Leviticus 22:1-9

Leviticus 22:1-9

[1] And the LORD  spake  unto Moses,  saying,  [2] Speak  unto Aaron  and to his sons,  that they separate  themselves from the holy things  of the children  of Israel,  and that they profane  not my holy  name  in those things which they hallow  unto me: I am the LORD.  [3] Say  unto them, Whosoever  he be of all your seed  among your generations,  that goeth  unto the holy things,  which the children  of Israel  hallow  unto the LORD,  having his uncleanness  upon him, that soul  shall be cut off  from my presence:  I am the LORD.  [4] What man soever  of the seed  of Aaron  is a leper,  or hath a running issue;  he shall not eat  of the holy things,  until he be clean.  And whoso toucheth  any thing that is unclean  by the dead,  or a man  whose seed  goeth  [5] Or whosoever  toucheth  any creeping thing,  whereby he may be made unclean,  or a man  of whom he may take uncleanness,  whatsoever uncleanness  he hath; [6] The soul  which hath touched  any such shall be unclean  until even,  and shall not eat  of the holy things,  unless  he wash  his flesh  with water.  [7] And when the sun  is down,  he shall be clean,  and shall afterward  eat  of the holy things;  because it is his food.  [8] That which dieth of itself,  or is torn  with beasts, he shall not eat  to defile  himself therewith: I am the LORD.  [9] They shall therefore keep  mine ordinance,  lest they bear  sin  for it, and die  therefore, if they profane  it: I the LORD  do sanctify  them.

What does Leviticus 22:1-9 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

A selection of seven laws appears between a brief introduction ( Leviticus 22:1-2) and a conclusion ( Leviticus 22:9). The priests could, of course, become defiled like any other Israelites, but no priest who had become ceremonially unclean was to touch or eat the holy things (the tabernacle furniture, sacrifices, etc.).