Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version yet because of his defect, he must not go near the curtain or approach the altar, and so desecrate my sanctuary. I am the LORD, who makes them holy.’” New Living Translation Yet because of his physical defect, he may not enter the room behind the inner curtain or approach the altar, for this would defile my holy places. I am the LORD who makes them holy.” English Standard Version but he shall not go through the veil or approach the altar, because he has a blemish, that he may not profane my sanctuaries, for I am the LORD who sanctifies them.” Berean Standard Bible 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 Literal Bible Only he shall not go near the veil. And he shall not approach the altar, because he has a blemish in him. And he shall not profane My sanctuaries, for I am YHWH, sanctifying them.’” King James Bible 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. New King James Version only he shall not go near the veil or approach the altar, because he has a defect, lest he profane My sanctuaries; for I the LORD sanctify them.’ ” New American Standard Bible only he shall not come up to the veil or approach the altar, since he has an impairment, so that he does not profane My sanctuaries. For I am the LORD who sanctifies them.’” NASB 1995 only he shall not go in to the veil or come near the altar because he has a defect, so that he will not profane My sanctuaries. For I am the LORD who sanctifies them.’” NASB 1977 only he shall not go in to the veil or come near the altar because he has a defect, that he may not profane My sanctuaries. For I am the LORD who sanctifies them.’” Legacy Standard Bible only he shall not go in to the veil or approach the altar because he has a defect, so that he will not profane My sanctuaries. For I am Yahweh who makes them holy.’” Amplified Bible but he shall not go within the veil or approach the altar [of incense], because he has a defect, so that he will not profane My sanctuaries; for I am the LORD who sanctifies them.’” Berean Annotated Bible 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 {YHWH} who sanctifies them. Christian Standard Bible But because he has a defect, he must not go near the curtain or approach the altar. He is not to desecrate my holy places, for I am the LORD who sets them apart.” Holman Christian Standard Bible But because he has a defect, he must not go near the curtain or approach the altar. He is not to desecrate My sanctuaries, for I am Yahweh who sets them apart.” American Standard Version only he shall not go in unto the veil, nor come nigh unto the altar, because he hath a blemish; that he profane not my sanctuaries: for I am Jehovah who sanctifieth them. Contemporary English Version but they may not enter the sacred place or serve me at the altar. Remember--I am the LORD, the one who makes a priest holy. English Revised Version Only he shall not go in unto the veil, nor come nigh unto the altar, because he hath a blemish; that he profane not my sanctuaries: for I am the LORD which sanctify them. GOD'S WORD® Translation However, he must never come up to the canopy or to the altar, since he has a physical defect. He must never dishonor the holy places because I, the LORD, set them apart as holy." Good News Translation but because he has a physical defect, he shall not come near the sacred curtain or approach the altar. He must not profane these holy things, because I am the LORD and I make them holy." International Standard Version but he is not to enter through the curtain nor approach the altar, since he has a defect. That way, he won't defile my sanctuary, since I am the LORD, who sets you apart." NET Bible but he must not go into the veil-canopy or step forward to the altar because he has a physical flaw. Thus he must not profane my holy places, for I am the LORD who sanctifies them.'" New Heart English Bible He shall not come near to the veil, nor come near to the altar, because he has a blemish; that he may not profane my sanctuaries, for I am the LORD who sanctifies them.'" Webster's Bible Translation Only he shall not go in to the vail, nor come nigh to the altar, because he hath a blemish; that he may not profane my sanctuaries: for I the LORD do sanctify them. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Biblebut 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.’” World English Bible He shall not come near to the veil, nor come near to the altar, because he has a defect; that he may not profane my sanctuaries, for I am Yahweh who sanctifies them.’” Literal Translations Literal Standard Versiononly, he does not come toward the veil, and he does not draw near to the altar; for blemish [is] in him; and he does not defile My sanctuaries; for I [am] YHWH, sanctifying them.” Berean Literal Bible Only he shall not go near the veil. And he shall not approach the altar, because he has a blemish in him. And he shall not profane My sanctuaries, for I am YHWH, sanctifying them.’” Young's Literal Translation only, unto the vail he doth not enter, and unto the altar he doth not draw nigh; for blemish is in him; and he doth not pollute My sanctuaries; for I am Jehovah, sanctifying them.' Smith's Literal Translation But he shall not come in to the vail, and to the altar he shall not come near, for a blemish is in him; and he shall not profane my holy place: for I Jehovah consecrating them. