Leviticus 20:1-8

Molech Worship and Spiritism

1 The Lord spoke to Moses:

2 "Say to the Israelites: Any Israelite or foreigner living in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech^[a] must be put to death; the people of the country are to stone him.

3 I will turn^[b] against that man and cut him off from his people, because he gave his offspring to Molech, defiling My sanctuary and profaning My holy name.

4 But if the people of the country look the other way when that man^[c] gives any of his children to Molech, and do not put him to death,

5 then I will turn^[d] against that man and his family, and cut off from their people both him and all who follow^[e] him, prostituting themselves with Molech.

6 "Whoever turns to mediums^[f] or spiritists^[g] and prostitutes himself with them,^[h] I will turn^[i] against that person and cut him off from his people.

7 Consecrate yourselves and be holy, for I am the Lord your God.^[j]

8 Keep My statutes and do them; I am the Lord who sets you apart.

Leviticus 20:1-8 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Lv 18:21; Dt 18:10; 2 Kg 23:10
• [b]. Lit will set My face
• [c]. Lit country ever close their eyes from that man when he
• [d]. Lit will set My face
• [e]. Lit prostitute themselves with
• [f]. Or spirits of the dead
• [g]. Or familiar spirits
• [h]. Lv 19:31; 20:27
• [i]. Lit will set My face
• [j]. Lv 11:44; 19:2; 20:26