Leviticus 22:12 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 22:12 mean?

Leviticus 22:12 says that a priest’s daughter who marries a man outside the priestly family may no longer eat food from certain offerings reserved for priests. Her marriage changes her place within the household entitled to eat that food.

The “holy things” are gifts brought to God, portions of which were set aside as food for priests. God gives this instruction to Moses for Aaron and his sons, whose families are involved in handling and eating these offerings.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 22:12

• “stranger” — זָר (zar): The word can mean someone outside a particular group. Here, it refers to a man outside the priestly family, not necessarily someone from another country.
• “offering” — תְּרוּמָה (terumah): The word refers to a contribution set apart as a gift. In this verse, it points to a portion of the holy food assigned to priests.

Why Leviticus 22:12 matters

• The rule concerns access to food, not whether the woman may marry. The verse says that after such a marriage “she may not eat” of the offering.
• A return to her father’s household could change the situation. Verse 13 allows a widowed or divorced daughter with no child, who returns to her father’s house, to eat her father’s food.
• Birth alone was not the only factor in deciding who could eat. Verse 11 also allows a person bought by a priest, and those born in his house, to eat his food.