TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 21

Translation and Transliteration of 

1Hashem said to Moshe: Speak to the Kohanim, the sons of Aharon, and say to them: None shall defile himself for any [dead] person among his kin,

va-YO-mer a-do-NAI el mo-SHEH e-MOR el ha-ko-ha-NEEM b'-NAY a-ha-RON v'-a-mar-TA a-lay-HEM l'-NE-fesh lo yi-ta-MA b'-a-MAV

אוַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֱמֹ֥ר אֶל־הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים בְּנֵ֣י אַהֲרֹ֑ן וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵהֶ֔ם לְנֶ֥פֶשׁ לֹֽא־יִטַּמָּ֖א בְּעַמָּֽיו׃

 21:1   None shall defile himself for any [dead] person among his kin

While the entire Nation of Israel is commanded to maintain a certain level of holiness, the Kohanim were held to an even higher standard. For example, a priest may not become ritually impure through contact with a dead body. Therefore, he may not participate in the burial of anyone other than his immediate relatives. However, Rashi teaches that there is an exception to this rule. If there is no one else to bury the person, then even the Kohen Gadol is obligated to perform the burial, even if the deceased is not “among his kin.” This is particularly striking, since under normal circumstances, unlike ordinary Kohanim, the Kohen Gadol may not participate in the burial of even his closest relatives. In this way, the Bible teaches that an elevated status must not make one oblivious to the needs of people. On the contrary, it is the obligation of those with heightened responsibility to see to it that everyone is taken care of, even at the expense of their own personal state of holiness.

2except for the relatives that are closest to him: his mother, his father, his son, his daughter, and his brother;

ki im-li-sh'-E-ro ha-ka-ROV e-LA-yav l'-i-MO u-l'-a-VEE-v u-l'-bi-NO u-l'-bi-TO u-l'-a-KHEE-v

בכִּ֚י אִם־לִשְׁאֵר֔וֹ הַקָּרֹ֖ב אֵלָ֑יו לְאִמּ֣וֹ וּלְאָבִ֔יו וְלִבְנ֥וֹ וּלְבִתּ֖וֹ וּלְאָחִֽיו׃

3also for a virgin sister, close to him because she has not married, for her he may defile himself.

v'-la-a-KHO-to ha-b'-tu-LAH ha-ke-ro-VAH e-LAV a-SHER lo-ha-Y'-ta l'-EESH laH yi-ta-MA

גוְלַאֲחֹת֤וֹ הַבְּתוּלָה֙ הַקְּרוֹבָ֣ה אֵלָ֔יו אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־הָיְתָ֖ה לְאִ֑ישׁ לָ֖הּ יִטַּמָּֽא׃

4But he shall not defile himself as a kinsman by marriage, and so profane himself.

lo yi-ta-MA ba-AL b'-a-ma-YAV l'-he-KHA-lo

דלֹ֥א יִטַּמָּ֖א בַּ֣עַל בְּעַמָּ֑יו לְהֵ֖חַלּֽוֹ׃

5They shall not shave smooth any part of their heads, or cut the side-growth of their beards, or make gashes in their flesh.

lo yik-re-KHU kor-KHAH b'-ro-SHAM u-fa-at ze-ka-NAM lo y'-ga-LE-khu u-vi-v'-sa-RAM lo yis-r'-TU sa-RET-et

הלֹֽא־[יִקְרְח֤וּ] (יקרחה) קׇרְחָה֙ בְּרֹאשָׁ֔ם וּפְאַ֥ת זְקָנָ֖ם לֹ֣א יְגַלֵּ֑חוּ וּבִ֨בְשָׂרָ֔ם לֹ֥א יִשְׂרְט֖וּ שָׂרָֽטֶת׃

6They shall be holy to their God and not profane the name of their God; for they offer Hashem's offerings by fire, the food of their God, and so must be holy.

