Leviticus 21:15 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 21:15 mean?

Leviticus 21:15 says that a priest must not dishonor his descendants among the people of Israel, because the LORD is the one who sets the priest apart as holy. This verse highlights the importance of the priest’s family line remaining set apart and not being made common or defiled in the eyes of the community.

In this chapter, God is giving Moses instructions specifically for the priests, who served in the tabernacle. The focus here is on the high priest’s marriage choices and how those choices affect his children’s status. The verse stresses that the priest’s actions have consequences for his family’s role among the Israelites, since God Himself has chosen and sanctified the priest for special service.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 21:15

• "profane" (חָלַל, ḥālal): This word means to make something common or to treat it as ordinary, rather than set apart or holy. Here, it refers to the risk of the priest’s children losing their special status if the priest does not follow God’s instructions.
• "seed" (זֶרַע, zeraʿ): This word means offspring or descendants. The verse is concerned with the priest’s children and their standing among the people.
• "people" (עָם, ʿam): This word refers to the wider community of Israel. The priest’s actions are not just private; they affect how his family is viewed by everyone.
• "LORD" (יְהוָה, YHWH): This is the personal name of God, emphasizing that these instructions come directly from Him.
• "sanctify" (קָדַשׁ, qadash): This means to set apart as holy or special for God’s purposes. The verse reminds the priest that it is God who makes him holy, not his own actions.

Why Leviticus 21:15 matters

• Leviticus 21:15 clarifies that the priest’s personal choices, especially in marriage, have lasting effects on his children’s ability to serve and be recognized as set apart.
• The verse emphasizes that holiness for the priest and his family is not self-made but comes from God’s own act of sanctifying them.
• This instruction connects to the larger chapter, which sets out the unique responsibilities and higher standards expected of those who serve closest to God on behalf of the people.