Leviticus 21:2
New International Version
except for a close relative, such as his mother or father, his son or daughter, his brother,

New Living Translation
The only exceptions are his closest relatives—his mother or father, son or daughter, brother,

English Standard Version
except for his closest relatives, his mother, his father, his son, his daughter, his brother,

Berean Standard Bible
except for his immediate family—his mother, father, son, daughter, or brother,

King James Bible
But for his kin, that is near unto him, that is, for his mother, and for his father, and for his son, and for his daughter, and for his brother,

New King James Version
except for his relatives who are nearest to him: his mother, his father, his son, his daughter, and his brother;

New American Standard Bible
except for his relatives who are nearest to him, his mother, his father, his son, his daughter, and his brother,

NASB 1995
except for his relatives who are nearest to him, his mother and his father and his son and his daughter and his brother,

NASB 1977
except for his relatives who are nearest to him, his mother and his father and his son and his daughter and his brother,

Legacy Standard Bible
except for his blood relatives who are nearest to him, his mother and his father and his son and his daughter and his brother,

Amplified Bible
except for his relatives who are nearest to him, his mother, his father, his son, his daughter, and his brother,

Christian Standard Bible
except for his immediate family: his mother, father, son, daughter, or brother.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
except for his immediate family: his mother, father, son, daughter, or brother.

American Standard Version
except for his kin, that is near unto him, for his mother, and for his father, and for his son, and for his daughter, and for his brother,

Contemporary English Version
except your mother, father, son, daughter, brother,

English Revised Version
except for his kin, that is near unto him, for his mother, and for his father, and for his son, and for his daughter, and for his brother;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
However, you are allowed to become unclean when one of your nearest relatives dies. These relatives include your mother, father, son, daughter, or brother,

Good News Translation
unless it is his mother, father, son, daughter, brother,

International Standard Version
except his close relatives—his mother, father, son, daughter, brother, or

Majority Standard Bible
except for his immediate family?his mother, father, son, daughter, or brother,

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

New Heart English Bible
except for his relatives that are near to him: for his mother, for his father, for his son, for his daughter, for his brother,

Webster's Bible Translation
But for his kin, that is near to him, that is, for his mother, and for his father, and for his son, and for his daughter, and for his brother,

World English Bible
except for his relatives that are near to him: for his mother, for his father, for his son, for his daughter, for his brother,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
except for his relation who [is] near to him: for his mother, and for his father, and for his son, and for his daughter, and for his brother,

Young's Literal Translation
except for his relation who is near unto him -- for his mother, and for his father, and for his son, and for his daughter, and for his brother.

Smith's Literal Translation
But if for his remainder coming near to him, for his mother and for his father, and for his son, and for his daughter, and for his brother,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But only for his kin, such as are near in blood, that is to say, for his father and for his mother, and for his son, and for his daughter, for his brother also,

Catholic Public Domain Version
except only by his blood-relatives and near-relatives, that is, by a father or mother, or by a son or daughter, or also a brother,

New American Bible
except for his nearest relatives, his mother or father, his son or daughter, his brother

New Revised Standard Version
except for his nearest kin: his mother, his father, his son, his daughter, his brother;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Except for his kin who is near to him, that is, for his father and for his mother and for his son and for his daughter and for his brother,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Except with his near relative that is close to him: for his father or for his mother or for his son or for his daughter or for his brother,
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
except for his kin, that is near unto him, for his mother, and for his father, and for his son, and for his daughter, and for his brother;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
but they may mourn for a relative who is very near to them, for a father and mother, and sons and daughters, for a brother,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Holiness Required of Priests
1Then the LORD said to Moses, “Speak to Aaron’s sons, the priests, and tell them that a priest is not to defile himself for a dead person among his people, 2except for his immediate family— his mother, father, son, daughter, or brother, 3or his unmarried sister who is near to him, since she has no husband.…

Cross References
Numbers 19:11-13
Whoever touches any dead body will be unclean for seven days. / He must purify himself with the water on the third day and on the seventh day; then he will be clean. But if he does not purify himself on the third and seventh days, he will not be clean. / Anyone who touches a human corpse and fails to purify himself defiles the tabernacle of the LORD. That person must be cut off from Israel. He remains unclean, because the water of purification has not been sprinkled on him, and his uncleanness is still on him.

Ezekiel 44:25-27
A priest must not defile himself by going near a dead person. However, for a father, a mother, a son, a daughter, a brother, or an unmarried sister, he may do so, / and after he is cleansed, he must count off seven days for himself. / And on the day he goes into the sanctuary, into the inner court, to minister in the sanctuary, he must present his sin offering, declares the Lord GOD.

Matthew 8:21-22
Another of His disciples requested, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” / But Jesus told him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”

Luke 9:59-60
Then He said to another man, “Follow Me.” The man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” / But Jesus told him, “Let the dead bury their own dead. You, however, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

John 11:25-26
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies. / And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14
Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope. / For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.

Genesis 50:5-7
my father made me swear an oath when he said, ‘I am about to die. You must bury me in the tomb that I dug for myself in the land of Canaan.’ Now let me go and bury my father, and then return.” / Pharaoh replied, “Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear to do.” / Then Joseph went to bury his father, and all the servants of Pharaoh accompanied him—the elders of Pharaoh’s household and all the elders of the land of Egypt—

Deuteronomy 34:8
The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning for Moses came to an end.