K'-do-SHEEM yi-HU l'-lo-HE-hem v'-lo ye-kha-LE-lu SHEM e-lo-HE-hem, kee ET i-SHEI a-do-NAI le-KHEM e-lo-HE-hem HEM mak-ree-VIM v'-ha-YU ko-DAYSH

וקְדֹשִׁ֤ים יִהְיוּ֙ לֵאלֹ֣הֵיהֶ֔ם וְלֹ֣א יְחַלְּל֔וּ שֵׁ֖ם אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֑ם כִּי֩ אֶת־אִשֵּׁ֨י יְהֹוָ֜ה לֶ֧חֶם אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֛ם הֵ֥ם מַקְרִיבִ֖ם וְהָ֥יוּ קֹֽדֶשׁ׃

7They shall not marry a woman defiled by harlotry, nor shall they marry one divorced from her husband. For they are holy to their God

i-SHA zo-NA va-cha-LA-lah lo yi-KA-khu, v'-i-SHA ge-ru-SHA may-i-SHAH lo yi-KA-khu, kee-ka-DOSH hu le-E-lo-HAV

זאִשָּׁ֨ה זֹנָ֤ה וַחֲלָלָה֙ לֹ֣א יִקָּ֔חוּ וְאִשָּׁ֛ה גְּרוּשָׁ֥ה מֵאִישָׁ֖הּ לֹ֣א יִקָּ֑חוּ כִּֽי־קָדֹ֥שׁ ה֖וּא לֵאלֹהָֽיו׃

8and you must treat them as holy, since they offer the food of your God; they shall be holy to you, for I Hashem who sanctify you am holy.

v'-ki-da-SHO ki et-LE-khem e-lo-HE-kha HU mak-REEV ka-DOSH yi-heh-LAKH ki ka-DOSH a-NEE a-do-NAI me-ka-DISH-khem

חוְקִ֨דַּשְׁתּ֔וֹ כִּֽי־אֶת־לֶ֥חֶם אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ ה֣וּא מַקְרִ֑יב קָדֹשׁ֙ יִֽהְיֶה־לָּ֔ךְ כִּ֣י קָד֔וֹשׁ אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה מְקַדִּשְׁכֶֽם׃

9When the daughter of a Kohen defiles herself through harlotry, it is her father whom she defiles; she shall be put to the fire.

u-va-TAT ish KO-hen, KEE t'-KHEL liz-NOT et a-VEE-ha, HEE m'-kha-LE-let ba-ESH ti-sa-REF. (S)

טוּבַת֙ אִ֣ישׁ כֹּהֵ֔ן כִּ֥י תֵחֵ֖ל לִזְנ֑וֹת אֶת־אָבִ֙יהָ֙ הִ֣יא מְחַלֶּ֔לֶת בָּאֵ֖שׁ תִּשָּׂרֵֽף׃

10The Kohen who is exalted above his fellows, on whose head the anointing oil has been poured and who has been ordained to wear the vestments, shall not bare his head or rend his vestments.

v'-ha-ko-HAYN ha-ga-DOL me-e-KHA-yav a-SHER yu-TZAK al-RO-sho SHE-men ha-mish-KHA u-mi-LAY et-YA-do l'-lo-BOSH et ha-b'-ga-DIM et-RO-sho lo yif-RA u-ve-ga-DAV lo yif-ROM

יוְהַכֹּהֵן֩ הַגָּד֨וֹל מֵאֶחָ֜יו אֲֽשֶׁר־יוּצַ֥ק עַל־רֹאשׁ֣וֹ ׀ שֶׁ֤מֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה֙ וּמִלֵּ֣א אֶת־יָד֔וֹ לִלְבֹּ֖שׁ אֶת־הַבְּגָדִ֑ים אֶת־רֹאשׁוֹ֙ לֹ֣א יִפְרָ֔ע וּבְגָדָ֖יו לֹ֥א יִפְרֹֽם׃

