Leviticus 21:1-8 ▼

1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them: ‘No one shall defile himself [that is, become ceremonially unclean] for the dead among his people [by touching a corpse or assisting in preparing it for burial],

2 except for his relatives who are nearest to him, his mother, his father, his son, his daughter, and his brother,

3 also his virgin sister, who is near to him because she has had no husband; for her he may become unclean.

4 He shall not become unclean as a relative by marriage among his people, and so profane himself.

5 The priests shall not shave their heads, nor shave off the edges of their beards, nor make any cuts in their body.

6 They shall be holy to their God and not profane the name of their God; for they present the offerings by fire to the LORD, the food of their God; so they shall be holy.

7 They shall not take [as a wife] a woman who is a prostitute, nor a woman who is divorced from her husband; for the priest is holy to his God.

8 You shall consecrate him, therefore, for he offers the food of your God; he shall be holy to you; for I the LORD, who sanctifies you, am holy.