1
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֶל מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֱמֹ֥ר אֶל הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים בְּנֵ֣י אַהֲרֹ֑ן וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵהֶ֔ם לְנֶ֥פֶשׁ לֹֽא יִטַּמָּ֖א בְּעַמָּֽיו
And YHWH said to Moses, Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them: None of you shall defile himself for a dead person among his people.
The chapter opens with the standard priestly revelation formula (וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל מֹשֶׁה) followed by a double command to relay speech (אֱמֹר ... וְאָמַרְתָּ), marking this as address to a defined subgroup — 'the priests, sons of Aaron' — rather than to Israel at large. The topic sentence forbids corpse-defilement as a general rule, to be qualified by the exceptions of vv. 2-3.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
וַיֹּ֤אמֶרand he saidQal wayyiqtol 3ms · אָמַר (H559)Predicate verb (main clause, narrative frame)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceאָמַר (H559) 'to say'; the standard verb introducing divine speech to Moses throughout Leviticus.
יְהוָה֙YHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Subject of וַיֹּאמֶריְהוָה (H3068), the covenant name of Israel's God; subject of the revelation formula opening the chapter.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase marking the addresseeאֶל (H413) 'to, toward'; marks Moses as the recipient of the divine word.
מֹשֶׁ֔הMosesN proper · מֹשֶׁה (H4872)Object of preposition אֶלמֹשֶׁה (H4872), Israel's mediator, the addressee of the law throughout Leviticus.
אֱמֹ֥רspeakQal impv 2ms · אָמַר (H559)Imperative, command to relay speech→ Volitional: direct commandאָמַר (H559) 'to say'; imperative launching the relay-speech formula typical of priestly law.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase marking the addressee of the relayאֶל (H413) 'to, toward'.
הַכֹּהֲנִ֖יםthe priestsart + N m pl abs · כֹּהֵן (H3548)Object of preposition אֶלכֹּהֵן (H3548) 'priest'; the addressees of this holiness code for the officiating clergy.
בְּנֵ֣יsons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Construct, in apposition to הַכֹּהֲנִיםבֵּן (H1121) 'son'; construct chain בְּנֵי אַהֲרֹן identifies the priests as Aaron's descendants.
אַהֲרֹ֑ןAaronN proper · אַהֲרֹן (H175)Genitive of the construct chainאַהֲרֹן (H175), Israel's first high priest, ancestor of the priestly line addressed here.
וְאָמַרְתָּ֣and you shall sayconj וְ + Qal weqatal 2ms · אָמַר (H559)Predicate verb continuing the command sequence→ Weqatal: consequential/sequential instruction continuing the imperativeאָמַר (H559); the weqatal form continues Moses' commanded action after the imperative אֱמֹר.
אֲלֵהֶ֔םto themprep אֶל + 3mp suff · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase, indirect objectאֶל (H413) with pronominal suffix, referring back to the priests.
לְנֶ֥פֶשׁfor a personprep לְ + N c sg abs · נֶפֶשׁ (H5315)Prepositional phrase, cause/occasion of defilementנֶפֶשׁ (H5315) 'soul, person, life'; here idiomatically a corpse/dead person, as regularly in these purity laws (cf. Num 6:6).
לֹֽאnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates the verb יִטַּמָּאלֹא (H3808), the standard negative particle; negates a Hitpael imperfect of prohibition.
יִטַּמָּ֖אshall defile himselfHitpael impf 3ms · טָמֵא (H2930)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause)→ Yiqtol: modal/prohibitive — an ongoing standing ruleטָמֵא (H2930) 'to be/become unclean'; Hitpael reflexive 'defile oneself', the technical term for corpse-contracted impurity.
בְּעַמָּֽיוamong his peopleprep בְּ + N m pl constr/Sp3ms · עַם (H5971)Adverbial prepositional phrase of sphereעַם (H5971) 'people, kin-group'; plural construct with suffix, 'his kinsmen' — the priest's own clan.
2
כִּ֚י אִם לִשְׁאֵר֔וֹ הַקָּרֹ֖ב אֵלָ֑יו לְאִמּ֣וֹ וּלְאָבִ֔יו וְלִבְנ֥וֹ וּלְבִתּ֖וֹ וּלְאָחִֽיו
Except for his flesh-kin who is near to him: for his mother, his father, his son, his daughter, and his brother.
Subordinate to v. 1, this verse lists the five degrees of kinship for whom corpse-contact defilement is permitted: mother, father, son, daughter, brother — the priest's own nuclear family. The list is asyndetic in structure apart from the וְ connectives joining items, typical of Hebrew list style.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
כִּ֚יexceptconj · כִּי (H3588)Conjunction introducing the exceptive clauseכִּי (H3588); paired with אִם to form the exceptive idiom כִּי אִם 'except, but only'.
אִםif/butconj · אִם (H518)Second element of the exceptive idiom כִּי אִםאִם (H518); with כִּי forms 'except, unless' introducing the permitted exception to v. 1.
לִשְׁאֵר֔וֹfor his flesh-kinprep לְ + N m sg constr/Sp3ms · שְׁאֵר (H7607)Prepositional phrase, object of exceptionשְׁאֵר (H7607) 'flesh, near kin'; a term for blood relatives closest to the body, here the class defined by the list that follows.
הַקָּרֹ֖בwho is nearart + Adj m sg abs · קָרוֹב (H7138)Attributive adjective modifying שְׁאֵרוֹקָרוֹב (H7138) 'near, close'; qualifies שְׁאֵר as kin close enough by blood or degree to warrant the exception.
אֵלָ֑יוto himprep אֶל + Sp3ms · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase completing קָרוֹבאֶל (H413) with suffix, 'to him' — nearness reckoned relative to the priest himself.
לְאִמּ֣וֹfor his motherprep לְ + N f sg constr/Sp3ms · אֵם (H517)First item of the appositional list defining שְׁאֵראֵם (H517) 'mother'; first and closest of the permitted relations.
וּלְאָבִ֔יוand for his fatherconj וְ + prep לְ + N m sg constr/Sp3ms · אָב (H1)Second item of the listאָב (H1) 'father'; paired with mother as the priest's closest kin.
וְלִבְנ֥וֹand for his sonconj וְ + prep לְ + N m sg constr/Sp3ms · בֵּן (H1121)Third item of the listבֵּן (H1121) 'son'; the priest's own male offspring.
וּלְבִתּ֖וֹand for his daughterconj וְ + prep לְ + N f sg constr/Sp3ms · בַּת (H1323)Fourth item of the listבַּת (H1323) 'daughter'; the priest's own female offspring.
וּלְאָחִֽיוand for his brotherconj וְ + prep לְ + N m sg constr/Sp3ms · אָח (H251)Fifth item of the listאָח (H251) 'brother'; closes the primary list, further extended in v. 3 to the unmarried sister.
3
וְלַאֲחֹת֤וֹ הַבְּתוּלָה֙ הַקְּרוֹבָ֣ה אֵלָ֔יו אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא הָיְתָ֖ה לְאִ֑ישׁ לָ֖הּ יִטַּמָּֽא
Also for his virgin sister, who is near to him, who has not belonged to a man — for her he may defile himself.
The virgin sister is added as a sixth permitted relation, but qualified doubly: she must be בְּתוּלָה (unmarried) and 'near' — a married sister has passed into her husband's household and clan. The fronted לָהּ before the verb throws emphasis onto 'for her (specifically)' the priest may defile himself.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
וְלַאֲחֹת֤וֹand for his sisterconj וְ + prep לְ + art + N f sg constr/Sp3ms · אָחוֹת (H269)Sixth item extending the kinship list of v. 2אָחוֹת (H269) 'sister'; extends the permitted degrees, qualified below to the unmarried sister only.
הַבְּתוּלָה֙the virginart + N f sg abs · בְּתוּלָה (H1330)Attributive noun in apposition to אֲחֹתוֹבְּתוּלָה (H1330) 'virgin, unmarried young woman'; restricts the exception to a sister still in her father's house, not one married out to another clan.
הַקְּרוֹבָ֣הwho is nearart + Adj f sg abs · קָרוֹב (H7138)Attributive adjective, parallel to v. 2קָרוֹב (H7138) 'near'; repeats the nearness criterion of v. 2 for this added relation.
אֵלָ֔יוto himprep אֶל + Sp3ms · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase completing הַקְּרוֹבָהאֶל (H413) with suffix.
אֲשֶׁ֥רwhorelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle introducing the qualifying clauseאֲשֶׁר (H834), indeclinable relative; introduces the defining clause 'who has not belonged to a man'.
לֹֽאnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates הָיְתָהלֹא (H3808).
הָיְתָ֖הshe has beenQal perf 3fs · הָיָה (H1961)Predicate verb of the relative clause→ Perfective: a completed state up to nowהָיָה (H1961) 'to be, become'; idiom הָיְתָה לְאִישׁ 'to belong to a man' = to be married.
לְאִ֑ישׁto a manprep לְ + N m sg abs · אִישׁ (H376)Predicate complement of הָיְתָהאִישׁ (H376) 'man, husband'; הָיְתָה לְאִישׁ is the standard idiom for a woman's marriage.
לָ֖הּfor herprep לְ + Sp3fs · לְPrepositional phrase, fronted for emphasis, resumes אֲחֹתוֹלְ with 3fs suffix, resuming the unmarried sister as the one for whom defilement is now sanctioned.
יִטַּמָּֽאhe may defile himselfHitpael impf 3ms · טָמֵא (H2930)Predicate verb (permission, main clause)→ Yiqtol: modal — permission grantedטָמֵא (H2930); same verb as v. 1, now permissive rather than prohibitive given the fronted לָהּ.
