« | Leviticus 21 | » |
1 And Jehovah said to Moses, Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them, There shall none be defiled for the dead among his people.
2 But for his kin that is near him, for his mother and for his father and for his son and for his daughter and for his brother
3 and for his sister, a virgin, who is near to him, who has had no husband, for her he may be defiled.
4 A leader shall not defile himself among his people, to pollute himself.
5 They shall not make baldness on their head, nor shall they shave the corner of their beard, nor make any cutting in their flesh.
6 They shall be holy to their God and not profane the name of their God. For they offer the fire offerings of Jehovah, the bread of their God. Therefore they shall be holy.
7 They shall not take a wife who is a whore, or defiled. Neither shall they take a woman put away from her husband. For he is holy to his God.
8 And you shall sanctify him, for he offers the bread of your God. He shall be holy to you. For I am holy, Jehovah who sanctifies you.
9 And the daughter of any priest, if she profanes herself by going whoring, she profanes her father. She shall be burned with fire.
10 And the high priest among his brothers, on whose head the anointing oil was poured and who is consecrated to put on the garments, shall not uncover his head nor tear his clothes.
11 Neither shall he come near to any dead person, nor defile himself for his father nor for his mother.
12 Neither shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the crown of the anointing oil of his God is on him. I am Jehovah.
13 And he shall take a wife in her virginity.
14 He shall not take a widow or a divorced woman, or profane, or a harlot, but he shall take a virgin of his own people to wife.
15 And he shall not defile his seed among his people. For I, Jehovah, do sanctify him.
16 And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying,
17 Speak to Aaron, saying, No man of your seed in their generations shall draw near to offer the bread of his God if there is a blemish in him.
18 For no man in whom there is a blemish shall draw near, a blind man, or a lame man, or disfigured, or deformed,
19 or a man that is broken-footed, or broken-handed,
20 or crook-backed, or a crushed one, or who has a blemish in his eye, or a scurvy or scabbed person, or one with crushed testicles.
21 No man of the seed of Aaron, the priest, in whom there is a blemish shall come near to offer the fire offerings of Jehovah. He has a blemish; he shall not come near to offer the bread of his God.
22 He shall eat the bread of his God, of the most holy and of the holy.
23 Only he shall not go in to the veil, nor come near to the altar, because he has a blemish; so that he does not profane My sanctuaries. For I, Jehovah, do sanctify them.
24 And Moses told Aaron and his sons, and all the sons of Israel.
The Modern King James Version (MKJV)
The Modern King James Version (MKJV) is a contemporary English translation of the Bible that aims to preserve the majesty and accuracy of the original King James Version (KJV) while updating its language for modern readers. Developed by Jay P. Green Sr. and first published in 1990, the MKJV seeks to maintain the literary beauty and doctrinal reliability of the KJV, making only necessary adjustments to archaic terms and phrases to enhance readability. This careful balance allows the MKJV to retain the classic feel of the KJV while making it more accessible to today’s audience.
One of the standout features of the MKJV is its commitment to formal equivalence, or word-for-word translation. The translators have meticulously preserved the structure and vocabulary of the KJV, only updating words and phrases that have become outdated or whose meanings have shifted over time. This approach ensures that the MKJV remains faithful to the original texts and maintains the theological and literary integrity of the KJV. By preserving the cadence and phrasing of the original, the MKJV offers a reading experience that is both familiar and refreshed for modern readers.
The MKJV also pays special attention to the textual basis of the translation. Like the KJV, it relies on the Textus Receptus for the New Testament and the Masoretic Text for the Old Testament. This adherence to traditional source texts underscores the MKJV’s commitment to continuity with the historic Christian tradition. The translation is designed to serve both devotional and scholarly purposes, providing a text that is suitable for study, teaching, and public reading in a variety of settings.
Despite its strengths, the Modern King James Version has faced some criticism. Some scholars and readers argue that the translation could benefit from a more extensive revision to fully embrace contemporary language, suggesting that the MKJV’s adherence to the structure and style of the KJV may still pose challenges for modern readers. Others appreciate the balance it strikes but note that it occupies a niche space, appealing primarily to those who have a strong attachment to the KJV. Nonetheless, the MKJV remains a respected and valued translation for those seeking a modern update of the KJV that honors its rich heritage and timeless message.