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The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

Leviticus 21:5-6

LEVITICUS—NOTE ON Leviticus 21:5 Priests were prohibited from making bald patches on their heads, shaving off the edges of their beards, or making cuts on their body (compare Leviticus 19:27). These are pagan mourning and burial practices. Israelite priests oversee the worship, and no Canaanite ritual is to enter the priestly system.

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See also Leviticus 21:5-6 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Leviticus 21:5. _THEY SHALL NOT MAKE BALDNESS_] _See the note on "_Leviticus 19:27_"_. It is supposed that these things were particularly prohibited, because used superstitiously by the Egyptia...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    These prohibitions given to the people at large (compare the margin reference.) had a special fitness for the Hebrew priests. They were the instruments of the divine will for averting death, all their...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    4. LAWS FOR THE PRIESTS CHAPTER 21 _ 1. Laws concerning the person of the priests (Leviticus 21:1)_ 2. Laws concerning their family (Leviticus 21:7) 3. Laws concerning the high priest (Levi

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    RESTRICTIONS FOR THE PRIESTS. To approach a corpse was to suffer defilement (_cf._ Numbers 5:2 * Numbers 19*, Tob_2:8 ff., Sir_34:25); this is, therefore, forbidden to the priest, except in the case o...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    SHAVE. Forbidden to the Israelites; but in Egypt. disgrace not to shave. See Genesis 41:14. 1Sa 10:4, 1 Samuel 10:5. THE CORNER OF THEIR BEARD. their whiskers....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    See on Leviticus 19:27-28....

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    THEY SHALL NOT MAKE BALDNESS UPON THEIR HEAD, &C.— See the notes on ch. Leviticus 19:27. What was forbidden to the people in general, is here forbidden to the priests. It is justly required, of the mi...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    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....

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _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._ They shall not make baldness ... nor ... cuttings in thei...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    See on Leviticus 19:27; Leviticus 19:28....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    LAWS RELATING TO THE PRIESTHOOD AND SACRIFICE The principle laid down in this and the following chapter is the far reaching one, that whatever comes near or is presented to God must be perfect of its...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    LEVITICUS *WORSHIP THE *LORD IN THE BEAUTY OF *HOLINESS LEVITICUS _GORDON CHURCHYARD_ This commentary HAS BEEN through Advanced Checking. Words in boxes are from the Bible, except for the words i...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    Make baldness upon their head. — The natural expression of grief, however, which the priests were to manifest for the above-named departed relations, was not to show itself in the practices which disf...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    לֹֽא־_יִקְרְח֤וּ_† קָרְחָה֙ בְּ רֹאשָׁ֔ם וּ פְאַ֥ת...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    THE LAW OF PRIESTLY HOLINESS Leviticus 21:1; Leviticus 22:1 THE conception of Israel as a kingdom of priests, a holy nation, was concretely represented in a threefold division of the people, -the con...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The absolute necessity for the strictest of separation of the priest from all possibility of defilement is vividly set forth in the laws here enunciated. Standing as he ever did in a place of special...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Flesh. This would indicate an important grief, and want of patience. (Haydock) --- They were not allowed to put on the usual signs of mourning, as the common people were, provided they did it not in...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Doth not the Reader discern somewhat in these which point to JESUS? Surely in all these appointments respecting ceremonial uncleanness among the priests, the peculiarity of the law for them only, plai...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    We have seen the various forms of the work of Christ, of His offering of Himself to God, whether in all the perfectness of His life, or in His death as the means of our acceptance. We have seen furthe...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 21 AND 22. Chapter 21 specially presents what becomes the priests as set apart for Jehovah: this more intimate nearness supposed a conduct corresponding with...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    THEY SHALL NOT MAKE BALDNESS UPON THEIR HEAD,.... For the dead, as Jarchi, Aben Ezra, and Ben Gersom; not shave their heads, or round the corners of them, or make baldness between their eyes on that a...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    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. Ver. 5. _They shall not make baldness, &c._] So Leviticus 1...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _They shall not make baldness_ In funerals, as the heathen did. Though I allow them to defile themselves for some of the dead, yet in no case shall they use these superstitious rites, which also the p...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Of the Priests mourning. 6 Of their holinesse. 8 Of their estimation. 7.13 Of their Mariages. 16 The Priests that haue blemishes must not minister in the Sanctuarie. 1 AND the LORD said vnto Mos...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    They shall not make baldness upon their head, by shaving off the hair, NEITHER SHALL THEY SHAVE OFF THE CORNER OF THEIR BEARD, CROP OR TRIM THE EDGES, NOR MAKE ANY CUTTINGS IN THEIR FLESH, all these b...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Their Outward Appearance and Relations....

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF PRIESTS (VV. 1-15) Since the priests were given the sacred privilege of drawing near to God on behalf of the people, they were therefore more responsible as regards their c...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    To wit, in funerals, as the heathens did: q. d. Though I allow them to defile themselves for some of the dead, yet in no case shall they use these superstitious and heathenish rites, which also the pe...

  • Notes on the Pentateuch by Charles Henry Mackintosh

    LEVITICUS 22:1-33. These Chapter s unfold, with great minuteness of detail, the divine requirements in reference to those who were privileged to draw near as priests to "offer the bread of their God....

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Leviticus 21:5 make H7139 (H8799) bald H7144 heads H7218 shave H1548 (H8762) edges H6285 beards...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE PRIESTS MUST NOT DEFILE THEMSELVES UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. The priesthood was the essential link between Yahweh and His people. They were therefore to be especially careful in the maintenanc...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Relationship and walk of the priests. CHARACTERS: God, Moses, Aaron and sons. CONCLUSION: Those whose office it is to instruct in God's truth must do it by example as well as precept. KEY...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Leviticus 21:4. _A chief man._ In some versions the Hebrew word _baal_ is rendered king, lord, and husband; and the LXX read, he shall not “lightly” defile himself. Leviticus 21:7. _He shall not take...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Speak unto the priests the sons of Aaron._ SACRED RELATIONSHIP DEMANDS SANCTITY OF LIFE If there is one fact more notably emphasised than another in this address to priests, it is this: their-- I....

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    Purity of the Priesthood SUGGESTIVE READINGS Leviticus 21:1.—Speak unto the priests … there shall none be defiled. If it was important that the whole community of Israel should maintain ceremonial an...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    PART III. SECTION IV. THE UNCLEANNESS AND DISQUALIFICATION OF PRIESTS. EXPOSITION The two remaining chapters of this division of the book (Leviticus 21:1,...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Shall we turn now to Leviticus, chapter twenty-one? As we have often told you, a priest had a two-fold function. First he was to stand before God representing the people, bringing their offerings befo...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Amos 8:10; Deuteronomy 14:1; Ezekiel 44:20; Isaiah 15:2; Isaiah 22:12

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    They shall not make baldness — In funerals, as the Heathens did. Though I allow them to defile themselves for some of the dead, yet in no case shall they use these superstitious rites, which also the...

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