Leviticus 21 in the early church

89 passages quote, allude to, or echo Leviticus 21, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.

Verses: 1 · 2 · 5 · 7 · 9 · 10 · 11 · 12 · 13 · 14 · 15 · 17 · 21

Leviticus 21:1

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Speak to Aaron’s sons, the priests, and tell them that a priest is not to defile himself for a dead person among his people,

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Lev 21:1Miscellanies 4.25.158 · Clement of Alexandriaallusion, high confidenceca. 198–203
Lev 21:1–2Against Marcion 4.23 · Tertullianallusion, medium confidence207/208 (third edition, completed later)
Lev 21:1–3Against Jovinianus 1.20 · Jeromeallusion, high confidence393

Leviticus 21:2

except for his immediate family—his mother, father, son, daughter, or brother,

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Lev 21:2Miscellanies 4.25.158 · Clement of Alexandriaallusion, high confidenceca. 198–203

Leviticus 21:5

Priests must not make bald spots on their heads, shave off the edges of their beards, or make cuts in their bodies.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Lev 21:5Leviticus, lines 174–199 · Cyprianus Gallusallusion, medium confidenceearly 5th cent.

Leviticus 21:7

A priest must not marry a woman defiled by prostitution or divorced by her husband, for the priest is holy to his God.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Lev 21:7Commentary on Matthew 14.20 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 246–248
Lev 21:7Demonstration 18.6 · Aphrahatallusion, high confidence337-345
Lev 21:7Apostolic Canon 18 · Anonymousallusion, medium confidenceca. 380
Lev 21:7Apostolic Constitutions 6.17.3 · Anonymousallusion, high confidenceca. 380
Lev 21:7Letter 1 to Himerius of Tarragona, chapter 8 · Siricius, bishop of Romeallusion, medium confidence385
Lev 21:7–23Leviticus, lines 200–224 · Cyprianus Gallusallusion, high confidenceearly 5th cent.

Leviticus 21:9

If a priest’s daughter defiles herself by prostituting herself, she profanes her father; she must be burned in the fire.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Lev 21:9Miscellanies 2.23.147 · Clement of Alexandriaallusion, high confidenceca. 198–203
Lev 21:9Eclogae on Exodus-Judges, column 293 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 220-254
Lev 21:9Commentary on the Song of Songs 2.149 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 240–245 (Rufinus's translation ca. 410)
Lev 21:9Homilies on Matthew 75.5 · John Chrysostomallusion, high confidenceca. 390
Lev 21:9Explanation of Twelve Psalms 1.36.4 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 387-397
Lev 21:9Questions and Answers to the Orthodox 97 · Anonymousallusion, high confidence5th century (disputed)

Leviticus 21:10

The priest who is highest among his brothers, who has had the anointing oil poured on his head and has been ordained to wear the priestly garments, must not let his hair hang loose or tear his garments.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Lev 21:10Homilies on Leviticus 12.2 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Lev 21:10Homilies on Leviticus 12.3 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Lev 21:10–11Letter 64.3 · Jeromequotation, high confidenceca. 370–419

Leviticus 21:11

He must not go near any dead body; he must not defile himself, even for his father or mother.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Lev 21:11Against Marcion 4.23 · Tertullianquotation, high confidence207/208 (third edition, completed later)
Lev 21:11On Monogamy 7 · Tertullianquotation, high confidenceca. 210–217
Lev 21:11Homilies on Leviticus 12.2 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Lev 21:11Homilies on Leviticus 12.3 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Lev 21:11Homilies on Leviticus 12.4 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Lev 21:11Letter 39.4 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 370–419
Lev 21:11Letter 64.4 · Jeromequotation, high confidenceca. 370–419
Lev 21:11Letter 64.6 · Jeromequotation, high confidenceca. 370–419
Lev 21:11Letter 190.19 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, medium confidenceca. 386–430
Lev 21:11Retractations 2.55 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidence426-427

Leviticus 21:12

He must not leave or desecrate the sanctuary of his God, for the consecration of the anointing oil of his God is on him. I am the LORD.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Lev 21:12Homilies on Leviticus 12.2 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Lev 21:12Homilies on Leviticus 12.4 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Lev 21:12Demonstration of the Gospel 7.2.46 · Eusebius of Caesareaallusion, high confidenceca. 314–324
Lev 21:12Demonstration of the Gospel 7.2.47 · Eusebius of Caesareaquotation, high confidenceca. 314–324
Lev 21:12Letter 39.4 · Jeromequotation, high confidenceca. 370–419
Lev 21:12Letter 64.5 · Jeromequotation, high confidenceca. 370–419
Lev 21:12Letter 2, chapter 9 · Innocent I, bishop of Romeallusion, medium confidence401–417
Lev 21:12The Conferences 14.10 · John Cassianquotation, high confidenceca. 426–429