4
לֹ֥א יִטַּמָּ֖א בַּ֣עַל בְּעַמָּ֑יו לְהֵ֖חַלּֽוֹ
He shall not defile himself as a husband among his kin, profaning himself.
This crux verse closes the unit by forbidding defilement 'as a husband' — most naturally read as excluding the priest's wife from the permitted circle of vv. 2-3, since she is kin by marriage rather than blood. The result clause לְהֵחַלּוֹ makes explicit what is at stake throughout: unauthorized corpse-contact profanes (חלל) the priest's consecrated status.
Word-by-word analysis· 5 words
לֹ֥אnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates יִטַּמָּאלֹא (H3808).
יִטַּמָּ֖אhe shall defile himselfHitpael impf 3ms · טָמֵא (H2930)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause)→ Yiqtol: modal/prohibitiveטָמֵא (H2930); resumes the general prohibition of v. 1 after the kinship exceptions of vv. 2-3.
בַּ֣עַלas a husbandN m sg abs · בַּעַל (H1167)Adverbial accusative of role/capacityבַּעַל (H1167) 'lord, master, husband'; a crux term here — most likely 'as a husband' (i.e., for an in-law such as his wife, who falls outside the blood-kin list of vv. 2-3), though 'leading man' has also been proposed.
בְּעַמָּ֑יוamong his peopleprep בְּ + N m pl constr/Sp3ms · עַם (H5971)Adverbial prepositional phrase of sphereעַם (H5971) plural with suffix, 'among his kin'; echoes v. 1.
לְהֵ֖חַלּֽוֹso profaning himselfprep לְ + Niphal infin constr/Sp3ms · חָלַל (H2490)Infinitive construct expressing result→ Infinitive: result/consequence of the forbidden actחָלַל (H2490) 'to profane'; Niphal infinitive 'so as to profane himself' — corpse-defilement outside the sanctioned kin degrades the priest's consecrated status.
5
לֹֽא יקרחה יִקְרְח֤וּ קָרְחָה֙ בְּרֹאשָׁ֔ם וּפְאַ֥ת זְקָנָ֖ם לֹ֣א יְגַלֵּ֑חוּ וּבִ֨בְשָׂרָ֔ם לֹ֥א יִשְׂרְט֖וּ שָׂרָֽטֶת
They shall not make a bald spot on their heads, nor shave off the edge of their beard, nor make gashes in their flesh.
A triad of pagan-associated mourning customs — shaving a bald patch, cutting the beard's edge, gashing the flesh — is forbidden to priests, paralleling the lay prohibition of 19:27-28 and Deut 14:1. The verse preserves a Kethiv-Qere doublet at its second word (יקרחה / יִקְרְחוּ), a small textual crux in the verb's transmission.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
לֹֽאnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates the verb (with Kethiv/Qere pair)לֹא (H3808).
יקרחה[Kethiv, unvocalized]Kethiv (unpointed) · קָרַח (H7139)Kethiv form, superseded in reading by the Qere יִקְרְחוּ→ Kethiv verbal form (unread): the written variant of the prohibited yiqtol — they shall not make baldnessKethiv-Qere pair: the written consonants יקרחה (perhaps a 3fs or defectively-written form) are read instead as the Qere יִקְרְחוּ֙ (3mp); a small scribal crux in the transmission of this verse, left unpointed in the MT to signal the Qere is to be read.
יִקְרְח֤וּthey shall make baldQal impf 3mp (Qere) · קָרַח (H7139)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause) — the Qere reading→ Yiqtol: prohibitive/modalקָרַח (H7139) 'to make bald, shave bald'; the reading tradition (Qere) actually voiced in the synagogue, replacing the Kethiv יקרחה.
קָרְחָה֙a bald spotN f sg abs · קָרְחָה (H7144)Direct object (cognate accusative) of יִקְרְחוּקָרְחָה (H7144) 'baldness, bald patch'; cognate accusative with the verb, a mourning practice forbidden to priests (cf. Deut 14:1).
בְּרֹאשָׁ֔םon their headsprep בְּ + N m sg constr/Sp3mp · רֹאשׁ (H7218)Locative prepositional phraseרֹאשׁ (H7218) 'head'; the site of the forbidden mourning-baldness.
וּפְאַ֥תand the edge ofconj וְ + N f sg constr · פֵּאָה (H6285)Subject/object continuing the prohibition, construct headפֵּאָה (H6285) 'edge, corner, side'; here the corner of the beard, cf. 19:27's parallel prohibition.
זְקָנָ֖םtheir beardN c sg constr/Sp3mp · זָקָן (H2206)Genitive of the construct chainזָקָן (H2206) 'beard'; the priests may not shave its edge in mourning, unlike the general population's freer practice.
לֹ֣אnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates יְגַלֵּחוּלֹא (H3808).
יְגַלֵּ֑חוּthey shall shavePiel impf 3mp · גָּלַח (H1548)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause)→ Yiqtol: prohibitive/modalגָּלַח (H1548) 'to shave'; Piel intensive, the second forbidden mourning-rite in the triad.
וּבִ֨בְשָׂרָ֔םand in their fleshconj וְ + prep בְּ + N m sg constr/Sp3mp · בָּשָׂר (H1320)Locative prepositional phraseבָּשָׂר (H1320) 'flesh, body'; the site of the third forbidden mourning-rite, self-laceration.
לֹ֥אnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates יִשְׂרְטוּלֹא (H3808).
יִשְׂרְט֖וּthey shall make gashesQal impf 3mp · שָׂרַט (H8295)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause)→ Yiqtol: prohibitive/modalשָׂרַט (H8295) 'to gash, cut'; rare verb naming a mourning self-laceration rite, cf. Jer 16:6, 41:5.
שָׂרָֽטֶתa gashN f sg abs · שָׂרֶטֶת (H8296)Direct object (cognate accusative) of יִשְׂרְטוּשָׂרֶטֶת (H8296) 'gash, incision'; cognate accusative completing the triad of forbidden mourning practices shared with pagan cults (cf. 19:28; Deut 14:1).
6
קְדֹשִׁ֤ים יִהְיוּ֙ לֵאלֹ֣הֵיהֶ֔ם וְלֹ֣א יְחַלְּל֔וּ שֵׁ֖ם אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֑ם כִּי֩ אֶת אִשֵּׁ֨י יְהוָ֜ה לֶ֧חֶם אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֛ם הֵ֥ם מַקְרִיבִ֖ם וְהָ֥יוּ קֹֽדֶשׁ
They shall be holy to their God, and shall not profane the name of their God; for they present the offerings by fire of YHWH, the food of their God — therefore they shall be holy.
The verse states the theological logic underlying vv. 1-5: because priests handle 'the food of their God' — the fire-offerings of YHWH — they must themselves be holy and must not profane the divine name. This is the first occurrence of the chapter's structuring holiness-rationale, repeated at vv. 8, 15, 23.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
קְדֹשִׁ֤יםholyAdj m pl abs · קָדוֹשׁ (H6918)Predicate adjectiveקָדוֹשׁ (H6918) 'holy, set apart'; predicate of the verbless-turned-verbal clause, the chapter's key theme word.
יִהְיוּ֙they shall beQal impf 3mp · הָיָה (H1961)Predicate verb (copulative, main clause)→ Yiqtol: modal — an abiding obligationהָיָה (H1961) 'to be, become'; here a jussive-flavored 'they are to be/must be' holy.
לֵאלֹ֣הֵיהֶ֔םto their Godprep לְ + N m pl constr/Sp3mp · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Prepositional phrase, dative of relationאֱלֹהִים (H430) with suffix, 'their God'; holiness is defined relationally, toward YHWH.
וְלֹ֣אand notconj וְ + negative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates יְחַלְּלוּלֹא (H3808) with conjunction.
יְחַלְּל֔וּthey shall profanePiel impf 3mp · חָלַל (H2490)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause)→ Yiqtol: prohibitive/modalחָלַל (H2490) 'to profane, defile'; Piel, the chapter's recurring antonym to קדשׁ — priestly failure desecrates what God has set apart.
שֵׁ֖םthe name ofN m sg constr · שֵׁם (H8034)Direct object (construct head)שֵׁם (H8034) 'name'; God's name is profaned when his consecrated servants act unworthily of him.
אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֑םtheir GodN m pl constr/Sp3mp · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Genitive of the construct chainאֱלֹהִים (H430) with suffix.
כִּי֩forconj · כִּי (H3588)Causal conjunction introducing the ground clauseכִּי (H3588) 'for, because'; grounds the holiness requirement in the priests' cultic function.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (definite object)אֵת (H853), nota accusativi marking a definite direct object; untranslated in English.
אִשֵּׁ֨יthe offerings by fire ofN m pl constr · אִשֶּׁה (H801)Direct object (construct head)אִשֶּׁה (H801) 'offering made by fire'; the sacrificial food that the priests handle, from אֵשׁ 'fire' (though the etymology is debated).
יְהוָ֜הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Genitive of the construct chainיְהוָה (H3068).
לֶ֧חֶםthe food ofN m sg constr · לֶחֶם (H3899)Direct object, in apposition to אִשֵּׁי יְהוָהלֶחֶם (H3899) 'bread, food'; here the sacrificial portions viewed as God's own nourishment, a recurring idiom of this chapter (vv. 8, 17, 21-22).
אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֛םtheir GodN m pl constr/Sp3mp · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Genitive of the construct chainאֱלֹהִים (H430) with suffix.
