But he shall not defile himself, being a chief man among his people, to profane himself.
But he shall not defile himself, being a chief man among his people, to profane himself.
He shall not defile himself, being a chief man among his people, to profane himself.
But let him, being a chief among his people, not make himself unclean in such a way as to put shame on himself.
But he shall not defile himself, being a chief man among his people, to profane himself.
He shall not defile himself, being a chief man among his people, to profane himself.
He shall not defile himself, being a chief man among his people, to profane himself.
A chief man among his people - The word בעל baal signifies a master, chief, husband, etc., and is as variously translated here.
1. He being a chief among the people, it would be improper to see him in such a state of humiliation as mourning for the dead necessarily implies.
2. Though a husband he shall not defile himself even for the death of a wife, because the anointing of his God is upon him. But the first sense appears to be the best.
The sense seems to be that, owing to his position in the nation, the priest is not to defile himself in any cases except those named in Leviticus 21:2-3. The Septuagint appear to have followed a different reading of the text which would mean, "he shall not defile himself for a moment." The explanation in the margin of our version is hardly in keeping with the prohibition to Ezekiel on a special occasion. See Ezekiel 24:16.
21:4 Being - Or, seeing he is a chief man, for such not only the high - priest, but others also of the inferior priests were. He shall not defile himself for any other person whatsoever. To profane himself - Because such defilement for the dead did profane him, or make him as a common person, and consequently unfit to manage his sacred employment.