Leviticus 21: Extra Words, Extra Wives, Extra Lessons

YINR 929: Tanach Yomi · Feb 1, 2026 · 4m

Within the discussion of the prohibited marriages for the kohen the commentators learn a few additional rules from the exact wording of the verse: “וְאִשָּׁה זֹנָה וַחֲלָלָה לֹא יִקָּחוּ, וְאִשָּׁה גְרוּשָׁה מֵאִישָׁהּ לֹא יִקָּחוּ—כִּי קָדֹשׁ הוּא לֵא לֹהָיו” (ויקרא כ״א:ז׳) — “They shall not take [into their household as their wife] a woman who is a zonah, nor shall they take one divorced from her husband. For they are holy to their God” (verse 7). A regular kohen is not allowed to marry a woman who is a zonah- i.e., a woman that has been involved in certain illicit relationships. He is also…