Bible Strands
Leviticus 21:14
He is not to marry a widow, a divorced woman, or one defiled by prostitution. He is to marry a virgin from his own people,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — God addresses Moses, delivering specific marital regulations for the high priest during the Sinai covenant instructions. The directive establishes boundaries for the priest’s household to preserve his consecrated status.
The words — אַלְמָנָ֤ה ('al.ma.Nah) denotes a widow, and יִקָּ֑ח (yi.Kach) means he will take. The Hebrew syntax pairs לֹ֣א (lo') with יִקָּ֑ח to form a negative prohibition, forbidding the priest from taking a widow, divorced woman, or prostitute.
The thread — Leviticus 21:7 reiterates the prohibition against marrying a divorced or defiled woman, emphasizing the priest’s holiness. Ezekiel 44:22 repeats the restriction on widows and divorced women but explicitly permits marriage to a widow of a priest.
Why it lands — The text states that the high priest must marry a virgin from his own people to avoid defiling his offspring. It requires the reader to accept that the priest’s marital choices directly impact the ritual purity of his lineage and his sanctified office.
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
King James Version
A widow, or a divorced woman, or profane, or an harlot, these shall he not take: but he shall take a virgin of his own people to wife.
Cross-references
- Leviticus 21:7 A priest must not marry a woman defiled by prostitution or divorced by her husband, for the priest is holy to his God.
- Ezekiel 44:22 And they shall not marry a widow or a divorced woman, but must marry a virgin of the descendants of the house of Israel, or a widow of a priest.