Leviticus 21:5,6

ABSTENTION FROM HEATHEN PRACTICES 21:5, 6
TEXT 21:5, 6

5

They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh.

6

They shall be holy unto their God, and not profane the name of their God; for the offerings of Jehovah made by fire, the bread of their God, they do offer: therefore they shall be holy.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 21:5, 6

475.

Cutting the hair and the beard surely became an important practice. Why? What is involved in Leviticus 21:5? Discuss.

476.

Once again define holiness as here given. Does this relate to our holiness? Consider our positional holiness as versus our character development-type holiness.

PARAPHRASE 21:5, 6

The priests shall not clip bald spots in their hair or beards, nor cut their flesh. They shall be holy unto their God, and shall not dishonor and profane His name; otherwise they will be unfit to make food offerings by fire to the Lord their God.

COMMENT 21:5, 6

Leviticus 21:5-6 Is this cutting of the hair and beard a natural expression of grief or a practice of the heathen taken up by the Israelites? Since we have studied such a prohibition in Leviticus 19:27-28 (Cf. Deuteronomy 14:1), we know such actions are associated with idolatry. This manner of mourning became very common among all Israel (Cf. Jeremiah 16:6; Ezekiel 7:18; Amos 8:10) and was condemned by God's prophets (Cf. Ezra 9:6). How easy it is to decorate or desecrate the body and imagine we have influenced the soul. On the other hand, such priests were known by the lack of such haircuts and beard trims! If we are going to mournand all men mustdo it before God and not to be seen of men.

FACT QUESTIONS 21:5, 6

487.

A bald head was a sign of mourning, but it was wrong. Why?

488.

We are known by our appearance. In what way? And to what intent?

THE MARRIAGE OF PRIESTS 21:7, 8
THE FAMILY OF PRIESTS 21:9