Leviticus 21:23
New International Version
yet because of his defect, he must not go near the curtain or approach the altar, and so desecrate my sanctuary. I am the LORD, who makes them holy.’”

New Living Translation
Yet because of his physical defect, he may not enter the room behind the inner curtain or approach the altar, for this would defile my holy places. I am the LORD who makes them holy.”

English Standard Version
but he shall not go through the veil or approach the altar, because he has a blemish, that he may not profane my sanctuaries, for I am the LORD who sanctifies them.”

Berean Standard Bible
but because he has a defect, he must not go near the veil or approach the altar, so as not to desecrate My sanctuaries. For I am the LORD who sanctifies them.’”

King James Bible
Only he shall not go in unto the vail, nor come nigh unto the altar, because he hath a blemish; that he profane not my sanctuaries: for I the LORD do sanctify them.

New King James Version
only he shall not go near the veil or approach the altar, because he has a defect, lest he profane My sanctuaries; for I the LORD sanctify them.’ ”

New American Standard Bible
only he shall not come up to the veil or approach the altar, since he has an impairment, so that he does not profane My sanctuaries. For I am the LORD who sanctifies them.’”

NASB 1995
only he shall not go in to the veil or come near the altar because he has a defect, so that he will not profane My sanctuaries. For I am the LORD who sanctifies them.’”

NASB 1977
only he shall not go in to the veil or come near the altar because he has a defect, that he may not profane My sanctuaries. For I am the LORD who sanctifies them.’”

Legacy Standard Bible
only he shall not go in to the veil or approach the altar because he has a defect, so that he will not profane My sanctuaries. For I am Yahweh who makes them holy.’”

Amplified Bible
but he shall not go within the veil or approach the altar [of incense], because he has a defect, so that he will not profane My sanctuaries; for I am the LORD who sanctifies them.’”

Christian Standard Bible
But because he has a defect, he must not go near the curtain or approach the altar. He is not to desecrate my holy places, for I am the LORD who sets them apart.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But because he has a defect, he must not go near the curtain or approach the altar. He is not to desecrate My sanctuaries, for I am Yahweh who sets them apart.”

American Standard Version
only he shall not go in unto the veil, nor come nigh unto the altar, because he hath a blemish; that he profane not my sanctuaries: for I am Jehovah who sanctifieth them.

Contemporary English Version
but they may not enter the sacred place or serve me at the altar. Remember--I am the LORD, the one who makes a priest holy.

English Revised Version
Only he shall not go in unto the veil, nor come nigh unto the altar, because he hath a blemish; that he profane not my sanctuaries: for I am the LORD which sanctify them.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
However, he must never come up to the canopy or to the altar, since he has a physical defect. He must never dishonor the holy places because I, the LORD, set them apart as holy."

Good News Translation
but because he has a physical defect, he shall not come near the sacred curtain or approach the altar. He must not profane these holy things, because I am the LORD and I make them holy."

International Standard Version
but he is not to enter through the curtain nor approach the altar, since he has a defect. That way, he won't defile my sanctuary, since I am the LORD, who sets you apart."

Majority Standard Bible
but because he has a defect, he must not go near the veil or approach the altar, so as not to desecrate My sanctuaries. For I am the LORD who sanctifies them.??

NET Bible
but he must not go into the veil-canopy or step forward to the altar because he has a physical flaw. Thus he must not profane my holy places, for I am the LORD who sanctifies them.'"

New Heart English Bible
He shall not come near to the veil, nor come near to the altar, because he has a blemish; that he may not profane my sanctuaries, for I am the LORD who sanctifies them.'"

Webster's Bible Translation
Only he shall not go in to the vail, nor come nigh to the altar, because he hath a blemish; that he may not profane my sanctuaries: for I the LORD do sanctify them.

World English Bible
He shall not come near to the veil, nor come near to the altar, because he has a defect; that he may not profane my sanctuaries, for I am Yahweh who sanctifies them.’”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
only, he does not come toward the veil, and he does not draw near to the altar; for blemish [is] in him; and he does not defile My sanctuaries; for I [am] YHWH, sanctifying them.”

Young's Literal Translation
only, unto the vail he doth not enter, and unto the altar he doth not draw nigh; for blemish is in him; and he doth not pollute My sanctuaries; for I am Jehovah, sanctifying them.'

Smith's Literal Translation
But he shall not come in to the vail, and to the altar he shall not come near, for a blemish is in him; and he shall not profane my holy place: for I Jehovah consecrating them.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Yet so that he enter not within the veil, nor approach to the altar, because he hath a blemish, and he must not defile my sanctuary. I am the Lord who sanctify them.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But even so, he may not enter within the veil, nor approach to the altar. For he has a blemish, and he must not contaminate my Sanctuary. I am the Lord, who sanctifies them.

