Leviticus 21:11

KJV1611 – Modern English

Neither shall he go near any dead body, nor defile himself for his father, or for his mother;

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וְעַ֛ל כָּל־נַפְשֹׁ֥ת מֵ֖ת לֹ֣א יָבֹ֑א לְאָבִ֥יו וּלְאִמּ֖וֹ לֹ֥א יִטַּמָּֽא׃

Transliteration

And-upon all-napšōt mēt not yābōʾ for-ʾābîw and-for-ʾimmô not yiṭṭammāʾ.

Grammar Details

• *napšōt*: feminine plural construct - souls of
• *mēt*: adjective masculine singular - dead
• *yābōʾ*: qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular - he shall come/go
• *ʾābîw*: masculine singular noun with 3rd masculine singular suffix - his father
• *ʾimmô*: feminine singular noun with 3rd masculine singular suffix - his mother
• *yiṭṭammāʾ*: hitpael imperfect 3rd masculine singular - he shall defile himself

Word Meanings

• *napšōt*: souls/dead bodies/persons
• *mēt*: dead person/corpse
• *yiṭṭammāʾ*: defile himself/make himself unclean

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  He must not go near any dead body or make himself unclean, even for his father or his mother.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  Neither shall he go in to any dead body, nor defi himself for his father, or for his mother;

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  neither shall he go in to any dead body, nor defile himself for his father, or for his mother;

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Neither shall he go in to any dead body, nor defile himself for his father, or for his mother;

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  nether shall goo to any deed body nor make him selfe vncleane: no not on his father or mother

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  & shal come at no deed, & shal defyle him self nether vpon father ner mother.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Neither shall he goe to any dead bodie, nor make him selfe vncleane by his father or by his mother,

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Neither go to any dead body, nor make hymselfe vncleane by his father or his mother.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  Neither shall he go in to any dead body, nor defile himself for his father, or for his mother;

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  neither shall he go in to any dead body, nor defile himself for his father, or for his mother;

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  nor beside any dead person doth he come; for his father and for his mother he doth not defile himself;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  neither shall he go in to any dead body, nor defile himself for his father, or for his mother;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  neither shall he go in to any dead body, nor defile himself for his father, or for his mother;

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  He may not go near any dead body or make himself unclean for his father or his mother;

• World English Bible (2000)

  neither shall he go in to any dead body, nor defile himself for his father, or for his mother;

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  He must not go where there is any dead person; he must not defile himself even for his father and his mother.

Referenced Verses

• Num 19:14 : 14 This is the law when a man dies in a tent: all who come into the tent, and all who are in the tent, shall be unclean seven days.
• Lev 19:28 : 28 You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the LORD.
• Lev 21:1-2 : 1 And the LORD said to Moses, Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them, None shall defile himself for the dead among his people: 2 But for his relative who is near to him, that is, for his mother, and for his father, and for his son, and for his daughter, and for his brother,
• Num 6:7 : 7 He shall not make himself unclean for his father, or his mother, for his brother, or his sister, when they die: because the consecration of his God is upon his head.
• Deut 33:9 : 9 Who said to his father and to his mother, I have not seen him; neither did he acknowledge his brothers, nor knew his own children: for they have observed your word, and kept your covenant.
• Matt 8:21-22 : 21 And another of his disciples said to him, Lord, let me first go and bury my father. 22 But Jesus said to him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.
• Matt 12:46-50 : 46 While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, desiring to speak with him. 47 Then one said to him, Look, your mother and your brothers stand outside, desiring to speak with you. 48 But he answered and said to him who told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brothers? 49 And he stretched out his hand toward his disciples and said, Look, my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
• Luke 9:59-60 : 59 Then he said to another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, let me first go and bury my father. 60 Jesus said to him, Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.
• Luke 14:26 : 26 If any man comes to me and does not hate his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
• 2 Cor 5:16 : 16 Therefore from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know him thus no longer.