New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Leviticus 20
1
The Lord spoke to Moses. He said,
2
"Say to the people of Israel, 'Suppose a person sacrifices one of his children to the god Molech. It does not matter whether that person is an Israelite or an outsider who lives in Israel. He must be put to death. The people of the community must kill him by throwing stones at him.
Reference
Parallel theme
Leviticus 20:27
Leviticus 24:14
Leviticus 18:21
References Israel
Deuteronomy 21:21
Leviticus 24:23
3
I will turn against that man. I will cut him off from his people. That is because he sacrificed his child to Molech. He has made my sacred tent "unclean." He has treated my name as if it were not holy.
Reference
4
" 'Suppose the people of the community close their eyes to the fact that the man sacrificed his child to Molech. And suppose they fail to put him to death.
Reference
Parallel theme
Acts 17:30
5
Then I will turn against that man and his family. I will cut him off from his people. I will also cut off all those who follow him by joining themselves to Molech. They are not faithful to me.
Reference
Parallel theme
Psalm 106:39
6
" 'Suppose someone looks for advice from people who get messages from those who have died. Or he goes to people who talk to the spirits of the dead. And he follows their advice. Then he has not been faithful to me. So I will turn against him. I will cut him off from his people.
Reference
Parallel theme
Psalm 73:27
Ezekiel 6:9
Numbers 15:39
Spirit
Leviticus 19:31
Isaiah 8:19
Leviticus 20:27
Hosea 4:12
9
" 'If anyone calls down a curse on his father or mother, he will be put to death. He has cursed his father or mother. Anything that happens to him will be his own fault.
Reference
Blood
2 Samuel 1:16
Curse
Exodus 21:17
Mark 7:10
Deuteronomy 27:16
Matthew 15:4
Proverbs 20:20
Proverbs 30:11
Parallel theme
Proverbs 30:17
10
" 'Suppose a man commits adultery with his neighbor's wife. Then the man and the woman must be put to death.
Reference
11
" 'Suppose a man has sex with his father's wife. Then he has brought shame on his father. The man and the woman must be put to death. Anything that happens to them will be their own fault.
Reference
12
" 'Suppose a man has sex with his daughter-in-law. Then they must be put to death. They have used sex in a twisted way. Anything that happens to them will be their own fault.
Reference
13
" 'Suppose a man has sex with another man as he would have sex with a woman. I hate what they have done. They must be put to death. Anything that happens to them will be their own fault.
Reference
14
" 'Suppose a man gets married to both a woman and her mother. That is evil. All of them must be burned to death. Then there will not be any evil among you.
Reference
15
" 'Suppose a man has sex with an animal. Then he must be put to death. You must also kill the animal.
Reference
16
" 'Suppose a woman has sex with an animal. Then kill the woman and the animal. They must be put to death. Anything that happens to them will be their own fault.
17
" 'Suppose a man gets married to his sister and has sex with her. That is a shameful thing to do. It does not matter whether she is the daughter of his father or of his mother. They must be cut off right in front of their own people. That man has brought shame on his sister. He will be held accountable for what he has done.
Reference
18
" 'Suppose a man makes love to a woman during her monthly period. He has uncovered the place where her bleeding was coming from. And she has let him do it. So they must be cut off from their people.
Reference
19
" 'Do not have sex with the sister of either your mother or your father. That would bring shame on a close relative. Both of you would be held accountable for what you have done.
Reference
Parallel theme
Leviticus 18:6
20
" 'Suppose a man has sex with his aunt. Then he has brought shame on his uncle. Both of them will be held accountable for what they have done. They will die without having any children.
Reference
Parallel theme
Leviticus 18:14
21
" 'Suppose a man gets married to his brother's wife. That is something that should never be done. He has brought shame on his brother. Neither of them will have any children.
Reference
Parallel theme
Leviticus 18:16
22
" 'Obey all of my rules and laws. Follow them. Then the land where I am bringing you to live will not throw you out.
Reference
Judgment
Ezekiel 36:27
Psalm 119:160
Psalm 119:20
Parallel theme
Psalm 119:145
Psalm 105:45
Psalm 119:80
23
To make room for you, I am going to drive out the nations that are in the land. You must not follow the practices of those nations. I hated those nations because they did all of those things.
Reference
24
" 'But I said to you, "You will take over their land as your own. I will give it to you. It will belong to you. It is a land that has plenty of milk and honey." I am the Lord your God. I have set you apart from the other nations.
Reference
Parallel theme
Exodus 3:17
Exodus 3:8
Exodus 33:16
1 Peter 2:9
References God
Deuteronomy 14:2
Deuteronomy 7:6
1 Kings 8:53
References Lord
Exodus 6:8
Leviticus 20:26
25
" 'So you must be able to tell the difference between animals that are "clean" and those that are not. You must know which birds are "clean" and which are not. Do not make yourselves "unclean" by eating any animal or bird that is not "clean." Do not make yourselves "unclean" by eating anything that moves along the ground. I have set all of them apart. They are "unclean" for you.
