Leviticus 21:14A widow, or one divorced, or a woman who has been defiled, or a prostitute, these he shall not marry: but a virgin of his own people shall he take as a wife.
The setting
Mount Sinai, ~1445 BC. God continuing specific marriage restrictions for the high priest role. This is institutional law, not personal condemnation. Modern-day Egypt/Sinai Peninsula.
The emotion here: establishing necessary but painful boundaries
The original word
chalal (חָלַל) — to profane, pollute, or make common what should be holy
Why it matters
King David's son Solomon violated these principles by marrying foreign wives, leading to Israel's spiritual downfall
Read with care
What most readers miss in Leviticus 21:14
These women weren't being called 'defiled' as people - this was about maintaining ritual purity for one specific role
Common misconceptionThis is often used to shame divorced people generally, but it only applied to the high priest's marriage. Regular Israelites faced no such restrictions, and Jesus showed radical acceptance of women with complicated pasts.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Leviticus 21:14
Bible Genome reading
Leviticus 21:14 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Leviticus 21:14 comes from the book of Leviticus, written during the exodus period. These words are attributed to God. The dominant emotion in this verse is deciding, with a comfort power of 10% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the law genre of biblical literature. Key themes include marriage restrictions, tribal purity. Notable phrases: widow; divorced; defiled; prostitute; virgin of his own people. This verse contains a command.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same deciding
“"You shall have no other gods before me.”
— Deuteronomy 5:7
“"You shall not murder.”
— Exodus 20:13
“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
— Matthew 23:12
“For God didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.”
— 2 Timothy 1:7
“But Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!"”
— Acts 3:6
Your reflection
What does Leviticus 21:14 mean to you, today?
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