What is the meaning of Leviticus 21:1? Then the LORD said to Moses • The passage opens with divine initiative: “Then the LORD said to Moses”. God Himself sets the agenda, underscoring that what follows is not human opinion but covenant command. • Similar moments of direct revelation—Exodus 24:12; Leviticus 1:1—remind us that Moses consistently serves as the mediator of God’s will. • Because the source is the LORD, the instruction carries absolute authority; obedience is an act of worship (Deuteronomy 6:1-2). Speak to Aaron’s sons, the priests • The addressees are specific: “Aaron’s sons, the priests.” God singles out those who minister before Him, highlighting their unique calling and higher standard (Leviticus 10:8-11). • This focus ties into Exodus 28:1-3, where Aaron’s family is consecrated for priestly service, and 1 Peter 2:9, which later applies priestly concepts to all believers. • The statement underscores both privilege and responsibility; spiritual leaders must model holiness for the community (Malachi 2:7-8). A priest is not to defile himself for a dead person among his people • The core command: priests must avoid corpse-contamination. Contact with death produced ceremonial impurity (Numbers 19:11-13). • By staying ritually clean, priests remained fit to serve in the sanctuary, preserving the holiness demanded in Leviticus 11:44-45. • Exceptions appear in verses 2-3 (immediate relatives), showing God’s compassion within strict standards. Ezekiel 44:25 later echoes this same rule. • Under the new covenant, believers see the principle fulfilled in Christ’s resurrection power over death, yet the call to remain undefiled in conduct persists (2 Corinthians 6:17). summary God speaks, Moses relays, and the priests receive a clear boundary: avoid corpse-defilement except in limited cases. The mandate protects the sanctity of those who approach Him on behalf of the people and illustrates a broader truth—holiness separates life from death. Today, while ceremonial laws are fulfilled in Christ, the underlying call to distinct, pure living before a holy God remains unchanged. |
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