Leviticus 21:9
7 A priest must not marry a woman defiled by prostitution or divorced by her husband, for the priest is holy to his God.
8 You are to regard him as holy, since he presents the food of your God. He shall be holy to you, because I the LORD am holy—I who set you apart.
If a priest’s daughter defiles herself by prostituting herself, she profanes her father; she must be burned in the fire.
10 The priest who is highest among his brothers, who has had the anointing oil poured on his head and has been ordained to wear the priestly garments, must not let his hair hang loose or tear his garments.
11 He must not go near any dead body; he must not defile himself, even for his father or mother.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- If a priest’s daughter defiles herself by prostituting herself, she profanes her father; she must be burned in the fire.
- KJV
- And the daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the whore, she profaneth her father: she shall be burnt with fire.
- WEB
- “‘The daughter of any priest, if she profanes herself by playing the prostitute, she profanes her father. She shall be burned with fire.
- ASV
- And the daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the harlot, she profaneth her father: she shall be burnt with fire.
- DARBY
- And the daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the whore, she profaneth her father: she shall be burned with fire.
- BLB
- And the daughter of any priest, if she profanes herself by playing the prostitute, she profanes her father; she shall be burned with the fire.
- ÅB
- Og dersom en prests datter vanhelliger seg ved å drive hor, så vanhelliger hun sin far; hun skal brennes med ild.
- OTB
- Hvis en prests datter vanhelliger seg ved å bli en prostituert, bringer hun skam over sin far; hun må brennes med ild.
- B1930
- Og dersom en prests datter vanhelliger sig ved å drive hor, så vanhelliger hun sin far; hun skal brennes med ild.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Genesis 38:24
About three months later, Judah was told, “Your daughter-in-law Tamar has prostituted herself, and now she is pregnant.” “Bring her out!” Judah replied. “Let her be burned to death!”
Read in contextLeviticus 19:29
You must not defile your daughter by making her a prostitute, or the land will be prostituted and filled with depravity.
Read in contextTitus 1:6
An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, having children who are believers and who are not open to accusation of indiscretion or insubordination.
Read in context1 Samuel 2:34
And this sign shall come to you concerning your two sons Hophni and Phinehas: They will both die on the same day.
Read in context1 Timothy 3:4–5
An overseer must manage his own household well and keep his children under control, with complete dignity.
Read in contextJoshua 7:25
“Why have you brought this trouble upon us?” said Joshua. “Today the LORD will bring trouble upon you!” And all Israel stoned him to death. Then they stoned the others and burned their bodies.
Read in contextJoshua 7:15
The one who is caught with the things devoted to destruction must be burned, along with all that belongs to him, because he has transgressed the covenant of the LORD and committed an outrage in Israel.’”
Read in contextLeviticus 20:14
If a man marries both a woman and her mother, it is depraved. Both he and they must be burned in the fire, so that there will be no depravity among you.
Read in context