Leviticus 21:23

but because he has a defect, he must not go near the veil or approach the altar, so as not to desecrate My sanctuaries. For I am the LORD who sanctifies them.’”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Yahweh speaks through Moses to Aaron, his sons, and the Israelites regarding the restrictions placed on priests with physical defects.

The words — The Hebrew אַךְ ('akh) means "nevertheless," and the phrase לֹא יָבֹא (lo' yaVo) literally means "he will not go," specifying that the barred individual cannot approach the curtain.

The thread — This restriction echoes the prohibition against leaving or defiling the sanctuary in Leviticus 21:12 and aligns with the altar’s placement before the veil in Exodus 30:6 and Exodus 40:26.

Why it lands — The text commands the defective priest to remain apart from the veil and altar to prevent desecration, requiring readers to recognize that physical wholeness is a prerequisite for approaching God's holy space.

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

אַ֣ךְ'akhnevertheless אֶל־'el-to הַפָּרֹ֜כֶתha./pa.Ro.khetthe/ curtain לֹ֣אlo'not יָבֹ֗אya.Vo'he will go וְאֶל־ve./'el-and/ to הַמִּזְבֵּ֛חַha./miz.Be.achthe/ altar לֹ֥אlo'not יִגַּ֖שׁyi.Gashhe will draw near כִּֽי־ki-for מ֣וּםmuma blemishבּ֑וֹb/o[is] in <the>/ himוְלֹ֤אve./Lo'and/ not יְחַלֵּל֙ye.cha.Lelhe will profane אֶת־'et-<obj.>מִקְדָּשַׁ֔יmik.da.Sha/isanctuary/ my כִּ֛יkifor אֲנִ֥י'a.NiI יְהוָ֖הYah.weh[am] Yahweh מְקַדְּשָֽׁם׃me.ka.de.Sha/m[who] sets apart as holy/ them

King James Version

Only he shall not go in unto the vail, nor come nigh unto the altar, because he hath a blemish; that he profane not my sanctuaries: for I the Lord do sanctify them.

Cross-references

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.
Exodus 30:6 Place the altar in front of the veil that is before the ark of the Testimony—before the mercy seat that is over the Testimony—where I will meet with you.
Exodus 40:26 Moses placed the gold altar in the Tent of Meeting, in front of the veil,
Leviticus 15:31 You must keep the children of Israel separate from their uncleanness, so that they do not die by defiling My tabernacle, which is among them.
Ezekiel 44:9 This is what the Lord GOD says: No foreigner uncircumcised in heart and flesh may enter My sanctuary—not even a foreigner who lives among the Israelites.