The Meaning of Leviticus 21:23 Explained

Leviticus 21:23

KJV: Only he shall not go in unto the vail, nor come nigh unto the altar, because he hath a blemish; that he profane not my sanctuaries: for I the LORD do sanctify them.

YLT: only, unto the vail he doth not enter, and unto the altar he doth not draw nigh; for blemish is in him; and he doth not pollute My sanctuaries; for I am Jehovah, sanctifying them.'

Darby: only he shall not come in unto the veil, nor shall he draw near unto the altar; for he hath a defect: that he profane not my sanctuaries; for I am Jehovah who do hallow them.

ASV: only he shall not go in unto the veil, nor come nigh unto the altar, because he hath a blemish; that he profane not my sanctuaries: for I am Jehovah who sanctifieth them.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Only he shall not go in  unto the vail,  nor come nigh  unto the altar,  because he hath a blemish;  that he profane  not my sanctuaries:  for I the LORD  do sanctify  them. 

What does Leviticus 21:23 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Leviticus 21

1  Of the priests' mourning
6  Of their holiness
7  Of their marriages
8  Of their estimation
9  Of the high priest's holiness
10  Of his marriage
13  The priests that have blemishes must not minister in the sanctuary

What do the individual words in Leviticus 21:23 mean?

Only near the veil not he shall go and the altar or approach because has a defect he and lest he profane - My sanctuaries For I Yahweh sanctify them
אַ֣ךְ אֶל־ הַפָּרֹ֜כֶת לֹ֣א יָבֹ֗א וְאֶל־ הַמִּזְבֵּ֛חַ לֹ֥א יִגַּ֖שׁ כִּֽי־ מ֣וּם בּ֑וֹ וְלֹ֤א יְחַלֵּל֙ אֶת־ מִקְדָּשַׁ֔י כִּ֛י אֲנִ֥י יְהוָ֖ה מְקַדְּשָֽׁם

אַ֣ךְ  Only 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַךְ  
Sense: indeed, surely (emphatic).
אֶל־  near 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
הַפָּרֹ֜כֶת  the  veil 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: פָּרֹכֶת  
Sense: curtain, veil.
יָבֹ֗א  he  shall  go 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
הַמִּזְבֵּ֛חַ  the  altar 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִזְבֵּחַ  
Sense: altar.
יִגַּ֖שׁ  approach 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָגַשׁ  
Sense: to draw near, approach.
כִּֽי־  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
מ֣וּם  has  a  defect 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מְאוּם 
Sense: blemish, spot, defect.
וְלֹ֤א  and  lest 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יְחַלֵּל֙  he  profane 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָלַל 
Sense: to profane, defile, pollute, desecrate, begin.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
מִקְדָּשַׁ֔י  My  sanctuaries 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: מִקְדָּשׁ  
Sense: sacred place, sanctuary, holy place.
יְהוָ֖ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
מְקַדְּשָֽׁם  sanctify  them 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: קָדַשׁ  
Sense: to consecrate, sanctify, prepare, dedicate, be hallowed, be holy, be sanctified, be separate.