Leviticus 21 Comparison: American Standard Version vs Young's Literal Translation
Leviticus 21
1And Jehovah said unto Moses, Speak unto the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say unto them, There shall none defile himself for the dead among his people;
2except for his kin, that is near unto him, for his mother, and for his father, and for his son, and for his daughter, and for his brother,
3and for his sister a virgin, that is near unto him, that hath had no husband; for her may he defile himself.
4He shall not defile himself, being a chief man among his people, to profane himself.
5They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh.
6They shall be holy unto their God, and not profane the name of their God; for the offerings of Jehovah made by fire, the bread of their God, they do offer: therefore they shall be holy.
7They shall not take a woman that is a harlot, or profane; neither shall they take a woman put away from her husband: for he is holy unto his God.
8Thou shalt sanctify him therefore; for he offereth the bread of thy God: he shall be holy unto thee; for I Jehovah, who sanctify you, am holy.
9And the daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the harlot, she profaneth her father: she shall be burnt with fire.
10And he that is the high priest among his brethren, upon whose head the anointing oil is poured, and that is consecrated to put on the garments, shall not let the hair of his head go loose, nor rend his clothes;
11neither shall he go in to any dead body, nor defile himself for his father, or for his mother;
12neither 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 upon him: I am Jehovah.
13And he shall take a wife in her virginity.
14A widow, or one divorced, or a profane woman, a harlot, these shall he not take: but a virgin of his own people shall he take to wife.
15And he shall not profane his seed among his people: for I am Jehovah who sanctifieth him.
16And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,
17Speak unto Aaron, saying, Whosoever he be of thy seed throughout their generations that hath a blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God.
18For whatsoever man he be that hath a blemish, he shall not approach: a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or anything superfluous,
19or a man that is broken-footed, or broken-handed,
20or crook-backed, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or is scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken;
21no man of the seed of Aaron the priest, that hath a blemish, shall come nigh to offer the offerings of Jehovah made by fire: he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God.
22He shall eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy, and of the holy:
23only he shall not go in unto the veil, nor come nigh unto the altar, because he hath a blemish; that he profane not my sanctuaries: for I am Jehovah who sanctifieth them.
24So Moses spake unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel.
Leviticus 21
1And Jehovah saith unto Moses, `Speak unto the priests, sons of Aaron, and thou hast said unto them, For any person a priest is not defiled among his people,
2except for his relation who is near unto himfor his mother, and for his father, and for his son, and for his daughter, and for his brother.
3and for his sister, the virgin, who is near unto him, who hath not been to a man; for her he is defiled.
4`A master priest doth not defile himself among his peopleto pollute himself;
5they do not make baldness on their head, and the corner of their beard they do not shave, and in their flesh they do not make a cutting;
6they are holy to their God, and they pollute not the name of their God, for the fire-offerings of Jehovah, bread of their God, they are bringing near, and have been holy.
7`A woman, a harlot, or polluted, they do not take, and a woman cast out from her husband they do not take, for he is holy to his God;
8and thou hast sanctified him, for the bread of thy God he is bringing near; he is holy to thee; for holy am I, Jehovah, sanctifying you.
9`And a daughter of any priest when she polluteth herself by going a-whoringher father she is polluting; with fire she is burnt.
10`And the high priest of his brethren, on whose head is poured the anointing oil, and hath consecrated his hand to put on the garments, his head doth not uncover, nor rend his garments,
11nor beside any dead person doth he come; for his father and for his mother he doth not defile himself;
12nor from the sanctuary doth he go out, nor doth he pollute the sanctuary of his God, for the separation of the anointing oil of his God is on him; I am Jehovah.
13`And he taketh a wife in her virginity;
14widow, or cast out, or polluted onea harlotthese he doth not take, but a virgin of his own people he doth take for a wife,
15and he doth not pollute his seed among his people; for I am Jehovah, sanctifying him.'
16And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses, saying,
17`Speak unto Aaron, saying, No man of thy seed to their generations in whom there is blemish doth draw near to bring near the bread of his God,
18for no man in whom is blemish doth draw neara man blind, or lame or dwarfed, or enlarged,
19or a man in whom there is a breach in the foot, or a breach in the hand,
20or hump-backed, or a dwarf, or with a mixture in his eye, or a scurvy person, or scabbed, or broken-testicled.
21`No man in whom is blemish (of the seed of Aaron the priest) doth come nigh to bring near the fire-offerings of Jehovah; blemish is in him; the bread of his God he doth not come nigh to bring near.
22`Bread of his Godof the most holy things, and of the holy thingshe doth eat;
23only, unto the vail he doth not enter, and unto the altar he doth not draw nigh; for blemish is in him; and he doth not pollute My sanctuaries; for I am Jehovah, sanctifying them.'
24And Moses speaketh unto Aaron, and unto his sons, and unto all the sons of Israel.
Understanding American Standard Version vs Young's Literal Translation in Leviticus 21
American Standard Version (ASV)
A highly literal translation known for accuracy and adherence to the original Hebrew and Greek. Consistent word choices make it excellent for careful study and cross-referencing. A strong pick for readers who want a precise, classic-modern English Bible.
Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
An extremely literal, word-for-word translation that preserves original verb tenses and phrasing. Best for close study and comparing structures from the source languages. The English can feel rigid, but it’s very useful for detailed analysis.
You are viewing a side-by-side comparison of Leviticus 21 in the American Standard Version and Young's Literal Translation. Comparing these two versions can help shed light on the nuances of the original text.
Key Comparison: Leviticus 21:16
"And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,"
"And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses, saying,"