New American Bible
Only, he may not enter through the veil nor draw near to the altar on account of his blemish; he shall not profane my sacred precincts, for it is I, the LORD, who make them holy.

New Revised Standard Version
But he shall not come near the curtain or approach the altar, because he has a blemish, that he may not profane my sanctuaries; for I am the LORD; I sanctify them.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But he shall not go in to the veil nor come near to the altar, because he has a blemish, that he may not profane my sanctuary; for I am the LORD who sanctifies them.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
However he shall not enter within the face of the door and he shall not come to the altar, because a defect is in him, and he shall not pollute my holy place, because I AM LORD JEHOVAH who hallow them.’”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Only he shall not go in unto the veil, nor come nigh unto the altar, because he hath a blemish; that he profane not My holy places; for I am the LORD who sanctify them.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Only he shall not approach the veil, and he shall not draw nigh to the altar, because he has a blemish; and he shall not profane the sanctuary of his God, for I am the Lord that sanctifies them.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Restrictions Against Those with Blemishes
22He may eat the most holy food of his God as well as the holy food, 23but because he has a defect, he must not go near the veil or approach the altar, so as not to desecrate My sanctuaries. For I am the LORD who sanctifies them.’” 24Moses told this to Aaron and his sons and to all the Israelites.…

Cross References
Exodus 28:43
Aaron and his sons must wear them whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting or approach the altar to minister in the Holy Place, so that they will not incur guilt and die. This is to be a permanent statute for Aaron and his descendants.

Numbers 18:7
But only you and your sons shall attend to your priesthood for everything concerning the altar and what is inside the veil, and you are to perform that service. I am giving you the work of the priesthood as a gift, but any outsider who comes near the sanctuary must be put to death.”

Leviticus 22:9
The priests must keep My charge, lest they bear the guilt and die because they profane it. I am the LORD who sanctifies them.

Leviticus 10:9-11
“You and your sons are not to drink wine or strong drink when you enter the Tent of Meeting, or else you will die; this is a permanent statute for the generations to come. / You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the clean and the unclean, / so that you may teach the Israelites all the statutes that the LORD has given them through Moses.”

Ezekiel 44:9-14
This is what the Lord GOD says: No foreigner uncircumcised in heart and flesh may enter My sanctuary—not even a foreigner who lives among the Israelites. / Surely the Levites who wandered away from Me when Israel went astray, and who wandered away from Me after their idols, will bear the consequences of their iniquity. / Yet they shall be ministers in My sanctuary, having charge of the gates of the temple and ministering there. They shall slaughter the burnt offerings and other sacrifices for the people and stand before them to minister to them. ...

2 Chronicles 26:18-21
They took their stand against King Uzziah and said, “Uzziah, you have no right to offer incense to the LORD. Only the priests, the descendants of Aaron, are consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have acted unfaithfully; you will not receive honor from the LORD God.” / Uzziah, with a censer in his hand to offer incense, was enraged. But while he raged against the priests in their presence in the house of the LORD before the altar of incense, leprosy broke out on his forehead. / When Azariah the chief priest and all the priests turned to him and saw his leprous forehead, they rushed him out. Indeed, he himself hurried to get out, because the LORD had afflicted him. ...

Leviticus 16:2
And the LORD said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron not to enter freely into the Most Holy Place behind the veil in front of the mercy seat on the ark, or else he will die, because I appear in the cloud above the mercy seat.

Hebrews 7:26-28
Such a high priest truly befits us—One who is holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. / Unlike the other high priests, He does not need to offer daily sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people; He sacrificed for sin once for all when He offered up Himself. / For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.

Hebrews 9:7
But only the high priest entered the second room, and then only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.

Hebrews 5:1-4
Every high priest is appointed from among men to represent them in matters relating to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. / He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and misguided, since he himself is subject to weakness. / That is why he is obligated to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. ...

1 Peter 2:5
you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Isaiah 52:11
Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing; come out from it, purify yourselves, you who carry the vessels of the LORD.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; / you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17
Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? / If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.


Treasury of Scripture

Only he shall not go in to the veil, nor come near to the altar, because he has a blemish; that he profane not my sanctuaries: for I the LORD do sanctify them.

go in

Exodus 30:6-8
And thou shalt put it before the vail that is by the ark of the testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the testimony, where I will meet with thee…

Exodus 40:26,27
And he put the golden altar in the tent of the congregation before the vail: …

Ezekiel 44:9-14
Thus saith the Lord GOD; No stranger, uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any stranger that is among the children of Israel…

profane

Leviticus 21:12
Neither shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the crown of the anointing oil of his God is upon him: I am the LORD.

