Leviticus 22:16 Meaning and Explanation
“Or suffer them to bear the iniquity of trespass, when they eat their holy things: for I the LORD do sanctify them.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Priests who allow improper eating of the offerings cause others to bear guilt; God alone makes them holy.
The Context of Leviticus 22:16
Priestly negligence in maintaining offering boundaries makes others guilty of trespass.
What Does Leviticus 22:16 Mean?
If priests neglect to enforce these laws, they cause others—those who eat improperly—to incur guilt and trespass. The priest's responsibility is not merely personal purity but communal: his failure to guard the boundary allows others to sin against the holy. This places significant weight on the priestly role.
The final phrase reinforces a theme from verse 9: 'I the LORD do sanctify them.' God's sanctification is both a gift and a responsibility. The priests are holy by God's choice, and that holiness carries the duty to maintain boundaries between the sacred and the common, between the clean and the unclean.
Frequently Asked Questions About Leviticus 22:16
What does Leviticus 22:16 mean?
Priests who allow improper eating of the offerings cause others to bear guilt; God alone makes them holy.
What is the context of Leviticus 22:16?
Priestly negligence in maintaining offering boundaries makes others guilty of trespass.