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

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

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

21You 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.

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

23You 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 11:4Classic cross-references Leviticus 15:24Classic cross-references Leviticus 20:18Classic cross-references Ezekiel 22:10Classic cross-references Ezekiel 18:6Classic cross-references

Original words

-וְאֶל־H413Conjunctive waw | PrepositionYou must notלֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particleapproachתִקְרַ֔בH7126Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singulara womanאִשָּׁ֖הH802Noun - feminine singularto have sexual relations with herלְגַלּ֖וֹתH1540Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct. . .עֶרְוָתָֽהּ׃H6172Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singularduring her menstrual periodבְּנִדַּ֣תH5079Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct. . .טֻמְאָתָ֑הּH2932Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singular

Verse 20

Cross-references

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

Original words

You must notלֹא־H3808Adverb - Negative particlelieתִתֵּ֥ןH5414Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularcarnallyשְׁכָבְתְּךָ֖H7903Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular. . .לְזָ֑רַעH2233Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singularwithוְאֶל־H413Conjunctive waw | Prepositionyour neighbor’sעֲמִֽיתְךָ֔H5997Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularwifeאֵ֙שֶׁת֙H802Noun - feminine singular constructand thus defile yourselfלְטָמְאָה־H2930Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singularwith herבָֽהּ׃Preposition | third person feminine singular

Verse 21

Cross-references

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

Original words

You must notלֹא־H3808Adverb - Negative particlegiveתִתֵּ֖ןH5414Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularany of your childrenוּמִֽזַּרְעֲךָ֥H2233Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularto be sacrificedלְהַעֲבִ֣ירH5674Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive constructto Molechלַמֹּ֑לֶךְH4432Preposition-l, Article | Noun - proper - masculine singularfor you must notוְלֹ֧אH3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particleprofaneתְחַלֵּ֛לH2490Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe nameשֵׁ֥םH8034Noun - masculine singular constructof your Godאֱלֹהֶ֖יךָH430Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularIאֲנִ֥יH589Pronoun - first person common singularam the LORDיְהוָֽה׃H3068Noun - proper - masculine singular

BSB notes

Hebrew to make them pass through (the fire)

Verse 22

Cross-references

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

Original words

You must notלֹ֥אH3808Adverb - Negative particlelieתִשְׁכַּ֖בH7901Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularwithוְאֶ֨ת־H853Conjunctive waw | Prepositiona manזָכָ֔רH2145Noun - masculine singularas withמִשְׁכְּבֵ֣יH4904Noun - masculine plural constructa womanאִשָּׁ֑הH802Noun - feminine singularthatהִֽוא׃H1931Pronoun - third person feminine singular[is] an abominationתּוֹעֵבָ֖הH8441Noun - feminine singular

Verse 23

Cross-references

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

Original words

You must notלֹא־H3808Adverb - Negative particlelieתִתֵּ֥ןH5414Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularcarnallyשְׁכָבְתְּךָ֖H7903Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singularwith anyוּבְכָל־H3605Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructanimalבְּהֵמָ֛הH929Noun - feminine singularthus defiling yourselfלְטָמְאָה־H2930Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singularwith itבָ֑הּPreposition | third person feminine singulara womanוְאִשָּׁ֗הH802Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singularmust notלֹֽא־H3808Adverb - Negative particlestandתַעֲמֹ֞דH5975Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singularbeforeלִפְנֵ֧יH6440Preposition-l | Noun - common plural constructan animalבְהֵמָ֛הH929Noun - feminine singularto mate with itלְרִבְעָ֖הּH7250Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singularthatהֽוּא׃H1931Pronoun - third person masculine singularis a perversionתֶּ֥בֶלH8397Noun - masculine singular

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