Leviticus 21 וַיִּקְרָא פרק כ״א

Masoretic Text, word by word with transliteration and English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Leviticus 21 in the interlinear reader for roots and notes, or listen to it read aloud in Hebrew.

1. 1

   וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDאֶל־מֹשֶׁהel-Mo/SHEto Mosesאֱמֹרe/MORsayאֶל־הַכֹּהֲנִיםel-hak/ko/ha/NIMto the priestsבְּנֵיbe/NEthe sons ofאַהֲרֹןA/ha/RONAaronוְאָמַרְתָּve/a/mar/TAand sayאֲלֵהֶםa/le/HEMto themלְנֶפֶשׁle/NE/feshfor the deadלֹא־יִטַּמָּאlo-yit/tam/MAhe shall not defile himselfבְּעַמָּיו׃be/am/MAYVamong his people

   And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto the priests the sons of Aaron, and say unto them, There shall none be defiled for the dead among his people:

2. 2

   כִּיkibutאִם־לִשְׁאֵרוֹim-lish/e/ROexcept for his kinהַקָּרֹבhak/ka/ROVwho is nearאֵלָיוe/LAYVto himלְאִמּוֹle/im/MOfor his motherוּלְאָבִיוu/le/a/VIVand to his fatherוְלִבְנוֹve/liv/NOand for his sonוּלְבִתּוֹu/le/vit/TOand for his daughterוּלְאָחִיו׃u/le/a/CHIVand for his brother

   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,

3. 3

   וְלַאֲחֹתוֹve/la/a/cho/TOand for his sisterהַבְּתוּלָהhab/be/tu/LAa virginהַקְּרוֹבָהhak/ke/ro/VAwho is nearאֵלָיוe/LAYVto himאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhoלֹא־הָיְתָהlo-ha/ye/TAhas not beenלְאִישׁle/ISHa man'sלָהּlafor herיִטַּמָּא׃yit/tam/MAhe may defile himself

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

4. 4

   לֹאlonotיִטַּמָּאyit/tam/MAhe shall defile himselfבַּעַלBA/albeing a chief manבְּעַמָּיוbe/am/MAYVamong his peopleלְהֵחַלּוֹ׃le/HE/chal/loto profane himself

   But he shall not defile himself, being a chief man among his people, to profane himself.

5. 5

   לֹא־[יִקְרְחוּ]lo-yik/re/CHUthey shall not make baldקׇרְחָהkor/CHAbaldבְּרֹאשָׁםbe/ro/SHAMupon their headוּפְאַתu/fe/ATand the corner ofזְקָנָםze/ka/NAMtheir beardלֹאlonotיְגַלֵּחוּye/gal/LE/chuthey shall shave offוּבִבְשָׂרָםu/viv/sa/RAMand in their fleshלֹאlonotיִשְׂרְטוּyis/re/TUthey shall makeשָׂרָטֶת׃sa/RA/tetcuttings

   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.

6. 6

   קְדֹשִׁיםke/do/SHIMholyיִהְיוּyih/YUthey shall beלֵאלֹהֵיהֶםle/lo/he/HEMto their Godוְלֹאve/LOand notיְחַלְּלוּye/chal/le/LUprofaneשֵׁםshemthe name ofאֱלֹהֵיהֶםe/lo/he/HEMtheir Godכִּיkiforאֶת־אִשֵּׁיet-ish/SHEthe offerings by fire ofיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDלֶחֶםLE/chemthe bread ofאֱלֹהֵיהֶםe/lo/he/HEMtheir Godהֵםhemtheyמַקְרִיבִםmak/ri/VIMdo offerוְהָיוּve/ha/YUtherefore they shall beקֹדֶשׁ׃KO/deshholy

   They shall be holy unto their God, and not profane the name of their God: for the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and the bread of their God, they do offer: therefore they shall be holy.

7. 7

   אִשָּׁהish/SHAa womanזֹנָהzo/NAa harlotוַחֲלָלָהva/cha/la/LAor profanedלֹאlonotיִקָּחוּyik/KA/chushall they takeוְאִשָּׁהve/ish/SHAand a womanגְּרוּשָׁהge/ru/SHAput awayמֵאִישָׁהּme/i/SHAfrom her husbandלֹאlonotיִקָּחוּyik/KA/chushall they takeכִּי־קָדֹשׁki-ka/DOSHfor holyהוּאhuhe isלֵאלֹהָיו׃le/lo/HAYVto his God

   They shall not take a wife that is a whore, or profane; neither shall they take a woman put away from her husband: for he is holy unto his God.