הֵ֥םtheyindependent pron 3mp · הֵם (H1992)Subject, fronted for emphasis before the participleהֵם (H1992), independent 3mp pronoun; fronted to emphasize that it is the priests, specifically, who handle the sacred food.
מַקְרִיבִ֖םpresentingHiphil ptc m pl abs · קָרַב (H7126)Predicate participle (present/durative)→ Participle: ongoing, characteristic activityקָרַב (H7126) 'to draw near'; Hiphil 'bring near, present, offer' — the technical verb for priestly sacrificial service.
וְהָ֥יוּso they shall beconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3cp · הָיָה (H1961)Predicate verb, consequential to the participial clause→ Weqatal: consequence/result of the preceding clauseהָיָה (H1961); weqatal drawing the conclusion — because they handle holy food, they themselves must be holy.
קֹֽדֶשׁholyN m sg abs · קֹדֶשׁ (H6944)Predicate nominativeקֹדֶשׁ (H6944) 'holiness, a holy thing'; used predicatively, echoing and closing the verse's inclusio with קְדֹשִׁים.
7
אִשָּׁ֨ה זֹנָ֤ה וַחֲלָלָה֙ לֹ֣א יִקָּ֔חוּ וְאִשָּׁ֛ה גְּרוּשָׁ֥ה מֵאִישָׁ֖הּ לֹ֣א יִקָּ֑חוּ כִּֽי קָדֹ֥שׁ ה֖וּא לֵאלֹהָֽיו
They shall not marry a woman who is a prostitute or defiled, nor shall they marry a woman divorced from her husband; for he is holy to his God.
Two categories of unmarriageable women are named — the prostitute/defiled woman and the divorcée — grounded once more in the priest's own holiness (כִּי קָדֹשׁ הוּא לֵאלֹהָיו), echoing v. 6's rationale and anticipating the heightened restriction for the high priest in v. 14.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
אִשָּׁ֨הa womanN f sg abs · אִשָּׁה (H802)Direct object of יִקָּחוּאִשָּׁה (H802) 'woman, wife'; direct object, defined by the following apposition.
זֹנָ֤הa prostituteQal ptc f sg abs · זָנָה (H2181)Attributive participle in apposition to אִשָּׁה→ Participle: characterizing, habitual activityזָנָה (H2181) 'to fornicate, prostitute oneself'; substantival participle 'a prostitute', the first disqualifying category.
וַחֲלָלָה֙or a defiled womanconj וְ + Adj f sg abs · חָלָל (H2491)Second item in apposition to אִשָּׁהחָלָל (H2491) 'profaned, defiled'; here a woman who has lost sexual purity/status — sense debated between 'sexually violated' and 'of impaired lineage'.
לֹ֣אnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates יִקָּחוּלֹא (H3808).
יִקָּ֔חוּthey shall take (marry)Qal impf 3mp · לָקַח (H3947)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause)→ Yiqtol: prohibitive/modalלָקַח (H3947) 'to take'; idiomatic for 'to marry' when the object is a woman.
וְאִשָּׁ֛הand a womanconj וְ + N f sg abs · אִשָּׁה (H802)Direct object of the second יִקָּחוּאִשָּׁה (H802), second disqualifying category introduced.
גְּרוּשָׁ֥הdivorcedQal passive ptc f sg abs · גָּרַשׁ (H1644)Attributive participle in apposition to אִשָּׁה→ Participle (passive): a resulting stateגָּרַשׁ (H1644) 'to drive out, divorce'; passive participle 'one driven out/divorced'.
מֵאִישָׁ֖הּfrom her husbandprep מִן + N m sg constr/Sp3fs · אִישׁ (H376)Prepositional phrase modifying גְּרוּשָׁהאִישׁ (H376) 'man, husband'; specifies the divorce as from her (former) husband.
לֹ֣אnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates the second יִקָּחוּלֹא (H3808).
יִקָּ֑חוּthey shall take (marry)Qal impf 3mp · לָקַח (H3947)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause)→ Yiqtol: prohibitive/modalלָקַח (H3947); the prohibition restated for the second category.
כִּֽיforconj · כִּי (H3588)Causal conjunction introducing the rationaleכִּי (H3588) 'for, because'.
קָדֹ֥שׁholyAdj m sg abs · קָדוֹשׁ (H6918)Predicate adjectiveקָדוֹשׁ (H6918) 'holy'; the priest's own status grounds the marriage restriction — an unfit wife would compromise it.
ה֖וּאhe (is)independent pron 3ms · הוּא (H1931)Subject of the verbless clauseהוּא (H1931), subject/copula of the nominal clause.
לֵאלֹהָֽיוto his Godprep לְ + N m pl constr/Sp3ms · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Prepositional phrase, dative of relationאֱלֹהִים (H430) with suffix, echoing v. 6's relational holiness formula.
8
וְקִדַּשְׁתּ֔וֹ כִּֽי אֶת לֶ֥חֶם אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ ה֣וּא מַקְרִ֑יב קָדֹשׁ֙ יִֽהְיֶה לָּ֔ךְ כִּ֣י קָד֔וֹשׁ אֲנִ֥י יְהוָ֖ה מְקַדִּשְׁכֶֽם
You shall sanctify him, for he presents the food of your God; he shall be holy to you, for I, YHWH, who sanctifies you, am holy.
The address shifts to the second person (Israel), commanding the community to actively 'sanctify' its priests because of their sacrificial function. The verse ends on the chapter's theological bedrock — the recognition formula אֲנִי יְהוָה מְקַדִּשְׁכֶם — YHWH's own holiness and sanctifying action ground every human holiness requirement in the chapter.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
וְקִדַּשְׁתּ֔וֹand you shall sanctify himconj וְ + Piel weqatal 2ms/Sp3ms · קָדַשׁ (H6942)Predicate verb (command, main clause)→ Weqatal: continuing legal instructionקָדַשׁ (H6942) 'to be holy'; Piel 'to sanctify, treat as holy' — Israel is here commanded to honor and protect the priest's consecrated status.
כִּֽיforconj · כִּי (H3588)Causal conjunction introducing the rationaleכִּי (H3588).
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (definite object)אֵת (H853), untranslated.
לֶ֥חֶםthe food ofN m sg constr · לֶחֶם (H3899)Direct object (construct head) of מַקְרִיבלֶחֶם (H3899) 'bread, food'; repeats the idiom of v. 6 for sacrificial food.
אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָyour GodN m pl constr/Sp2ms · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Genitive of the construct chainאֱלֹהִים (H430) with 2ms suffix, addressed to Israel/the reader.
ה֣וּאheindependent pron 3ms · הוּא (H1931)Subject, fronted before the participleהוּא (H1931), resumptive subject.
מַקְרִ֑יבpresentsHiphil ptc m sg abs · קָרַב (H7126)Predicate participle (durative)→ Participle: ongoing priestly functionקָרַב (H7126) Hiphil 'bring near, offer'.
קָדֹשׁ֙holyAdj m sg abs · קָדוֹשׁ (H6918)Predicate adjectiveקָדוֹשׁ (H6918).
יִֽהְיֶהhe shall beQal impf 3ms · הָיָה (H1961)Predicate verb (copulative, main clause)→ Yiqtol: modal — an abiding statusהָיָה (H1961).
לָּ֔ךְto youprep לְ + Sp2fs · לְPrepositional phrase, dative of relationלְ with 2fs suffix, addressed to the (feminine singular) community/congregation.
כִּ֣יforconj · כִּי (H3588)Causal conjunction, second-level rationaleכִּי (H3588); grounds the human command in God's own character.
קָד֔וֹשׁholyAdj m sg abs · קָדוֹשׁ (H6918)Predicate adjectiveקָדוֹשׁ (H6918); God's own holiness is the ultimate ground of the priest's.
אֲנִ֥יIindependent pron 1cs · אֲנִי (H589)Subject of the verbless clauseאֲנִי (H589), the self-identification formula characteristic of the Holiness Code.
יְהוָ֖הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Appositive to אֲנִייְהוָה (H3068).
מְקַדִּשְׁכֶֽםwho sanctifies youPiel ptc m sg constr/Sp2mp · קָדַשׁ (H6942)Attributive participle in apposition to יְהוָה→ Participle: characteristic, ongoing divine actionקָדַשׁ (H6942) Piel participle 'the one sanctifying you'; the recurring self-designation of YHWH as the source of Israel's/the priests' holiness (cf. vv. 15, 23).
9
וּבַת֙ אִ֣ישׁ כֹּהֵ֔ן כִּ֥י תֵחֵ֖ל לִזְנ֑וֹת אֶת אָבִ֨יהָ֙ הִ֣יא מְחַלֶּ֔לֶת בָּאֵ֖שׁ תִּשָּׂרֵֽף
And when a priest's daughter profanes herself by prostitution, she profanes her father; she shall be burned with fire.
The severity escalates sharply: whereas an ordinary Israelite woman guilty of harlotry faces other penalties, a priest's daughter who so profanes her father's consecrated house is to be burned — the harshest capital penalty in the Torah, elsewhere applied only to specific aggravated incest (20:14). The repetition of חלל (profane) ties this verse tightly to the chapter's controlling theme.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
וּבַת֙and the daughter ofconj וְ + N f sg constr · בַּת (H1323)Subject (construct head), frontedבַּת (H1323) 'daughter'; construct chain בַּת אִישׁ כֹּהֵן, 'daughter of a priest-man'.
אִ֣ישׁa man,N m sg constr · אִישׁ (H376)Genitive of the construct chain, in apposition to כֹּהֵןאִישׁ (H376) 'man'; here used loosely before כֹּהֵן, 'a priest-man' = simply 'a priest'.
