Leviticus 21

“And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto the priests the sons of Aaron, and say unto them, There shall none be defiled…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“But for his kin, that is near unto him, that is, for his mother, and for his father, and for his son, and for his…” The line’s distinctive content terms include brother, daughter, father. Its relationship to verses 1 and 3 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And for his sister a virgin, that is nigh unto him, which hath had no husband; for her may he be defiled.” The line’s distinctive content terms include defiled, husband, nigh. Its relationship to verses 2 and 4 shows what work it does in this passage.

“But he shall not defile himself, being a chief man among his people, to profane himself.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“They shall be holy unto their God, and not profane the name of their God: for the offerings of the LORD made by fire…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“They shall not take a wife that is a whore, or profane; neither shall they take a woman put away from her husband: for…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Thou shalt sanctify him therefore; for he offereth the bread of thy God: he shall be holy unto thee: for I the LORD …” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the whore, she profaneth her father: she shall be…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And he that is the high priest among his brethren, upon whose head the anointing oil was poured, and that is…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Neither shall he go in to any dead body, nor defile himself for his father, or for his mother;” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Neither shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the crown of the anointing oil of…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And he shall take a wife in her virginity.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“A widow, or a divorced woman, or profane, or an harlot, these shall he not take: but he shall take a virgin of his own…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Neither shall he profane his seed among his people: for I the LORD do sanctify him.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,” Naming Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Speak unto Aaron, saying, Whosoever he be of thy seed in their generations that hath any blemish, let him not approach…” Naming Aaron keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For whatsoever man he be that hath a blemish, he shall not approach: a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Or a man that is brokenfooted, or brokenhanded,” The line’s distinctive content terms include brokenfooted, brokenhanded. Its relationship to verses 18 and 20 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Or crookbackt, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken;” The line’s distinctive content terms include blemish, broken, crookbackt. Its relationship to verses 19 and 21 shows what work it does in this passage.

“No man that hath a blemish of the seed of Aaron the priest shall come nigh to offer the offerings of the LORD made by…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“He shall eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy, and of the holy.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Only he shall not go in unto the vail, nor come nigh unto the altar, because he hath a blemish; that he profane not my…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And Moses told it unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel.” Naming Aaron and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.