Leviticus 22:4

Translations

Modern

If a descendant of Aaron has a skin disease or a discharge, he may not eat the sacred offerings until he is clean. Whoever touches anything defiled by a corpse or by a man who has an emission of semen,

Traditional

What man soever of the seed of Aaron is a leper, or hath a running issue; he shall not eat of the holy things, until he be clean. And whoso toucheth any thing that is unclean by the dead, or a man whose seed goeth from him;

Literal

Any man of the seed of Aaron and who is a leper or has a discharge—the holy offerings he shall not eat until that he is clean; and whoever touches anything made unclean by a corpse or a man from whom a laying of seed goes out,

Latin

Homo de semine Aaron, qui fuerit leprosus, aut patiens fluxum seminis, non vescetur de his quæ sanctificata sunt mihi, donec sanetur. Qui tetigerit immundum super mortuo, et ex quo egreditur semen quasi coitus,

Original

Hebrew

English

If a descendant of Aaron has a skin disease or a discharge, he may not eat the sacred offerings until he is clean. Whoever touches anything defiled by a corpse or by a man who has an emission of semen,

Notes

Leviticus 22:2–6

They considered the priest's portions of the sacred offerings "most holy" (see Leviticus 2:3). He had to avoid contact with anything ceremonially unclean (11:1–15:33). So, any descendant of Aaron who was unclean could not eat this food.

Leviticus 21:1–22:33

This section, which discusses priestly rules, six times repeats the phrase I am the Lord who sanctifies (Leviticus 21:15, 23; 22:9, 16, 32; see also 21:8). These words emphasize the link between God's holiness and the holiness expected of priests. This extended to all of Israel (see 8:10; 11:44–45; 19:2). The text specifically addresses priests in 21:1–22:16, while including both clergy and common people in 22:17–33.

Theme notes and profiles

Ancient Law Codes Clean, Unclean, and Holy

Related verses

Leviticus 11:39
If an animal that you may eat dies, anyone who touches the carcass will be unclean until evening.
Leviticus 15:2–3
“Say to the Israelites, ‘When any man has a bodily discharge, the discharge is unclean.
Leviticus 15:13–16
When the man has been cleansed from his discharge, he must count off seven days for his cleansing, wash his clothes, and bathe himself in fresh water, and he shall be clean.
Leviticus 6:25–29
“Tell Aaron and his sons that this is the law of the sin offering: In the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered, the sin offering shall be slaughtered before the LORD; it is most holy.
Numbers 18:9
A portion of the most holy offerings reserved from the fire will be yours. From all the offerings they render to Me as most holy offerings, whether grain offerings or sin offerings or guilt offerings, that part belongs to you and your sons.
Numbers 18:19
All the holy offerings that the Israelites present to the LORD I give to you and to your sons and daughters as a permanent statute. It is a permanent covenant of salt before the LORD for you and your offspring.”
Leviticus 14:1–32
Then the LORD said to Moses,
Numbers 19:11–16
Whoever touches any dead body will be unclean for seven days.
Leviticus 21:1
Then 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,
Leviticus 13:44–46
…the man is diseased; he is unclean. The priest must pronounce him unclean because of the infection on his head.
Leviticus 2:10
But the remainder of the grain offering shall belong to Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the food offerings to the LORD.
Leviticus 21:22
He may eat the most holy food of his God as well as the holy food,

People

Aaron: Moses' brother, first high priest of Israel

Glossary

Biblical Concept of Law Deuteronomy, Book of Haggai, Book of History of Israel Leviticus, Book of

Topics

Defilement: Caused by Gonorrhea Defilement: Caused by Leprosy Defilement: Laws Relating To Disease of the Sexual Organs Leprosy: Law Concerning Leprosy: Those Afflicted With: Excluded from Priest's office Priests: Special Laws Respecting: While Unclean Could not Eat of the Holy Things Purifications or Baptisms of Individuals Who Were Ceremonially Unclean Sanitation: Carcasses Sanitation: Contagion Sanitation: Venereal Diseases Uncleanness: (Ceremonially Speaking)

Leviticus 22:4

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