Leviticus 21:8 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 21:8 mean?

Leviticus 21:8 tells Israel to treat the priest as someone set apart for God. The reason is his work: he presents offerings described as “the bread of thy God.” The verse connects the priest’s special standing with the holiness of the LORD, who sets the people apart.

God is speaking to Moses in a passage about the conduct and standing of priests. After the rule about a priest’s marriage in verse 7, verse 8 addresses how the priest is to be regarded: “he shall be holy unto thee.”

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 21:8

• “sanctify” — קָדַשׁ (qadash): This word can mean to set someone apart as holy. The first use concerns the priest; the second describes what the LORD does for the people.
• “offereth” — קָרַב (qarav): This word can carry the sense of bringing something near or presenting it. Here it describes the priest bringing an offering before God.
• “bread” — לֶחֶם (lechem): This word often means bread or food. In this setting, “the bread of thy God” refers to the offerings presented to God, rather than only to a loaf of bread.

Why Leviticus 21:8 matters

• The priest’s standing is connected to the people’s own standing before God. The verse moves from “he shall be holy unto thee” to the LORD’s description of himself as the one “which sanctify you.”
• “The bread of thy God” identifies the offerings with God, although the priest presents them. The phrase helps explain why the priest’s service is treated as a special responsibility.