Focused Passage

Leviticus 18:19-23

Sexual Holiness, Covenant Distinction, and the Land That Vomits Out Defilement

The LORD commands Israel not to imitate Egypt or Canaan but to obey His laws and decrees. He then forbids a series of sexual unions and practices, including close-kin sexual relations, sexual relations during menstrual impurity, adultery, child sacrifice to Molek, male same-sex intercourse, and bestiality. The chapter concludes with a warning that these practices defile persons and land, leading the land to vomit out its inhabitants.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

19 You must not approach a woman to have sexual relations with her during her menstrual period.

20 You must not lie carnally with your neighbor’s wife and thus defile yourself with her.

21 You must not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molech, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.

22 You must not lie with a man as with a woman; that is an abomination.

23 You must not lie carnally with any animal, thus defiling yourself with it; a woman must not stand before an animal to mate with it; that is a perversion.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 19

Cross-references

2 Samuel 11:4 Classic cross-references Leviticus 15:24 Classic cross-references Leviticus 20:18 Classic cross-references Ezekiel 22:10 Classic cross-references Ezekiel 18:6 Classic cross-references

Original words

- וְאֶל־ H413 Conjunctive waw | Preposition You must not לֹ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle approach תִקְרַ֔ב H7126 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular a woman אִשָּׁ֖ה H802 Noun - feminine singular to have sexual relations with her לְגַלּ֖וֹת H1540 Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct . . . עֶרְוָתָֽהּ׃ H6172 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singular during her menstrual period בְּנִדַּ֣ת H5079 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct . . . טֻמְאָתָ֑הּ H2932 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singular

Verse 20

Cross-references

Exodus 20:14 Classic cross-references Numbers 5:13 Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 6:9 Classic cross-references Hebrews 13:4 Classic cross-references Leviticus 20:10 Classic cross-references

Original words

Verse 21

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 12:31 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 19:5 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 18:10 Classic cross-references Leviticus 20:2 Classic cross-references 2 Kings 21:6 Classic cross-references

Original words

You must not לֹא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle give תִתֵּ֖ן H5414 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular any of your children וּמִֽזַּרְעֲךָ֥ H2233 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular to be sacrificed לְהַעֲבִ֣יר H5674 Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct to Molech לַמֹּ֑לֶךְ H4432 Preposition-l, Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular for you must not וְלֹ֧א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle profane תְחַלֵּ֛ל H2490 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the name שֵׁ֥ם H8034 Noun - masculine singular construct of your God אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular I אֲנִ֥י H589 Pronoun - first person common singular am the LORD יְהוָֽה׃ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular

BSB notes

Hebrew to make them pass through (the fire)

Verse 22

Cross-references

1 Corinthians 6:9 Classic cross-references Leviticus 20:13 Classic cross-references Romans 1:26 Classic cross-references 1 Timothy 1:10 Classic cross-references Jude 1:7 Classic cross-references

Original words

You must not לֹ֥א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle lie תִשְׁכַּ֖ב H7901 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular with וְאֶ֨ת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Preposition a man זָכָ֔ר H2145 Noun - masculine singular as with מִשְׁכְּבֵ֣י H4904 Noun - masculine plural construct a woman אִשָּׁ֑ה H802 Noun - feminine singular that הִֽוא׃ H1931 Pronoun - third person feminine singular [is] an abomination תּוֹעֵבָ֖ה H8441 Noun - feminine singular

Verse 23

Cross-references

Leviticus 20:15 Classic cross-references Exodus 22:19 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 27:21 Classic cross-references Leviticus 20:12 Classic cross-references

Original words

You must not לֹא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle lie תִתֵּ֥ן H5414 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular carnally שְׁכָבְתְּךָ֖ H7903 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular with any וּבְכָל־ H3605 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct animal בְּהֵמָ֛ה H929 Noun - feminine singular thus defiling yourself לְטָמְאָה־ H2930 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular with it בָ֑הּ Preposition | third person feminine singular a woman וְאִשָּׁ֗ה H802 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular must not לֹֽא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle stand תַעֲמֹ֞ד H5975 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular before לִפְנֵ֧י H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct an animal בְהֵמָ֛ה H929 Noun - feminine singular to mate with it לְרִבְעָ֖הּ H7250 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular that הֽוּא׃ H1931 Pronoun - third person masculine singular is a perversion תֶּ֥בֶל H8397 Noun - masculine singular

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