠זֶרNe.zer[the] consecration of שֶׁ֣מֶןShe.men[the] oil of מִשְׁחַ֧תmish.Chat<the> anointing of אֱלֹהָ֛יו'e.lo.Ha/vGod/ his עָלָ֖יו'a.La/v[is] on/ him אֲנִ֥י'a.NiI יְהוָֽה׃Yah.weh[am] Yahweh

King James Version

Neither shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the crown of the anointing oil of his God is upon him: I am the Lord.

Cross-references

Leviticus 10:7 You shall not go outside the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, or you will die, for the LORD’s anointing oil is on you.” So they did as Moses instructed.
Exodus 28:36 You are to make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it as on a seal: HOLY TO THE LORD.
Exodus 29:6 Put the turban on his head and attach the holy diadem to the turban.
Leviticus 8:9 Moses also put the turban on Aaron’s head and set the gold plate, the holy diadem, on the front of the turban, as the LORD had commanded him.
Leviticus 8:30 Next, Moses took some of the anointing oil and some of the blood that was on the altar and sprinkled them on Aaron and his garments, and on his sons and their garments. So he consecrated Aaron and his garments, as well as Aaron’s sons and their garments.
Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners,
Acts 10:38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him.