8. 8

   וְקִדַּשְׁתּוֹve/kid/dash/TOyou shall therefore sanctify himכִּי־אֶת־לֶחֶםki-et-LE/chemfor the bread ofאֱלֹהֶיךָe/lo/HE/khayour Godהוּאhuheמַקְרִיבmak/RIVoffersקָדֹשׁka/DOSHholyיִהְיֶה־לָּךְyih/YE-lakhhe shall be to youכִּיkiforקָדוֹשׁka/DOSHholyאֲנִיa/NIam IיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDמְקַדִּשְׁכֶם׃me/kad/dish/KHEMwho sanctifies you

   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.

9. 9

   וּבַתu/VATand the daughter ofאִישׁisha manכֹּהֵןko/HENa priestכִּיkiifתֵחֵלte/CHELprofanes herselfלִזְנוֹתliz/NOTby playing the harlotאֶת־אָבִיהָet-a/VI/haher fatherהִיאhisheמְחַלֶּלֶתme/chal/LE/letprofanesבָּאֵשׁba/ESHwith fireתִּשָּׂרֵף׃tis/sa/REFshe shall be burned

   And the daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the whore, she profaneth her father: she shall be burnt with fire.

10. 10

    וְהַכֹּהֵןve/hak/ko/HENand the priestהַגָּדוֹלhag/ga/DOLhighמֵאֶחָיוme/e/CHAYVamong his brethrenאֲשֶׁר־יוּצַקa/SHER-yu/TSAKon whom was pouredעַל־רֹאשׁוֹal-ro/SHOupon his headשֶׁמֶןSHE/menthe oil ofהַמִּשְׁחָהham/mish/CHAanointingוּמִלֵּאu/mil/LEand has filledאֶת־יָדוֹet-ya/DOhis handלִלְבֹּשׁlil/BOSHto put onאֶת־הַבְּגָדִיםet-hab/be/ga/DIMthe garmentsאֶת־רֹאשׁוֹet-ro/SHOhis headלֹאlonotיִפְרָעyif/RAhe shall let looseוּבְגָדָיוu/ve/ga/DAYVand his garmentsלֹאlonotיִפְרֹם׃yif/ROMhe shall tear

    And he that is the high priest among his brethren, upon whose head the anointing oil was poured, and that is consecrated to put on the garments, shall not uncover his head, nor rend his clothes;

11. 11

    וְעַלve/ALnorכׇּל־נַפְשֹׁתkol-naf/SHOTany bodies ofמֵתmetthe deadלֹאlonotיָבֹאya/VOshall he go inלְאָבִיוle/a/VIVfor his fatherוּלְאִמּוֹu/le/im/MOor for his motherלֹאlonotיִטַּמָּא׃yit/tam/MAshall he defile himself

    Neither shall he go in to any dead body, nor defile himself for his father, or for his mother;

12. 12

    וּמִן־הַמִּקְדָּשׁu/MIN-ham/mik/DASHand out of the sanctuaryלֹאlonotיֵצֵאye/TSEshall he goוְלֹאve/LOnorיְחַלֵּלye/chal/LELprofaneאֵת־מִקְדַּשׁet-mik/DASHthe sanctuary ofאֱלֹהָיוe/lo/HAYVhis GodכִּיkiforנֵזֶרNE/zerthe crown ofשֶׁמֶןSHE/menthe oil ofמִשְׁחַתmish/CHATthe anointing ofאֱלֹהָיוe/lo/HAYVhis Godעָלָיוa/LAYVis upon himאֲנִיa/NII amיְהֹוָה׃Adonaithe LORD

    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.

13. 13

    וְהוּאve/HUand heאִשָּׁהish/SHAa wifeבִבְתוּלֶיהָviv/tu/LE/hain her virginityיִקָּח׃yik/KACHshall take

    And he shall take a wife in her virginity.

14. 14

    אַלְמָנָהal/ma/NAa widowוּגְרוּשָׁהu/ge/ru/SHAor a divorced womanוַחֲלָלָהva/cha/la/LAor profanedזֹנָהzo/NAa harlotאֶת־אֵלֶּהet-EL/letheseלֹאlonotיִקָּחyik/KACHshall he takeכִּיkibutאִם־בְּתוּלָהim-be/tu/LAonly a virginמֵעַמָּיוme/am/MAYVof his own peopleיִקַּחyik/KACHhe shall takeאִשָּׁה׃ish/SHAas a wife

    A widow, or a divorced woman, or profane, or an harlot, these shall he not take: but he shall take a virgin of his own people to wife.

15. 15

    וְלֹא־יְחַלֵּלve/LO-ye/chal/LELand he shall not profaneזַרְעוֹzar/Ohis offspringבְּעַמָּיוbe/am/MAYVamong his peopleכִּיkiforאֲנִיa/NII amיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDמְקַדְּשׁוֹ׃me/kad/de/SHOwho sanctifies him

    Neither shall he profane his seed among his people: for I the LORD do sanctify him.

