Leviticus 20:1-5

On Human Sacrifice and Immoralities

1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
2 "You shall also say to the sons of Israel: 'Any man from the sons of Israel or from the aliens sojourning in Israel1 who gives any of his offspring to Molech, shall surely be put to death; 2 the people of the land shall stone him with stones.
3 'I will also set My face against that man and will cut him off from among his people, because he has given some of his offspring to Molech, 3so as to defile My sanctuary and 4to profane My holy name.
4 'If the people of the land, however, should ever disregard * that man when he gives any of his offspring to Molech, so as not to put him to death,
5 then I Myself will set My face against that man and against his family, and I will cut off from among their people both him and all those who play the harlot after him, by playing the harlot after Molech.

Leviticus 20:1-5 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO LEVITICUS 20

In this chapter several laws are, repeated, enforced with a penalty annexed to them, and the breach them made capital, to deter from it, as giving seed to Molech, Le 20:1-5; going after such that have familiar spirits, or are wizards, Le 20:6; by shunning which, and other sins, a regard would be shown to holiness, Le 20:7,8; such as cursing parents, Le 20:9; committing adultery, Le 20:10; incestuous copulations, and marriages, and beastly actions, Le 20:11-21; all which it became the Israelites to avoid, lest, when come into the land of Canaan, they should be cast out of it, as the old inhabitants were for the same things, Le 20:22-24; and therefore, that they might appear to be a distinct people from others, they were to put a difference between clean and unclean creatures, Le 20:25,26; and the chapter is closed with a law, making it death for any person to have a familiar spirit, or to be a wizard, Le 19:27.

Cross References 4

  • 1. Leviticus 18:21
  • 2. Leviticus 20:27; Leviticus 24:14-23; Numbers 15:35, 36; Deuteronomy 21:21
  • 3. Leviticus 15:31
  • 4. Leviticus 18:21

Footnotes 4

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California.  All rights reserved.