Halakha Bilangan 8:18: Mishneh Torah, Prayer and the Priestly Blessing

Uncleanliness of the hands: A priest who has not washed his hands must not perform this rite. But he first washes his hands as far as the wrists, just as the priests did in preparation for the Temple service and then he blesses the people, as it is said, "Lift up your hands to the sanctuary",^*That is, wash your hands for a holy service. (Psalms 134:2). The profaned^*Who himself, or whose father prior to his birth, has violated the restrictions on the priests in marital relations. priest does not perform this rite because he has not the status of priesthood.