כֹּהֵ֔ןa priestN m sg abs · כֹּהֵן (H3548)Appositive completing the chainכֹּהֵן (H3548) 'priest'.
כִּ֥יwhen/ifconj · כִּי (H3588)Conditional/temporal conjunction introducing the protasisכִּי (H3588) 'when, if'; introduces the casuistic condition.
תֵחֵ֖לshe profanes herselfNiphal impf 3fs · חָלַל (H2490)Predicate verb of the conditional clause→ Yiqtol: conditional/hypotheticalחָלַל (H2490); Niphal 'to be profaned, profane oneself' — she brings profanation on her father's priestly household.
לִזְנ֑וֹתby prostituting herselfprep לְ + Qal infin constr · זָנָה (H2181)Infinitive construct expressing means→ Infinitive: means/manner of the profanationזָנָה (H2181) 'to fornicate'; infinitive with לְ specifying how she profanes herself.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), untranslated; marks אָבִיהָ as the object profaned.
אָבִ֨יהָ֙her fatherN m sg constr/Sp3fs · אָב (H1)Direct object of מְחַלֶּלֶתאָב (H1) 'father'; her act desecrates not only herself but her father's priestly honor.
הִ֣יאsheindependent pron 3fs · הִיא (H1931)Subject, resumptive/frontedהִיא (H1931), resumptive subject pronoun.
מְחַלֶּ֔לֶתprofanesPiel ptc f sg abs · חָלַל (H2490)Predicate participle (main clause, apodosis)→ Participle: describes her act as it standsחָלַל (H2490) Piel 'to profane'; the participle frames her prostitution as an ongoing desecration of her father.
בָּאֵ֖שׁwith fireprep בְּ + art + N c sg abs · אֵשׁ (H784)Instrumental prepositional phraseאֵשׁ (H784) 'fire'; the instrument of the extreme penalty, unique in the Torah for its severity.
תִּשָּׂרֵֽףshe shall be burnedNiphal impf 3fs · שָׂרַף (H8313)Predicate verb (main clause, apodosis, penalty)→ Yiqtol: modal — mandated penaltyשָׂרַף (H8313) 'to burn'; Niphal passive, the harshest capital penalty in the priestly law, reserved elsewhere only for specific incest cases (20:14).
10
וְהַכֹּהֵן֩ הַגָּד֨וֹל מֵאֶחָ֜יו אֲֽשֶׁר יוּצַ֥ק עַל רֹאשׁ֣וֹ שֶׁ֤מֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה֙ וּמִלֵּ֣א אֶת יָד֔וֹ לִלְבֹּ֖שׁ אֶת הַבְּגָדִ֑ים אֶת רֹאשׁוֹ֙ לֹ֣א יִפְרָ֔ע וּבְגָדָ֖יו לֹ֥א יִפְרֹֽם
And the priest who is greatest among his brothers, on whose head the anointing oil has been poured and who has been ordained to wear the garments, shall not dishevel his head or tear his garments.
The chapter pivots to הַכֹּהֵן הַגָּדוֹל, defined by two marks — the poured anointing oil and the 'filled hand' of ordination — then forbids him the two mourning gestures (disheveled hair, torn garments) that Aaron and his sons were in fact forbidden even in the crisis of Nadab and Abihu's death (10:6), now made a standing rule for the office itself.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
וְהַכֹּהֵן֩and the priestconj וְ + art + N m sg abs · כֹּהֵן (H3548)Subject, fronted for a new topicכֹּהֵן (H3548) 'priest'; introduces the high priest as a distinct, more restricted subject.
הַגָּד֨וֹלthe great oneart + Adj m sg abs · גָּדוֹל (H1419)Attributive adjective, in apposition to הַכֹּהֵןגָּדוֹל (H1419) 'great, chief'; הַכֹּהֵן הַגָּדוֹל, 'the high priest' — the technical title first defined descriptively here.
מֵאֶחָ֜יוamong his brothersprep מִן + N m pl constr/Sp3ms · אָח (H251)Prepositional phrase of comparison ('greatest among')אָח (H251) 'brother'; the high priest stands preeminent among his fellow priests.
אֲֽשֶׁרon whoserelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle introducing the defining clauseאֲשֶׁר (H834); introduces the two marks of consecration that define the high priest.
יוּצַ֥קhas been pouredHophal impf 3ms · יָצַק (H3332)Predicate verb of the relative clause→ Yiqtol (passive): a standing, definitional stateיָצַק (H3332) 'to pour'; Hophal passive, describing the anointing rite of Exod 29:7/Lev 8:12 as the high priest's defining mark.
עַלuponprep · עַל (H5921)Prepositional phrase, locativeעַל (H5921) 'upon, on'.
רֹאשׁ֣וֹhis headN m sg constr/Sp3ms · רֹאשׁ (H7218)Object of preposition עַלרֹאשׁ (H7218) 'head'; the site of anointing that consecrates the high priest above his brothers.
שֶׁ֤מֶןthe oil ofN m sg constr · שֶׁמֶן (H8081)Subject of יוּצַק (construct head)שֶׁמֶן (H8081) 'oil'; construct with הַמִּשְׁחָה, 'the anointing oil'.
הַמִּשְׁחָה֙of anointingart + N f sg abs · מִשְׁחָה (H4888)Genitive of the construct chainמִשְׁחָה (H4888) 'anointing'; the specially compounded consecrating oil of Exod 30:22-33.
וּמִלֵּ֣אand who has been ordainedconj וְ + Piel perf 3ms · מָלֵא (H4390)Predicate verb continuing the relative clause→ Perfective: a completed act of consecrationמָלֵא (H4390) 'to fill'; idiom מִלֵּא יָד 'fill the hand' = to ordain, install in priestly office (cf. 8:33).
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), untranslated.
יָד֔וֹhis handN c sg constr/Sp3ms · יָד (H3027)Direct object of מִלֵּאיָד (H3027) 'hand'; object of the ordination idiom מִלֵּא יָד.
לִלְבֹּ֖שׁto wearprep לְ + Qal infin constr · לָבַשׁ (H3847)Infinitive construct expressing purpose→ Infinitive: purpose of the ordinationלָבַשׁ (H3847) 'to wear, put on'; purpose infinitive, the ordination authorizes him to don the high-priestly vestments.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), untranslated.
הַבְּגָדִ֑יםthe garmentsart + N m pl abs · בֶּגֶד (H899)Direct object of לִלְבֹּשׁבֶּגֶד (H899) 'garment'; the special high-priestly vestments of Exod 28.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker, second clause beginsאֵת (H853), untranslated; marks רֹאשׁוֹ as the fronted object of the main prohibition.
רֹאשׁוֹ֙his headN m sg constr/Sp3ms · רֹאשׁ (H7218)Direct object of יִפְרָע, frontedרֹאשׁ (H7218) 'head'; fronted for emphasis before the main prohibition.
לֹ֣אnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates יִפְרָעלֹא (H3808).
יִפְרָ֔עhe shall not let looseQal impf 3ms · פָּרַע (H6544)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause)→ Yiqtol: prohibitive/modalפָּרַע (H6544) 'to let loose, dishevel'; forbids unbinding/disheveling the hair — a mourning gesture (cf. 10:6) that the high priest may never perform.
וּבְגָדָ֖יוand his garmentsconj וְ + N m pl constr/Sp3ms · בֶּגֶד (H899)Direct object of יִפְרֹם, frontedבֶּגֶד (H899) 'garment'; second forbidden mourning gesture, fronted for parallelism with רֹאשׁוֹ.
לֹ֥אnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates יִפְרֹםלֹא (H3808).
יִפְרֹֽםhe shall not tearQal impf 3ms · פָּרַם (H6533)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause)→ Yiqtol: prohibitive/modalפָּרַם (H6533) 'to tear, rend'; forbids the mourning gesture of tearing one's clothes (cf. 10:6), heightening the ordinary priest's rules of vv. 1-6 for the high priest.
11
וְעַ֛ל כָּל נַפְשֹׁ֥ת מֵ֖ת לֹ֣א יָבֹ֑א לְאָבִ֥יו וּלְאִמּ֖וֹ לֹ֥א יִטַּמָּֽא
He shall not go in to any dead bodies; he shall not defile himself even for his father or his mother.
Where the ordinary priest may defile himself for his closest blood-kin (vv. 2-3), the high priest may not — not even for father or mother. The universal quantifier כָּל and the explicit naming of father and mother make the contrast with v. 2 unmistakable: his consecration outranks even filial duty.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
וְעַ֛לand concerningconj וְ + prep · עַל (H5921)Prepositional phrase, sphere of the prohibitionעַל (H5921) 'upon, concerning'; introduces the scope of the following prohibition.
כָּלanyN m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Construct, quantifier of נַפְשֹׁתכֹּל (H3605) 'all, every'; universalizing quantifier — no exception whatever, unlike vv. 2-3.
נַפְשֹׁ֥תdead bodies ofN c pl constr · נֶפֶשׁ (H5315)Genitive of the construct chain, object of עַלנֶפֶשׁ (H5315) 'soul, person'; plural construct here idiomatically 'corpses' (cf. Num 6:6).
מֵ֖תdeadQal ptc m sg abs · מוּת (H4191)Attributive participle modifying נַפְשֹׁת→ Participle: state, substantivalמוּת (H4191) 'to die'; substantival participle 'a dead person', specifying the corpses in view.
לֹ֣אnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates יָבֹאלֹא (H3808).
יָבֹ֑אhe shall go inQal impf 3ms · בּוֹא (H935)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause)→ Yiqtol: prohibitive/modalבּוֹא (H935) 'to come, enter'; forbids the high priest even entering the presence of any corpse whatsoever.
