Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
Parallel translations
- WEB Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
- KJV And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
- BSB Then the LORD said to Moses,
- NKJV And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
- NLT Then the Lord said to Moses,
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
Yahweh speaks again to Moses, beginning instruction about physical defects among the priests. God's word continues to define who may serve at His altar.
Overview
This formula introduces a new set of regulations concerning bodily wholeness in the priesthood. As throughout Leviticus, the emphasis on God speaking grounds the law in divine authority. What follows teaches that the symbols of God's service were to reflect wholeness and perfection, ultimately fulfilled in the flawless ministry of Christ.
Cross-references & the web
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Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Every sacrifice, every priest, and every day of atonement points beyond itself to the one perfect offering and the great High Priest who, by his own blood, makes the unclean holy once for all.
How Leviticus 21:16 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.