2 Samuel 19:1-4
Then it was reported to Joab, “The king is weeping and mourning over Absalom.” / And that day’s victory was turned into mourning for all the people, because on that day they were told, “The king is grieving over his son.” / So they returned to the city quietly that day, as people steal away in humiliation after fleeing a battle. ...

2 Kings 4:32-35
When Elisha reached the house, there was the boy lying dead on his bed. / So he went in, closed the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the LORD. / Then Elisha got on the bed and lay on the boy, mouth to mouth, eye to eye, and hand to hand. As he stretched himself out over him, the boy’s body became warm. ...

Jeremiah 16:5-7
Indeed, this is what the LORD says: “Do not enter a house where there is a funeral meal. Do not go to mourn or show sympathy, for I have removed from this people My peace, My loving devotion, and My compassion,” declares the LORD. / “Both great and small will die in this land. They will not be buried or mourned, nor will anyone cut himself or shave his head for them. / No food will be offered to comfort those who mourn the dead; not even a cup of consolation will be given for the loss of a father or mother.

Amos 6:10
And when the relative who is to burn the bodies picks them up to remove them from the house, he will call to one inside, “Is anyone else with you?” “None,” that person will answer. “Silence,” the relative will retort, “for the name of the LORD must not be invoked.”

Matthew 22:32
‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”

Mark 12:27
He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!”

Luke 20:38
He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to Him all are alive.”


Treasury of Scripture

But for his kin, that is near to him, that is, for his mother, and for his father, and for his son, and for his daughter, and for his brother.

Leviticus 18:6
None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness: I am the LORD.

1 Thessalonians 4:13
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

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Close Daughter Except Immediate Kin Mother Nearest Relation Relations Relative Relatives
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Close Daughter Except Immediate Kin Mother Nearest Relation Relations Relative Relatives
Leviticus 21
1. Of the priests' mourning
6. 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














except for his immediate family
This phrase sets a boundary for the priests, who were called to a higher standard of holiness and separation. The Hebrew word for "except" (בִּלְתִּי, bilti) indicates a restriction or exception, emphasizing the unique role of the priesthood. The term "immediate family" underscores the importance of familial bonds and responsibilities, even for those in sacred service. In the ancient Near Eastern context, family was the primary social unit, and this exception highlights the balance between religious duty and familial obligation.

his mother, father
The inclusion of "mother" (אֵם, em) and "father" (אָב, av) reflects the commandment to honor one's parents, as seen in Exodus 20:12. This respect for parental figures is deeply rooted in the Hebrew tradition and is a fundamental aspect of the covenant community. The priest's duty to his parents is a reminder that spiritual leaders are not exempt from the basic moral and ethical obligations that bind all members of the community.

son, daughter
The mention of "son" (בֵּן, ben) and "daughter" (בַּת, bat) highlights the continuity of family lineage and the importance of nurturing the next generation. In the ancient Israelite society, children were seen as a blessing and a heritage from the Lord (Psalm 127:3). The priest's responsibility to his children underscores the role of the family in preserving the faith and traditions of Israel.

or brother
The inclusion of "brother" (אָח, ach) signifies the broader kinship ties that were vital in the tribal structure of Israel. Brothers often shared in the inheritance and responsibilities of the family, and their relationship was one of mutual support and loyalty. This provision for mourning a brother reflects the deep bonds of brotherhood that were essential for maintaining the unity and strength of the family and, by extension, the community.

(2) But for his kin, that is near unto him.--There are, however, seven exceptions to the general rule. According to the administrators of the Law during the second Temple, the phrase, "his kin that is near unto him," or rather, "his flesh that is near unto him" (comp. Leviticus 18:6 with Genesis 2:24), denotes "wife." Hence the Chaldee version of Jonathan renders it, "but for a wife who is of kin to his flesh."

For his mother, and for his father.--This is the second of the three instances in the Bible where the mother is mentioned before the father (see Leviticus 19:3). The Jewish canonists, who call attention to this unusual phrase, account for it by saying that she is placed first because the son's qualifications for the priesthood depend more upon his having a good mother (see Leviticus 21:7). This will be readily understood when it is borne in mind that the regulations about the woman whom a priest was allowed to marry during the second Temple were of the most stringent nature, and that the slightest infringement of them disqualified the son for performing sacerdotal functions. Thus the daughter of a foreigner or of a released captive was forbidden to the priest, and when a city was besieged and taken by the enemy all the wives of the priests had to be divorced for fear lest they had suffered violence.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
except
כִּ֚י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

for his immediate
הַקָּרֹ֖ב (haq·qā·rōḇ)
Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7138: Near

family—
לִשְׁאֵר֔וֹ (liš·’ê·rōw)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7607: Flesh, as living, for, food, food of any kind, kindred by blood

his mother,
לְאִמּ֣וֹ (lə·’im·mōw)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 517: A mother, )

father,
וּלְאָבִ֔יו (ū·lə·’ā·ḇîw)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1: Father

son,
וְלִבְנ֥וֹ (wə·liḇ·nōw)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1121: A son

daughter,
וּלְבִתּ֖וֹ (ū·lə·ḇit·tōw)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1323: A daughter

brother,
וּלְאָחִֽיו׃ (ū·lə·’ā·ḥîw)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 251: A brother, )


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OT Law: Leviticus 21:2 Except for his relatives that are near (Le Lv Lev.)
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