Leviticus 21:12 He must not leave or desecrate the sanctuary of his God, for the consecration of the anointing oil of his God is on him. I am the LORD.

Bible > Leviticus > Chapter 21 > Verse 12

◄ Leviticus 21:12 ►

New International Version
nor leave the sanctuary of his God or desecrate it, because he has been dedicated by the anointing oil of his God. I am the LORD.

New Living Translation
He must not defile the sanctuary of his God by leaving it to attend to a dead person, for he has been made holy by the anointing oil of his God. I am the LORD.

English Standard Version
He shall not go out of the sanctuary, lest he profane the sanctuary of his God, for the consecration of the anointing oil of his God is on him: I am the LORD.

Berean Standard Bible
He must not leave or desecrate the sanctuary of his God, for the consecration of the anointing oil of his God is on him. I am the LORD.

King James Bible
Neither shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the crown of the anointing oil of his God is upon him: I am the LORD.

New King James Version
nor shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the consecration of the anointing oil of his God is upon him: I am the LORD.

New American Standard Bible
nor shall he leave the sanctuary nor profane the sanctuary of his God, for the consecration of the anointing oil of his God is on him; I am the LORD.

NASB 1995
nor shall he go out of the sanctuary nor profane the sanctuary of his God, for the consecration of the anointing oil of his God is on him; I am the LORD.

NASB 1977
nor shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the consecration of the anointing oil of his God is on him: I am the LORD.

Legacy Standard Bible
nor shall he go out of the sanctuary nor profane the sanctuary of his God, for the dedication of the anointing oil of his God is on him; I am Yahweh.

Amplified Bible
nor shall he go out of the sanctuary nor profane (make ceremonially unclean) the sanctuary of his God, for the consecration of the anointing oil of his God is on him; I am the LORD.

Christian Standard Bible
He must not leave the sanctuary or he will desecrate the sanctuary of his God, for the consecration of the anointing oil of his God is on him; I am the LORD.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He must not leave the sanctuary or he will desecrate the sanctuary of his God, for the consecration of the anointing oil of his God is on him; I am Yahweh.”

American Standard Version
neither shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the crown of the anointing oil of his God is upon him: I am Jehovah.

Contemporary English Version
If you leave the sacred place to attend a funeral, both you and the sacred place become unclean, because you are the high priest.

English Revised Version
neither shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the crown of the anointing oil of his God is upon him: I am the LORD.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He must not leave the holy tent of his God. If he does, he will be dishonoring it, because he is dedicated with the anointing oil of his God. I am the LORD.

International Standard Version
He is not to go out of the sanctuary or defile the sanctuary of his God, because his God's consecrating oil of anointing rests on him. I am the LORD.

Majority Standard Bible
He must not leave or desecrate the sanctuary of his God, for the consecration of the anointing oil of his God is on him. I am the LORD.

NET Bible
He must not go out from the sanctuary and must not profane the sanctuary of his God, because the dedication of the anointing oil of his God is on him. I am the LORD.

New Heart English Bible
neither shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the crown of the anointing oil of his God is upon him. I am the LORD.

Webster's Bible Translation
Neither shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the crown of the anointing oil of his God is upon him: I am the LORD.

World English Bible
He shall not go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the crown of the anointing oil of his God is upon him. I am Yahweh.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
nor does he go out from the sanctuary, nor does he defile the sanctuary of his God, for the separation of the anointing oil of his God [is] on him; I [am] YHWH.

Young's Literal Translation
nor from the sanctuary doth he go out, nor doth he pollute the sanctuary of his God, for the separation of the anointing oil of his God is on him; I am Jehovah.

Smith's Literal Translation
And from the holy place he shall not go forth, and he shall not profane the holy place of his God; for the consecration of the anointing oil of his God is upon him I Jehovah.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Neither shall he go out of the holy places, lest he defile the sanctuary of the Lord, because the oil of the holy unction of his God is upon him. I am the Lord.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Neither shall he exit from the holy places, lest he pollute the Sanctuary of the Lord. For the oil of the holy anointing of his God is upon him. I am the Lord.

New American Bible
nor shall he leave the sanctuary and profane the sanctuary of his God, for the consecration of the anointing oil of his God is upon him. I am the LORD.

New Revised Standard Version
He shall not go outside the sanctuary and thus profane the sanctuary of his God; for the consecration of the anointing oil of his God is upon him: I am the LORD.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
Neither shall he go out of the sanctuary nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the crown of the anointing oil of his God is upon him; I am the LORD.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he shall not come forth from the holy place and he shall not pollute the holy place of his God, because of the crown of oil of his anointing of his God upon him; I AM LORD JEHOVAH.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
neither shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the consecration of the anointing oil of his God is upon him: I am the LORD.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he shall not go forth out of the sanctuary, and he shall not profane the sanctuary of his God, because the holy anointing oil of God is upon him: I am the Lord.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Holiness Required of Priests
…11He must not go near any dead body; he must not defile himself, even for his father or mother. 12 He must not leave or desecrate the sanctuary of his God, for the consecration of the anointing oil of his God is on him. I am the LORD. 13The woman he marries must be a virgin.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Exodus 29:37
For seven days you shall make atonement for the altar and consecrate it. Then the altar will become most holy; whatever touches the altar will be holy.

Exodus 30:29
You are to consecrate them so that they will be most holy. Whatever touches them shall be holy.

Leviticus 8:10-12
Next, Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and everything in it; and so he consecrated them. / He sprinkled some of the oil on the altar seven times, anointing the altar and all its utensils, and the basin with its stand, to consecrate them. / He also poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him to consecrate him.

