Hence the teaching: A priest who has no wife is forbidden to perform the service, as it is written, “and he shall make atonement for himself and for his house״.’
R. Isaac said that the reason is because the Shekinah does not abide with one who is not married, and the priest in especial must be one with whom the Shekinah abides. Along with the Shekinah there rests on the priests Hesed (Grace), and they are called hasidim (grace-endowed), and as such it behoves them to bless the people. So Scripture says: “And thy saints (hasidim) shall bless thee” (Ps. 145, 10); also, “Thy Thummim and thy Urim be with thy saintly one (hasid)”. ‘ “On this wise ye shall bless”, to wit, in the holy tongue; “on this wise”, to wit, in fear and in humility.’
אָמַר רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר, הַיְינוּ רָזָא דְּתָנֵינָן בְּזֹאת, (בראשית ב׳:כ״ג) כִּי מֵאִישׁ לֻקֳּחָה זֹּאת. וּכְתִיב (בראשית ב׳:כ״ג) לְזֹאת יִקָּרֵא אִשָּׁה, וְזֹאת אִתְכְּלִילַת בְּאִישׁ, דְּהַיְינוּ חֶסֶד, וְזֹאת נוּקְבָּא. חֶסֶד דְּכַר. וּבְגִין כַּךְ דְּכַר דְּאָתֵי מִסִּטְרָא דְּחִוָּורָא דָּא, אִקְרֵי חֶסֶד. וְזֹאת אִתְקְרֵי צֶדֶק, דְּאַתְיָא מִסְטַר סוּמָקָא. וּבְגִין כַּךְ אִקְרֵי אִשָּׁה. וְהַיְינוּ דִּכְתִּיב וְצִדְקָתוֹ, מַאי וְצִדְקָתוֹ. צִדְקָתוֹ דְּחֶסֶד, בַּת זוּגוֹ, דְּאִתְבָּסְמָא דָּא בְּדָא. וּבְגִין כַּךְ תָּנֵינָן, כָּל כֹּהֵן שֶׁאֵין לוֹ בַּת זוּג, אָסוּר בַּעֲבוֹדָה, דִּכְתִּיב וְכִפֶּר בַּעֲדוֹ וּבְעַד בֵּיתוֹ.
Hence the teaching: A priest who has no wife is forbidden to perform the service, as it is written, “and he shall make atonement for himself and for his house״.’
אָמַר רִבִּי יִצְחָק, מִשּׁוּם דְּלֵית שְׁכִינְתָּא שַׁרְיָא, בְּמַאן דְּלָא אַנְסִיב, וְכַהֲנֵי בַּעְיָין יַתִּיר מִכָּל שְׁאַר עַמָּא, לְאַשְׁרְיָיא בְּהוּ שְׁכִינְתָּא. וְכֵיוָן דְּשָׁרַת בְּהוּ שְׁכִינְתָּא, שַׁרְיָא בְּהוּ חֶסֶד, וְאִקְרוּן חֲסִידִים. וּבַעְיָין לְבָרְכָא עַמָּא, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (תהילים קמ״ה:י׳) וַחֲסִידֶיךָ יְבָרְכוּכָה. וּכְתִיב, (דברים ל״ג:ח׳) תֻּמֶּיךָ וְאוּרֶיךָ לְאִישׁ חֲסִידֶךָ. וּמִשּׁוּם דְּכַהֲנָא אִקְרֵי חָסִיד, בָּעֵי לְבָרְכָא. וּבְגִין כַּךְ כְּתִיב, דַּבֵּר אֶל אַהֲרֹן וְאֶל בָּנָיו לֵאמֹר כֹּה תְבָרַכוּ. מַאי טַעֲמָא. מִשּׁוּם דְּאִקְרוּן חֲסִידִים, וּכְתִיב וַחֲסִידֶיךָ יְבָרְכוּכָה.
R. Isaac said that the reason is because the Shekinah does not abide with one who is not married, and the priest in especial must be one with whom the Shekinah abides. Along with the Shekinah there rests on the priests Hesed (Grace), and they are called hasidim (grace-endowed), and as such it behoves them to bless the people. So Scripture says: “And thy saints (hasidim) shall bless thee” (Ps. 145, 10); also, “Thy Thummim and thy Urim be with thy saintly one (hasid)”. ‘ “On this wise ye shall bless”, to wit, in the holy tongue; “on this wise”, to wit, in fear and in humility.’