Leviticus 18:1-6

Prohibited Pagan Practices

1 The Lord spoke to Moses:
2 "Speak to the Israelites and tell them: I am the Lord your God.
3 Do not follow the practices of the land of Egypt, where you used to live, or follow the practices of the land of Canaan,[a] where I am bringing you. You must not follow their customs.[b]
4 You are to practice My ordinances and you are to keep My statutes by following them; I am the Lord your God.
5 Keep My statutes and ordinances; a person will live if he does them.[c] I am the Lord.
6 "You are not to come near any close relative[d] for sexual intercourse; I am the Lord.

Leviticus 18:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO LEVITICUS 18

In this chapter the Israelites are directed in general not to imitate the customs and practices of the Egyptians and Canaanites, but to keep the ordinances, statutes, and judgments of the Lord, Le 18:1-5; and they are instructed particularly to avoid incestuous marriages, Le 18:6-18; carnal copulation with a menstruous woman, Le 18:19; adultery, Le 18:20; letting any of their seed pass through the fire to Molech, Le 18:21; sodomy, Le 18:22; and bestiality, Le 18:23; and they are deterred from these things by observing to them the pollution and destruction which they brought on the inhabitants of Canaan, and would bring the same on them should they commit them, Le 18:24-30.

Footnotes 4

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