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleYet so that he enter not within the veil, nor approach to the altar, because he hath a blemish, and he must not defile my sanctuary. I am the Lord who sanctify them. Catholic Public Domain Version But even so, he may not enter within the veil, nor approach to the altar. For he has a blemish, and he must not contaminate my Sanctuary. I am the Lord, who sanctifies them. New American Bible Only, he may not enter through the veil nor draw near to the altar on account of his blemish; he shall not profane my sacred precincts, for it is I, the LORD, who make them holy. New Revised Standard Version But he shall not come near the curtain or approach the altar, because he has a blemish, that he may not profane my sanctuaries; for I am the LORD; I sanctify them. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleBut he shall not go in to the veil nor come near to the altar, because he has a blemish, that he may not profane my sanctuary; for I am the LORD who sanctifies them. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated However he shall not enter within the face of the door and he shall not come to the altar, because a defect is in him, and he shall not pollute my holy place, because I AM LORD JEHOVAH who hallow them.’” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Only he shall not go in unto the veil, nor come nigh unto the altar, because he hath a blemish; that he profane not My holy places; for I am the LORD who sanctify them. Brenton Septuagint Translation Only he shall not approach the veil, and he shall not draw nigh to the altar, because he has a blemish; and he shall not profane the sanctuary of his God, for I am the Lord that sanctifies them. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Restrictions Against Those with Blemishes…22He may eat the most holy food of his God as well as the holy food, 23but 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.’” 24Moses told this to Aaron and his sons and to all the Israelites.… Cross References but because he has a defect, 2 Samuel 5:8 On that day he said, “Whoever attacks the Jebusites must use the water shaft to reach the lame and blind who are despised by David.” That is why it is said, “The blind and the lame will never enter the palace.” Deuteronomy 23:1 No man with crushed or severed genitals may enter the assembly of the LORD. Leviticus 22:20-21 You must not present anything with a defect, because it will not be accepted on your behalf. / When a man presents a peace offering to the LORD from the herd or flock to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering, it must be without blemish or defect to be acceptable. he must not go near the veil Leviticus 16:2 And the LORD said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron not to enter freely into the Most Holy Place behind the veil in front of the mercy seat on the ark, or else he will die, because I appear in the cloud above the mercy seat. Exodus 26:33-34 And hang the veil from the clasps and place the ark of the Testimony behind the veil. So the veil will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. / Put the mercy seat on the ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy Place. Hebrews 9:3 Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, or approach the altar, Exodus 30:20 Whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting or approach the altar to minister by presenting a food offering to the LORD, they must wash with water so that they will not die. Numbers 18:7 But only you and your sons shall attend to your priesthood for everything concerning the altar and what is inside the veil, and you are to perform that service. I am giving you the work of the priesthood as a gift, but any outsider who comes near the sanctuary must be put to death.” Ezekiel 44:13 They must not approach Me to serve Me as priests or come near any of My holy things or the most holy things. They will bear the shame of the abominations they have committed. so as not to desecrate My sanctuaries. Numbers 18:32 Once you have presented the best part of it, you will not incur guilt because of it. But you must not defile the sacred offerings of the Israelites, or else you will die.’” Ezekiel 22:26 Her priests do violence to My law and profane My holy things. They make no distinction between the holy and the common, and they fail to distinguish between the clean and the unclean. They disregard My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. Ezekiel 44:7 In addition to all your other abominations, you brought in foreigners uncircumcised in both heart and flesh to occupy My sanctuary; you defiled My temple when you offered My food—the fat and the blood; you broke My covenant. For I am the LORD who sanctifies them.’” Exodus 31:13 “Tell the Israelites, ‘Surely you must keep My Sabbaths, for this will be a sign between Me and you for the generations to come, so that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you. Exodus 29:44-45 So I will consecrate the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and I will consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve Me as