Breakdown of Leviticus 21:6-8

"They shall be holy to their God and not profane the name of their God. For they offer the LORD’s food offerings, the bread of their God; therefore they shall be holy. They shall not marry a prostitute or a woman who has been defiled, neith…" — The verse emphasizes that the priests must remain holy not just because they offer God's sacrifices, but because they offer "the bread of their God." This highlights that these offerings were consi…

Leviticus 21:6-8 Meaning Explained

All verses

Leviticus 21:6-8

They shall be holy to their God and not profane the name of their God. For they offer the LORD’s food offerings, the bread of their God; therefore they shall be holy. They shall not marry a prostitute or a woman who has been defiled, neither shall they marry a woman divorced from her husband, for the priest is holy to his God. You shall sanctify him, for he offers the bread of your God. He shall be holy to you, for I, the LORD, who sanctify you, am holy.

English Standard Version (ESV)

The verse emphasizes that the priests must remain holy not just because they offer God's sacrifices, but because they offer "the bread of their God." This highlights that these offerings were considered God's very sustenance, and therefore, those handling them were to be exceptionally set apart and pure.

What Leviticus 21:6-8 means

This passage is part of a larger section outlining strict holiness requirements specifically for priests, who are God's appointed servants. Just before this, the text discusses how priests must not defile themselves for the dead, emphasizing their unique calling. This verse explains why they must maintain such purity: because they are the ones presenting all the sacrifices and offerings to God, representing Him to the people and the people to Him.

Holy Unto God: A Sacred Calling

The priests in Leviticus were set apart for God's work, a concept that echoes in our lives today. What does it truly mean to be 'holy' in God's eyes?

The verse emphasizes that priests must be 'holy unto their God.' This isn't about achieving some unattainable perfection, but about a state of being dedicated and set apart for divine service.

Sacred Devotion

Being holy means being devoted entirely to God. It’s a commitment to prioritize His will and His work above all else. This required the priests to maintain a level of ceremonial and moral purity so they could approach God on behalf of the people.

Preparation for Service

Holiness also means being fit for service. Just as a craftsman keeps his tools sharp and clean, priests had to keep themselves free from defilement that would disqualify them from handling sacred duties. This prepared them to handle the 'offerings of the LORD made by fire' and the 'bread of their God.'

Don't Profane God's Name: The Weight of Witness

The priests bore a heavy responsibility: their actions could either honor or dishonor God. Learn why their conduct directly impacted God's reputation.

The command 'and not profane the name of their God' is a serious warning. In the ancient world, and still today, the actions of those who represent God carry immense weight.

God's Reputation on Display

The priests were God's representatives. When they acted in ways that were impure or inconsistent with God's commands, it wasn't just a personal failing; it was seen as a public disgrace to God Himself. The people would see their ministers acting impurely and think less of the God they served.

Living a Life of Integrity

This principle extends to all believers, who are called a 'kingdom of priests' (1 Peter 2:9). Our lives are a testimony. When we live according to God's ways, we bring honor to His name. When we fall into sin, especially in ways that contradict our faith, we risk making God's name seem less significant or less worthy of reverence to those around us.

Understand the original words

Original language

holyקָדוֹשׁ

qadosh · Hebrew Adjective

To be set apart, consecrated, or dedicated specifically to God's service, distinct from the common or profane. It implies a state of moral purity and ceremonial separation.

profaneחָלַל

chalal · Hebrew Verb

To treat something sacred with common, disrespectful, or impure behavior. In a religious context, it involves violating the holiness of God’s name or His consecrated things.

LORDיְהוָה

YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun

The proper name of the God of Israel, the self-existent, covenant-keeping Creator who revealed Himself to Moses. It signifies God's personal and faithful relationship with His people.

defiledחָלַל

chalal · Hebrew Adjective

A state of ritual impurity or moral corruption that disqualifies someone or something from being in the presence of a holy God. It can result from physical acts, ceremonial neglect, or moral sin.

Historical context

Written: Likely during the Exodus wanderings, around 1440-1400 BC
Author: Traditionally Moses, though scholarly consensus suggests authorship by various Levitical priests and scribes
Location: Written from the plains of Moab, while the Israelites journeyed through the wilderness
Genre: Instructional Law (part of the Torah), featuring direct commands and explanations of sacred duties

Key themes

01Priestly consecration
02God's name honored
03Sacred offerings
04Holiness demanded

Cross-references

Malachi 2:5-6

This passage echoes Leviticus 21:6 by highlighting the priests' role in upholding God's covenant and imparting true teaching, emphasizing that their faithfulness, or lack thereof, directly reflects on God's name.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Just as ancient priests were called to be holy because they offered sacrifices to God, Paul tells believers that their bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and should be used to glorify God, not profane His name through sin.

1 Peter 2:9

This verse describes believers as a 'royal priesthood' chosen to declare God's praises, a concept that parallels the Levitical priests' sacred duty to be holy and not profane God's name as they offered His 'food' and 'bread'.

