And he shall take a wife in her virginity.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Leviticus 21:13
What does Leviticus 21:13 mean?
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Leviticus 21:13
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This verse isn't just about the high priest's wife being pure; the Hebrew word used emphasizes her "separated state," signifying she was set apart and untouched, a purity meant to reflect the ideal union of Christ and His church. This highlights a deeper, symbolic meaning of holiness, not just physical cleanliness.
And he shall take a wife in her virginity.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage addresses specific regulations for the High Priest, who served as a unique representative of God to the people and a foreshadowing of Christ. Following rules about his uncleanness and mourning, the text now turns to his marriage, emphasizing that he must marry a virgin to maintain the sanctity of his sacred office and his role as a symbol of Christ espousing a pure church.
Did you know that the rules for the High Priest's marriage were meant to point beyond themselves? This wasn't just about rules, but about a picture.
The requirement for the High Priest to marry a virgin wasn't just about societal norms or personal purity. It was deeply symbolic.
A Heavenly Picture:
Think of the High Priest as a stand-in, a type, for Jesus Christ Himself. His wife, in this context, represented the Church. The Scripture calls the Church a 'chaste virgin' espoused to Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2, Revelation 14:4).
Reflecting God's Design:
This imagery highlights the pure and devoted relationship God intends between Christ and His people. The purity of the bride mirrors the holiness required of all who belong to Christ. It’s a beautiful reminder that our relationship with God is meant to be one of exclusivity and faithfulness.
Why did the High Priest have stricter rules than other priests? What does this teach us about leadership and holiness?
Leviticus lays out specific, elevated standards for the High Priest, especially concerning his marriage. While other priests had regulations, the High Priest's role demanded an even greater degree of separation and purity.
A Higher Calling:
This wasn't about favoritism, but about the unique, mediatorial role of the High Priest. He stood closest to God in the Most Holy Place, representing the entire nation. Therefore, his life, including his marital choice, needed to reflect that proximity to God's holiness.
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Assurance of Purity:
The command to marry a virgin served as a safeguard, ensuring no question of prior defilement could mar his public standing or the sanctity of his office. It underscored the seriousness of his sacred duties and the need for absolute integrity.
Understand the original words
betulim · Hebrew Noun
Specifically one who has not had sexual relations. In the context of priestly marriage laws, it signifies a standard of absolute purity and exclusivity for the lineage of the high priest.
This passage directly calls the church a 'virgin' espoused to Christ, echoing the symbolic connection between the High Priest's virgin bride and Christ's pure church.
Revelation 14:4These are 'those who followed the Lamb wherever he went' and are described as 'virgins' who had not defiled themselves, reinforcing the purity and singularity associated with the virgin bride imagery.
1 Timothy 3:2This New Testament instruction for church leaders to be the 'husband of one wife' parallels the idea of singular commitment and purity, highlighting how spiritual leadership requires focused devotion.
Song of Solomon 4:7The lover declares, 'You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you,' which speaks to a perfect, unblemished beauty akin to the purity required for the High Priest's wife, symbolizing Christ's view of His church.
clarkeLeviticus 21:13: "And he shall take a wife in her virginity."
He shall take a wife in her virginity - בתוליה bethuleyha. This is a full proof that בתולה bethulah is the proper Hebrew term for a virgin; from the emphatic root בתל bathal, to separate; because such a person was in her separate state, and had never been in any way united to man.
pooleLeviticus 21:13: "And he shall take a wife in her virginity."
Or, a virgin, partly for the decency of the type, because as he was a type of Christ, so his wife was a type of the church, which is compared to a virgin, 2 Corinthians 11:2 Revelation 14:4 ; and partly for greater caution and assurance that his wife was not a defiled or defloured person. This and the following rule belong not to all the priests, for then this were a gross tautology, these same things, or most of them, being expressl…
This verse isn't just about the high priest's wife being pure; the Hebrew word used emphasizes her "separated state," signifying she was set apart and untouched, a purity meant to reflect the ideal union of Christ and His church. This highlights a deeper, symbolic meaning of holiness, not just physical cleanliness.
This passage addresses specific regulations for the High Priest, who served as a unique representative of God to the people and a foreshadowing of Christ. Following rules about his uncleanness and mourning, the text now turns to his marriage, emphasizing that he must marry a virgin to maintain the sanctity of his sacred office and his role as a symbol of Christ espousing a pure church.
This passage addresses specific regulations for the High Priest, who served as a unique representative of God to the people and a foreshadowing of Christ. Following rules about his uncleanness and mourning, the text now turns to his marriage, emphasizing that he must marry a virgin to maintain the sanctity of his sacred office and his role as a symbol of Christ espousing a pure church.
"And he shall take a wife in her virginity." — This verse isn't just about the high priest's wife being pure; the Hebrew word used emphasizes her "separated state," signifying she was set apart and untouched, a purity meant to reflect the ideal u…
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Last reviewed October 2026