Leviticus 21 in the early church
89 passages quote, allude to, or echo Leviticus 21, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.
Verses: 1 · 2 · 5 · 7 · 9 · 10 · 11 · 12 · 13 · 14 · 15 · 17 · 21
Leviticus 21:1
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Speak to Aaron’s sons, the priests, and tell them that a priest is not to defile himself for a dead person among his people,
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lev 21:1 | Miscellanies 4.25.158 · Clement of Alexandria | allusion, high confidence | ca. 198–203 |
| Lev 21:1–2 | Against Marcion 4.23 · Tertullian | allusion, medium confidence | 207/208 (third edition, completed later) |
| Lev 21:1–3 | Against Jovinianus 1.20 · Jerome | allusion, high confidence | 393 |
Leviticus 21:2
except for his immediate family—his mother, father, son, daughter, or brother,
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lev 21:2 | Miscellanies 4.25.158 · Clement of Alexandria | allusion, high confidence | ca. 198–203 |
Leviticus 21:5
Priests must not make bald spots on their heads, shave off the edges of their beards, or make cuts in their bodies.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lev 21:5 | Leviticus, lines 174–199 · Cyprianus Gallus | allusion, medium confidence | early 5th cent. |
Leviticus 21:7
A priest must not marry a woman defiled by prostitution or divorced by her husband, for the priest is holy to his God.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lev 21:7 | Commentary on Matthew 14.20 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 246–248 |
| Lev 21:7 | Demonstration 18.6 · Aphrahat | allusion, high confidence | 337-345 |
| Lev 21:7 | Apostolic Canon 18 · Anonymous | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 380 |
| Lev 21:7 | Apostolic Constitutions 6.17.3 · Anonymous | allusion, high confidence | ca. 380 |
| Lev 21:7 | Letter 1 to Himerius of Tarragona, chapter 8 · Siricius, bishop of Rome | allusion, medium confidence | 385 |
| Lev 21:7–23 | Leviticus, lines 200–224 · Cyprianus Gallus | allusion, high confidence | early 5th cent. |
Leviticus 21:9
If a priest’s daughter defiles herself by prostituting herself, she profanes her father; she must be burned in the fire.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lev 21:9 | Miscellanies 2.23.147 · Clement of Alexandria | allusion, high confidence | ca. 198–203 |
| Lev 21:9 | Eclogae on Exodus-Judges, column 293 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Lev 21:9 | Commentary on the Song of Songs 2.149 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 240–245 (Rufinus's translation ca. 410) |
| Lev 21:9 | Homilies on Matthew 75.5 · John Chrysostom | allusion, high confidence | ca. 390 |
| Lev 21:9 | Explanation of Twelve Psalms 1.36.4 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 387-397 |
| Lev 21:9 | Questions and Answers to the Orthodox 97 · Anonymous | allusion, high confidence | 5th century (disputed) |
Leviticus 21:10
The priest who is highest among his brothers, who has had the anointing oil poured on his head and has been ordained to wear the priestly garments, must not let his hair hang loose or tear his garments.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lev 21:10 | Homilies on Leviticus 12.2 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Lev 21:10 | Homilies on Leviticus 12.3 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Lev 21:10–11 | Letter 64.3 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
Leviticus 21:11
He must not go near any dead body; he must not defile himself, even for his father or mother.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lev 21:11 | Against Marcion 4.23 · Tertullian | quotation, high confidence | 207/208 (third edition, completed later) |
| Lev 21:11 | On Monogamy 7 · Tertullian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 210–217 |
| Lev 21:11 | Homilies on Leviticus 12.2 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Lev 21:11 | Homilies on Leviticus 12.3 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Lev 21:11 | Homilies on Leviticus 12.4 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Lev 21:11 | Letter 39.4 · Jerome | allusion, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| Lev 21:11 | Letter 64.4 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| Lev 21:11 | Letter 64.6 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| Lev 21:11 | Letter 190.19 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 386–430 |
| Lev 21:11 | Retractations 2.55 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | 426-427 |
Leviticus 21:12
He must not leave or desecrate the sanctuary of his God, for the consecration of the anointing oil of his God is on him. I am the LORD.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lev 21:12 | Homilies on Leviticus 12.2 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Lev 21:12 | Homilies on Leviticus 12.4 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Lev 21:12 | Demonstration of the Gospel 7.2.46 · Eusebius of Caesarea | allusion, high confidence | ca. 314–324 |
| Lev 21:12 | Demonstration of the Gospel 7.2.47 · Eusebius of Caesarea | quotation, high confidence | ca. 314–324 |
| Lev 21:12 | Letter 39.4 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| Lev 21:12 | Letter 64.5 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| Lev 21:12 | Letter 2, chapter 9 · Innocent I, bishop of Rome | allusion, medium confidence | 401–417 |
| Lev 21:12 | The Conferences 14.10 · John Cassian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 426–429 |
Leviticus 21:13
The woman he marries must be a virgin.
Leviticus 21:14
He is not to marry a widow, a divorced woman, or one defiled by prostitution. He is to marry a virgin from his own people,
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lev 21:14 | Homilies on Leviticus 12.2 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Lev 21:14 | Homilies on Leviticus 12.5 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Lev 21:14 | Homilies on Leviticus 12.6 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Lev 21:14 | Homilies on Leviticus 12.7 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Lev 21:14 | Commentary on Matthew 14.20 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 246–248 |
| Lev 21:14 | Lepr. 15 · Methodius of Olympus | quotation, high confidence | late 3rd cent. (disputed) |
| Lev 21:14 | Letter 123.6 · Jerome | allusion, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| Lev 21:14 | Apostolic Constitutions 6.17.3 · Anonymous | quotation, high confidence | ca. 380 |
Leviticus 21:15
so that he does not defile his offspring among his people, for I am the LORD who sanctifies him.”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lev 21:15 | Homilies on Leviticus 12.2 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Lev 21:15 | Homilies on Leviticus 12.5 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Lev 21:15 | Homilies on Leviticus 12.7 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
Leviticus 21:17
“Say to Aaron, ‘For the generations to come, none of your descendants who has a physical defect may approach to offer the food of his God.
Leviticus 21:21
No descendant of Aaron the priest who has a defect shall approach to present the food offerings to the LORD. Since he has a defect, he is not to come near to offer the food of his God.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lev 21:21 | Letter 65.2 · Cyprian of Carthage | quotation, high confidence | 249/250–258 |
| Lev 21:21 | Letter 67.1 · Cyprian of Carthage | quotation, high confidence | 249/250–258 |