Exodus 28:36-38

The inscription 'Holiness to the LORD' on the high priest's turban in Exodus mirrors the core command in Leviticus 21:6 for priests to be holy and not profane God’s name, signifying that their very being and service were dedicated to God.

Scholarly commentary

Leviticus 21:6: "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."

Holy unto their God; devoted to God’s service, and always prepared and fit for it; and therefore shall keep themselves as far as they can from all defilement, which makes them unmeet for their Master’s use. Not profane the name of their God, which they especially bear; they shall not dispa…
poole

Leviticus 21:6: "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."

They shall be holy unto their God,.... Sacred to his service, and wholly given up to it, and not interest themselves in things which hindered from it, or made them unfit for it; and such care becomes the ministers of the word, who should give up themselves to it, and not entangle themselve…
gill

Frequently asked questions

What does Leviticus 21:6-8 mean?

Explain the meaning of Leviticus 21:6-8

What is the context of Leviticus 21:6-8?

This passage is part of a larger section outlining strict holiness requirements specifically for priests, who are God's appointed servants. Just before this, the text discusses how priests must not defile themselves for the dead, emphasizing their unique calling. This verse explains they must maintain such purity: because they are the ones presenting all the sacrifices and offerings to God, representing Him to the people and the people to Him.

Study this verse in Sola

Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.

Open in Sola app Get the app

Ask a follow-up

Ask Sola about this verse

Ask Sola things like:

“What does "holy" mean in the original Hebrew?”
“Why did Traditionally Moses, though scholarly consensus suggests authorship by various Levitical priests and scribes write Leviticus 21:6-8?”
“How does priestly consecration show up in Leviticus 21:6-8?”

Ask in the Sola app Get the app

Live chat about Leviticus 21:6-8 is available in the Sola app.

This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.

What Leviticus 21:6-8 means

Original language

holyקָדוֹשׁ

qadosh · Hebrew Adjective

To be set apart, consecrated, or dedicated specifically to God's service, distinct from the common or profane. It implies a state of moral purity and ceremonial separation.

profaneחָלַל

chalal · Hebrew Verb

To treat something sacred with common, disrespectful, or impure behavior. In a religious context, it involves violating the holiness of God’s name or His consecrated things.

LORDיְהוָה

YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun

The proper name of the God of Israel, the self-existent, covenant-keeping Creator who revealed Himself to Moses. It signifies God's personal and faithful relationship with His people.

defiledחָלַל

chalal · Hebrew Adjective

A state of ritual impurity or moral corruption that disqualifies someone or something from being in the presence of a holy God. It can result from physical acts, ceremonial neglect, or moral sin.

Historical context

Written: Likely during the Exodus wanderings, around 1440-1400 BC
Author: Traditionally Moses, though scholarly consensus suggests authorship by various Levitical priests and scribes
Location: Written from the plains of Moab, while the Israelites journeyed through the wilderness
Genre: Instructional Law (part of the Torah), featuring direct commands and explanations of sacred duties

Scholarly commentary

Leviticus 21:6: "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."

Holy unto their God; devoted to God’s service, and always prepared and fit for it; and therefore shall keep themselves as far as they can from all defilement, which makes them unmeet for their Master’s use. Not profane the name of their God, which they especially bear; they shall not dispa…
poole

Leviticus 21:6: "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."

They shall be holy unto their God,.... Sacred to his service, and wholly given up to it, and not interest themselves in things which hindered from it, or made them unfit for it; and such care becomes the ministers of the word, who should give up themselves to it, and not entangle themselve…
gill

Frequently asked questions

What does Leviticus 21:6-8 mean?

Explain the meaning of Leviticus 21:6-8

What is the context of Leviticus 21:6-8?

This passage is part of a larger section outlining strict holiness requirements specifically for priests, who are God's appointed servants. Just before this, the text discusses how priests must not defile themselves for the dead, emphasizing their unique calling. This verse explains they must maintain such purity: because they are the ones presenting all the sacrifices and offerings to God, representing Him to the people and the people to Him.

Ask Sola about this verse

Ask Sola things like:

“What does "holy" mean in the original Hebrew?”
“Why did Traditionally Moses, though scholarly consensus suggests authorship by various Levitical priests and scribes write Leviticus 21:6-8?”
“How does priestly consecration show up in Leviticus 21:6-8?”

Ask in the Sola app Get the app

Live chat about Leviticus 21:6-8 is available in the Sola app.

What Leviticus 21:6-8 means

Holy Unto God: A Sacred Calling

Don't Profane God's Name: The Weight of Witness

Original language

Historical context

Key themes

Cross-references

Scholarly commentary

Frequently asked questions

Study this verse in Sola

Ask Sola about this verse

What Leviticus 21:6-8 means

Holy Unto God: A Sacred Calling

Don't Profane God's Name: The Weight of Witness

Original language

Historical context

Key themes

Cross-references

Scholarly commentary

Frequently asked questions

Study this verse in Sola

Ask Sola about this verse

The Bread of God: Sustenance and Sacrifice