The Meaning of Leviticus 10:10 Explained

Leviticus 10:10

KJV: And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;

YLT: so as to make a separation between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the pure;

Darby: that ye may put difference between the holy and the unholy, and between unclean and clean,

ASV: and that ye may make a distinction between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And that ye may put difference  between holy  and unholy,  and between unclean  and clean; 

What does Leviticus 10:10 Mean?

Context Summary

Leviticus 10:1-11 - A Deed That Turned Joy Into Grief
There was a double blessing. First, Aaron blessed the people when he stood against the altar, Leviticus 9:22, and afterward, when he came out of the Tabernacle, Leviticus 9:23. We find here the analogue of the double blessing which our Lord gives His own. When He came from offering His supreme sacrifice on Calvary, which was burned-offering, peace-offering, sin- and trespass-offerings combined, He blessed His own. We are told that as He blessed them He was borne upward to heaven, Luke 24:51; but we expect another blessing from Him, when He shall come forth out of the heavenly Temple and extend His hands in benediction, using perhaps the very words of the ancient benediction. But take care lest you ever introduce strange fire into your worship-i.e., the fire of your own emotions, enthusiasm and excitement. Ponder those mighty words in Leviticus 10:3. We must not rush carelessly into the divine presence, though by the blood of Jesus we have been made nigh, Ephesians 2:13. [source]

Chapter Summary: Leviticus 10

1  Aadab and Abihu, for offering strange fire, are burnt by fire
6  Aaron and his sons are forbidden to mourn for them
8  The priests are forbidden wine when they are to go into the tabernacle
12  The law of eating the holy things
16  Aaron's excuse for transgressing thereof

What do the individual words in Leviticus 10:10 mean?

that you may distinguish between holy and unholy and between unclean clean
וּֽלֲהַבְדִּ֔יל בֵּ֥ין הַקֹּ֖דֶשׁ וּבֵ֣ין הַחֹ֑ל וּבֵ֥ין הַטָּמֵ֖א הַטָּהֽוֹר

וּֽלֲהַבְדִּ֔יל  that  you  may  distinguish 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: בָּדַל  
Sense: to divide, separate.
בֵּ֥ין  between 
Parse: Preposition
Root: בַּיִן 
Sense: between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between.
הַקֹּ֖דֶשׁ  holy 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: קֹדֶשׁ  
Sense: apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness.
הַחֹ֑ל  unholy 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֹל  
Sense: profaneness, commonness, unholy, profane, common, sand.
וּבֵ֥ין  and  between 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
Root: בַּיִן 
Sense: between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between.
הַטָּמֵ֖א  unclean 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: טָמֵא  
Sense: unclean, impure.
הַטָּהֽוֹר  clean 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: טָהֹור  
Sense: pure, clean.