Bible Scholars - Can someone "translate" this for me?

Question

Leviticus 20
16 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
17 Speak unto Aaron, saying, Whosoever he be of thy seed in their generations that hath any blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God.
18 For 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 any thing superfluous,
9 Or a man that is brokenfooted, or brokenhanded,
20 Or crookbackt, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken;
21 No man that hath a blemish of the seed of Aaron the priest shall come nigh to offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire: he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God.
22 He shall eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy, and of the holy.
23 Only he shall not go in unto the vail, nor come nigh unto the altar, because he hath a blemish; that he profane not my sanctuaries: for I the LORD do sanctify them.

I apologize for the confusion - I meant to type Leviticus 21 (not 20)

Answer 1

If you want to take it literally (as some say it should be) it sounds like God can't stand the sight of handicapped people.
The blind, the lame, dwarfs, people with funny noses or blemishes, with damaged testicles, or broken hands or feet, crooked backs, or who have scurvy or scabs, or who have anything superfluous must not approach the altar of God.

Is this what the Bible says about blind and handicapped people?

Answer 2

PRIESTLINE

Exo.6:16-23; 26 Moses is prophet Judge.

This was 2515 years after Adam, 859 years after the flood, 2 years into the wilderness and 1551 before Christ.
The law is being given to prevent genetic defect.
This far away from Adam the imperfections of sin are getting worse, the father of Moses and Aaron had married his father sister or his aunt and this had been done, before, even a half sister could be a wife with a half brother.

The priest line has got to be a perfect as possible.
The laws are for the best interest of the people.
Abraham to Moses and law Gal.3:16-18; Exo.12:40,41; It begans 430 years after Abraham, they are 2 years into the wilderness with 38 years to go Deut.2:14;
Aaron dies Num.33:38,39; in the 40th year.
Moses does Deut.34:7; in the 40th year.
Josh.5:6,10,12; This is the end of the 40 years. ALL HEIRS ARE IN THE PROMISED LAND.

Answer 3

Wrong address, Hollie.

It's Leviticus 21, not 20.

The priesthood is connected to the sacrifice itself, and they had to be without blemish, just as the sacrifice had to be without blemish, just as Jesus is without blemish. It forshadows Jesus' perfection as a Perferct Sacrifice.

Answer 4

yes

It was the stautes.(manners), that brought down the judgement of extermination. No other remedy would do. These nations were descended from the "Nephilim".

Blemish refers to not being pure or of pedigree, like Noahs family was.

In no way does it refer to handicap peoples..

Answer 5

Leviticus 20:16-23

16And if a woman approach unto any beast, and lie down thereto, thou shalt kill the woman, and the beast: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

17And if a man shall take his sister, his father's daughter, or his mother's daughter, and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness; it is a wicked thing; and they shall be cut off in the sight of their people: he hath uncovered his sister's nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity.

18And if a man shall lie with a woman having her sickness, and shall uncover her nakedness; he hath discovered her fountain, and she hath uncovered the fountain of her blood: and both of them shall be cut off from among their people.

19And thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister, nor of thy father's sister: for he uncovereth his near kin: they shall bear their iniquity.

20And if a man shall lie with his uncle's wife, he hath uncovered his uncle's nakedness: they shall bear their sin; they shall die childless.

21And if a man shall take his brother's wife, it is an unclean thing: he hath uncovered his brother's nakedness; they shall be childless.

22Ye shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: that the land, whither I bring you to dwell therein, spue you not out.

23And ye shall not walk in the manners of the nation, which I cast out before you: for they committed all these things, and therefore I abhorred them.

You have the wrong verses.

Answer 6

Wait for it. "Them was ancient times for ancient people, those things don't apply no more, 'n it was the Old Testyment an'all."

"Now where's my shotgun, I see homos approachin' "

Answer 7

Go to esword.com it will translate everything for you.

Answer 8

The priesthood of Aaron foreshadows Christ and the Royal Priesthood in a very striking way. The services of the Aaronic priesthood were carnal ceremonies dealing with the outward manifestations of the flesh - gifts and sacrifices and divers washings, "...the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the PURIFYING OF THE FLESH' (Heb. 9:13). The numerous external rituals performed by the priests all pointed to various aspects of the PROGRESSIVE WORK of salvation, sanctification, and perfection wrought out in the life of the believer. The sacrifice slain by the priest at the Tabernacle gate typified our justification by the blood of Jesus Christ. The brazen laver, wherein the priests washed their hands and feet, represented the cleansing of our walk from the sins of the flesh by the washing of water by the Word. The golden candlestick in the Holy Place, by whose light the priests ministered, bespoke the Holy Spirit of Truth which illumines our lives as we "walk in the Spirit." The table of shewbread, of which the priests partook, symbolized the communion of the body of Christ as we minister HIM one to another, for "...the bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread" (I Cor. 10:16-17). The golden altar of incense stood for the prayer and praise ascending day and night from the consecrated hearts and sanctified lips of God's people. The birth, anointing, consecration, ministry, and garments of the priesthood all foreshadowed the spiritual development of the Royal Priesthood.

