Leviticus 21:3
New International Version
or an unmarried sister who is dependent on him since she has no husband—for her he may make himself unclean.

New Living Translation
or his virgin sister who depends on him because she has no husband.

English Standard Version
or his virgin sister (who is near to him because she has had no husband; for her he may make himself unclean).

Berean Standard Bible
or his unmarried sister who is near to him, since she has no husband.

King James Bible
And for his sister a virgin, that is nigh unto him, which hath had no husband; for her may he be defiled.

New King James Version
also his virgin sister who is near to him, who has had no husband, for her he may defile himself.

New American Standard Bible
also for his virgin sister who is near to him because she has not had a husband; for her, he may defile himself.

NASB 1995
also for his virgin sister, who is near to him because she has had no husband; for her he may defile himself.

NASB 1977
also for his virgin sister, who is near to him because she has had no husband; for her he may defile himself.

Legacy Standard Bible
also for his virgin sister, who is near to him because she has had no husband; for her he may defile himself.

Amplified Bible
also his virgin sister, who is near to him because she has had no husband; for her he may become unclean.

Christian Standard Bible
He may make himself unclean for his unmarried virgin sister in his immediate family.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He may make himself unclean for his young unmarried sister in his immediate family.

American Standard Version
and for his sister a virgin, that is near unto him, that hath had no husband; for her may he defile himself.

Contemporary English Version
or an unmarried sister, who has no husband to take care of her.

English Revised Version
and for his sister a virgin, that is near unto him, which hath had no husband, for her may he defile himself.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
and especially an unmarried virgin sister who is still close to you.

Good News Translation
or unmarried sister living in his house.

International Standard Version
virgin sister (who is a near relative of him and did not have a husband— he may defile himself for her).

Majority Standard Bible
or his unmarried sister who is near to him, since she has no husband.

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

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

Webster's Bible Translation
And for his sister a virgin, that is nigh to him, who hath had no husband: for her he may be defiled.

World English Bible
and for his virgin sister who is near to him, who has had no husband; for her he may defile himself.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and for his sister, the virgin, who is near to him, who has not been to a man; he is defiled for her.

Young's Literal Translation
and for his sister, the virgin, who is near unto him, who hath not been to a man; for her he is defiled.

Smith's Literal Translation
And for his sister, a virgin, coming near to him, who was not for a husband for her, he shall be defiled.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And for a maiden sister, who hath had no husband:

Catholic Public Domain Version
or a virgin sister, who is not married to a husband.

New American Bible
or his unmarried sister, who is of his own family while she remains single; for these he may make himself unclean.

New Revised Standard Version
likewise, for a virgin sister, close to him because she has had no husband, he may defile himself for her.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And for his virgin sister, who is near to him, who had no husband; for her he may defile himself.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Or he may be defiled for his sister, a virgin who was near to him, who was not with a man,
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
and for his sister a virgin, that is near unto him, that hath had no husband, for her may he defile himself.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and for a virgin sister that is near to one, that is not espoused to a man; for these one shall defile himself.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Holiness Required of Priests
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. 4He is not to defile himself for those related to him by marriage, and so profane himself.…

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.”

1 Timothy 5:4
But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to show godliness to their own family and repay their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.

1 Timothy 5:8
If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

1 Timothy 5:16
If any believing woman has dependent widows, she must assist them and not allow the church to be burdened, so that it can help the widows who are truly in need.

Genesis 50:1-3
Then Joseph fell upon his father’s face, wept over him, and kissed him. / And Joseph directed the physicians in his service to embalm his father Israel. So they embalmed him, / taking the forty days required to complete the embalming. And the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days.

Genesis 50:10-11
When they reached the threshing floor of Atad, which is across the Jordan, they lamented and wailed loudly, and Joseph mourned for his father seven days. / When the Canaanites of the land saw the mourning at the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “This is a solemn ceremony of mourning by the Egyptians.” Thus the place across the Jordan is called Abel-mizraim.

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 1:11-12
Then David took hold of his own clothes and tore them, and all the men who were with him did the same. / They mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the people of the LORD and the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

2 Samuel 3:31-32
Then David ordered Joab and all the people with him, “Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.” And King David himself walked behind the funeral bier. / When they buried Abner in Hebron, the king wept aloud at Abner’s tomb, and all the people wept.

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. ...

John 11:33-35
When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. / “Where have you put him?” He asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they answered. / Jesus wept.

John 19:25-27
Near the cross of Jesus stood His mother and her sister, as well as Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary Magdalene. / When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, here is your son.” / Then He said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” So from that hour, this disciple took her into his home.


Treasury of Scripture

And for his sister a virgin, that is near to him, which has had no husband; for her may he be defiled.

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Defile Defiled Dependent Husband Nigh Relation Sister Unclean Unmarried
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Defile Defiled Dependent Husband Nigh Relation Sister Unclean Unmarried
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














or his unmarried sister
The Hebrew word for "sister" is "אָחוֹת" (achot), which signifies a close familial relationship. In ancient Israelite society, family bonds were paramount, and the care for one's siblings was a significant responsibility. The term "unmarried" indicates a woman who has not entered into a marriage covenant, which in the cultural context of the time, often left her vulnerable and reliant on her family for support. This highlights the protective role that a brother, especially a priest, was expected to play in the absence of a husband.

who is dependent on him
The phrase "dependent on him" underscores the social and economic realities of the time. In a patriarchal society, women often relied on male relatives for provision and protection. The Hebrew root here suggests a state of reliance or need, emphasizing the brother's duty to care for his sister. This dependency is not merely financial but also social, as the brother would be her advocate and protector in the community.

since she has no husband
This clause provides the reason for her dependency. In ancient Israel, marriage was not only a personal union but also a social contract that provided security and status. A woman without a husband lacked the societal protection and provision that marriage afforded. This context highlights the vulnerability of widows and unmarried women, which is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, where God often commands care for such individuals.

he may defile himself for her
The term "defile" in Hebrew is "טָמֵא" (tamei), which refers to a state of ritual impurity. Priests were generally prohibited from becoming ritually unclean, especially through contact with the dead, as they were set apart for service to God. However, this verse provides an exception, allowing a priest to become unclean for the sake of his immediate family, reflecting the high value placed on familial duty and compassion. This exception underscores the balance between religious duty and familial love, illustrating that God's laws are not merely rigid rules but are imbued with grace and understanding of human relationships.

(3) And for his sister a virgin, that is nigh unto him--That is, his maiden sister who still remains in sole relationship with him. What this is the next clause explains more minutely.

Which hath had no husband.--When she is married she goes to her husband, and ceases to be near her brother. It then devolves upon her husband to attend to the funeral rites.

For her may he be defiled.--According to the administrators of the Law during the second Temple, the priest was not only allowed to contract defilement by attending to the funeral rites of these seven relations, but was obliged to do it.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
or his unmarried
הַבְּתוּלָה֙ (hab·bə·ṯū·lāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1330: A virgin, sometimes, a bride

sister
וְלַאֲחֹת֤וֹ (wə·la·’ă·ḥō·ṯōw)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 269: Sister -- a sister

who is near
הַקְּרוֹבָ֣ה (haq·qə·rō·w·ḇāh)
Article | Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 7138: Near

to him,
אֵלָ֔יו (’ê·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

since
אֲשֶׁ֥ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

she has
הָיְתָ֖ה (hā·yə·ṯāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

no
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

husband.
לְאִ֑ישׁ (lə·’îš)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person


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OT Law: Leviticus 21:3 And for his virgin sister who (Le Lv Lev.)
Leviticus 21:2
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