לְאָבִ֥יוfor his fatherprep לְ + N m sg constr/Sp3ms · אָב (H1)Prepositional phrase, object of exception deniedאָב (H1) 'father'; unlike the ordinary priest of v. 2, the high priest has no exception even for his own father.
וּלְאִמּ֖וֹor for his motherconj וְ + prep לְ + N f sg constr/Sp3ms · אֵם (H517)Second item, parallel prepositional phraseאֵם (H517) 'mother'; completing the pair, both denied to the high priest — the sharpest contrast with vv. 2-3.
לֹ֥אnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates יִטַּמָּאלֹא (H3808).
יִטַּמָּֽאhe shall defile himselfHitpael impf 3ms · טָמֵא (H2930)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause)→ Yiqtol: prohibitive/modalטָמֵא (H2930); resumes the chapter's key verb, now denied to the high priest even for his own parents.
12
וּמִן הַמִּקְדָּשׁ֙ לֹ֣א יֵצֵ֔א וְלֹ֣א יְחַלֵּ֔ל אֵ֖ת מִקְדַּ֣שׁ אֱלֹהָ֑יו כִּ֡י נֵ֠זֶר שֶׁ֣מֶן מִשְׁחַ֧ת אֱלֹהָ֛יו עָלָ֖יו אֲנִ֥י יְהוָֽה
He shall not go out from the sanctuary, nor shall he profane the sanctuary of his God; for the consecration of the anointing oil of his God is upon him. I am YHWH.
The high priest may not leave the sanctuary — presumably in the specific sense of abandoning his consecrated service even under the emotional pull of a parent's death — because the anointing that marks him belongs permanently to God's sanctuary, not merely to his private person. The unit closes with the recognition formula אֲנִי יְהוָה.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
וּמִןand fromconj וְ + prep · מִן (H4480)Prepositional phrase, sourceמִן (H4480) 'from'; source-preposition governing הַמִּקְדָּשׁ.
הַמִּקְדָּשׁ֙the sanctuaryart + N m sg abs · מִקְדָּשׁ (H4720)Object of preposition מִן, frontedמִקְדָּשׁ (H4720) 'sanctuary, holy place', from קדשׁ; the high priest's post, which he may never abandon even for mourning.
לֹ֣אnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates יֵצֵאלֹא (H3808).
יֵצֵ֔אhe shall go outQal impf 3ms · יָצָא (H3318)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause)→ Yiqtol: prohibitive/modalיָצָא (H3318) 'to go out'; forbids the high priest from leaving sanctuary service, presumably even for a parent's funeral (cf. rabbinic elaboration in m. Sanhedrin 2:1).
וְלֹ֣אand notconj וְ + negative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates יְחַלֵּללֹא (H3808).
יְחַלֵּ֔לhe shall profanePiel impf 3ms · חָלַל (H2490)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause)→ Yiqtol: prohibitive/modalחָלַל (H2490) 'to profane'; abandoning his post would desecrate the sanctuary itself, not only his own person.
אֵ֖ת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), untranslated.
מִקְדַּ֣שׁthe sanctuary ofN m sg constr · מִקְדָּשׁ (H4720)Direct object (construct head)מִקְדָּשׁ (H4720).
אֱלֹהָ֑יוhis GodN m pl constr/Sp3ms · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Genitive of the construct chainאֱלֹהִים (H430) with suffix.
כִּ֡יforconj · כִּי (H3588)Causal conjunction introducing the rationaleכִּי (H3588).
נֵ֠זֶרthe consecration ofN m sg constr · נֵזֶר (H5145)Subject (construct head) of the verbless clauseנֵזֶר (H5145) 'consecration, crown, diadem'; here the mark/sign of his set-apartness, closely tied to the golden plate of Exod 29:6.
שֶׁ֣מֶןthe oil ofN m sg constr · שֶׁמֶן (H8081)Genitive of the construct chainשֶׁמֶן (H8081) 'oil'.
מִשְׁחַ֧תanointing ofN f sg constr · מִשְׁחָה (H4888)Genitive continuing the construct chainמִשְׁחָה (H4888) 'anointing'; triple-layered construct chain, 'the consecration of the anointing-oil of his God'.
אֱלֹהָ֛יוhis GodN m pl constr/Sp3ms · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Genitive completing the chainאֱלֹהִים (H430) with suffix.
עָלָ֖יוis upon himprep עַל + Sp3ms · עַל (H5921)Predicate prepositional phrase (verbless clause)עַל (H5921) with suffix, 'upon him' — the anointing physically and permanently marks him.
אֲנִ֥יIindependent pron 1cs · אֲנִי (H589)Subject of the closing self-identification formulaאֲנִי (H589), the Holiness Code's recurring self-identification.
יְהוָֽהam YHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Predicate nominative, appositive to אֲנִייְהוָה (H3068); the recognition formula closing this sub-unit (cf. vv. 8, 15, 23).
13
וְה֕וּא אִשָּׁ֥ה בִבְתוּלֶ֖יהָ יִקָּֽח
And he shall take a wife in her virginity.
The high priest's wife must be a בְתוּלָה, a woman still in her virginity — the strictest of the marriage restrictions in the chapter, further specified in v. 14 by excluding widow, divorcée, defiled woman, and prostitute alike.
Word-by-word analysis· 4 words
וְה֕וּאand heconj וְ + independent pron 3ms · הוּא (H1931)Subject, fronted for new topic (marriage law)הוּא (H1931); fronted subject shifting to the high priest's marriage law.
אִשָּׁ֥הa wifeN f sg abs · אִשָּׁה (H802)Direct object of יִקָּחאִשָּׁה (H802) 'woman, wife'.
בִבְתוּלֶ֖יהָin her virginityprep בְּ + N c pl constr/Sp3fs · בְּתוּלִים (H1331)Adverbial prepositional phrase of stateבְּתוּלִים (H1331) 'virginity'; plural abstract noun, specifying that she must still be in her unmarried, virgin state.
יִקָּֽחhe shall takeQal impf 3ms · לָקַח (H3947)Predicate verb (command, main clause)→ Yiqtol: modal — the mandated ruleלָקַח (H3947) 'to take, marry'; the high priest's marriage restriction, stricter than the ordinary priest's (v. 7).
14
אַלְמָנָ֤ה וּגְרוּשָׁה֙ וַחֲלָלָ֣ה זֹנָ֔ה אֶת אֵ֖לֶּה לֹ֣א יִקָּ֑ח כִּ֛י אִם בְּתוּלָ֥ה מֵעַמָּ֖יו יִקַּ֥ח אִשָּֽׁה
A widow, or a divorced woman, or a defiled woman, a prostitute — these he shall not take; but he shall take as a wife a virgin of his own people.
Four categories are barred — widow, divorcée, defiled woman, prostitute — a stricter list than the ordinary priest's two (v. 7), reflecting the greater purity demanded of the office. The positive requirement, a virgin 'of his own people', likely restricts the field further to the priestly clan itself, though this is debated.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
אַלְמָנָ֤הa widowN f sg abs · אַלְמָנָה (H490)First item of the excluded-women listאַלְמָנָה (H490) 'widow'; the first category forbidden to the high priest, though permitted to the ordinary priest (implicitly, since not named in v. 7).
וּגְרוּשָׁה֙or a divorced womanconj וְ + Qal passive ptc f sg abs · גָּרַשׁ (H1644)Second item of the list→ Participle (passive): resulting stateגָּרַשׁ (H1644) 'to drive out, divorce'; passive participle, repeating the category of v. 7.
וַחֲלָלָ֣הor a defiled womanconj וְ + Adj f sg abs · חָלָל (H2491)Third item of the listחָלָל (H2491), as in v. 7.
זֹנָ֔הa prostituteQal ptc f sg abs · זָנָה (H2181)Fourth item of the list→ Participle: characterizing activityזָנָה (H2181), as in v. 7, completing the four-fold exclusion — the high priest's list expands the ordinary priest's two-fold ban of v. 7 by adding the widow.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), untranslated; marks אֵלֶּה as the resumed object.
אֵ֖לֶּהthesedemonstrative pron c pl · אֵלֶּה (H428)Direct object of יִקָּח, resuming the listאֵלֶּה (H428) 'these'; resumptive demonstrative summarizing the four excluded categories.
לֹ֣אnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates יִקָּחלֹא (H3808).
יִקָּ֑חhe shall takeQal impf 3ms · לָקַח (H3947)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause)→ Yiqtol: prohibitive/modalלָקַח (H3947) 'to take, marry'.
כִּ֛יbutconj · כִּי (H3588)Conjunction, first element of the exceptive idiomכִּי (H3588); with אִם forms the exceptive כִּי אִם, as in v. 2.
אִםratherconj · אִם (H518)Second element of the exceptive idiomאִם (H518).
בְּתוּלָ֥הa virginN f sg abs · בְּתוּלָה (H1330)Direct object of יִקַּח (positive command)בְּתוּלָה (H1330) 'virgin', restating v. 13's requirement positively.
מֵעַמָּ֖יוof his own peopleprep מִן + N m pl constr/Sp3ms · עַם (H5971)Prepositional phrase, source/originעַם (H5971) 'people, kin'; she must additionally be drawn from his own kin-group, not simply any Israelite virgin.
יִקַּ֥חhe shall takeQal impf 3ms · לָקַח (H3947)Predicate verb (positive command, main clause)→ Yiqtol: modal — mandated ruleלָקַח (H3947); the positive counterpart closing the marriage law.
אִשָּֽׁהas a wifeN f sg abs · אִשָּׁה (H802)Direct object of יִקַּח, in apposition to בְּתוּלָהאִשָּׁה (H802) 'woman, wife'.
