What Does Leviticus 21:14 Mean in the King James?
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 people to wife.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The same Hebrew verb governs both the women excluded and the woman permitted, making the distinction about who qualifies to be taken as a wife.
THE MEANING
The verse sets a strict boundary around whom the priest may take as wife: a widow, divorced woman, profaned woman, or harlot is excluded; a virgin from his own people is permitted. Women’s marital or sexual status determines eligibility, while the priest remains the chooser.
THE ROOT
יִקָּח
yiqqaḥ
GROWS FROM
לקח
To take, receive, or acquire.
The same verb appears for both sides of the rule: he does not take the listed women, but takes a virgin from his people. The act remains the same; the distinction lies in which woman’s status permits her to be chosen.
ALSO GROWS
lāqaḥ: To take or receive.
לָקַח
This verbal form makes clear that the verse’s repeated act of taking comes from the root לקח.
leqaḥ: Instruction or teaching; what is received.
לֶקַח
This noun shares the root’s consonants and extends the sense of receiving from taking into taking something in.
THE PATTERN
Marriage status is made a boundary for those serving in sacred office.
They shall not take a wife that is a whore, or profane; neither shall they take a woman put away from her husband: for he is holy unto his God.Neither shall they take for their wives a widow, nor her that is put away: but they shall take maidens of the seed of the house of Israel, or a widow that had a priest before.A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;THE THREAD
Neither shall they take for their wives a widow, nor her that is put away: but they shall take maidens of the seed of the house of Israel, or a widow that had a priest before.The Hebrew verb לקח, meaning to take or receive, frames both rulings around who may be taken as a wife. Ezekiel also makes the boundary specific: a widow whose former husband was a priest is permitted.
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