Leviticus 22:13 Meaning and Explanation
“But if the priest's daughter be a widow, or divorced, and have no child, and is returned unto her father's house, as in her youth, she shall eat of her father's meat: but there shall no stranger eat thereof.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →A priest's daughter can return to eating the offerings if she becomes a widow or is divorced and returns to her father's house.
The Context of Leviticus 22:13
Widows and divorced daughters without children can return to their father's house and share his offerings.
What Does Leviticus 22:13 Mean?
The law provides a path for restoration. If a priest's daughter is widowed or divorced—and critically, if she has no children—she may return to her father's house and resume eating the priestly offerings. The condition 'have no child' is significant: it means she has no household of her own to maintain or represent.
When she returns 'as in her youth,' she re-enters her father's household as a full member. The phrase 'but there shall no stranger eat thereof' makes clear that while she is restored, those outside the priestly family still have no rights to these portions. Her status as a priest's daughter is reactivated.
Frequently Asked Questions About Leviticus 22:13
What does Leviticus 22:13 mean?
A priest's daughter can return to eating the offerings if she becomes a widow or is divorced and returns to her father's house.
What is the context of Leviticus 22:13?
Widows and divorced daughters without children can return to their father's house and share his offerings.