Leviticus 21:22
New International Version
He may eat the most holy food of his God, as well as the holy food;

New Living Translation
However, he may eat from the food offered to God, including the holy offerings and the most holy offerings.

English Standard Version
He may eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy and of the holy things,

Berean Standard Bible
He may eat the most holy food of his God as well as the holy food,

King James Bible
He shall eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy, and of the holy.

New King James Version
He may eat the bread of his God, both the most holy and the holy;

New American Standard Bible
He may eat the food of his God, both of the most holy and of the holy,

NASB 1995
He may eat the food of his God, both of the most holy and of the holy,

NASB 1977
‘He may eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy and of the holy,

Legacy Standard Bible
He may eat the food of his God, both of the most holy and of the holy,

Amplified Bible
He may eat the food of his God, both of the most holy and of the holy things,

Christian Standard Bible
He may eat the food of his God from what is especially holy as well as from what is holy.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He may eat the food of his God from what is especially holy as well as from what is holy.

American Standard Version
He shall eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy, and of the holy:

Contemporary English Version
They may eat the food offerings presented to me,

English Revised Version
He shall eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy, and of the holy.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He may eat the food of his God-what is holy and what is very holy.

Good News Translation
Such a man may eat the food offered to me, both the holy food offering and the very holy food offering,

International Standard Version
However, he may eat the food of his God, including the most holy and the holy offerings,

Majority Standard Bible
He may eat the most holy food of his God as well as the holy food,

NET Bible
He may eat both the most holy and the holy food of his God,

New Heart English Bible
He shall eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy, and of the holy.

Webster's Bible Translation
He shall eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy, and of the holy.

World English Bible
He shall eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy, and of the holy.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Bread of his God—from the most holy things and from the holy things—he eats;

Young's Literal Translation
'Bread of his God -- of the most holy things, and of the holy things -- he doth eat;

Smith's Literal Translation
The bread of his God the holy of holies, and from the holies shall he eat.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
He shall eat nevertheless of the loaves, that are offered in the sanctuary,

Catholic Public Domain Version
Nevertheless, he shall eat from the loaves which are offered in the Sanctuary.

New American Bible
He may, however, eat the food of his God: of the most sacred as well as sacred offerings.

New Revised Standard Version
He may eat the food of his God, of the most holy as well as of the holy.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
He shall eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy and of the holy.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
He shall eat the bread of his God between the Holy holies and the Holy Place.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
He may eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy, and of the holy.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
The gifts of God are most holy, and he shall eat of the holy things.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Restrictions Against Those with Blemishes
21No descendant of Aaron the priest who has a defect shall approach to present the offerings made by fire to the LORD. Since he has a defect, he is not to come near to offer the food of his God. 22He may eat the most holy food of his God as well as the holy food, 23but because he has a defect, he must not go near the veil or approach the altar, so as not to desecrate My sanctuaries. For I am the LORD who sanctifies them.’ ”…

Cross References
Numbers 18:9-10
A portion of the most holy offerings reserved from the fire will be yours. From all the offerings they render to Me as most holy offerings, whether grain offerings or sin offerings or guilt offerings, that part belongs to you and your sons. / You are to eat it as a most holy offering, and every male may eat it. You shall regard it as holy.

Deuteronomy 18:1-2
The Levitical priests—indeed the whole tribe of Levi—shall have no portion or inheritance with Israel. They are to eat the food offerings to the LORD; that is their inheritance. / Although they have no inheritance among their brothers, the LORD is their inheritance, as He promised them.

1 Samuel 2:28
And out of all the tribes of Israel I selected your father to be My priest, to offer sacrifices on My altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in My presence. I also gave to the house of your father all the food offerings of the Israelites.

Ezekiel 44:28-30
In regard to their inheritance, I am their inheritance. You are to give them no possession in Israel, for I am their possession. / They shall eat the grain offerings, the sin offerings, and the guilt offerings. Everything in Israel devoted to the LORD will belong to them. / The best of all the firstfruits and of every contribution from all your offerings will belong to the priests. You are to give your first batch of dough to the priest, so that a blessing may rest upon your homes.

Hebrews 7:13-14
He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. / For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, a tribe as to which Moses said nothing about priests.

1 Corinthians 9:13-14
Do you not know that those who work in the temple eat of its food, and those who serve at the altar partake of its offerings? / In the same way, the Lord has prescribed that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.

Numbers 18:19
All the holy offerings that the Israelites present to the LORD I give to you and to your sons and daughters as a permanent statute. It is a permanent covenant of salt before the LORD for you and your offspring.”

Deuteronomy 10:9
That is why Levi has no portion or inheritance among his brothers; the LORD is his inheritance, as the LORD your God promised him.

