Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version “’Priests must not shave their heads or shave off the edges of their beards or cut their bodies. New Living Translation “The priests must not shave their heads or trim their beards or cut their bodies. English Standard Version They shall not make bald patches on their heads, nor shave off the edges of their beards, nor make any cuts on their body. Berean Standard Bible Priests must not make bald spots on their heads, shave off the edges of their beards, or make cuts in their bodies. King James Bible They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh. New King James Version ‘They shall not make any bald place on their heads, nor shall they shave the edges of their beards nor make any cuttings in their flesh. New American Standard Bible They shall not shave any area on their heads bald, nor shave off the edges of their beards, nor make any cuts in their flesh. NASB 1995 ‘They shall not make any baldness on their heads, nor shave off the edges of their beards, nor make any cuts in their flesh. NASB 1977 ‘They shall not make any baldness on their heads, nor shave off the edges of their beards, nor make any cuts in their flesh. Legacy Standard Bible They shall not make any baldness on their heads nor shave off the edges of their beards nor make any cuts in their flesh. Amplified Bible The priests shall not shave their heads, nor shave off the edges of their beards, nor make any cuts in their body. Christian Standard Bible “Priests may not make bald spots on their heads, shave the edge of their beards, or make gashes on their bodies. Holman Christian Standard Bible Priests may not make bald spots on their heads, shave the edge of their beards, or make gashes on their bodies. American Standard Version They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh. Contemporary English Version Don't shave any part of your head or trim your beard or cut yourself to show that you are mourning. English Revised Version They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh. GOD'S WORD® Translation "You should never mourn by shaving bald spots on your heads, shaving the edges of your beards, or slashing your bodies. Good News Translation "No priest shall shave any part of his head or trim his beard or cut gashes on his body to show that he is in mourning. International Standard Version "They are not to cut their hair in ritualistic patterns on their heads, deface the edges of their beards, or make incisions in their flesh. Majority Standard Bible Priests must not make bald spots on their heads, shave off the edges of their beards, or make cuts in their bodies. NET Bible 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. New Heart English Bible "'They shall not shave their heads, neither shall they shave off the corners of their beards, nor make any cuttings in their flesh. Webster's Bible Translation They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh. World English Bible “‘They shall not shave their heads or shave off the corners of their beards or make any cuttings in their flesh. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionthey do not make baldness on their head, and they do not shave the corner of their beard, and they do not make a cutting in their flesh; Young's Literal Translation they do not make baldness on their head, and the corner of their beard they do not shave, and in their flesh they do not make a cutting; Smith's Literal Translation With baldness, they shall not make baldness upon their head, and they shall not shave the extremity of their beard: and in their flesh they shall not cut incisions. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleNeither shall they shave their head, nor their beard, nor make incisions in their flesh. Catholic Public Domain Version Neither shall they shave their head or their beard, and they shall not make incisions in their flesh. New American Bible The priests shall not make bald the crown of their head, nor shave the edges of their beard, nor lacerate their body. New Revised Standard Version They shall not make bald spots upon their heads, or shave off the edges of their beards, or make any gashes in their flesh. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThey shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And they certainly shall not shave their heads or they shall not shave the mustache of their beards, and they shall not cut cuttings in their flesh. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corners of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh. Brenton Septuagint Translation And ye shall not shave your head for the dead with a baldness on the top; and they shall not shave their beard, neither shall they make gashes on their flesh. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Holiness Required of Priests…4He is not to defile himself for those related to him by marriage, and so profane himself. 5Priests must not make bald spots on their heads, shave off the edges of their beards, or make cuts in their bodies. 6They must be holy to their God and not profane the name of their God. Because they present to the LORD the offerings made by fire, the food of their God, they must be holy.… Cross References Deuteronomy 14:1 You are sons of the LORD your God; do not cut yourselves or shave your foreheads on behalf of the dead, Ezekiel 44:20 They must not shave their heads or let their hair grow long, but must carefully trim their hair. Jeremiah 16:6 “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. Isaiah 15:2 Dibon goes up to its temple to weep at its high places. Moab wails over Nebo, as well as over Medeba. Every head is shaved, every beard is cut off. Amos 8:10 I will turn your feasts into mourning and all your songs into lamentation. I will cause everyone to wear sackcloth and every head to be shaved. I will make it like a time of mourning for an only son, and its outcome like a bitter day. 1 Kings 18:28 So they shouted louder and cut themselves with knives and lances, as was their custom, until the blood gushed over them. Jeremiah 41:5 eighty men who had shaved off their beards, torn their garments, and cut themselves came from Shechem, Shiloh, and Samaria, carrying grain offerings and frankincense for the house of the LORD. Micah 1:16 Shave yourselves bald and cut off your hair in mourning for your precious children; make yourselves as bald as an eagle, for they will go from you into exile. 