Leviticus 10:7
You shall not go outside the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, or you will die, for the LORD’s anointing oil is on you.” So they did as Moses instructed.

Numbers 6:7
Even if his father or mother or brother or sister should die, he is not to defile himself, because the symbol of consecration to his God is upon his head.

Numbers 18:8
Then the LORD said to Aaron, “Behold, I have put you in charge of My offerings. As for all the sacred offerings of the Israelites, I have given them to you and your sons as a portion and a permanent statute.

1 Samuel 21:6
So the priest gave him the consecrated bread, since there was no bread there but the Bread of the Presence, which had been removed from before the LORD and replaced with hot bread on the day it was taken away.

1 Kings 8:10-11
And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, the cloud filled the house of the LORD / so that the priests could not stand there to minister because of the cloud. For the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD.

2 Chronicles 5:14
so that the priests could not stand there to minister because of the cloud. For the glory of the LORD filled the house of God.

Ezekiel 44:27
And on the day he goes into the sanctuary, into the inner court, to minister in the sanctuary, he must present his sin offering, declares the Lord GOD.

Matthew 12:4
He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for them to eat, but only for the priests.

Matthew 23:17-19
You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes it sacred? / And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.’ / You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes it sacred?

Mark 2:26
During the high priesthood of Abiathar, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which was lawful only for the priests. And he gave some to his companions as well.”

Luke 6:4
He entered the house of God, took the consecrated bread and gave it to his companions, and ate what is lawful only for the priests to eat.”

John 17:19
For them I sanctify Myself, so that they too may be sanctified by the truth.

Treasury of Scripture

Neither shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the crown of the anointing oil of his God is on him: I am the LORD.

go out

Leviticus 10:7
And ye shall not go out from the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: for the anointing oil of the LORD is upon you. And they did according to the word of Moses.

for the crown

Leviticus 8:9-12,30
And he put the mitre upon his head; also upon the mitre, even upon his forefront, did he put the golden plate, the holy crown; as the LORD commanded Moses…

Exodus 28:36
And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD.

Exodus 29:6,7
And thou shalt put the mitre upon his head, and put the holy crown upon the mitre…

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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

Berean Study Bible

He must not go outside the sanctuary
This phrase underscores the sacred duty and separation of the high priest. The Hebrew word for "sanctuary" is "מִקְדָּשׁ" (miqdash), which signifies a holy place set apart for divine presence. The high priest's role was to mediate between God and Israel, and his presence in the sanctuary symbolized the continual intercession for the people. Historically, the sanctuary was the center of Israelite worship, and the high priest's presence there was essential for maintaining the holiness and order of the community.

or he would desecrate the sanctuary of his God
The term "desecrate" comes from the Hebrew "חָלַל" (chalal), meaning to profane or defile. This highlights the gravity of the high priest's actions should he leave the sanctuary. The sanctuary was not merely a physical space but a representation of God's dwelling among His people. Any act that compromised its sanctity was seen as a direct affront to God. This reflects the broader biblical theme of holiness, where God's presence demands reverence and purity.

for the consecration of the anointing oil of his God is on him
"Consecration" in Hebrew is "מִשְׁחָה" (mishchah), referring to the act of anointing with oil, which set the high priest apart for divine service. The anointing oil was a physical symbol of the Holy Spirit's empowerment and the priest's unique role. This consecration was not just a ritual but a divine appointment, marking the high priest as God's chosen servant. The oil's presence on him was a constant reminder of his sacred duty and the divine authority under which he operated.

I am the LORD
This declaration, "אֲנִי יְהוָה" (Ani Yahweh), serves as a divine seal of authority and purpose. It is a reminder of God's sovereignty and the ultimate reason for the high priest's strict adherence to his duties. The phrase emphasizes that the instructions are not arbitrary but are rooted in the very nature and character of God. Throughout Scripture, this statement reinforces the covenant relationship between God and His people, reminding them of His holiness, faithfulness, and the call to live in accordance with His will.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(12) Neither shall he go out of the sanctuary.--Better, and he shall not go out of the sanctuary as in Leviticus 10:7. When the tidings of the death of a parent is brought to him during the service, he must not desist from the service and quit the sanctuary, lest it should appear that he has a greater regard for the dead than for the service of the living God. The difference between the ordinary priest and the high priest in this respect was, that when the former heard, during the service, of the death of any one of the seven relations for whom he had to mourn, he was obliged to discontinue the service, though he too could not leave the precincts of the sanctuary; whilst the former, under these circumstances, was bound to continue the service. The former, by becoming a mourner, profaned the service if he continued it; the latter never became a mourner, and hence profaned the service if he discontinued it.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

He must not
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

leave
יֵצֵ֔א (yê·ṣê)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

or desecrate
יְחַלֵּ֔ל (yə·ḥal·lêl)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2490: To bore, to wound, to dissolve, to profane, to break, to begin, to play

the sanctuary
מִקְדַּ֣שׁ (miq·daš)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4720: A consecrated thing, place, a palace, sanctuary, asylum

of his God,
אֱלֹהָ֑יו (’ĕ·lō·hāw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

for
כִּ֡י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

the consecration
נֵ֠זֶר (nê·zer)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5145: Something set apart, dedication, unshorn locks, a chaplet

of the anointing
מִשְׁחַ֧ת (miš·ḥaṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 4888: Unction, a consecratory gift

oil
שֶׁ֣מֶן (še·men)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8081: Grease, liquid, richness

of his God
אֱלֹהָ֛יו (’ĕ·lō·hāw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

is on him.
עָלָ֖יו (‘ā·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

I
אֲנִ֥י (’ă·nî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

am the LORD.
יְהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

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OT Law: Leviticus 21:12 Neither shall he go out (Le Lv Lev.)