Leviticus 21:9 Meaning and Explanation
“And the daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the whore, she profaneth her father: she shall be burnt with fire.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →A priest's daughter who engages in sexual immorality brings shame on her father and faces severe punishment.
The Context of Leviticus 21:9
Sexual immorality among a priest's family brings severe consequences.
What Does Leviticus 21:9 Mean?
The severity of this penalty—death by burning—reflects the ancient understanding that a priest's family shares in his sacred status and that violation of sexual boundaries was a grave desecration. A priest's daughter was held to a higher standard because her actions reflected on her father's household and his fitness for priestly service. Her misconduct was seen as damaging not just her own honor but the entire priestly line and the sanctuary's integrity.
This harsh law illustrates how seriously Israel viewed the connection between personal conduct and sacred office. The same principle applied to priests themselves in later sections—violations of holiness carried extreme consequences. While modern ethics may reject collective punishment and capital sentences for sexual matters, the text reveals the ancient conviction that leadership within sacred institutions demanded family-wide commitment to standards of purity.
Leviticus 21:9 in the Original Language
zanah (זָנָה), 'playing the whore' — engaging in sexual immorality or idol-worship (which is sometimes symbolized as harlotry in biblical language).
Frequently Asked Questions About Leviticus 21:9
What does Leviticus 21:9 mean?
A priest's daughter who engages in sexual immorality brings shame on her father and faces severe punishment.
What is the context of Leviticus 21:9?
Sexual immorality among a priest's family brings severe consequences.