Dwarf

Dwarf appears once in the Levitical legislation (Lev. 21:20), in the list of physical blemishes that disqualified a descendant of Aaron from serving at the altar as a priest—though the same person could still eat of the priestly food and the most holy things. The Hebrew term (daq, meaning thin or emaciated) is variously understood by translators and commentators: it may designate dwarfism specifically, or more broadly a person who is wasted, underdeveloped, or too thin. Modern translations differ: "dwarf" (KJV, NIV), "hunchback" (ESV), or "emaciated" (NASB).

The underlying principle of the legislation was that priests serving at the altar before the LORD were to be physically whole, reflecting the holiness and perfection required in approaching the divine presence—a requirement extending also to the sacrificial animals (Lev. 22:17–25). The ISBE notes that the physical disqualification affected only the priest's service at the altar and involved no moral failing; the person retained full priestly status and provision, just not the privilege of officiating at worship.