Leviticus 22:1-8 ▼

1 The LORD said to Moses:

2 Tell Aaron and his sons to treat with respect the sacred offerings which the Israelites consecrate to me; otherwise they will profane my holy name. I am the LORD.

3 Tell them: If any one of you, or of your descendants in any future generation, dares, while he is in a state of uncleanness, to draw near the sacred offerings which the Israelites consecrate to the LORD, such a one shall be cut off from my presence. I am the LORD.

4 No descendant of Aaron who is stricken with a scaly infection, or who suffers from a genital discharge, may eat of the sacred offerings, until he again becomes clean. Moreover, if anyone touches a person who has become unclean by contact with a corpse, or if anyone has had an emission of semen,

5 or if anyone touches any swarming creature whose uncleanness is contagious or any person whose uncleanness, of whatever kind it may be, is contagious—

6 the one who touches such as these shall be unclean until evening and may not eat of the sacred portions until he has first bathed his body in water.

7 Then, when the sun sets, he shall be clean. Only then may he eat of the sacred offerings, for they are his food.

8 He shall not make himself unclean by eating of any animal that has died of itself or has been killed by wild beasts. I am the LORD.