15
וְלֹֽא יְחַלֵּ֥ל זַרְע֖וֹ בְּעַמָּ֑יו כִּ֛י אֲנִ֥י יְהוָ֖ה מְקַדְּשֽׁוֹ
So that he does not profane his offspring among his people; for I am YHWH who sanctifies him.
The purpose of the marriage restriction is spelled out: to keep the priestly line (זֶרַע) itself undefiled. The recognition formula אֲנִי יְהוָה מְקַדְּשׁוֹ closes the entire high-priest unit (vv. 10-15) as an inclusio matching its rationale-formula pattern at vv. 8 and 12.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
וְלֹֽאso that notconj וְ + negative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates יְחַלֵּל, expressing result/purposeלֹא (H3808) with conjunction, introducing the purpose/result of the marriage law just given.
יְחַלֵּ֥לhe profanePiel impf 3ms · חָלַל (H2490)Predicate verb (result clause, main clause)→ Yiqtol: purpose/result — an outcome to be avoidedחָלַל (H2490) 'to profane'; the marriage restriction exists so that his lineage remains undefiled.
זַרְע֖וֹhis offspringN m sg constr/Sp3ms · זֶרַע (H2233)Direct object of יְחַלֵּלזֶרַע (H2233) 'seed, offspring'; an improper marriage would taint the priestly line itself, not merely his own status.
בְּעַמָּ֑יוamong his peopleprep בְּ + N m pl constr/Sp3ms · עַם (H5971)Adverbial prepositional phrase of sphereעַם (H5971) with suffix, echoing the chapter's recurring phrase.
כִּ֛יforconj · כִּי (H3588)Causal conjunction introducing the closing rationaleכִּי (H3588).
אֲנִ֥יIindependent pron 1cs · אֲנִי (H589)Subject of the self-identification formulaאֲנִי (H589).
יְהוָ֖הam YHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Predicate nominative, appositive to אֲנִייְהוָה (H3068).
מְקַדְּשֽׁוֹwho sanctifies himPiel ptc m sg constr/Sp3ms · קָדַשׁ (H6942)Attributive participle in apposition to יְהוָה→ Participle: characteristic, ongoing divine actionקָדַשׁ (H6942) Piel participle; closes the high-priestly unit (vv. 10-15) with the same rationale formula as vv. 8 and 12.
16
וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה אֶל מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר
And YHWH spoke to Moses, saying,
A fresh revelation formula marks the transition to a new topic: the physical qualifications required of any of Aaron's descendants who would serve at the altar (vv. 17-23). This mirrors the chapter's earlier speech-formula at v. 1.
Word-by-word analysis· 5 words
וַיְדַבֵּ֥רand he spokePiel wayyiqtol 3ms · דָּבַר (H1696)Predicate verb (main clause, narrative frame)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance, marks a new divine speechדָּבַר (H1696) 'to speak'; Piel, the standard formula opening a new legal unit.
יְהוָ֖הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Subject of וַיְדַבֵּריְהוָה (H3068).
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase marking the addresseeאֶל (H413).
מֹשֶׁ֥הMosesN proper · מֹשֶׁה (H4872)Object of preposition אֶלמֹשֶׁה (H4872).
לֵּאמֹֽרsayingprep לְ + Qal infin constr · אָמַר (H559)Infinitive construct introducing direct speech→ Infinitive: introduces quoted speechאָמַר (H559); the standard infinitive formula introducing the quoted divine speech that follows.
17
דַּבֵּ֥ר אֶֽל אַהֲרֹ֖ן לֵאמֹ֑ר אִ֣ישׁ מִֽזַּרְעֲךָ֞ לְדֹרֹתָ֗ם אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִהְיֶ֥ה בוֹ֙ מ֔וּם לֹ֣א יִקְרַ֔ב לְהַקְרִ֖יב לֶ֥חֶם אֱלֹהָֽיו
Speak to Aaron: Any man of your offspring, throughout their generations, who has a blemish in him shall not approach to offer the food of his God.
The address narrows further, to Aaron himself, and the topic shifts from moral/ritual purity to physical fitness: any of Aaron's descendants bearing a מוּם (blemish) — a term to be itemized in the list that follows — may not approach the altar to serve, a rule fixed 'throughout their generations'.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
דַּבֵּ֥רspeakPiel impv 2ms · דָּבַר (H1696)Imperative, command to relay speech→ Volitional: direct commandדָּבַר (H1696), imperative launching a new relay-speech to Aaron specifically (rather than the priests generally, cf. v. 1).
אֶֽלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase marking the addresseeאֶל (H413).
אַהֲרֹ֖ןAaronN proper · אַהֲרֹן (H175)Object of preposition אֶלאַהֲרֹן (H175); addressed directly, as the progenitor of the priestly line whose descendants are now in view.
לֵאמֹ֑רsayingprep לְ + Qal infin constr · אָמַר (H559)Infinitive construct introducing direct speech→ Infinitive: introduces quoted speechאָמַר (H559).
אִ֣ישׁany manN m sg abs · אִישׁ (H376)Subject, casuistic protasis headאִישׁ (H376) 'man'; opens a new casuistic (any-man-who) construction typical of priestly law.
מִֽזַּרְעֲךָ֞of your offspringprep מִן + N m sg constr/Sp2ms · זֶרַע (H2233)Prepositional phrase, partitive, modifying אִישׁזֶרַע (H2233) 'seed, offspring'; the blemish law applies to all of Aaron's physical descendants, priest or not by function.
לְדֹרֹתָ֗םthroughout their generationsprep לְ + N m pl constr/Sp3mp · דּוֹר (H1755)Adverbial prepositional phrase of durationדּוֹר (H1755) 'generation'; the standard formula marking a law as perpetual, applying to all future generations.
אֲשֶׁ֨רwhorelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particleאֲשֶׁר (H834).
יִהְיֶ֥הhasQal impf 3ms · הָיָה (H1961)Predicate verb of the relative/conditional clause→ Yiqtol: conditional/hypotheticalהָיָה (H1961) 'to be'; idiom יִהְיֶה בוֹ מוּם, 'there is in him a blemish'.
בוֹ֙in himprep בְּ + Sp3ms · בְּPrepositional phrase, locativeבְּ with suffix, completing the idiom of blemish-possession.
מ֔וּםa blemishN m sg abs · מוּם (H3971)Subject of יִהְיֶהמוּם (H3971) 'blemish, defect'; the chapter's key technical term, itemized in the list of vv. 18-20 and paralleling the sacrificial-animal blemish rules of 22:20-24.
לֹ֣אnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates יִקְרַבלֹא (H3808).
יִקְרַ֔בhe shall approachQal impf 3ms · קָרַב (H7126)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause, apodosis)→ Yiqtol: prohibitive/modalקָרַב (H7126) 'to draw near, approach'; the technical verb for approaching the altar to serve, here forbidden to any blemished descendant.
לְהַקְרִ֖יבto offerprep לְ + Hiphil infin constr · קָרַב (H7126)Infinitive construct expressing purpose→ Infinitive: purpose of approachingקָרַב (H7126) Hiphil infinitive 'to bring near, offer'; purpose clause naming the specific priestly act barred.
לֶ֥חֶםthe food ofN m sg constr · לֶחֶם (H3899)Direct object (construct head) of לְהַקְרִיבלֶחֶם (H3899); the recurring idiom for sacrificial food, as in vv. 6, 8.
אֱלֹהָֽיוhis GodN m pl constr/Sp3ms · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Genitive of the construct chainאֱלֹהִים (H430) with suffix.
18
כִּ֥י כָל אִ֛ישׁ אֲשֶׁר בּ֥וֹ מ֖וּם לֹ֣א יִקְרָ֑ב אִ֤ישׁ עִוֵּר֙ א֣וֹ פִסֵּ֔חַ א֥וֹ חָרֻ֖ם א֥וֹ שָׂרֽוּעַ
For no man who has a blemish shall approach: a blind man, or lame, or one with a mutilated face, or one with a limb too long.
The list begins a catalogue of מוּם conditions, several of them (חָרֻם, שָׂרוּעַ) rare or hapax terms whose exact anatomical referent is genuinely uncertain — a real interpretive crux inherited by every translation.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
כִּ֥יforconj · כִּי (H3588)Causal conjunction introducing the itemized restatementכִּי (H3588); introduces the detailed list expanding v. 17's general rule.
כָלanyN m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Construct, quantifier of אִישׁכֹּל (H3605) 'all, every'.
אִ֛ישׁmanN m sg abs · אִישׁ (H376)Genitive of the construct chain, subject of the relative clauseאִישׁ (H376).
אֲשֶׁרwhorelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particleאֲשֶׁר (H834).
בּ֥וֹin him (is)prep בְּ + Sp3ms · בְּPrepositional phrase, locative predicateבְּ with suffix.
מ֖וּםa blemishN m sg abs · מוּם (H3971)Subject of the verbless relative clauseמוּם (H3971), restated from v. 17.
לֹ֣אnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates יִקְרָבלֹא (H3808).
יִקְרָ֑בhe shall approachQal impf 3ms · קָרַב (H7126)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause)→ Yiqtol: prohibitive/modalקָרַב (H7126), restated from v. 17.
אִ֤ישׁa manN m sg abs · אִישׁ (H376)Appositive, head of the itemized blemish listאִישׁ (H376); introduces the list of specific disqualifying conditions.
עִוֵּר֙blindAdj m sg abs · עִוֵּר (H5787)First item of the blemish list, attributiveעִוֵּר (H5787) 'blind'; the first specific disqualification.