1 Corinthians 11:14 Doesn’t nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, 1 Thessalonians 4:13 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. Matthew 6:17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. 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. 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. 2 Corinthians 6:17 “Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” Treasury of Scripture They shall not make baldness on their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh. Leviticus 19:27 Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard. Leviticus 10:6 And Moses said unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons, Uncover not your heads, neither rend your clothes; lest ye die, and lest wrath come upon all the people: but let your brethren, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning which the LORD hath kindled. Leviticus 19:27,28 Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard… Deuteronomy 14:1 Ye are the children of the LORD your God: ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead. Jump to Previous Baldness Beard Beards Bodies Chins Corner Corners Cut Cuts Cutting Cuttings Dead Edges Flesh Hair Head Heads Priests Shave ShortJump to Next Baldness Beard Beards Bodies Chins Corner Corners Cut Cuts Cutting Cuttings Dead Edges Flesh Hair Head Heads Priests Shave ShortLeviticus 21 1. Of the priests' mourning6. 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 Priests must not make bald spots on their heads This command is part of the holiness code for priests, emphasizing their distinctiveness and separation from pagan practices. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, shaving the head was often associated with mourning rituals or pagan worship. By prohibiting this, God was ensuring that the priests maintained a distinct identity, set apart for His service. This separation underscores the call for holiness, as seen in Leviticus 19:2, where the Israelites are instructed to be holy because God is holy. shave off the edges of their beards or make cuts in their bodies Persons / Places / Events 1. PriestsThe primary focus of Leviticus 21:5 is on the priests, who were set apart for service in the tabernacle and later the temple. They were required to maintain a higher standard of holiness and purity. 2. Israel The nation to whom the laws of Leviticus were given. Israel was called to be a holy nation, distinct from the surrounding peoples. 3. Moses The prophet and leader through whom God delivered the laws of Leviticus to the Israelites. 4. Tabernacle The portable sanctuary where the priests performed their duties and where God's presence dwelled among the Israelites. 5. God The ultimate authority who established the laws and standards for His people, emphasizing His holiness and the need for His people to reflect that holiness. Teaching Points Holiness in AppearanceThe command in Leviticus 21:5 for priests not to shave their heads, trim the edges of their beards, or make cuts in their bodies was a call to maintain a distinct appearance that reflected their holy status. This teaches us that our outward appearance can be a reflection of our inward commitment to God. Cultural Distinctiveness The Israelites were called to be distinct from the surrounding nations. As Christians, we are also called to live in a way that sets us apart from the world, reflecting God's holiness in our actions and choices. Respect for God's Standards The specific instructions given to the priests highlight the importance of respecting and adhering to God's standards. This principle applies to all believers, as we are called to live according to God's Word. Symbolism of Purity The physical purity required of the priests symbolizes the spiritual purity that God desires from His people. We are called to pursue purity in our thoughts, words, and deeds.(5) Make baldness upon their head.--The natural expression of grief, however, which the priests were to manifest for the above-named departed relations, was not to show itself in the practices which disfigure their bodily appearance, and which obtained among other nations of antiquity in connection with funeral ceremonies. Thus, in the graphic description of the idolatrous priests mourning, we are told "the priests sit in their temples, having their clothes rent, and their heads and beards shaven, and nothing upon their heads." (Bar 6:31.) The three things here prohibited to the priests are also forbidden to the people at large under other circumstances. (See Leviticus 19:27-28; Deuteronomy 14:1.) The ordinary Israelites, however, indulged in the same practices. (See Jeremiah 16:6; Ezekiel 7:18; Amos 8:10.) . . . Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Priests must notלֹֽא־ (lō-) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no make bald יִקְרְח֤וּ (yiq·rə·ḥū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 7139: To make bald spots on their heads, בְּרֹאשָׁ֔ם (bə·rō·šām) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 7218: The head shave off the edges וּפְאַ֥ת (ū·p̄ə·’aṯ) Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 6285: Mouth, direction, region, extremity of their beards, זְקָנָ֖ם (zə·qā·nām) Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 2206: Beard, chin or make יִשְׂרְט֖וּ (yiś·rə·ṭū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 8295: To incise, scratch cuts שָׂרָֽטֶת׃ (śā·rā·ṭeṯ) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 8296: An incision in their bodies. וּבִ֨בְשָׂרָ֔ם (ū·ḇiḇ·śā·rām) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 1320: Flesh, body, person, the pudenda of a, man Links Leviticus 21:5 NIVLeviticus 21:5 NLT Leviticus 21:5 ESV Leviticus 21:5 NASB Leviticus 21:5 KJV Leviticus 21:5 BibleApps.com Leviticus 21:5 Biblia Paralela Leviticus 21:5 Chinese Bible Leviticus 21:5 French Bible Leviticus 21:5 Catholic Bible OT Law: Leviticus 21:5 They shall not shave their heads neither (Le Lv Lev.) |
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