All of this sets forth the PROCESS of redemption whereby God's chosen ones are progressively changed from Adam's carnal nature into the image of the Son of God. Thus, the priesthood of Aaron IN NO WAY PREFIGURES THE GLORY OF THE PRIESTHOOD OF THE CHRIST AFTER THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK. The Aaronic priesthood typifies the long and tedious PROCESS by which men BECOME PRIESTS, while Melchizedek is the PATTERN of the HEAVENLY PRIESTHOOD when the process is complete. Melchizedek points toward the ULTIMATE GOAL of priesthood - the glory that is now Christ's; whereas the Aaronic priesthood characterizes the MEANS to that goal - the dealings, purgings, changes, transformations, furnishing, and equipping that bring us finally to the Melchizedekian glory. The Aaronic priesthood reveals the qualifications which must be met, and the prescribed order by which they can be met, while Melchizedek reveals the majesty of the FINISHED PRODUCT. Aaron signifies PROCESS; Melchizedek signifies ORDER. If you want to know how to become a priest, give yourself to a reverent and prayerful study of the Aaronic priesthood, following on to experience all it signifies. If you want to know what is the glory of the priesthood once all the qualifications have been met, look unto Jesus the High Priest of the heavens after the order of Melchizedek.

"Thou art a priest forever after the ORDER of Melchizedek" (Heb. 7:17). Melchizedek is a priesthood of order! Jesus Christ was made a priest forever after the ORDER of Melchizedek. The word "order" in this passage is from the Greek word TAXIS meaning "regular arrangement; fixed succession of rank and character; official dignity." The verse can well be paraphrased: "Thou art a priest forever according to the arrangement rank, character, dignity, and order of Melchizedek." The word "order" is something like the word "order" we use when we speak of various religious orders, such as the Franciscans or the Dominicans within the Roman Catholic Church. Well, the Bible says that Jesus Christ is a priest of the MELCHIZEDEKIAN ORDER. And that was a very startling statement when it was first made. It was startling because the people who heard it first, knew of only one order of priests. Those were the Levitical priests of Israel and they were of the Aaronic order.

"If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. For He of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchizedek there ariseth another priest. Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. For He testifieth, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek" (Heb. 7:11-17).

Perfection could not be obtained under the Levitical priesthood, for under it the people received the law, and "the law made nothing perfect", rather it was to serve to bring the people into the knowledge of sin - "that sin by the commandment might become exceedingly sinful" (Rom. 7:13). The knowledge of sin then brought the people under the sentence of death, for the soul that sinneth, it shall die - and sin is the transgression of the law. Thus this ministry of law, under the Levitical priesthood, was a ministration of condemnation leading into death.

This is why Jesus had to be a different and higher kind of priest. He had to have the MELCHIZEDEK CONNECTION. It is not my purpose here to explore in detail the glories of the Melchizedek priesthood - I must save that for another time. But having established that the Melchizedek priesthood is an order, let us also know that the order of Melchizedek is THE ORDER OF THE SON OF GOD. Melchizedek was himself "made like unto the Son of God" (Heb. 7:3). And of Jesus it is written, "He that said unto Him, Thou art My Son, today have I begotten Thee...saith also in another place, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek" (Heb. 5:5-6). If you, dear reader, would know the glories and grandeur of this great order of Melchizedek, then look directly unto Jesus THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD. The order of Melchizedek is the PRIESTHOOD OF SONSHIP. The one "made like unto the Son of God" bears the name of this wonderful order, and the firstborn Son of God is Himself OUR FORERUNNER into that order, He went first, and where He went we are to go, praise His name! All who come into sonship through the ages shall come into that same wonderful image of Jesus Christ and shall reign with Him as priests in the order of Melchizedek. Ah, precious friend of mine, would you learn how to become a priest? Meditate deeply upon the ministry of the order of Aaron - for therein is contained in symbol, type, and shadow the mystery of the path to priesthood with all its processings and qualifications. Would you know the glory which lies ahead when the processings are complete? Look unto Jesus the prototype - the first sample and pattern of the FINISHED PRODUCT!