priests. / Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God. Ezekiel 20:12 I also gave them My Sabbaths as a sign between us, so that they would know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them. Exodus 28:43 Aaron and his sons must wear them whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting or approach the altar to minister in the Holy Place, so that they will not incur guilt and die. This is to be a permanent statute for Aaron and his descendants. Treasury of Scripture Only he shall not go in to the veil, nor come near to the altar, because he has a blemish; that he profane not my sanctuaries: for I the LORD do sanctify them. go in Exodus 30:6-8 And thou shalt put it before the vail that is by the ark of the testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the testimony, where I will meet with thee… Exodus 40:26,27 And he put the golden altar in the tent of the congregation before the vail: … Ezekiel 44:9-14 Thus saith the Lord GOD; No stranger, uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any stranger that is among the children of Israel… profane Leviticus 21:12 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. Leviticus 15:31 Thus shall ye separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness; that they die not in their uncleanness, when they defile my tabernacle that is among them. for I the Lord Leviticus 21:8 Thou shalt sanctify him therefore; for he offereth the bread of thy God: he shall be holy unto thee: for I the LORD, which sanctify you, am holy. Jump to Previous Altar Approach Blemish Common Curtain Damaged Defect Desecrate Draw Hallow Holy Inside Makes Nigh Places Pollute Profane Sanctifies Sanctifieth Sanctify Sanctifying Sanctuaries Sanctuary Vail VeilJump to Next Altar Approach Blemish Common Curtain Damaged Defect Desecrate Draw Hallow Holy Inside Makes Nigh Places Pollute Profane Sanctifies Sanctifieth Sanctify Sanctifying Sanctuaries Sanctuary Vail VeilLeviticus 21 1. Of the priests' mourning6. Of their holiness 7. Of their marriages 8. Of their estimation 9. Of the high priest's holiness 10. Of his marriage 13. The priests that have blemishes must not minister in the sanctuary but because he has a defect In the Levitical law, physical perfection was required for priests serving in the tabernacle. This requirement symbolized the holiness and perfection of God. The defect here refers to any physical blemish or imperfection, which in the ancient Near Eastern context, was often seen as a sign of incompleteness or impurity. This reflects the broader biblical theme of God's holiness and the need for purity in His presence. 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.’” Persons / Places / Events 1. The LORD (Yahweh)The covenant God of Israel, who is holy and sets apart His people and His sanctuary. 2. Priests Specifically, the descendants of Aaron who serve in the tabernacle and later in the temple, responsible for maintaining the holiness of the sanctuary. 3. The Veil The curtain separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place in the tabernacle/temple, symbolizing the separation between God and humanity. 4. The Altar The place of sacrifice and offering, central to the worship and atonement practices of Israel. 5. Sanctuaries The holy places where God's presence dwells, requiring purity and holiness from those who serve there. Teaching Points Holiness and PerfectionGod's standard for those who serve Him is holiness and perfection, reflecting His own nature. Physical defects in priests symbolize the spiritual perfection required to approach God. The Role of the Priesthood The priesthood serves as a mediator between God and the people, highlighting the need for purity in those who represent God. In Christ, believers are called to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices. The Sanctity of Worship Worship is a sacred act that requires preparation and reverence, acknowledging God's holiness. The physical requirements for priests remind us of the spiritual preparation needed for worship today. Christ as the Perfect High Priest Jesus, without defect, fulfills the role of the perfect High Priest, granting believers access to God. Through Christ, the barriers symbolized by the veil are removed, allowing direct access to God's presence. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Leviticus 21:23?2. How does Leviticus 21:23 emphasize the holiness required for priests approaching God? 3. What does "not go near the veil" teach about God's presence? 4. How does Leviticus 21:23 connect to New Testament teachings on holiness? 5. Why is physical perfection important for priests in Leviticus 21:23? 6. How can we apply the principle of holiness in our daily worship? 7. Why does Leviticus 21:23 restrict those with defects from approaching the altar of God? 8. How does Leviticus 21:23 reflect the holiness required in worship practices? 9. What historical context influenced the laws in Leviticus 21:23? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Leviticus 21? 11. How do Leviticus 22's rules compare with New Testament teachings on grace and accessibility for all believers? 12. What does profaning the covenant mean in Malachi 2:10? 13. Why does Leviticus 21:17-23 exclude priests with physical defects, and how does this align with modern understandings of equality? 