Leviticus 21:19Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

To the one who embodies the fragility of the spirit, he who relinquishes the memory of divine matters, or to the one who experiences the frailty of the hand; he who dismisses the contemplation of virtuous and heavenly matters and silences his voice in praise has indeed suffered a fracture of the hand.

When the Old Testament is examined, even now there remains a covering over Moses' face (2 Cor. 3:15). He communicates with a radiant countenance, and the people are unable to endure the brilliance of his words (Ex. 34:29-35). However, when we turn to the Lord, the covering is lifted, the obsolete letter fades away, and the invigorating spirit emerges. For the Lord is spirit, and the law is spiritual. It is also commanded that they should not exhibit any flaws: neither clipped ears, nor an imperfect eye, nor a defaced nose, nor a lamed leg, nor a discolored skin; as everything relates back to the shortcomings of the soul. For in humanity, it is not the nature that must be condemned, but the will.

Due to the complaints of the Jewish people, God prohibits those with physical imperfections from serving as priests (Leviticus 21:17). However, He not only addresses non-arbitrary conditions but also signals the exclusion of arbitrary traits. For instance, the blindness of the eye symbolizes a lack of understanding, the cutting of the ear represents disobedience, the removal of the nose signifies a loss of discernment, and the severance of the hand indicates an absence of action.