Leviticus 18:23-30

23 Thou shalt not copulate with any beast: neither shalt thou be defiled with it. A woman shall not lie down to a beast, nor copulate with it: because it is a heinous crime.

24 Defile not yourselves with any of these things with which all the nations have been defiled, which I will cast out before you,

25 And with which the land is defiled: the abominations of which I will visit, that it may vomit out its inhabitants.

26 Keep ye my ordinances and my judgments: and do not any of these abominations. Neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you.

27 For all these detestable things the inhabitants of the land have done, that were before you, and have defiled it.

28 Beware then, lest in like manner, it vomit you also out, if you do the like things: as it vomited out the nation that was before you.

29 Every soul that shall commit any of these abominations, shall perish from the midst of his people.

30 Keep my commandments. Do not the things which they have done, that have been before you: and be not defiled therein. I am the Lord your God.

Leviticus 18:23-30 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.