Joshua 13:14
To the tribe of Levi, however, Moses had given no inheritance. The food offerings to the LORD, the God of Israel, are their inheritance, just as He had promised them.

1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Malachi 3:10
Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this,” says the LORD of Hosts. “See if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour out for you blessing without measure.

Matthew 12:4
He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for them to eat, but only for the priests.

Luke 10:7
Stay at the same house, eating and drinking whatever you are offered. For the worker is worthy of his wages. Do not move around from house to house.

1 Corinthians 10:18
Consider the people of Israel: Are not those who eat the sacrifices fellow partakers in the altar?

Hebrews 13:10
We have an altar from which those who serve at the tabernacle have no right to eat.


Treasury of Scripture

He shall eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy, and of the holy.

both

Leviticus 2:3,10
And the remnant of the meat offering shall be Aaron's and his sons': it is a thing most holy of the offerings of the LORD made by fire…

Leviticus 6:16,17,29
And the remainder thereof shall Aaron and his sons eat: with unleavened bread shall it be eaten in the holy place; in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation they shall eat it…

Leviticus 7:1
Likewise this is the law of the trespass offering: it is most holy.

and of the holy

Leviticus 22:10-13
There shall no stranger eat of the holy thing: a sojourner of the priest, or an hired servant, shall not eat of the holy thing…

Numbers 18:10,19
In the most holy place shalt thou eat it; every male shall eat it: it shall be holy unto thee…

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Bread Food Holy
Leviticus 21
1. Of the priests' mourning
6. Of their holiness
7. Of their marriages
8. Of their estimation
9. Of the high priest's holiness
10. Of his marriage
13. The priests that have blemishes must not minister in the sanctuary














He may eat
The phrase "He may eat" signifies permission and inclusion. In the Hebrew context, the verb "eat" (אָכַל, 'akal) is not merely about physical consumption but also about participation and fellowship. Eating in the ancient Near Eastern culture often symbolized acceptance and communion. Here, it underscores the grace and provision of God, allowing even those with physical imperfections to partake in the sacred meals, emphasizing that God's sustenance and fellowship are available to all His servants.

the most holy food
The term "the most holy food" refers to the offerings that were considered most sacred, such as the sin offerings and guilt offerings, which were reserved for the priests. In Hebrew, "most holy" (קֹדֶשׁ קָדָשִׁים, qodesh qodashim) indicates the highest level of sanctity. This phrase highlights the privilege and responsibility of the priestly role, as well as the holiness required in approaching God. It serves as a reminder of the reverence due to God and the sacredness of His provisions.

of his God
The phrase "of his God" personalizes the relationship between the priest and the divine. The Hebrew word for God here is אֱלֹהָיו (Elohav), which denotes a personal and covenantal relationship. This phrase emphasizes that the provisions and blessings come from a personal God who is in a covenant relationship with His people. It reflects the intimate connection and responsibility the priests have in serving and representing God to the people.

as well as the holy food
The phrase "as well as the holy food" expands the inclusivity of the priest's diet to include other offerings that were considered holy but not of the highest sanctity, such as the peace offerings. The Hebrew word for "holy" (קֹדֶשׁ, qodesh) signifies something set apart for a sacred purpose. This inclusion underscores the comprehensive nature of God's provision and the priest's role in the community. It reflects the abundance of God's blessings and the holistic nature of worship, where all aspects of life are consecrated to God.

(22) He shall eat the bread of his God.--But though unfit for serving at the altar, and reduced to do the menial work connected with the sanctuary, he was not only allowed to partake of the less holy sacrificial gifts, such as the peace shoulder, the tithes, and the first-fruits, but also to eat what remained of the meat-offerings, the sin-offerings, and the trespass-offerings, which were most holy. (See Leviticus 2:3.)



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
He may eat
יֹאכֵֽל׃ (yō·ḵêl)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 398: To eat

the most
מִקָּדְשֵׁ֖י (miq·qā·ḏə·šê)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 6944: A sacred place, thing, sanctity

holy
הַקֳּדָשִׁ֑ים (haq·qo·ḏā·šîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 6944: A sacred place, thing, sanctity

food
לֶ֣חֶם (le·ḥem)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3899: Food, bread, grain

of his God
אֱלֹהָ֔יו (’ĕ·lō·hāw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

as well as
וּמִן־ (ū·min-)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

the holy [food],
הַקֳּדָשִׁ֖ים (haq·qo·ḏā·šîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 6944: A sacred place, thing, sanctity


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OT Law: Leviticus 21:22 He shall eat the bread of his (Le Lv Lev.)
Leviticus 21:21
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