14. How do Leviticus 22:19-24's strict requirements for unblemished animal sacrifices align with modern views on fairness and the value of imperfection? What Does Leviticus 21:23 Mean but because he has a defect• The phrase points to any physical imperfection that a priest might have (Leviticus 21:17-21). • Such a limitation did not remove the man from priestly family privileges—he could still eat the holy food (Leviticus 21:22)—but it did bar him from particular functions. • God had already required every sacrificial animal to be without defect (Leviticus 22:21); the same principle of visible wholeness is applied to those who handled the sacrifices. • The physical requirement acted as a living picture of the moral and spiritual perfection that would ultimately be fulfilled in the flawless High Priest, Jesus Christ (Hebrews 7:26-28). he must not go near the veil • “The veil” separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (Exodus 26:33). • Only priests without defect could serve in the Holy Place, and only the high priest could enter beyond the veil on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:2-3). • This restriction underscores the seriousness of approaching God’s immediate presence; even small deviations from His stated standard mattered (Numbers 4:19-20). or approach the altar • Two altars stood in the Tabernacle complex—the bronze altar in the courtyard (Exodus 27:1-8) and the golden altar of incense inside (Exodus 30:1-8). • Handling either altar meant mediating atonement or intercession; the visible perfection of the priest reinforced the perfection of the coming Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5). • The exclusion safeguarded Israel from treating holy service as a commonplace task (Numbers 18:3-7). so as not to desecrate My sanctuaries • The sanctuary was more than a building; it was where God’s holiness dwelt among His people (Exodus 29:44-46). • Allowing a disqualified priest to serve would blur the distinction between the holy and the common, something later prophets condemned (Ezekiel 44:7-9; Malachi 1:8). • The restriction therefore protected both the honor of God and the spiritual welfare of Israel, who learned that impurity—whether physical or moral—threatens fellowship with a holy God (Isaiah 59:2). For I am the LORD who sanctifies them • God alone sets the terms of access to Himself (Leviticus 20:8; 22:9, 16). • His sanctifying work was not merely external; it pointed ahead to the inner cleansing promised in the new covenant (Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 10:14-22). • The standards in Leviticus encourage believers today to revere God’s holiness, even while celebrating the perfect sufficiency of Christ, who has torn the veil and opened a new and living way (Matthew 27:51; Hebrews 4:14-16). summary Leviticus 21:23 teaches that a priest with a physical defect could share in priestly benefits but could not perform altar or veil ministry. This protected the sanctity of God’s dwelling, visually typified the flawless character required for true mediation, and upheld the message that the LORD Himself sanctifies His people. In Christ, these shadows find their fulfillment, but the call to honor God’s holiness remains just as vital for believers today. (23) Only he shall not go in unto the vail.--That is, into the holy place which was before the vail.Hebrew butאַ֣ךְ (’aḵ) Adverb Strong's 389: A particle of affirmation, surely because כִּֽי־ (kî-) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction he has a defect, מ֣וּם (mūm) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3971: To stain, a blemish he must not לֹ֣א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no go יָבֹ֗א (yā·ḇō) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go near אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to the curtain הַפָּרֹ֜כֶת (hap·pā·rō·ḵeṯ) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 6532: A separatrix, screen or approach יִגַּ֖שׁ (yig·gaš) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 5066: To draw near, approach the altar, הַמִּזְבֵּ֛חַ (ham·miz·bê·aḥ) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4196: An altar so as not to desecrate יְחַלֵּל֙ (yə·ḥal·lêl) Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 2490: To bore, to wound, to dissolve, to profane, to break, to begin, to play My sanctuaries. מִקְדָּשַׁ֔י (miq·dā·šay) Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular Strong's 4720: A consecrated thing, place, a palace, sanctuary, asylum For כִּ֛י (kî) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction I אֲנִ֥י (’ă·nî) Pronoun - first person common singular Strong's 589: I am the LORD יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel who sanctifies them.’” מְקַדְּשָֽׁם׃ (mə·qad·də·šām) Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 6942: To be set apart or consecrated Links Leviticus 21:23 NIVLeviticus 21:23 NLT Leviticus 21:23 ESV Leviticus 21:23 NASB Leviticus 21:23 KJV Leviticus 21:23 BibleApps.com Leviticus 21:23 Biblia Paralela Leviticus 21:23 Chinese Bible Leviticus 21:23 French Bible Leviticus 21:23 Catholic Bible OT Law: Leviticus 21:23 He shall not come near to (Le Lv Lev.) |
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