Leviticus 21:4 net — He must not defile himself as a husband among his people so as to profane himself.

NET Bible

"He must not defile himself as a husband among his people so as to profane himself."

— Leviticus 21:4, NET Bible

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Leviticus 21:4 in Other Translations

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Leviticus 21 — Context

1

Rules for the Priests The LORD said to Moses:“Say to the priests, the sons of Aaron– say to them,‘For a dead person no priest is to defile himself among his people,

2

except for his close relative who is near to him: his mother, his father, his son, his daughter, his brother,

3

and his virgin sister who is near to him, who has no husband; he may defile himself for her.

4

He must not defile himself as a husband among his people so as to profane himself.

5

Priests must not have a bald spot shaved on their head, they must not shave the corner of their beard, and they must not cut slashes in their body.

6

“‘They must be holy to their God, and they must not profane the name of their God, because they are the ones who present the LORD’s gifts, the food of their God. Therefore they must be holy.

7

They must not take a wife defiled by prostitution, nor are they to take a wife divorced from her husband, for the priest is holy to his God.

Leviticus 21:4 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Leviticus 21:4 say?
Leviticus 21:4 in the NET Bible reads: “He must not defile himself as a husband among his people so as to profane himself.”
Where is Leviticus 21:4 in the Bible?
Leviticus 21:4 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Leviticus, chapter 21, verse 4.
Who wrote Leviticus?
Leviticus is traditionally attributed to Moses (traditional). It was written c. 1446–1406 BC.
What is the book of Leviticus about?
Leviticus is Israel's handbook for holy living in the presence of a holy God. It details the sacrificial system, priestly duties, dietary and purity laws, and the festivals — all teaching that sin requires atonement and that God's people are called to be set apart.
What are the major themes of Leviticus?
Leviticus explores themes including Holiness, Sacrifice, Atonement, Priesthood, Purity. These themes shape the meaning and context of Leviticus 21:4.
What translation should I read Leviticus 21:4 in?
Leviticus 21:4 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Leviticus 21:4?
Leviticus 21:4 reads (NET): “He must not defile himself as a husband among his people so as to profane himself.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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