Leviticus 24:14

14 “Take the blasphemer outside the camp. All those who heard him are to lay their hands on his head, and the entire assembly is to stone him.

Leviticus 24:14 in Other Translations

14 Bring forth him that hath cursed without the camp; and let all that heard him lay their hands upon his head, and let all the congregation stone him.

14 “Bring out of the camp the one who cursed, and let all who heard him lay their hands on his head, and let all the congregation stone him.

14 “Take the blasphemer outside the camp, and tell all those who heard the curse to lay their hands on his head. Then let the entire community stone him to death.

14 "Take the blasphemer outside the camp. Have all those who heard him place their hands on his head; then have the entire congregation stone him.

14 Bring forth him that hath cursed without the camp; and let all that heard him lay their hands upon his head, and let all the congregation stone him.

14 "The man who cursed [my name] must be taken outside the camp. All who heard him curse [my name] must lay their hands on his head. Then the whole congregation must stone him to death.

14 "Bring the one who has cursed to the outside of the camp and have all who heard [him] lay their hands on his head; then have the whole community stone him.

14 "Get the man who spoke evil things against me. Take him outside the camp. All those who heard him say those things must place their hands on his head. Then the whole community must kill him by throwing stones at him.

Leviticus 24:14 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 24:14

Bring forth him that hath cursed without the camp
To show that he had no part nor lot in Israel, and that he was unworthy to be a member of their civil community, or of their church state; and, besides, the place of stoning, or where malefactors suffered any kind of death, was without the camp, as afterwards without the city, see ( Hebrews 13:12 Hebrews 13:13 ) ; let all that heard [him] lay their hands upon his head;
the Targum of Jonathan adds,

``and the judges;''

so Jarchi remarks, that they that "heard him" are the witnesses, and the word "all" comprehends the judges: Maimonides says ^F5 the same, and observes that hands were laid on no malefactor but the blasphemer; and this was done to show that the one had bore a faithful testimony, and the other had pronounced a righteous sentence on him; and that he had brought this guilt and punishment upon himself by his sin; wherefore it was usual for them to say, as the same writers observe,

``thy blood be upon thine own head, and we not punished for thy death, which thou hast been the cause of to thyself:''

and let all the congregation stone him;
which Aben Ezra interprets of the great men of Israel; nor can it be thought that every individual of the people could cast a stone at him, but it was to be done by some of them, in the presence of them all, or as many as could conveniently get together to behold it; and this was done to show their detestation of the sin, and to deter from the commission of it: it was the same kind of punishment that was ordered to be inflicted on him that cursed his father or mother, ( Leviticus 20:9 ) ; God, the God of mercy, requiring no sorer punishment, though it deterred a greater, for such a sin against himself, than against a common parent.

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FOOTNOTES:

F5 Hilchot Obede Cochabim, c. 2. sect. 10.

Leviticus 24:14 In-Context

12 They put him in custody until the will of the LORD should be made clear to them.

13 Then the LORD said to Moses:

14 “Take the blasphemer outside the camp. All those who heard him are to lay their hands on his head, and the entire assembly is to stone him.

15 Say to the Israelites: ‘Anyone who curses their God will be held responsible;

16 anyone who blasphemes the name of the LORD is to be put to death. The entire assembly must stone them. Whether foreigner or native-born, when they blaspheme the Name they are to be put to death.

Cross References

• 1. ver 23; S Leviticus 20:2; Leviticus 20:27; Deuteronomy 13:9; Deuteronomy 17:5,7; Deuteronomy 21:21; Acts 7:58