Leviticus 21:13
And he shall take a wife in her virginity.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Leviticus 21:13
And he shall take a wife in her virginity.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The emphasis isn't just on the high priest taking a virgin, but on her being in a state of "separation" – a word rooted in the Hebrew term for virgin. This highlights that his wife was meant to represent the purity and undivided devotion of the church to Christ.
This rule for the high priest comes immediately after instructions about his purity and prohibitions against mourning for his relatives. It builds on the theme of his separation and holiness, emphasizing that his marital choice must also reflect this elevated status. Following this, the text addresses his marriage to a widow and his marriage to a woman who had been defiled, further detailing the specific requirements for his wife.
Why would God set such specific rules for the High Priest's marriage? It wasn't just about personal preference; it was deeply symbolic.
This verse, Leviticus 21:13, is a specific instruction for the High Priest, not all priests. While common priests had certain restrictions, the High Priest faced even stricter requirements regarding his wife.
A Higher Standard
The text emphasizes that his wife must be a virgin. This wasn't merely about social decency; it was about maintaining an unbroken representation of holiness. The High Priest, as the chief mediator between God and Israel, had to embody and officiate in a manner that reflected God's own purity. Any compromise in his household could symbolically taint his service.
Why Virginity?
Scholars point out that the term used emphasizes a state of separation and untouched purity. It ensured, as much as possible, that his wife had no prior entanglements, thus presenting a clear, uncompromised union. This was crucial for the symbolic meaning of his marriage.
The Old Testament is rich with pictures pointing forward to Jesus. What does this marriage regulation foreshadow?
The union of the High Priest and his virgin wife served as a profound symbol, pointing towards the relationship between Christ and His church.
Christ's Pure Bride
The High Priest was a 'type,' or earthly representation, of Jesus Christ. His wife, in her virginity, symbolized the Church. The Church is called to be espoused to Christ as a 'chaste virgin' (2 Corinthians 11:2), reflecting Christ's own perfect holiness and His unblemished dedication to His people.
Unblemished Union
Just as the High Priest's marriage was meant to be pure and set apart, so Christ's relationship with the Church is one of perfect love and commitment, free from any stain of sin. This symbol underscores the sacred, exclusive, and pure nature of the covenant God establishes with His people through Jesus.
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 parallels the concept of the church being espoused to Christ as a chaste virgin, highlighting the symbolic meaning of the High Priest's virgin bride as a representation of the pure church.
Revelation 14:4This verse further emphasizes the imagery of virgins following the Lamb, reinforcing the symbolic connection between purity and divine devotion, mirroring the requirement for the High Priest's wife.
1 Timothy 3:2Paul's instruction that a bishop must be the husband of one wife echoes the principle of singular commitment, similar to the High Priest's specific marital requirements and his symbolic representation of Christ.
Matthew 1:18-19The account of Joseph's decision not to disgrace Mary, who was found to be pregnant before they came together, underscores the value placed on purity and virginity in significant divine contexts.
Song of Solomon 4:7This poetic declaration that one is 'altogether beautiful' and has 'no flaw' speaks to an ideal of complete purity and perfection, mirroring the standard set for the High Priest's wife as a symbol of unspoiled devotion.
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…
The emphasis isn't just on the high priest taking a virgin, but on her being in a state of "separation" – a word rooted in the Hebrew term for virgin. This highlights that his wife was meant to represent the purity and undivided devotion of the church to Christ.
This rule for the high priest comes immediately after instructions about his purity and prohibitions against mourning for his relatives. It builds on the theme of his separation and holiness, emphasizing that his marital choice must also reflect this elevated status. Following this, the text addresses his marriage to a widow and his marriage to a woman who had been defiled, further detailing the specific requirements for his wife.
This rule for the high priest comes immediately after instructions about his purity and prohibitions against mourning for his relatives. It builds on the theme of his separation and holiness, emphasizing that his marital choice must also reflect this elevated status. Following this, the text addresses his marriage to a widow and his marriage to a woman who had been defiled, further detailing the specific requirements for his wife.
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"And he shall take a wife in her virginity." — The emphasis isn't just on the high priest taking a virgin, but on her being in a state of "separation" – a word rooted in the Hebrew term for virgin. This highlights that his wife was meant to repre…