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Geneva Study Bible Commentary

Leviticus 21:4

[But] he shall not defile himself, [being] a (c) chief man among his people, to profane himself.

(c) The priest was permitted to mourn for his next kindred only.

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See also Leviticus 21:4 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Leviticus 21:4. _A CHIEF MAN AMONG HIS PEOPLE_] The word בעל _baal_ signifies a _master, chief, husband_, c., and is as variously translated here. 1. He being a _chief_ among the people, it wou...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    The sense seems to be that, owing to his position in the nation, the priest is not to defile himself in any cases except those named in Leviticus 21:2. The Septuagint appear to have followed a differe...

  • 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

    DEFILE HIMSELF [for his wife]. Figure of speech _Ellipsis._ App-6. A CHIEF. a lord, or leader. Hebrew. _ba'al._ Supply Figure of speech _Ellipsis_ (App-6) [a priest]....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    being _a chief man_ as a husband (R.V. mg.). This rendering limits the cases in which defilement is permissible to those already mentioned, and forbids mourning for a wife. The A.V. follows the Targum...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    BUT HE SHALL NOT DEFILE HIMSELF, BEING A CHIEF MAN AMONG HIS PEOPLE— Very different versions are given of this passage: several ancient versions render it, _neither shall he be defiled for the prince...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    HOLINESS ON THE PART OF PRIESTS, AND HOLINESS OF THE OFFERINGS 21:122:33 AVOIDANCE OF CONTACT WITH A DEAD BODY 21:1-4 TEXT 21:1-4 1 And Jehovah said unto Moses, Speak unto the priests, the sons of A...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _BUT HE SHALL NOT DEFILE HIMSELF, BEING A CHIEF MAN AMONG HIS PEOPLE, TO PROFANE HIMSELF._ But he shall not defile himself - `for any other,' as the sense may be fully expressed. The priest, in disch...

  • 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

    BUT HE SHALL NOT DEFILE HIMSELF, BEING A CHIEF MAN... — Better, _A husband shall not defile himself among his people when he had profaned himself._ As the seven exceptions to the general rule began wi...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    לֹ֥א יִטַּמָּ֖א בַּ֣עַל בְּ עַמָּ֑יו לְ הֵ֖חַ

  • 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

    Prince. Hebrew, "Let not the prince (of the priests, Acts xxiii. 5,) render himself unclean," by attending the funerals of any of the people; or "let not the husband," &c. He may be allowed to attend...

  • 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

    [BUT] HE SHALL NOT DEFILE HIMSELF, [BEING] A CHIEF MAN AMONG HIS PEOPLE,.... Which is not to be understood of any lord or nobleman or any chief ruler or governor of the people; for the context speaks...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Leviticus 21:4 [But] he shall not defile himself, [being] a chief man among his people, to profane himself. Ver. 4. _Being a chief man._] A _vir gregis; _ all whose actions were exemplary, and have n...

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

    _Being_ Or, seeing he is _a chief man_ For such, not only the high-priest, but others also of the inferior priests were. _He shall not defile himself_ For any other person whatsoever. _To profane hims...

  • 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

    But he shall not defile himself being a chief among his people, to profane himself; that is, he was not permitted to become unclean on account of any person related to him by marriage, but only on acc...

  • 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...

  • Marginal Notes in the King James Version (1611)

    BEING A CHIEF MAN AMONG HIS PEOPLE, TO PROFANE HIMSELF: Or, being an husband among his people he shall not defile himself for his wife etc....

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    Or, seeing he is A CHIEF MAN, & c., or _ruler_, &c., for such not only the high priest, but others also of the inferior priests, were. And therefore though he might defile himself for the persons now...

  • 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 21:4 defile H2930 (H8691) man H1167 people H5971 profane H2490 (H8736)...

  • 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 ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    LEVITICUS—NOTE ON LEVITICUS 21:1__ Stricter rules of holiness are required of priests because they work directly with the holy objects of the sanctuary. ⇐...

  • 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

    Ezekiel 24:16; Ezekiel 24:17...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Being — Or, seeing he is a chief man, for such not only the high — priest, but others also of the inferior priests were. He shall not defile himself for any other person whatsoever. To profane himself...

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