They must wear linen turbans and linen undergarments. They must not wear anything that would cause them to perspire.
Parallel translations
- WEB They shall have linen tires on their heads, and shall have linen breeches on their waists; they shall not clothe themselves with anything that makes them sweat.
- KJV They shall have linen bonnets upon their heads, and shall have linen breeches upon their loins; they shall not gird themselves with any thing that causeth sweat.
- BSB They are to wear linen turbans on their heads and linen undergarments around their waists. They must not wear anything that makes them perspire.
- NKJV They shall have linen turbans on their heads and linen trousers on their bodies; they shall not clothe themselves with anything that causes sweat.
- NASB Linen turbans shall be on their heads and linen undergarments shall be around their waists; they shall not put on anything that makes them sweat.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Priests wear linen turbans and undergarments and avoid anything that causes sweat while serving.
Overview
Even the priests' headwear and undergarments are regulated to ensure purity and dignity in worship. The avoidance of sweat, associated with toil and the curse, suggests that ministry before God should be marked by purity rather than the strain of fallen labor. These details point to the holiness God requires and graciously provides through the gospel.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Exod 39:28and the turban of fine linen, and the linen headbands of fine linen, and the linen breeches of fine twined linen,
- Exod 28:40–43“You shall make coats for Aaron’s sons, and you shall make sashes for them and you shall make headbands for them, for glory and for beauty.
- Lev 16:4He shall put on the holy linen coat. He shall have the linen breeches on his body, and shall put on the linen sash, and he shall be clothed with the linen turban. They are the holy garments. He shall bathe his body in water, and put them on.
- Isa 3:20the headdresses, the ankle chains, the sashes, the perfume bottles, the charms,
- 1 Cor 14:40Let all things be done decently and in order.
- 1 Cor 11:4–10Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
The promise of one Shepherd-King David, a new heart and new Spirit, and the river of life flowing from the temple all stream toward Christ, the good Shepherd who gives the Spirit.
How Ezekiel 44:18 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.