Leviticus 21:6

“They shall be holy to their Elohim and shall not profane the name of their Elohim, for they present the fire offerings of YHWH, the food of their Elohim; so they shall be holy.”

Leviticus 21:6 · direct translation from the Hebrew
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With the Hebrew beneath

6

Leviticus 21:6, word by word

They shall beיִהְיוּyihyu

be

To be: "I will be their Elohim".

Where else “yihyu” appears
holyקְדֹשִׁיםkedoshim

holy

Set apart for God, distinct from the common.

Where else “kedoshim” appears
to their Elohimאלֹהֵיlohe

Elohim

The one true God, the Creator; the word is plural but means one.

Where else “lohe” appears
profaneיְחַלְּלוּyechallu

profane

To treat what is holy as common.

Where else “yechallu” appears
the nameשֵׁםshem

name of YHWH

YHWH's name: himself, as he makes himself known.

Where else “shem” appears
presentמַקְרִיבִםmakrivim

bring near

To bring something, or offer a gift to YHWH.

Where else “makrivim” appears
the fire offeringsאִשֵּׁיishe

fire offering

Fire offering: an offering burned on the altar for God; sometimes any sacrifice.

Where else “ishe” appears
of YHWHיְהוָהyehva

YHWH

The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.

Where else “yehva” appears
the foodלֶחֶםlechem

food

Everything eaten at the table, even if it is not bread.

Where else “lechem” appears
holyקֹדֶשׁkodesh

holy thing

Something set apart for God: a day, an offering.

Where else “kodesh” appears

The context

5They shall not make bald spots on their head, and the edge of their beard they shall not shave off, and in their flesh they shall not make cuts.

6 · This verse (above)

7They shall not take a woman who is a prostitute or profaned, and they shall not take a woman divorced from her husband, for he is holy to his Elohim.

Read all of Leviticus 21

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