26
" 'You must be holy. You must be set apart to me. I am the Lord. I am holy. I have set you apart from the other nations to be my own people.
Reference
Holy
Leviticus 20:7
Leviticus 19:2
Deuteronomy 7:6
Isaiah 6:3
Deuteronomy 14:2
Revelation 4:8
Revelation 3:7
Psalm 99:9
Parallel theme
Titus 2:14
References Lord
Leviticus 20:24
Summary of Leviticus 20
Leviticus chapter 20 continues the subject of holiness and prescribes penalties for various offenses, some of which had been outlawed previously (especially child sacrifice, sexual immorality and consulting forbidden spiritual practices). It then goes on to explain why Israel was under these laws and how God had set them apart from the nations around them.
The chapter begins with a warning about Molech. If an Israelite gave one of their children to Molech, they were to be put to death by the people of the land. God declared that He would set His face against the person and cut them off amongst their people if the community did not do so.
Molech worship involved offering children as sacrifices and this was strictly forbidden amongst the Israelites. God considered it an abomination as it blasphemed His name and corrupted the land. The law warned Israel against anyone who knowingly followed such a practice.
The same section warns against those who consult familiar spirits and wizards. The Israelites were not to seek guidance or any supernatural help from these practitioners and were considered to have turned away from God by doing so. Anyone who did so was to be cut off from the people.
The chapter then moves on to a set of laws concerning family and sexual relationships. A man who cursed his father or mother was to be put to death. The law emphasized on the respect Israel was to show towards parents and their authority.
Several sexual relationships are also forbidden after this. A man who committed adultery with another man's wife was to be put to death along with the woman involved in the act. Sexual relations with close relatives were also strictly forbidden. A man who slept with his father's wife or his daughter-in-law or his brother's wife were to be similarly judged.
The text also speaks about the abhorrence caused by sexual relations between people of the same sex or between human beings and animals. Such acts were prohibited and resulted in severe judgment. The chapter considers these acts to be serious violations of the holiness expected from Israel.
The relationship between a man and his father's wife is described as uncovering his father's nakedness. Both people involved were to be judged for the action. Similar condemnations applied to a man and his daughter-in-law. The law also addressed a man who took both a woman and her mother, declaring that all were to be judged.
The chapter emphasizes that these laws were not private matters. Sexual conduct had consequences on families, inheritance, community relations and the overall holiness of Israel. The penalties were accordingly aimed to protect the community from such abominations.
The Lord then reminds Israel of the significance of these commands. He had brought them out of Egypt and was giving them the land of Canaan. They were not supposed to follow the customs of the people who had been living there previously.
God describes the land as having been defiled because of the practices of those nations and warns Israel that if they continued to do so, the land would also reject them. The warning reminded Israel of their dependence on God and the importance of following His commands.
The Lord tells Israel that He had set them apart from the other peoples and they consequently belonged to Him. Their distinct lifestyle was therefore an aspect of their relationship with God. They were to follow His commandments rather than adopting the religious and moral practices of surrounding nations.
The chapter then also warns Israel against seeking out familiar spirits or wizards again. Such practices were an affront to Israel's relationship with God. They were to trust in the teachings that God had given them.
The chapter concludes with the topic of land and Israel's special calling. God had brought the people into a land which belonged to other nations but He was giving it to them as their inheritance. He commanded them to judge between clean and unclean animals and to distinguish between things that were permitted and those that were forbidden. This was part of a greater law of holiness which was being given to the Israelites.
The Israelites were to be careful not to make themselves unclean with the practices of the nations which God was driving out before them. They were to be holy as God had set them apart from the rest of the nations.
Leviticus chapter 20 is closely tied to chapter 18. Whereas chapter 18 lists out many of the practices which had been outlawed, here penalties are prescribed for several of them. The two chapters together illustrate the seriousness with which Israel's God judged abominations that were detrimental to the unity and holiness of the nation.
The chapter is also significant in emphasizing the difference between Israel and the surrounding nations. The people were not simply being given rules for personal behavior. They were being called to be a distinct nation under the guidance of a distinct God.
Some of the penalties which are set for these sins are extremely harsh. However within the context of Moses' Israel the text presents them as part of an extensive system of laws. These passages highlight how the holiness of Israel's God was central to their relationship with Him and their national cohesion.
One of the themes that runs throughout this chapter is separation. Israel was to be separate from idolatry, consulting familiar spirits, sexual immorality and other practices of various surrounding cultures. This was not a matter of preference but as an element of their covenant with God.
Leviticus chapter 20 therefore emphasizes on the holiness which had been demanded of Israel. God had chosen them as His people, brought them out of Egypt and was giving them a land to inhabit. He laid out guidelines for their conduct, reminding them that they were different from the nations around them and that their God was holy. Following His commands and living according to this system of laws was the way in which Israel was to express this holiness. This system then also affected all aspects of national life - the community, the land, their personal interactions and relationships with God.