11He shall not go in where there is any dead body; he shall not defile himself even for his father or mother.

v'-AL kol-NAF-shot MEYT lo ya-VO l'-a-VEEV u-l'-i-MO lo yi-ta-MA

יאוְעַ֛ל כׇּל־נַפְשֹׁ֥ת מֵ֖ת לֹ֣א יָבֹ֑א לְאָבִ֥יו וּלְאִמּ֖וֹ לֹ֥א יִטַּמָּֽא׃

12He shall not go outside the sanctuary and profane the sanctuary of his God, for upon him is the distinction of the anointing oil of his God, Mine Hashem's.

u-min ha-mik-DASH lo ye-TZE, v'-lo ye-cha-LEL et mik-DASH e-lo-HAV, ki NE-zer SHE-men mish-CHAT e-lo-HAV a-LAV a-NEE a-do-NAI

יבוּמִן־הַמִּקְדָּשׁ֙ לֹ֣א יֵצֵ֔א וְלֹ֣א יְחַלֵּ֔ל אֵ֖ת מִקְדַּ֣שׁ אֱלֹהָ֑יו כִּ֡י נֵ֠זֶר שֶׁ֣מֶן מִשְׁחַ֧ת אֱלֹהָ֛יו עָלָ֖יו אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃

13He may marry only a woman who is a virgin.

v'-HU i-SHAH vi-v'-tu-LE-ha yi-KAKH

יגוְה֕וּא אִשָּׁ֥ה בִבְתוּלֶ֖יהָ יִקָּֽח׃

14A widow, or a divorced woman, or one who is degraded by harlotry—such he may not marry. Only a virgin of his own kin may he take to wife—

al-MA-na u-ge-ru-SHA va-kha-la-LA zo-NA et E-le lo yi-KAKH, ki im b'-tu-LA me-a-MAV yi-KAKH i-SHA

ידאַלְמָנָ֤ה וּגְרוּשָׁה֙ וַחֲלָלָ֣ה זֹנָ֔ה אֶת־אֵ֖לֶּה לֹ֣א יִקָּ֑ח כִּ֛י אִם־בְּתוּלָ֥ה מֵעַמָּ֖יו יִקַּ֥ח אִשָּֽׁה׃

15that he may not profane his offspring among his kin, for I Hashem have sanctified him.

v'-lo y'-kha-LAYL zar-O b'-a-MAV, KEE a-NEE a-do-NAI m'-ka-D'-sho. (S)

טווְלֹֽא־יְחַלֵּ֥ל זַרְע֖וֹ בְּעַמָּ֑יו כִּ֛י אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה מְקַדְּשֽׁוֹ׃

16Hashem spoke further to Moshe:

va-y'-da-BAYR a-do-NAI el mo-SHEH lay-MOR

טזוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃

17Speak to Aharon and say: No man of your offspring throughout the ages who has a defect shall be qualified to offer the food of his God.

da-BER el a-ha-RON lay-MOR: eesh mi-za-r'-a-KHA le-do-RO-tam a-SHER yi-he-YEH BO muM lo yik-RAV le-hak-REEV le-KHEM e-lo-HAV

יזדַּבֵּ֥ר אֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֖ן לֵאמֹ֑ר אִ֣ישׁ מִֽזַּרְעֲךָ֞ לְדֹרֹתָ֗ם אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִהְיֶ֥ה בוֹ֙ מ֔וּם לֹ֣א יִקְרַ֔ב לְהַקְרִ֖יב לֶ֥חֶם אֱלֹהָֽיו׃

18No one at all who has a defect shall be qualified: no man who is blind, or lame, or has a limb too short or too long;

KI kol-ish a-SHER-bo MUM lo yik-RAV, ish i-VAYR o pi-SAY-akh o kha-RUM o sa-ROO-a.