א֣וֹorconj · אוֹ (H176)Disjunctive conjunction linking list itemsאוֹ (H176) 'or'.
פִסֵּ֔חַlameAdj m sg abs · פִּסֵּחַ (H6455)Second item of the listפִּסֵּחַ (H6455) 'lame'.
א֥וֹorconj · אוֹ (H176)Disjunctive conjunctionאוֹ (H176).
חָרֻ֖םone with a mutilated faceQal passive ptc m sg abs · חָרַם (H2763)Third item of the list→ Participle (passive): a resulting physical stateחָרַם (H2763); sense debated — 'slit-nosed', 'flat-nosed', or more broadly 'disfigured in the face'; a crux term of uncertain precise reference.
א֥וֹorconj · אוֹ (H176)Disjunctive conjunctionאוֹ (H176).
שָׂרֽוּעַone with a limb too longQal passive ptc m sg abs · שָׂרַע (H8311)Fourth item of the list→ Participle (passive): a resulting physical stateשָׂרַע (H8311); another crux — 'having a limb too long/disproportionate' is the majority guess, though the root's precise sense is uncertain, occurring only here.
19
א֣וֹ אִ֔ישׁ אֲשֶׁר יִהְיֶ֥ה ב֖וֹ שֶׁ֣בֶר רָ֑גֶל א֖וֹ שֶׁ֥בֶר יָֽד
Or a man who has a broken foot or a broken hand,
A more concrete, unambiguous category follows the debated terms of v. 18 — a healed or unhealed fracture of foot or hand, presumably one that leaves lasting impairment or disfigurement.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
א֣וֹorconj · אוֹ (H176)Disjunctive conjunction continuing the listאוֹ (H176).
אִ֔ישׁa manN m sg abs · אִישׁ (H376)Subject of the relative clauseאִישׁ (H376), reintroducing the casuistic subject for a new category.
אֲשֶׁרwhorelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particleאֲשֶׁר (H834).
יִהְיֶ֥הhasQal impf 3ms · הָיָה (H1961)Predicate verb of the relative clause→ Yiqtol: conditional/hypotheticalהָיָה (H1961), idiom repeated from v. 17-18.
ב֖וֹin himprep בְּ + Sp3ms · בְּPrepositional phrase, locativeבְּ with suffix.
שֶׁ֣בֶרa fracture ofN m sg constr · שֶׁבֶר (H7667)Subject of the relative clause (construct head)שֶׁבֶר (H7667) 'break, fracture', from שָׁבַר 'to break'.
רָ֑גֶלfootN f sg abs · רֶגֶל (H7272)Genitive of the construct chainרֶגֶל (H7272) 'foot, leg'.
א֖וֹorconj · אוֹ (H176)Disjunctive conjunctionאוֹ (H176).
שֶׁ֥בֶרa fracture ofN m sg constr · שֶׁבֶר (H7667)Second construct head, parallel itemשֶׁבֶר (H7667), repeated for the parallel limb.
יָֽדhandN c sg abs · יָד (H3027)Genitive of the construct chainיָד (H3027) 'hand, arm'.
20
אֽוֹ גִבֵּ֣ן אוֹ דַ֔ק א֖וֹ תְּבַלֻּ֣ל בְּעֵינ֑וֹ א֤וֹ גָרָב֙ א֣וֹ יַלֶּ֔פֶת א֖וֹ מְר֥וֹחַ אָֽשֶׁךְ
Or a hunchback, or a dwarf, or one with a defect in his eye, or one with festering eruptions or scabs, or one with crushed testicles.
The list closes with skin and reproductive conditions. Several terms here — תְּבַלֻּל, גָרָב, יַלֶּפֶת, and the גִבֵּן/דַק pair — are rare or hapax legomena whose precise clinical referents remain genuinely uncertain; the cumulative effect of the list, whatever its exact specifics, is a comprehensive net covering visible, disabling, or disfiguring conditions understood to compromise wholeness (תָּמִים) before God, on the same logic as the unblemished-animal requirement of 22:17-25.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
אֽוֹorconj · אוֹ (H176)Disjunctive conjunction continuing the listאוֹ (H176).
גִבֵּ֣ןa hunchbackAdj m sg abs · גִּבֵּן (H1384)Item of the blemish listגִּבֵּן (H1384) 'hunchbacked'; a hapax term, plausibly related to גַּב 'back'.
אוֹorconj · אוֹ (H176)Disjunctive conjunctionאוֹ (H176).
דַ֔קa dwarfAdj m sg abs · דַּק (H1851)Item of the blemish listדַּק (H1851); sense uncertain — traditionally 'dwarf' or 'thin/emaciated'; another crux term.
א֖וֹorconj · אוֹ (H176)Disjunctive conjunctionאוֹ (H176).
תְּבַלֻּ֣לa defectN m sg abs · תְּבַלֻּל (H8400)Subject/item of the listתְּבַלֻּל (H8400), hapax; likely a white spot or growth clouding the eye (cf. Arabic cognates), rendered 'defect, film'.
בְּעֵינ֑וֹin his eyeprep בְּ + N c sg constr/Sp3ms · עַיִן (H5869)Prepositional phrase, locativeעַיִן (H5869) 'eye'.
א֤וֹorconj · אוֹ (H176)Disjunctive conjunctionאוֹ (H176).
גָרָב֙festering eruptionsN m sg abs · גָּרָב (H1618)Item of the blemish listגָּרָב (H1618) 'scab, itch, eczema'; a skin condition, paired with יַלֶּפֶת as in the parallel list of Deut 28:27.
א֣וֹorconj · אוֹ (H176)Disjunctive conjunctionאוֹ (H176).
יַלֶּ֔פֶתscabsN f sg abs · יַלֶּפֶת (H3217)Item of the blemish listיַלֶּפֶת (H3217), hapax pair with גָּרָב; likely a chronic scaly/scabbed skin disease, exact clinical identity uncertain.
א֖וֹorconj · אוֹ (H176)Disjunctive conjunctionאוֹ (H176).
מְר֥וֹחַcrushedQal passive ptc m sg constr · מָרַח (H4790)Attributive participle, construct head of the final item→ Participle (passive): a resulting physical stateמָרַח (H4790) 'to crush, bruise'; passive participle in construct with אָשֶׁךְ, 'one crushed as to the testicle'.
אָֽשֶׁךְtesticleN m sg abs · אֶשֶׁךְ (H810)Genitive of the construct chainאֶשֶׁךְ (H810) 'testicle'; closes the blemish catalogue with a condition of impaired reproductive/physical wholeness, cf. the same disqualification for sacrificial animals (22:24) and the related exclusion of Deut 23:2.
21
כָּל אִ֞ישׁ אֲשֶׁר בּ֣וֹ מ֗וּם מִזֶּ֨רַע֙ אַהֲרֹ֣ן הַכֹּהֵ֔ן לֹ֣א יִגַּ֔שׁ לְהַקְרִ֖יב אֶת אִשֵּׁ֣י יְהוָ֑ה מ֣וּם בּ֔וֹ אֵ֚ת לֶ֣חֶם אֱלֹהָ֔יו לֹ֥א יִגַּ֖שׁ לְהַקְרִֽיב
No man of the offspring of Aaron the priest who has a blemish shall come near to offer the fire-offerings of YHWH; he has a blemish — he shall not come near to offer the food of his God.
The rule of vv. 17-18 is restated in full, now naming Aaron explicitly as the line's founder, and the core clause 'he has a blemish, he shall not approach' is doubled for rhetorical emphasis — a common priestly-law technique for driving home a closing ruling.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
כָּלanyN m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Construct, quantifier of אִישׁכֹּל (H3605).
אִ֞ישׁmanN m sg abs · אִישׁ (H376)Genitive of the construct chain, subject of the relative clauseאִישׁ (H376).
אֲשֶׁרwhorelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particleאֲשֶׁר (H834).
בּ֣וֹin him (is)prep בְּ + Sp3ms · בְּPrepositional phrase, locative predicateבְּ with suffix.
מ֗וּםa blemishN m sg abs · מוּם (H3971)Subject of the verbless relative clauseמוּם (H3971), summarizing the list of vv. 18-20.
מִזֶּ֨רַע֙of the offspring ofprep מִן + N m sg constr · זֶרַע (H2233)Prepositional phrase, partitive, modifying אִישׁזֶרַע (H2233) 'seed, offspring'.
אַהֲרֹ֣ןAaronN proper · אַהֲרֹן (H175)Genitive of the construct chainאַהֲרֹן (H175).
הַכֹּהֵ֔ןthe priestart + N m sg abs · כֹּהֵן (H3548)Appositive to אַהֲרֹןכֹּהֵן (H3548), in apposition, 'Aaron the priest' — emphasizing his founding priestly status.
לֹ֣אnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates יִגַּשׁלֹא (H3808).
יִגַּ֔שׁhe shall come nearQal impf 3ms · נָגַשׁ (H5066)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause)→ Yiqtol: prohibitive/modalנָגַשׁ (H5066) 'to draw near, approach'; a synonym of קָרַב used interchangeably in this unit.
לְהַקְרִ֖יבto offerprep לְ + Hiphil infin constr · קָרַב (H7126)Infinitive construct expressing purpose→ Infinitive: purpose of approachingקָרַב (H7126) Hiphil infinitive.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), untranslated.
אִשֵּׁ֣יthe fire-offerings ofN m pl constr · אִשֶּׁה (H801)Direct object (construct head)אִשֶּׁה (H801), as in v. 6.
יְהוָ֑הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Genitive of the construct chainיְהוָה (H3068).
