Leviticus 20:7-8

7 “ ‘Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the LORD your God.

8 Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the LORD, who makes you holy.

Leviticus 20:7-8 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.

Leviticus 20:7-8 In-Context

5 I myself will set my face against him and his family and will cut them off from their people together with all who follow him in prostituting themselves to Molek.

6 “ ‘I will set my face against anyone who turns to mediums and spiritists to prostitute themselves by following them, and I will cut them off from their people.

7 “ ‘Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the LORD your God.

8 Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the LORD, who makes you holy.

9 “ ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death. Because they have cursed their father or mother, their blood will be on their own head.

10 “ ‘If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress are to be put to death.

Cross References

• 1. S Leviticus 11:44
• 2. S Exodus 29:1; Exodus 31:13; Leviticus 11:45; Ephesians 1:4; 1 Peter 1:16*
• 3. S Exodus 6:2; S Exodus 20:2
• 4. S Genesis 26:5
• 5. S Exodus 31:13; Ezekiel 20:12