יחכִּ֥י כׇל־אִ֛ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־בּ֥וֹ מ֖וּם לֹ֣א יִקְרָ֑ב אִ֤ישׁ עִוֵּר֙ א֣וֹ פִסֵּ֔חַ א֥וֹ חָרֻ֖ם א֥וֹ שָׂרֽוּעַ׃

19no man who has a broken leg or a broken arm;

o ish a-SHER yi-HE-yeh BO she-VAYR ra-GEL o she-VAYR YAD

יטא֣וֹ אִ֔ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־יִהְיֶ֥ה ב֖וֹ שֶׁ֣בֶר רָ֑גֶל א֖וֹ שֶׁ֥בֶר יָֽד׃

20or who is a hunchback, or a dwarf, or who has a growth in his eye, or who has a boil-scar, or scurvy, or crushed testes.

o-gi-BEN o-DAK o-t'-ba-LUL b'-ay-NO o-ga-RAV o-ya-LE-fet o-m'-RO-akh a-SHEKH

כאֽוֹ־גִבֵּ֣ן אוֹ־דַ֔ק א֖וֹ תְּבַלֻּ֣ל בְּעֵינ֑וֹ א֤וֹ גָרָב֙ א֣וֹ יַלֶּ֔פֶת א֖וֹ מְר֥וֹחַ אָֽשֶׁךְ׃

21No man among the offspring of Aharon the Kohen who has a defect shall be qualified to offer Hashem's offering by fire; having a defect, he shall not be qualified to offer the food of his God.

KOL-ish a-SHER-bo MUUM mi-ZE-rakh a-ha-ROn ha-ko-HAYN lo yi-GASH l'-hak-REEV et-i-SHEI a-do-NAI, MUUM BO, ET le-KHEM e-lo-HAV lo yi-GASH l'-hak-REEV.

כאכׇּל־אִ֞ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־בּ֣וֹ מ֗וּם מִזֶּ֙רַע֙ אַהֲרֹ֣ן הַכֹּהֵ֔ן לֹ֣א יִגַּ֔שׁ לְהַקְרִ֖יב אֶת־אִשֵּׁ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה מ֣וּם בּ֔וֹ אֵ֚ת לֶ֣חֶם אֱלֹהָ֔יו לֹ֥א יִגַּ֖שׁ לְהַקְרִֽיב׃

22He may eat of the food of his God, of the most holy as well as of the holy;

LE-khem e-lo-HAV mi-ko-D'-shei ha-ko-DA-shim u-min ha-ko-DA-shim yo-KHEL

כבלֶ֣חֶם אֱלֹהָ֔יו מִקׇּדְשֵׁ֖י הַקֳּדָשִׁ֑ים וּמִן־הַקֳּדָשִׁ֖ים יֹאכֵֽל׃

23but he shall not enter behind the curtain or come near the mizbayach, for he has a defect. He shall not profane these places sacred to Me, for I Hashem have sanctified them.

akh el ha-pa-RO-khet lo ya-VO v'-el ha-miz-BAY-akh lo yi-GASH kee-MUM BO v'-lo ye-kha-LAYL et mik-da-SHAI kee a-NEE a-do-NAI me-ka-d'-SHAM

כגאַ֣ךְ אֶל־הַפָּרֹ֜כֶת לֹ֣א יָבֹ֗א וְאֶל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֛חַ לֹ֥א יִגַּ֖שׁ כִּֽי־מ֣וּם בּ֑וֹ וְלֹ֤א יְחַלֵּל֙ אֶת־מִקְדָּשַׁ֔י כִּ֛י אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה מְקַדְּשָֽׁם׃

24Thus Moshe spoke to Aharon and his sons and to all the Israelites.

va-y'-da-BAYR mo-SHE el a-ha-RON v'-el ba-NAV v'-el kol b'-NAY yis-ra-AYL.

כדוַיְדַבֵּ֣ר מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֖ן וְאֶל־בָּנָ֑יו וְאֶֽל־כׇּל־בְּנֵ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