Leviticus 15:31
Thus shall ye separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness; that they die not in their uncleanness, when they defile my tabernacle that is among them.

for I the Lord

Leviticus 21:8
Thou shalt sanctify him therefore; for he offereth the bread of thy God: he shall be holy unto thee: for I the LORD, which sanctify you, am holy.

Jump to Previous
Altar Approach Blemish Common Curtain Damaged Defect Desecrate Draw Hallow Holy Inside Makes Nigh Places Pollute Profane Sanctifies Sanctifieth Sanctify Sanctifying Sanctuaries Sanctuary Vail Veil
Jump to Next
Altar Approach Blemish Common Curtain Damaged Defect Desecrate Draw Hallow Holy Inside Makes Nigh Places Pollute Profane Sanctifies Sanctifieth Sanctify Sanctifying Sanctuaries Sanctuary Vail Veil
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














but because he is blemished
The term "blemished" in Hebrew is "מוּם" (mum), which refers to any physical defect or imperfection. In the context of Levitical law, a blemish disqualified a priest from performing certain sacred duties. This reflects the holiness and perfection required in the service of God, symbolizing the need for spiritual purity and integrity. The emphasis on physical perfection serves as a metaphor for the spiritual wholeness expected of those who serve in God's presence.

he must not go near the veil
The "veil" (Hebrew: "פָּרֹכֶת" - paroket) was the curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place in the Tabernacle and later in the Temple. It represented the boundary between God and humanity, a barrier that only the High Priest could cross once a year on the Day of Atonement. The restriction for a blemished priest underscores the sanctity of this boundary and the need for those who approach it to be without defect, symbolizing the ultimate holiness of God.

or approach the altar
The "altar" (Hebrew: "מִזְבֵּחַ" - mizbeach) was central to the sacrificial system, where offerings were made to God. Approaching the altar was a sacred act, and only those who were ceremonially clean and without blemish could perform this duty. This requirement highlights the seriousness of worship and the reverence due to God, reminding believers of the need for purity in their own worship practices.

for he is blemished
The repetition of "blemished" emphasizes the importance of this condition. In a broader theological sense, it points to the human condition of sin and imperfection, which separates humanity from God. The need for a perfect mediator, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who is without blemish, is foreshadowed here.

He must not desecrate My sanctuaries
The term "desecrate" (Hebrew: "חָלַל" - chalal) means to profane or defile. God's "sanctuaries" (Hebrew: "מִקְדָּשׁ" - mikdash) are holy places set apart for His presence. The prohibition against a blemished priest serving in these spaces underscores the need to maintain their sanctity. This serves as a reminder of the holiness required in all aspects of life dedicated to God.

for I am the LORD who sanctifies them
The phrase "I am the LORD" (Hebrew: "אֲנִי יְהוָה" - Ani Yahweh) is a declaration of God's authority and identity. "Sanctifies" (Hebrew: "מְקַדֵּשׁ" - mekadesh) means to set apart as holy. God Himself is the one who sanctifies His people and His places of worship. This divine action underscores the grace and power of God to make holy what is otherwise common or unclean, pointing to the transformative work of God in the lives of believers.

(23) Only he shall not go in unto the vail.--That is, into the holy place which was before the vail.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
but
אַ֣ךְ (’aḵ)
Adverb
Strong's 389: A particle of affirmation, surely

because
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

he has a defect,
מ֣וּם (mūm)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3971: To stain, a blemish

he must not
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

go
יָבֹ֗א (yā·ḇō)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

near
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the curtain
הַפָּרֹ֜כֶת (hap·pā·rō·ḵeṯ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 6532: A separatrix, screen

or approach
יִגַּ֖שׁ (yig·gaš)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5066: To draw near, approach

the altar,
הַמִּזְבֵּ֛חַ (ham·miz·bê·aḥ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4196: An altar

so as not to desecrate
יְחַלֵּל֙ (yə·ḥal·lêl)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2490: To bore, to wound, to dissolve, to profane, to break, to begin, to play

My sanctuaries.
מִקְדָּשַׁ֔י (miq·dā·šay)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 4720: A consecrated thing, place, a palace, sanctuary, asylum

For
כִּ֛י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

I
אֲנִ֥י (’ă·nî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

am the LORD
יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

who sanctifies them.’”
מְקַדְּשָֽׁם׃ (mə·qad·də·šām)
Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 6942: To be set apart or consecrated


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OT Law: Leviticus 21:23 He shall not come near to (Le Lv Lev.)
Leviticus 21:22
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