מ֣וּםa blemishN m sg abs · מוּם (H3971)Subject of a resumptive verbless clauseמוּם (H3971); the clause is repeated for rhetorical emphasis, driving the point home.
בּ֔וֹis in himprep בְּ + Sp3ms · בְּPrepositional phrase, locative predicateבְּ with suffix.
אֵ֚ת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), untranslated.
לֶ֣חֶםthe food ofN m sg constr · לֶחֶם (H3899)Direct object (construct head)לֶחֶם (H3899).
אֱלֹהָ֔יוhis GodN m pl constr/Sp3ms · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Genitive of the construct chainאֱלֹהִים (H430) with suffix.
לֹ֥אnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates the second יִגַּשׁלֹא (H3808).
יִגַּ֖שׁhe shall come nearQal impf 3ms · נָגַשׁ (H5066)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause, repeated)→ Yiqtol: prohibitive/modalנָגַשׁ (H5066), the prohibition restated for emphatic closure.
לְהַקְרִֽיבto offerprep לְ + Hiphil infin constr · קָרַב (H7126)Infinitive construct expressing purpose→ Infinitive: purposeקָרַב (H7126) Hiphil infinitive, closing the verse with emphatic repetition of vv. 17-18's rule.
22
לֶ֣חֶם אֱלֹהָ֔יו מִקָּדְשֵׁ֖י הַקֳּדָשִׁ֑ים וּמִן הַקֳּדָשִׁ֖ים יֹאכֵֽל
He may eat the food of his God, both of the most holy and of the holy things.
A significant mitigation follows the harsh disqualification of vv. 17-21: the blemished priest is barred from ministering at the altar but not disinherited from the priestly food portions, both the 'most holy' and ordinary 'holy' grades — his kinship status and its material benefits remain intact even though his cultic function is suspended.
Word-by-word analysis· 7 words
לֶ֣חֶםthe food ofN m sg constr · לֶחֶם (H3899)Direct object of יֹאכֵל, frontedלֶחֶם (H3899); fronted object marking the topic shift from prohibition to permission.
אֱלֹהָ֔יוhis GodN m pl constr/Sp3ms · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Genitive of the construct chainאֱלֹהִים (H430) with suffix.
מִקָּדְשֵׁ֖יfrom the most holy things ofprep מִן + N m pl constr · קֹדֶשׁ (H6944)Prepositional phrase, partitive, in apposition to לֶחֶםקֹדֶשׁ (H6944), construct plural; מִקָּדְשֵׁי הַקֳּדָשִׁים 'from the holy of holies [-grade offerings]'.
הַקֳּדָשִׁ֑יםthe most holy thingsart + N m pl abs · קֹדֶשׁ (H6944)Genitive of the construct chainקֹדֶשׁ (H6944); superlative construct as in 7:1, the highest-grade offerings normally eaten only by priests in the sanctuary court.
וּמִןand fromconj וְ + prep · מִן (H4480)Prepositional phrase, second categoryמִן (H4480).
הַקֳּדָשִׁ֖יםthe holy thingsart + N m pl abs · קֹדֶשׁ (H6944)Object of preposition מִןקֹדֶשׁ (H6944); here the lower grade of 'holy' (not 'most holy') offerings, shared more broadly with the priest's household (cf. 22:10-13).
יֹאכֵֽלhe shall eatQal impf 3ms · אָכַל (H398)Predicate verb (permission, main clause)→ Yiqtol: modal — permission grantedאָכַל (H398) 'to eat'; the blemished priest retains his right to the priestly food allowance even though barred from altar service.
23
אַ֣ךְ אֶל הַפָּרֹ֜כֶת לֹ֣א יָבֹ֗א וְאֶל הַמִּזְבֵּ֛חַ לֹ֥א יִגַּ֖שׁ כִּֽי מ֣וּם בּ֑וֹ וְלֹ֤א יְחַלֵּל֙ אֶת מִקְדָּשַׁ֔י כִּ֛י אֲנִ֥י יְהוָ֖ה מְקַדְּשָֽׁם
Only he shall not come to the veil, nor come near the altar, for he has a blemish, so that he does not profane my sanctuaries; for I am YHWH who sanctifies them.
The adversative אַךְ marks the limit of v. 22's concession: the blemished priest keeps his food rights but is barred from the two poles of graduated sanctuary access, the inner veil and the outer altar. The unit closes, like the high-priest section, with the recognition formula אֲנִי יְהוָה מְקַדְּשָׁם.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
אַ֣ךְonlyadverb · אַךְ (H389)Restrictive adverb qualifying what followsאַךְ (H389) 'only, surely'; restrictive particle marking the limit on the permission just granted in v. 22.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase, goalאֶל (H413).
הַפָּרֹ֜כֶתthe veilart + N f sg abs · פָּרֹכֶת (H6532)Object of preposition אֶלפָּרֹכֶת (H6532) 'veil, curtain'; the inner curtain screening the most holy place (Exod 26:31-33), the innermost boundary of sanctuary access.
לֹ֣אnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates יָבֹאלֹא (H3808).
יָבֹ֗אhe shall comeQal impf 3ms · בּוֹא (H935)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause)→ Yiqtol: prohibitive/modalבּוֹא (H935) 'to come, enter'.
וְאֶלand toconj וְ + prep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase, second goalאֶל (H413).
הַמִּזְבֵּ֛חַthe altarart + N m sg abs · מִזְבֵּחַ (H4196)Object of preposition אֶלמִזְבֵּחַ (H4196) 'altar', from זָבַח 'to sacrifice'; the outer boundary of restricted access, paired with the veil as the two poles of sanctuary space.
לֹ֥אnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates יִגַּשׁלֹא (H3808).
יִגַּ֖שׁhe shall come nearQal impf 3ms · נָגַשׁ (H5066)Predicate verb (prohibition, main clause)→ Yiqtol: prohibitive/modalנָגַשׁ (H5066).
כִּֽיforconj · כִּי (H3588)Causal conjunctionכִּי (H3588).
מ֣וּםa blemishN m sg abs · מוּם (H3971)Subject of the verbless clauseמוּם (H3971).
בּ֑וֹis in himprep בְּ + Sp3ms · בְּPrepositional phrase, locative predicateבְּ with suffix.
וְלֹ֤אso that notconj וְ + negative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates יְחַלֵּל, result clauseלֹא (H3808) with conjunction.
יְחַלֵּל֙he profanePiel impf 3ms · חָלַל (H2490)Predicate verb (result clause, main clause)→ Yiqtol: purpose/resultחָלַל (H2490) 'to profane'; the restriction exists to protect the sanctuary's holiness itself, echoing v. 12's high-priestly rule now applied to any blemished priest.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), untranslated.
מִקְדָּשַׁ֔יmy sanctuariesN m pl constr/Sp1cs · מִקְדָּשׁ (H4720)Direct object of יְחַלֵּלמִקְדָּשׁ (H4720), plural with 1cs suffix; the plural form likely refers to the sanctuary's several sacred zones (or is an honorific plural), spoken in YHWH's own first-person voice.
כִּ֛יforconj · כִּי (H3588)Causal conjunction introducing the closing rationaleכִּי (H3588).
אֲנִ֥יIindependent pron 1cs · אֲנִי (H589)Subject of the self-identification formulaאֲנִי (H589).
יְהוָ֖הam YHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Predicate nominative, appositive to אֲנִייְהוָה (H3068).
מְקַדְּשָֽׁםwho sanctifies themPiel ptc m sg constr/Sp3mp · קָדַשׁ (H6942)Attributive participle in apposition to יְהוָה→ Participle: characteristic, ongoing divine actionקָדַשׁ (H6942) Piel participle; closes the blemish unit (vv. 16-23) with the recognition formula matching vv. 8, 12, 15.
24
וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֶֽל אַהֲרֹ֖ן וְאֶל בָּנָ֑יו וְאֶֽל כָּל בְּנֵ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל
So Moses spoke to Aaron and to his sons and to all the people of Israel.
The chapter ends, like other legal units in Leviticus, with a compliance notice: Moses relays the law not only to the priests (Aaron and his sons) but to 'all the sons of Israel' — since the community as a whole has a stake in the priesthood's fitness to mediate its worship, as v. 8's address to the congregation already implied.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
וַיְדַבֵּ֣רand he spokePiel wayyiqtol 3ms · דָּבַר (H1696)Predicate verb (main clause, narrative frame)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative closureדָּבַר (H1696); the closing execution-notice, reporting Moses' compliance with the command.
מֹשֶׁ֔הMosesN proper · מֹשֶׁה (H4872)Subject of וַיְדַבֵּרמֹשֶׁה (H4872).
אֶֽלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase marking the first addresseeאֶל (H413).
אַהֲרֹ֖ןAaronN proper · אַהֲרֹן (H175)Object of preposition אֶלאַהֲרֹן (H175).
וְאֶלand toconj וְ + prep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase, second addresseeאֶל (H413).
בָּנָ֑יוhis sonsN m pl constr/Sp3ms · בֵּן (H1121)Object of preposition אֶלבֵּן (H1121) 'son'; Aaron's sons, the priesthood proper.
וְאֶֽלand toconj וְ + prep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase, third addresseeאֶל (H413).
כָּלallN m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Construct, quantifier of בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵלכֹּל (H3605).
בְּנֵ֖יthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Genitive of the construct chainבֵּן (H1121); idiomatic 'children/people of' Israel.
יִשְׂרָאֵֽלIsraelN proper · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Genitive completing the construct chainיִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478); the notice's widened audience — though the law concerns priests, the whole community must know it, since it bears on their worship (cf. v. 8's second-person address).