Leviticus 20

King James Version

Full text for Leviticus Chapter 20

1¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

2Again, thou shalt say to the children of Israel, Whosoever [he be] of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that giveth [any] of his seed unto Molech; he shall surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones.

3And I will set my face against that man, and will cut him off from among his people; because he hath given of his seed unto Molech, to defile my sanctuary, and to profane my holy name.

4And if the people of the land do any ways hide their eyes from the man, when he giveth of his seed unto Molech, and kill him not:

5Then I will set my face against that man, and against his family, and will cut him off, and all that go a whoring after him, to commit whoredom with Molech, from among their people.

6And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.

7Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I [am] the LORD your God.

8And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I [am] the LORD which sanctify you.

9For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death: he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood [shall be] upon him.

10¶ And the man that committeth adultery with [another] man's wife, [even he] that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.

11And the man that lieth with his father's wife hath uncovered his father's nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood [shall be] upon them.

12And if a man lie with his daughter in law, both of them shall surely be put to death: they have wrought confusion; their blood [shall be] upon them.

13If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood [shall be] upon them.

14And if a man take a wife and her mother, it [is] wickedness: they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they; that there be no wickedness among you.

15And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death: and ye shall slay the beast.

16And if a woman approach unto any beast, and lie down thereto, thou shalt kill the woman, and the beast: they shall surely be put to death; their blood [shall be] upon them.

17And if a man shall take his sister, his father's daughter, or his mother's daughter, and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness; it [is] a wicked thing; and they shall be cut off in the sight of their people: he hath uncovered his sister's nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity.

18And if a man shall lie with a woman having her sickness, and shall uncover her nakedness; he hath discovered her fountain, and she hath uncovered the fountain of her blood: and both of them shall be cut off from among their people.

19And thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister, nor of thy father's sister: for he uncovereth his near kin: they shall bear their iniquity.

20And if a man shall lie with his uncle's wife, he hath uncovered his uncle's nakedness: they shall bear their sin; they shall die childless.

21And if a man shall take his brother's wife, it [is] an unclean thing: he hath uncovered his brother's nakedness; they shall be childless.

22¶ Ye shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: that the land, whither I bring you to dwell therein, spue you not out.

23And ye shall not walk in the manners of the nation, which I cast out before you: for they committed all these things, and therefore I abhorred them.

24But I have said unto you, Ye shall inherit their land, and I will give it unto you to possess it, a land that floweth with milk and honey: I [am] the LORD your God, which have separated you from [other] people.

25Ye shall therefore put difference between clean beasts and unclean, and between unclean fowls and clean: and ye shall not make your souls abominable by beast, or by fowl, or by any manner of living thing that creepeth on the ground, which I have separated from you as unclean.

26And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD [am] holy, and have severed you from [other] people, that ye should be mine.

27A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood [shall be] upon them.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Leviticus 20 outlines various capital offenses and other prohibitions for Israel, emphasizing the nation's call to holiness. It condemns practices such as child sacrifice to Molech, consulting familiar spirits, and a range of illicit sexual relations, including adultery, incest, and bestiality. The chapter reiterates that obedience to God's statutes is essential for remaining in the promised land and maintaining their separated status as a holy people.

Medium Summary

Leviticus chapter 20 details a series of divine laws and their associated penalties, underscoring the imperative for Israel to maintain holiness. The chapter begins by prescribing the death penalty, typically by stoning, for anyone, Israelite or sojourner, who offers their children to Molech, a practice that defiles God's sanctuary and name. Divine judgment is also pronounced upon those who consult familiar spirits or wizards. A significant portion of the chapter enumerates various sexual transgressions, including adultery, incestuous relationships, and bestiality, all of which carry the penalty of death or being cut off from the people. Cursing one's parents is also listed as a capital offense. The text repeatedly emphasizes the necessity for Israel to keep God's statutes and judgments, warning that disobedience will result in the land expelling them, just as it expelled the previous inhabitants. This adherence to divine law and the distinction between clean and unclean are presented as fundamental to their identity as a people separated and sanctified by the LORD.

Long Summary

Leviticus chapter 20 presents a comprehensive list of moral and religious laws, primarily focusing on capital offenses and other severe prohibitions, all framed within the overarching command for Israel to be holy unto the LORD. The chapter opens with a strict prohibition against offering one's children to Molech, declaring that such an act defiles God's sanctuary and profanes His holy name, and mandates the death penalty by stoning for the offender. Furthermore, divine wrath is promised against individuals and their families if the community fails to execute justice in such cases. The LORD also declares His opposition to those who turn to familiar spirits or wizards, vowing to cut them off from their people. A significant portion of the chapter is dedicated to defining and penalizing various sexual abominations. Adultery, incestuous relations (with a father's wife, daughter-in-law, sister, aunt, uncle's wife, or brother's wife), homosexual acts, and bestiality are all explicitly forbidden, with most carrying the penalty of death, often by stoning or burning, or being cut off from the community, or dying childless. Cursing one's father or mother is also listed as a capital offense. Throughout these pronouncements, the divine rationale for these laws is reiterated: "Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God." The chapter concludes by urging Israel to diligently observe all of God's statutes and judgments, warning that failure to do so would result in the land "spuing" them out, just as it had expelled the nations previously inhabiting Canaan. This call to obedience is linked to their separation from other peoples and their inheritance of a land flowing with milk and honey, underscoring their unique covenant relationship with a holy God who has set them apart. The distinction between clean and unclean animals is also mentioned as part of their separated identity, reinforcing the principle of holiness in all aspects of life.

Core Concepts

  • Child Sacrifice to MolechThe severe prohibition against offering children to the pagan deity Molech, punishable by stoning and divine judgment, as it defiles God's sanctuary and profanes His name.
  • Familiar Spirits and WizardsThe condemnation of consulting mediums or sorcerers, with the penalty of being cut off from the community, emphasizing the LORD's sole authority and Israel's exclusive devotion to Him.
  • Sexual AbominationsA detailed enumeration of forbidden sexual relationships, including adultery, various forms of incest, homosexual acts, and bestiality, all of which are deemed detestable and carry severe penalties, primarily death.
  • Holiness and SeparationThe recurring theme that Israel must be holy because the LORD their God is holy, requiring them to separate themselves from the practices and customs of the surrounding nations.
  • Consequences of DisobedienceThe explicit warning that failure to keep God's statutes and judgments, particularly by engaging in the forbidden practices, will result in the land expelling them, mirroring the fate of the previous inhabitants.
  • Capital PunishmentsThe frequent prescription of the death penalty (by stoning, burning, or being cut off) for a wide range of offenses, highlighting the gravity of violating God's laws and the community's responsibility to enforce them.
  • Parental CursesThe specific law stating that anyone who curses their father or mother shall be put to death, underscoring the importance of honoring parents within the covenant community.