It is important to consider Leviticus chapter 20 in context. While some of the passages seem to be extreme, they are part of a greater law system which is being outlined by Moses to the Israelites. All of the laws are part of Israel's relationship with its God - the covenant which had been established. It was God who had brought the nation into Canaan, its land and people. Leviticus 20 emphasizes the importance of Israel being God's nation, not merely following the practices of surrounding nations, but rather forming a distinct nation under the guidance of a distinct God.
The chapter begins with a warning about Molech. If an Israelite gave one of their children to Molech, they were to be put to death by the people of the land. God declared that He would set His face against the person and cut them off amongst their people if the community did not do so.
Molech worship involved offering children as sacrifices and this was strictly forbidden amongst the Israelites. God considered it an abomination as it blasphemed His name and corrupted the land. The law warned Israel against anyone who knowingly followed such a practice.
The same section warns against those who consult familiar spirits and wizards. The Israelites were not to seek guidance or any supernatural help from these practitioners and were considered to have turned away from God by doing so. Anyone who did so was to be cut off from the people.
The chapter then moves on to a set of laws concerning family and sexual relationships. A man who cursed his father or mother was to be put to death. The law emphasized on the respect Israel was to show towards parents and their authority.
Several sexual relationships are also forbidden after this. A man who committed adultery with another man's wife was to be put to death along with the woman involved in the act. Sexual relations with close relatives were also strictly forbidden. A man who slept with his father's wife or his daughter-in-law or his brother's wife were to be similarly judged.
The text also speaks about the abhorrence caused by sexual relations between people of the same sex or between human beings and animals. Such acts were prohibited and resulted in severe judgment. The chapter considers these acts to be serious violations of the holiness expected from Israel.
The relationship between a man and his father's wife is described as uncovering his father's nakedness. Both people involved were to be judged for the action. Similar condemnations applied to a man and his daughter-in-law. The law also addressed a man who took both a woman and her mother, declaring that all were to be judged.
The chapter emphasizes that these laws were not private matters. Sexual conduct had consequences on families, inheritance, community relations and the overall holiness of Israel. The penalties were accordingly aimed to protect the community from such abominations.
The Lord then reminds Israel of the significance of these commands. He had brought them out of Egypt and was giving them the land of Canaan. They were not supposed to follow the customs of the people who had been living there previously.
God describes the land as having been defiled because of the practices of those nations and warns Israel that if they continued to do so, the land would also reject them. The warning reminded Israel of their dependence on God and the importance of following His commands.
The Lord tells Israel that He had set them apart from the other peoples and they consequently belonged to Him. Their distinct lifestyle was therefore an aspect of their relationship with God. They were to follow His commandments rather than adopting the religious and moral practices of surrounding nations.
The chapter then also warns Israel against seeking out familiar spirits or wizards again. Such practices were an affront to Israel's relationship with God. They were to trust in the teachings that God had given them.
The chapter concludes with the topic of land and Israel's special calling. God had brought the people into a land which belonged to other nations but He was giving it to them as their inheritance. He commanded them to judge between clean and unclean animals and to distinguish between things that were permitted and those that were forbidden. This was part of a greater law of holiness which was being given to the Israelites.
The Israelites were to be careful not to make themselves unclean with the practices of the nations which God was driving out before them. They were to be holy as God had set them apart from the rest of the nations.
Leviticus chapter 20 is closely tied to chapter 18. Whereas chapter 18 lists out many of the practices which had been outlawed, here penalties are prescribed for several of them. The two chapters together illustrate the seriousness with which Israel's God judged abominations that were detrimental to the unity and holiness of the nation.
The chapter is also significant in emphasizing the difference between Israel and the surrounding nations. The people were not simply being given rules for personal behavior. They were being called to be a distinct nation under the guidance of a distinct God.
Some of the penalties which are set for these sins are extremely harsh. However within the context of Moses' Israel the text presents them as part of an extensive system of laws. These passages highlight how the holiness of Israel's God was central to their relationship with Him and their national cohesion.
One of the themes that runs throughout this chapter is separation. Israel was to be separate from idolatry, consulting familiar spirits, sexual immorality and other practices of various surrounding cultures. This was not a matter of preference but as an element of their covenant with God.
Leviticus chapter 20 therefore emphasizes on the holiness which had been demanded of Israel. God had chosen them as His people, brought them out of Egypt and was giving them a land to inhabit. He laid out guidelines for their conduct, reminding them that they were different from the nations around them and that their God was holy. Following His commands and living according to this system of laws was the way in which Israel was to express this holiness. This system then also affected all aspects of national life - the community, the land, their personal interactions and relationships with God.
It is important to consider Leviticus chapter 20 in context. While some of the passages seem to be extreme, they are part of a greater law system which is being outlined by Moses to the Israelites. All of the laws are part of Israel's relationship with its God - the covenant which had been established. It was God who had brought the nation into Canaan, its land and people. Leviticus 20 emphasizes the importance of Israel being God's nation, not merely following the practices of surrounding nations, but rather forming a distinct nation under the guidance of a distinct God.