A widow, or a divorced woman, or profane, or an harlot, these shall he not take: but he shall take a virgin of his own people to wife.

LEVITICUS 21:14KJV
Know the Bible

Leviticus 21:14 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 21:14 mean?

Leviticus 21:14 says that a priest must not marry a widow, a divorced woman, a woman considered "profane," or a prostitute; instead, he is only allowed to marry a virgin from his own people. This rule sets a high standard for whom priests could marry, emphasizing ritual purity and community boundaries.

In this verse, God is giving instructions to Moses for the priests of Israel, specifically the high priest. The focus is on maintaining the priesthood’s special status and separating them from situations or relationships that might be seen as ritually impure or outside the community’s norms. These marriage restrictions are part of a larger section about the holiness required of those who serve in the sanctuary.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 21:14

  • "Profane" (חָלָל, ḥalal): This word often means "defiled" or "not set apart as holy." It highlights that the priest could not marry someone who had lost a certain ritual or social status, not just someone with a bad reputation.
  • "Virgin" (בְּתוּלָה, b’tulah): This word refers specifically to a young woman who has not had sexual relations. The requirement for the priest to marry a בְּתוּלָה (b’tulah) stresses ritual and social purity.
  • "People" (עַם, am): The priest must marry someone from his own community, not an outsider, reinforcing the importance of keeping the priesthood within the Israelite people.
  • "Take" (לָקַח, laqach): This verb means "to take" or "to marry" in this context, underscoring the formal act of marriage rather than a casual relationship.

Why Leviticus 21:14 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the priesthood had stricter marriage rules than ordinary Israelites, showing the seriousness of their role.
  • The emphasis on marrying a virgin from the priest’s own people underlines the importance of both ritual purity and community identity for those serving in the sanctuary.
  • Understanding these restrictions helps explain the broader biblical theme of holiness and separation for those in special service to God, and it connects to the surrounding laws about priestly conduct in Leviticus 21.

Where else these words appear

“woman” Hebrew H1644 · used in 45 verses

  • Genesis 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
  • Leviticus 21:7 They shall not take a wife that is a whore, or profane; neither shall they take a woman put away from her husband: for he is holy unto his God.
  • 1 Chronicles 17:21 And what one nation in the earth is like thy people Israel, whom God went to redeem to be his own people, to make thee a name of greatness and terribleness, by driving out nations from before thy people, whom thou hast redeemed out of Egypt?

“virgin” Hebrew H1330 · used in 50 verses

  • Genesis 24:16 And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.
  • Esther 2:3 And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hege the king's chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them:
  • Jeremiah 31:13 Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.

“widow” Hebrew H490 · used in 54 verses

  • Genesis 38:11 Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter in law, Remain a widow at thy father's house, till Shelah my son be grown: for he said, Lest peradventure he die also, as his brethren did. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house.
  • 1 Kings 7:14 He was a widow's son of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in brass: and he was filled with wisdom, and understanding, and cunning to work all works in brass. And he came to king Solomon, and wrought all his work.
  • Isaiah 1:23 Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.

“harlot” Hebrew H2181 · used in 82 verses

  • Genesis 34:31 And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot?
  • 1 Chronicles 5:25 And they transgressed against the God of their fathers, and went a whoring after the gods of the people of the land, whom God destroyed before them.
  • Ezekiel 16:31 In that thou buildest thine eminent place in the head of every way, and makest thine high place in every street; and hast not been as an harlot, in that thou scornest hire;