Leviticus 21:13

The woman he marries must be a virgin.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Lev 21:13–14Exhortation to Chastity 7 · Tertullianallusion, medium confidenceca. 208
Lev 21:13–14On Monogamy 7 · Tertullianallusion, medium confidenceca. 210–217
Lev 21:13Homilies on Leviticus 12.2 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Lev 21:13Homilies on Leviticus 12.4 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Lev 21:13Homilies on Leviticus 12.5 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Lev 21:13Lepr. 15 · Methodius of Olympusquotation, high confidencelate 3rd cent. (disputed)
Lev 21:13–14Demonstration 18.6 · Aphrahatallusion, high confidence337-345
Lev 21:13–14Letter 52.10 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 370–419
Lev 21:13–15Letter 64.6 · Jeromequotation, high confidenceca. 370–419
Lev 21:13–14Letter 64.7 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 370–419
Lev 21:13Letter 123.6 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 370–419
Lev 21:13–14Apostolic Canon 18 · Anonymousallusion, medium confidenceca. 380
Lev 21:13–14Letter 1 to Himerius of Tarragona, chapter 8 · Siricius, bishop of Romequotation, high confidence385
Lev 21:13–14Against Jovinianus 1.20 · Jeromeallusion, high confidence393
Lev 21:13–14Letter 2 to Victricius of Rouen, chapter 4 · Innocent I, bishop of Romequotation, high confidence401–417
Lev 21:13–14Letter 2 to Victricius of Rouen, chapter 5 · Innocent I, bishop of Romeallusion, medium confidence401–417
Lev 21:13Letter 3 to the bishops of Spain, chapter 6 · Innocent I, bishop of Romequotation, high confidence401–417
Lev 21:13–14Letter 17 to the bishops of Macedonia, chapter 1 · Innocent I, bishop of Romequotation, high confidence401–417
Lev 21:13–14Letter 37 to Felix of Nuceria, chapter 2 · Innocent I, bishop of Romeallusion, high confidence401–417
Lev 21:13–14Commentary on Ezekiel 44:22 · Jeromeecho, medium confidence410-414
Lev 21:13–14Letter 4 to the bishops of Campania, Picenum and Tuscany, chapter 2 · Leo I, bishop of Rome (Leo the Great)quotation, high confidence440–461
Lev 21:13–14Letter 5 to the bishops of Illyricum, chapter 3 · Leo I, bishop of Rome (Leo the Great)allusion, high confidence440–461
Lev 21:13–14Letter 6 to Anastasius of Thessalonica, chapter 3 · Leo I, bishop of Rome (Leo the Great)allusion, medium confidence440–461
Lev 21:13–14Letter 12 to the bishops of Mauretania Caesariensis, chapter 3 · Leo I, bishop of Rome (Leo the Great)allusion, high confidence440–461

Leviticus 21:14

He is not to marry a widow, a divorced woman, or one defiled by prostitution. He is to marry a virgin from his own people,

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Lev 21:14Homilies on Leviticus 12.2 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Lev 21:14Homilies on Leviticus 12.5 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Lev 21:14Homilies on Leviticus 12.6 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Lev 21:14Homilies on Leviticus 12.7 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Lev 21:14Commentary on Matthew 14.20 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 246–248
Lev 21:14Lepr. 15 · Methodius of Olympusquotation, high confidencelate 3rd cent. (disputed)
Lev 21:14Letter 123.6 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 370–419
Lev 21:14Apostolic Constitutions 6.17.3 · Anonymousquotation, high confidenceca. 380

Leviticus 21:15

so that he does not defile his offspring among his people, for I am the LORD who sanctifies him.”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Lev 21:15Homilies on Leviticus 12.2 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Lev 21:15Homilies on Leviticus 12.5 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Lev 21:15Homilies on Leviticus 12.7 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)

Leviticus 21:17

“Say to Aaron, ‘For the generations to come, none of your descendants who has a physical defect may approach to offer the food of his God.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Lev 21:17Exhortation to Martyrdom 30 · Origenallusion, high confidence235
Lev 21:17Letter 65.2 · Cyprian of Carthagequotation, high confidence249/250–258
Lev 21:17Letter 67.1 · Cyprian of Carthagequotation, high confidence249/250–258
Lev 21:17Letter 72.2 · Cyprian of Carthagequotation, high confidence249/250–258
Lev 21:17Oration 2.40 · Gregory of Nazianzusallusion, high confidenceca. 362–383
Lev 21:17On the Destruction of Jerusalem 1.29 · Anonymousallusion, medium confidenceca. 370
Lev 21:17On Virginity 24 · Gregory of Nyssaallusion, medium confidenceca. 370–371
Lev 21:17–23Letter 52.10 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 370–419
Lev 21:17–21Letter 64.2 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 370–419
Lev 21:17Apostolic Constitutions 2.3.1 · Anonymousallusion, low confidenceca. 380
Lev 21:17–23Apostolic Constitutions 6.23.5 · Anonymousallusion, medium confidenceca. 380
Lev 21:17–21Against Faustus the Manichaean 6.1 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, medium confidenceca. 398–400
Lev 21:17Against the Letter of Parmenian 2.12 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 400
Lev 21:17Against the Letter of Parmenian 2.13 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 400

Leviticus 21:21

No descendant of Aaron the priest who has a defect shall approach to present the food offerings to the LORD. Since he has a defect, he is not to come near to offer the food of his God.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Lev 21:21Letter 65.2 · Cyprian of Carthagequotation, high confidence249/250–258
Lev 21:21Letter 67.1 · Cyprian of Carthagequotation, high confidence249/250–258