Leviticus 21:1-12 ▼

1 THE LORD said to Moses, Speak to the priests the sons of Aaron and say to them, There shall none of you defile himself by mourning for the dead among his people,

2 Except for his kin who is near to him, that is, for his father and for his mother and for his son and for his daughter and for his brother,

3 And for his virgin sister, who is near to him, who had no husband; for her he may defile himself.

4 But he shall not defile himself for the prince of his people, lest he profane himself.

5 They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh.

6 But they shall be holy to their God, and not profane the name of their God; for the offerings of the LORD made by fire and the bread of their God they do offer; therefore they shall be holy.

7 They shall not marry a harlot or an unclean woman; neither shall they marry a woman who has been put away from her husband; for he is holy to his God.

8 You shall sanctify him therefore; for he offers the bread of your God; he shall be holy to you; for he is holy, because I am the LORD who sanctifies you.

9 And the daughter of any priest, when she starts playing the whore, she profanes her father; she shall be burned with fire.

10 And the priest who is the high priest among his brethren, upon whose head the anointing oil was poured, and who is consecrated to put on the vestments, shall not shave his head nor rend his clothes;

11 Neither shall he go near any dead body, nor defile himself by mourning for his father or for his mother;

12 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.