Leviticus 20:4

4 That if the people of the land is negligent, and little chargeth (for) my behest, and suffereth the man that gave of his seed to Moloch, neither will slay him, (But if the people of the land be negligent, and care little for my command, and consent to the man who gave his children to Moloch, and indeed will not kill him,)

Leviticus 20:4 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 20:4

And if the people of the land do any ways hide their eyes from
the man
That is, the people of the house of Israel, as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan; if the friends, relations, and neighbours of such a man, though they know what he is about to do, or has done, yet they shut their eyes wilfully, or look another way; or, however, wink and connive at his wickedness, and will not discover him, and bear witness against him; or if a court of judicature, before whom he comes, does not take the evidence of his crime, nor condemn for it, or are negligent in punishing him as the law directs, a gift having blinded their eyes, or they careless and remiss in their duty:

when he giveth his seed unto Molech;
a crime so heinous and abominable:

and kill him not;
do not bring witness against him, so as that he may be put to death, or do not upon the evidence given condemn him to death, or do not take care to have sentence executed, by stoning him to death.

Leviticus 20:4 In-Context

2 Speak thou these things to the sons of Israel, If any man of the sons of Israel, and of the comelings that dwell in Israel, giveth of his seed to the idol Moloch, die he by death; the people of the land shall stone him. (Say thou these things to the Israelites, If any Israelite, or a newcomer who liveth in Israel, giveth his children to the false god Moloch, he shall be put to death; the people of the land shall stone him.)
3 And I shall set fast my face against him, and I shall cut away him from the midst of my people, for he gave of his seed to Moloch, and defouled my saintuary, and defouled mine holy name. (And I shall set my face against him, and I shall cut him off from the midst of my people, for he gave his children to Moloch, and defiled my sanctuary, and defiled my holy name.)
4 That if the people of the land is negligent, and little chargeth (for) my behest, and suffereth the man that gave of his seed to Moloch, neither will slay him, (But if the people of the land be negligent, and care little for my command, and consent to the man who gave his children to Moloch, and indeed will not kill him,)
5 I shall set my face on that man, and on his kindred, and I shall cut him down, and all that consented to him, that they should do fornication, that is, idolatry, with Moloch, from the midst of their people. (I shall set my face against that man, and against his kindred, and I shall cut off him, and all who consented to him, yea, they who would do fornication, that is, idolatry, with Moloch, from the midst of their people.)
6 If a man boweth to astrologers, and to false diviners, and doeth fornication with them, I shall set my face against him, and I shall slay him from the midst of his people (and I shall cut him off from the midst of his people).
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.