16. 16

    וַיְדַבֵּרvay/dab/BERand spokeיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDאֶל־מֹשֶׁהel-Mo/SHEto Mosesלֵּאמֹר׃le/MORsaying

    And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

17. 17

    דַּבֵּרdab/BERspeakאֶל־אַהֲרֹןel-A/ha/RONto Aaronלֵאמֹרle/MORsayingאִישׁisha manמִזַּרְעֲךָmiz/zar/a/KHAof your offspringלְדֹרֹתָםle/do/ro/TAMfor their generationsאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhoיִהְיֶהyih/YEisבוֹvoin himמוּםmuma blemishלֹאlonotיִקְרַבyik/RAVshall approachלְהַקְרִיבle/hak/RIVto offerלֶחֶםLE/chemthe bread ofאֱלֹהָיו׃e/lo/HAYVhis God

    Speak unto Aaron, saying, Whosoever he be of thy seed in their generations that hath any blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God.

18. 18

    כִּיkiforכׇל־אִישׁkhol-ishany manאֲשֶׁר־בּוֹa/SHER-boin whom isמוּםmuma blemishלֹאlonotיִקְרָבyik/RAVshall approachאִישׁisha manעִוֵּרiv/VERblindאוֹoorפִסֵּחַfis/SE/achlameאוֹoorחָרֻםcha/RUMhaving a slit noseאוֹoorשָׂרוּעַ׃sa/RU/awith a limb too long

    For whatsoever man he be that hath a blemish, he shall not approach: a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or any thing superfluous,

19. 19

    אוֹoorאִישׁisha manאֲשֶׁר־יִהְיֶהa/SHER-yih/YEwho hasבוֹvoin himשֶׁבֶרSHE/vera fracture ofרָגֶלRA/gela footאוֹoorשֶׁבֶרSHE/vera fracture ofיָד׃yada hand

    Or a man that is brokenfooted, or brokenhanded,

20. 20

    אוֹ־גִבֵּןo-gib/BENor a hunchbackאוֹ־דַקo-dakor a dwarfאוֹoorתְּבַלֻּלte/val/LULa blemishבְּעֵינוֹbe/e/NOin his eyeאוֹoorגָרָבga/RAVeczemaאוֹoorיַלֶּפֶתyal/LE/fetscabsאוֹoorמְרוֹחַme/RO/achcrushedאָשֶׁךְ׃A/shekhtesticles

    Or crookbackt, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken;

21. 21

    כׇּל־אִישׁkol-ishevery manאֲשֶׁר־בּוֹa/SHER-boin whom isמוּםmuma blemishמִזֶּרַעmiz/ZE/raof the offspring ofאַהֲרֹןA/ha/RONAaronהַכֹּהֵןhak/ko/HENthe priestלֹאlonotיִגַּשׁyig/GASHshall come nearלְהַקְרִיבle/hak/RIVto offerאֶת־אִשֵּׁיet-ish/SHEthe offerings by fire ofיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDמוּםmuma blemishבּוֹbois in himאֵת־לֶחֶםet-LE/chemthe bread ofאֱלֹהָיוe/lo/HAYVhis Godלֹאlonotיִגַּשׁyig/GASHshall come nearלְהַקְרִיב׃le/hak/RIVto offer

    No man that hath a blemish of the seed of Aaron the priest shall come nigh to offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire: he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God.

22. 22

    לֶחֶםLE/chemthe bread ofאֱלֹהָיוe/lo/HAYVhis Godמִקׇּדְשֵׁיmik/kod/SHEof the holy ofהַקֳּדָשִׁיםhak/ko/da/SHIMholiesוּמִן־הַקֳּדָשִׁיםu/MIN-hak/ko/da/SHIMand of the holy thingsיֹאכֵל׃yo/KHELhe may eat

    He shall eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy, and of the holy.

23. 23

    אַךְakhbutאֶל־הַפָּרֹכֶתel-hap/pa/RO/khetto the veilלֹאlonotיָבֹאya/VOshall he go inוְאֶל־הַמִּזְבֵּחַve/EL-ham/miz/BE/achnor to the altarלֹאlonotיִגַּשׁyig/GASHcome nearכִּי־מוּםki-mumbecause a blemishבּוֹbois in himוְלֹאve/LOthat notיְחַלֵּלye/chal/LELhe profaneאֶת־מִקְדָּשַׁיet-mik/da/SHAYmy sanctuariesכִּיkibecauseאֲנִיa/NII amיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDמְקַדְּשָׁם׃me/kad/de/SHAMwho sanctifies them

    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.

24. 24

    וַיְדַבֵּרvay/dab/BERand spokeמֹשֶׁהMo/SHEMosesאֶל־אַהֲרֹןel-A/ha/RONto Aaronוְאֶל־בָּנָיוve/EL-ba/NAYVand his sonsוְאֶל־כׇּל־בְּנֵיve/EL-kol-be/NEand to all the children ofיִשְׂרָאֵל׃Yis/ra/ELIsrael

    And Moses told it unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel.