Add parallel Print Page Options

Ritual Animal Slaughter

17 The Lord told Moses, “Speak to Aaron, his sons, and all the Israelis and tell them that this is what the Lord has commanded: When a person from the house of Israel slaughters an ox, a lamb, or a goat (whether in the camp or outside the camp), but fails to bring it to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting as an offering in the presence of the tent of the Lord, that person will incur bloodguilt. Because he has shed blood, that person is to be eliminated from contact with[a] his people.”

Centralized Sacrificial Slaughter

“This statute is required so that[b] the Israelis may bring their sacrifices that they have been sacrificing to the Lord in the open field to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, where they are to slaughter their peace offering to the Lord. The priest is to sprinkle the blood on the Lord’s altar at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and incinerate the fat, making a pleasing aroma to the Lord. They are no longer to slaughter their sacrifices to the goat demons, with whom they have been committing prostitution. This will be a perpetual statute for you throughout your generations. Tell them that if a person from the house of Israel or a resident alien who lives among you brings a whole burnt offering or a sacrifice to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, but fails to bring it to offer[c] it to the Lord, that person[d] is to be eliminated from contact with[e] his people.”

Prohibitions against Eating Blood

10 “If anyone from the house of Israel or a resident alien who lives among you eats any form of blood, I’ll oppose[f] that person who ate the blood and eliminate him from his people, 11 because the life of the flesh is in the blood itself, and I myself have given it to you all so that atonement may be made for your souls on the altar, since the blood itself makes atonement through the life that is in it. 12 This is why I’ve told the Israelis that no person[g] among you is to eat blood. Even the resident alien who lives among you is not to eat blood.

13 “If a person from the house of Israel or a resident alien who lives among you has hunted live game or a bird that may be eaten, he is to extract its blood and cover it with soil, 14 because the life of any flesh is the blood itself. Therefore, I’m saying to the Israelis that the blood of any flesh is not to be eaten, because the life of any flesh is in its blood. Anyone who eats of it is to be eliminated from contact with his people.[h]

15 “Any person who eats a carcass or an animal that was torn by beasts (whether that person is native born or is a resident alien), is to wash his clothes and bathe himself with water, and he will remain unclean until evening, and then he’ll become clean. 16 But if he doesn’t wash or bathe his body, then he is to bear the punishment of his iniquity.”

Sexual Relations with Relatives Prohibited

18 The Lord told Moses, “Tell the Israelis that I am the Lord your God. You are not to do what you used to do in the land of Egypt where you lived. You are not to do what Canaan does, where I’m about to bring you, so that you live according to their statutes. Obey[i] my ordinances and keep my statutes by living by them. I am the Lord your God. Keep my statutes and my ordinances, which a person[j] is to obey in order to live in them. I am the Lord.

“A person is not to approach a near blood relative for sexual relations.[k] I am the Lord.

“Neither your father’s nakedness nor your mother’s nakedness is to be exposed. She’s your mother, so you are not to have sexual relations with her.

“You are not to have sexual relations with your father’s wife. It’s your own father’s nakedness.

“You are not to have sexual relations with your sister, whether she’s your father’s daughter or your mother’s daughter, whether she’s born in your home or outside your home. You are not to have sexual relations with her.

10 “You are not to have sexual relations with your son’s daughter or your daughter’s daughter. You are not to have sexual relations with them, because their nakedness is your own nakedness.

11 “You are not to have sexual relations with the daughter of your father’s wife. Born of your father, she’s your sister, so you are not to have sexual relations with her.

12 “You are not to have sexual relations with your father’s sister. She’s your father’s near blood relative.

13 “You are not to have sexual relations with your mother’s sister. She’s your mother’s near blood relative.

14 “You are not to expose the nakedness of your father’s brother by having sexual relations with his wife. She’s your aunt.

15 “You are not to expose the nakedness of your daughter-in-law. She’s the wife of your son. You are not to have sexual relations with her.

16 “You are not to have sexual relations with your brother’s wife. She’s the nakedness of your brother.

17 “You are not to have sexual relations with a woman and her daughter.

“You are not to have sexual relations with her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter. They’re near blood relatives. It’s wickedness.

18 “You are not to marry a woman and then have sexual relations with her sister as a rival when your wife[l] is still alive.

19 “You are not to approach a menstruating woman to have sexual relations with her.[m]

20 “You are not to have sexual relations with your neighbor’s wife and thereby become ceremonially unclean with her.”

Child Sacrifice Prohibited

21 “You are not to present any of your children to Molech as a sacrifice.[n] That way, you won’t defile the name of your God.”

Same Sex Unions Prohibited

“I am the Lord. 22 You are not to have sexual relations[o] with a male as you would with a woman. It’s detestable.”

Sexual Relations with Animals Prohibited

23 “You are not to present yourself to an animal in order to have sexual relations with it and by doing so to defile yourself. A woman is not to present herself to an animal to have sexual relations with it. It’s detestable.

24 “You are not to defile yourselves by doing any of these things, since all of these nations that I’m casting out before you have defiled themselves this way. 25 The land has been defiled, so I brought the punishment of its iniquity to it. As a result, the land is vomiting out its inhabitants.

26 “Therefore, keep my statutes and ordinances. You are not to do any of these detestable things—this applies to the native born and the resident alien who lives among you— 27 because the inhabitants[p] of the land did all of these detestable things and by doing so defiled the land before you. 28 So you are not to let the land vomit you up because of your uncleanness as it is vomiting the nations that were here before you. 29 Anyone who does any of these detestable things—whoever the person[q] may be—is to be eliminated from contact with his people.[r] 30 Therefore, keep my injunctions so that you won’t practice these detestable things that have been done before you, and so that you won’t be defiled in them. I am the Lord.”

Ritual Purity

19 The Lord spoke to Moses, “Tell the entire assembly of Israel that they are to be holy, since I, the Lord your God, am holy.

“Each of you is to fear his mother and father.

“Observe my Sabbaths. I am the Lord your God.

“You are not to turn to their idols or cast gods out of melted metal for yourselves. I am the Lord your God.

“When you offer a peace offering to the Lord, you are to offer it for your acceptance. Your sacrifice is to be eaten on that day and the next day. Anything that remains to the third day is to be incinerated. If it is eaten on the third day, it’s unclean. It won’t be accepted. Anyone who eats it will bear the punishment of his sin, since he will have defiled himself regarding the Lord’s holy things. That person[s] is to be eliminated from contact with his people.”[t]

Harvesting and Gleaning

“When you reap the harvest of your land, you are not to completely finish harvesting the corners of the field—that is, you are not to pick what remains after you have reaped your harvest. 10 You are not to gather your vineyard or pick up the fallen grapes of your vineyard. Leave something for the poor and the resident alien who lives among you. I am the Lord your God.”

Just Dealings

11 “You are not to steal or lie or deal falsely with your neighbor.

12 “You are not to use my name to deceive, thereby defiling the name of your God. I am the Lord.

13 “You are not to oppress your neighbor or rob him.[u]

“The wages of a hired laborer are not to remain in your possession until morning.

14 “You are not to curse a deaf person or put a stumbling block before the blind.

“You are to fear God. I am the Lord.

15 “You are not to be unjust in deciding a case. You are not to show partiality to the poor or honor the great. Instead, decide the case of your neighbor with righteousness.”

Social Responsibility

16 “You are not to go around slandering your people.

“You are not to stand idle[v] when your neighbor’s life is at stake.[w] I am the Lord.

17 “You are not to hate your relative in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor if you must, but you are not to incur guilt on account of him.

18 “You are not to seek vengeance or hold a grudge against the descendants of your people. Instead, love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.”

On Preserving Distinctiveness

19 “Observe my statutes.

“You are not to let your cattle breed with a different species.[x]

“You are not to sow your fields with two different kinds of seeds.[y]

“You are not to wear clothing made from two different kinds of material.

20 “When a person has sexual relations[z] with a woman servant who is engaged to another man, but she has not been completely redeemed nor has her freedom been granted to her, there is to be an inquiry, but they won’t be put to death, since she has not been freed. 21 The perpetrator[aa] is to bring his guilt offering to the Lord at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting—that is, a ram as a guilt offering. 22 Then the priest is to make atonement for him with the ram as a guilt offering in the Lord’s presence on account of his sin which he has committed, but which will be forgiven him.”

Restrictions on Initial Harvests

23 “When you have entered the land and planted all sorts of trees for food, regard its fruit as uncircumcised for the first three years for you. It is not to be eaten. 24 During the fourth year, all its fruit is to be offered as a holy token of praise to the Lord. 25 But on the fifth year, you may eat its fruits to increase its produce for you.”

Prohibited Practices

26 “You are not to eat anything containing blood, engage in occult practices,[ab] or practice fortune telling.[ac]

27 “You are not to cut your hair in ritualistic patterns[ad] on your head or deface the edges of your beard.

28 “You are not to make incisions in your flesh on account of the dead nor submit to cuts or tattoos. I am the Lord.

29 “You are not to defile your daughter by engaging her in prostitution so the land won’t become filled with wickedness.

30 “Observe my Sabbath and stand in awe of my sanctuary. I am the Lord.

31 “You are to consult neither mediums nor familiar spirits. You are never to seek them—you’ll just be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God.

32 “Rise in the presence of the aged[ae] and honor the elderly face-to-face.

“Fear your God. I am the Lord.

33 “If a resident alien lives with you in your land, you are not to mistreat him. 34 You are to treat the resident alien the same way you treat the native born among you—love him like yourself, since you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.

35 “You are not to act unjustly in deciding a case[af] or when measuring weight and quantity. 36 You are to maintain just balances and reliable standards for weights, dry volumes, and liquid volumes.[ag] I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt. 37 Observe all my statutes and all my ordinances in order to practice them. I am the Lord.”

Prohibiting Child Sacrifice

20 The Lord spoke to Moses, “Tell the Israelis that when an Israeli or a resident alien[ah] who lives in Israel offers[ai] his child to Molech, he is certainly to be put to death.[aj] The people who live in the land are to stone him with stones. As for me, I’ll oppose that man. I’ll eliminate him from contact with his people[ak] for sacrificing his children to Molech, thereby defiling my sanctuary and profaning my holy name. If the people avoid dealing[al] with that man when he offers his child to Molech—that is, if they fail to execute him— then I’ll oppose that man and his family and eliminate him from contact with his people,[am] along with all the prostitutes who accompany him and who have committed prostitution with Molech.”

Consulting the Dead Prohibited

“I’ll oppose and eliminate from contact with his people[an] whoever consults mediums or familiar spirits, thereby committing spiritual prostitution with them. Therefore, separate yourselves and be holy, because I am the Lord your God. Keep my statutes and observe them. I am the Lord, who has set you apart.”

Honoring Parents

“Anyone who curses his father or mother is certainly to be put to death.[ao] He has cursed his father or mother, so his guilt will remain his responsibility.”

Honoring the Seventh Commandment

10 “If anyone commits adultery with another man’s wife, including when someone commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, both the adulterer and the adulteress are to die.

11 “If a man has sexual relations with his father’s wife, he has exposed his father’s nakedness, so both of them are to be put to death. Their guilt will remain their responsibility.

12 “If a man has sexual relations with his daughter-in-law, the two are to be put to death. They’ve committed a repulsive act. Their guilt[ap] will remain their responsibility.

13 “If a man has sexual relations with another male as he would with a woman, both have committed a repulsive act. They are certainly to be put to death.

14 “If a man takes a wife along with her mother, that’s wickedness. They are to be burned with fire—that is, both him and them, so that there will be no wickedness in your midst.

15 “If a man has sexual relations with an animal, he is to be put to death, and you are also to kill the animal.

16 “If a woman approaches any animal to have sexual relations with it, both the woman and the animal are to be put to death. Their guilt[aq] will remain their responsibility.

17 “If a man takes his sister, his father’s daughter, or his mother’s daughter, so that he exposes her nakedness and she exposes his nakedness, it’s a shameful thing. They are to be eliminated from contact with their people[ar] in front of their people’s children. He has exposed his sister’s nakedness. He’ll continue to bear responsibility for[as] his iniquity.

18 “If a man has sexual relations with a menstruating woman, he has exposed her nakedness, laying bare her fountain. He has exposed the source of her blood. Both are to be eliminated from contact with their people.[at]

19 “You are not to have sexual relations with your mother’s sister or your father’s sister, because that is laying bare the nakedness of his close relative. They’ll continue to bear responsibility for[au] their iniquity.

20 “If a man has sexual relations with his uncle’s wife, he has exposed his uncle’s nakedness. They are to bear responsibility for[av] punishment of their sin. They’ll die childless.

21 “If a man takes his brother’s wife, it’s immoral.[aw] He has exposed his brother’s nakedness. They’ll be childless.”

Living Distinctively in Holiness

22 “Be sure to keep all my statutes and observe all my ordinances, so that the land where I’m about to bring you to live won’t vomit you out. 23 You are not to live[ax] by the customs of the nations, whom I’ve cast away right in front of you. Because they did all of these things, I detested them. 24 But I’ve promised[ay] you that you’ll inherit the land that I’m about to give you as your permanent possession[az]—a land flowing with milk and honey.

“I am your God. I’ve separated you from the people. 25 You are to differentiate between the clean animal and the unclean and between the unclean bird and the clean. You are not to make yourselves detestable on account of any animal, bird, or any creeping creature of the ground that I’ve separated for you as unclean.

26 “You are to be holy toward me, because I, the Lord, am holy. I’ve separated you from among the people to be mine.

27 “Moreover, a man or a woman who has a ritual spirit or a familiar spirit is certainly to die. They are to be stoned to death with boulders. They will continue to bear responsibility for their guilt.”[ba]

Priestly Holiness

21 The Lord told Moses, “Speak to the priests, Aaron’s sons, and tell them that no priest is to defile himself on account of the dead among his people, except his close relatives—his mother, father, son, daughter, brother, or virgin sister (who is a near relative of him and did not have a husband—[bb] he may defile himself for her). Because he is a husband among his people, he is not to defile himself, thereby polluting himself.

“They are not to cut their hair in ritualistic patterns[bc] on their heads, deface the edges of their beards, or make incisions in their flesh. They are to be holy to their God. They are not to defile the name of their God, because they’re the ones who bring the offerings of the Lord made by fire—the food of their God—so they are to be holy.

“They are not to marry[bd] a prostitute or a woman who has been dishonored or who was divorced from her husband, because the priest[be] is holy to his God. Consecrate him, because he’s the one who offers the food of your God. He is to be holy for you, because I, the Lord, the one who sanctifies you, am holy.

“Now if the daughter of any priest defiles herself by being a prostitute, she defiles her father. She is to be incinerated.

10 “The high priest among his relatives—whose head has been anointed with oil and who has been consecrated to put on the priestly clothing—is not to let his hair hang loose or to tear his clothes. 11 He is not to come near any dead body—whether the deceased[bf] is his father or his mother—so as not to defile himself. 12 He is not to go out of the sanctuary or defile the sanctuary of his God, because his God’s consecrating oil of anointing rests on him. I am the Lord.

13 “Furthermore, he is to marry a true virgin.[bg] 14 He is not to marry a widow or one who has been divorced, has been defiled, or has been a prostitute. Instead, he is to take a virgin from among his people as his wife.

15 “He is not to defile his children[bh] among his people, because I am the Lord, who sets him apart.”

On Physical Defects

16 The Lord told Moses, 17 “Tell Aaron that whoever of your descendants throughout their generations has a bodily defect is not to approach to offer the food of his God. 18 Indeed, any person who has a defect is not to approach the Tent of Meeting—[bi] the blind, the lame, one who is mutilated in the face or who has a very long limb, 19 or a person who has a fractured foot or hand, 20 has scoliosis,[bj] is a dwarf, or has an eye defect, an itching disease, scabs, or a crushed testicle. 21 None of the descendants of Aaron the priest who has a defect is to approach to bring offerings of the Lord made by fire, since he has a defect. He is not to approach to offer the food of his God. 22 However, he may eat the food of his God, including the most holy and the holy offerings, 23 but he is not to enter through the curtain nor approach the altar, since he has a defect. That way, he won’t defile my sanctuary, since I am the Lord, who sets you apart.”

24 Moses told all of this[bk] to Aaron, to his sons, and to all the Israelis.

Holy Offerings

22 Later on, the Lord told Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons that they are to separate themselves for the sacred things of the Israelis and that they are not to defile my holy name. I am the Lord. Tell them that whoever among your descendants throughout your generations approaches the sacred things that the Israelis had consecrated to the Lord while still remaining unclean is to be eliminated from my presence. I am the Lord. If one of Aaron’s descendants has an infectious skin disease or a discharge, he is not to eat anything sacred until he has been cleansed. Anyone who touches an unclean thing on account of the dead, or who has a seminal discharge, or who becomes unclean by touching a creeping creature or another human being, whatever the uncleanness may be— such a person[bl] who comes in contact with anything like this will become unclean until evening. As a result, he is not to eat the sacred things unless he has bathed himself[bm] with water. When the sun has gone down and he has been cleansed, he may eat of the sacred things, since that’s his food. He is not to eat the carcass of an animal that was torn by animals,[bn] thereby defiling himself with it. I am the Lord. They are to keep my charge. By doing so, they won’t bear the punishment of sin because of it and therefore die if they’ve been defiled by it. I am the Lord, who sets them apart.”

Other Prohibitions

10 “No resident alien is to eat anything sacred. Neither the visitor[bo] of the priest nor a hired laborer is to eat anything sacred. 11 If a priest acquires a slave as property with his own money, he may eat with him. Those who were born in his house may eat his food. 12 If a priest’s daughter marries a resident alien, she is not to eat the sacred raised offerings. 13 If the priest’s daughter is a widow, or is divorced and childless,[bp] so that she has to return to her father’s house as in her younger days,[bq] she may eat her father’s food, but no resident alien may eat it. 14 If a person eats anything sacred inadvertently, he is to add a fifth part to it and then give the sacred thing to the priest. 15 They are not to defile the sacred things of the Israelis that they have offered[br] to the Lord, 16 thereby causing them to bear the punishment of their iniquity for wrongdoing when they eat their sacred things, because I am the Lord, who sets them apart.”

Acceptable Offerings

17 The Lord told Moses, 18 “Tell Aaron, his sons, and all the Israelis that when a person from the house of Israel or from the resident aliens living in Israel brings his offering to the Lord as a whole burnt offering (whether in fulfillment of a promise or a free will offerings), 19 so that he’ll be sure to be accepted,[bs] he is to offer[bt] a male without defect from the bulls, the lambs, and the goats. 20 However, whatever has a defect is not to be offered, because it won’t be acceptable for you.

21 “If a person brings a peace offering sacrifice to the Lord to fulfill a vow or a free will offering from the herd or the flock, it is to be sound in order to be accepted, without any defect in it. 22 You are not to bring to the Lord an offering that is blind, fractured, mutilated, or infected with ulcers, scurvy, or scales. You are not to present any of them as an offering made by fire on the altar for the Lord.

23 “You may offer a bull or lamb that has one limb longer than the other or that is stunted as a free will offering, but it’s not acceptable in fulfillment of a promise. 24 You are not to bring to the Lord an animal[bu] that has been emasculated, crushed, torn, or cut apart. You are not to practice this in your land. 25 A resident alien is not to offer as food to your God any of these items, because they are afflicted with ritual corruption due to their defects. They’re not acceptable for you.”

26 The Lord told Moses, 27 “Whenever a bull, a sheep, or a goat is born, it is to remain for seven days under the care of its mother. But on the eighth day onwards, it may be accepted as an offering made by fire to the Lord. 28 However, you are not to slaughter a bull or a ewe along with its offspring on the same day. 29 When you offer[bv] a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the Lord, bring it so that it’s acceptable for you. 30 It is to be eaten that same day. You are not to leave any of it until morning. I am the Lord.

31 “Keep my commands and observe them. I am the Lord.

32 “You are not to defile my sacred name, because I’ve been set apart in the midst of the Israelis. Furthermore, I am the Lord, who sets you apart— 33 who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God. I am the Lord.”

Scheduled Festivals

23 The Lord told Moses, “Tell the Israelis that these are my festival times appointed by the Lord[bw] that you are to declare as sacred assemblies: Six days you may work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, a sacred assembly. You are not to do any work. It’s a Sabbath to the Lord wherever you live.[bx] These are the Lord’s appointed festivals and sacred assemblies that you are to declare at their appointed time.

“The Lord’s Passover is to begin on the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight.[by] On the fifteenth day of that month is the Festival of Unleavened Bread to the Lord. For seven days you are to eat unleavened bread. On the first day that you hold the sacred assembly, you are to do no servile work. Instead, you are to bring an offering made by fire to the Lord daily for seven days. On the seventh day, you are also to hold a sacred assembly during which you are to do no servile work.”

First Fruit Offerings

The Lord told Moses, 10 “Tell the Israelis that when you enter the land that I’m about to give you and gather its produce, you are to bring a sheaf from the first portion of your harvest to the priest, 11 who will offer the sheaf in the Lord’s presence for your acceptance. The priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath. 12 On the day you wave the sheaf, you are to offer a one year old male lamb without defect for a burnt offering in the Lord’s presence. 13 Also present a meal offering of two tenths of a measure of[bz] fine flour mixed with olive oil as an offering made by fire to the Lord, a pleasing aroma. Now as to a drink offering, you are to present a fourth of a hin[ca] of wine. 14 You are not to eat bread, parched grain, or fresh grain until that day[cb] when you’ve brought the offering of your God. This is to be[cc] an eternal ordinance throughout your generations, wherever you live.”

New Meal Offerings

15 “Starting the day after the Sabbath, count for yourselves seven weeks from the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering. They are to be complete. 16 Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath, then bring a new meal offering to the Lord. 17 Bring two loaves[cd] of bread from home as wave offerings made from two tenths of fine flour baked with leaven as first fruits to the Lord. 18 Along with the loaves of bread, bring seven lambs (each of them[ce] one year old and without defect), one young bull as an offering, and two rams as offerings to the Lord—along with your gift and drink offerings—and present them as an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the Lord. 19 Prepare one male goat for a sin offering and two one year old rams for peace offerings. 20 Then the priest is to wave them—the two lambs with the bread of first fruits—as raised offerings in the Lord’s presence. They’ll be sacred to the Lord on account of the priest.

21 “On the same day, proclaim a sacred assembly for yourselves. You are not to do any servile work—and this is to be an eternal ordinance wherever you live throughout your generations. 22 Furthermore, when you harvest the produce of your land, you are not to harvest all the way to the corners of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and resident alien. I am the Lord your God.”

Offerings in the Seventh Month(A)

23 The Lord told Moses, 24 “Tell the Israelis that on the first day of the seventh month you are to have a Sabbath of rest for you—a memorial announced by a loud blast of trumpets. It is to be a sacred assembly. 25 You are not to do any servile work. Instead, bring an offering made by fire to the Lord.”

Day of Atonement

26 The Lord spoke to Moses, 27 “However, on the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. It’s a sacred assembly for you. Humble yourselves[cf] and bring an offering made by fire to the Lord. 28 You are not to do any work that same day. It’s the Day of Atonement, because your atonement is made in the presence of the Lord your God. 29 Anyone who doesn’t humble himself that same day is to be eliminated from contact with his people.[cg] 30 I’ll eliminate anyone who does work that day from among his people. 31 You are not to do any work. This is to be an eternal ordinance throughout your generations, wherever you live. 32 It’s a Sabbath of rest[ch] for you on which you are to humble yourselves starting the evening of the ninth day of the month. You are to observe your Sabbath from evening to evening.”

Festival of Tents

33 The Lord spoke to Moses, 34 “Tell the Israelis that starting the fifteenth day of this seventh month is the week-long Festival of Tents to the Lord. 35 On the first day, you are to hold a sacred assembly, when you are not to do any servile work. 36 For seven days, bring offerings made by fire to the Lord. The eighth day is also to be a sacred assembly for you. Bring offerings made by fire to the Lord. It’s a sacred assembly. You are not to do any servile work.

37 “These are the Lord’s appointed festivals that you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies. Bring offerings made by fire to the Lord—a whole burnt offering, a meal offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings. Do this every day on its assigned date 38 in addition to the Lord’s Sabbath—regarding your gifts, your offerings in fulfillment of vows, and your freely given offerings that you will bring to the Lord.

39 “On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you’ve harvested the produce of the land, you are to observe the festival of the Lord for seven days. The first day is to be a Sabbath rest, and the eighth day also is to be a Sabbath rest.

40 “On the first day, take branches from impressive fruit trees,[ci] branches from palm trees, boughs from thick trees, and poplars from the brooks. Then you are to rejoice in the presence of the Lord your God for seven days. 41 Observe it as a pilgrimage festival in the presence of the Lord for seven days of the year. This is to be an eternal ordinance throughout your generations. Observe the festival during the seventh month. 42 You are to live in tents for seven days. Every native born of Israel is to live in tents 43 in order for your future[cj] generations to know that the Israelis lived in tents when I brought them out of the land of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.”

44 This is what Moses spoke about to the Israelis regarding the Lord’s appointed festivals.

The Lamp

24 The Lord spoke to Moses, “Tell the Israelis that they are to bring to you pure oil made from beaten olives in order to keep the lamp burning continuously. Outside the Canopy of the Testimony in the Tent of Meeting, Aaron is to arrange it continually in the Lord’s presence from evening until morning as an eternal ordinance throughout your generations. He is to arrange the lamps so that they burn continuously on a ceremonially pure lamp stand in the Lord’s presence. Take fine flour and bake twelve cakes using two tenths of a measure[ck] for each cake. Arrange them in two rows—six in each row—on a ceremonially pure table in the Lord’s presence. Put pure frankincense on each row for a memorial offering. It will serve as an offering made by fire to the Lord. They are to be arranged every Sabbath day[cl] in the Lord’s presence as a gift[cm] from the Israelis—an eternal covenant. This gift[cn] will belong to Aaron and his sons, and they are to eat it in a sacred place, because it’s the most holy thing for him of all the offerings made by fire to the Lord. This is to be an eternal ordinance.”

A Case History of Blasphemy

10 Now a son of an Israeli woman and an Egyptian man[co] went out among the Israelis. The Israeli woman’s son got into a fight with an Israeli man in the camp. 11 Then the Israeli woman’s son blasphemed the Name and cursed, so they brought him to Moses. His mother’s name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, from the tribe of Dan. 12 They placed him in custody until a decision would be made[cp] to them according to the word[cq] of the Lord. 13 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, 14 “Take the one who cursed outside the camp. Everyone who heard him is to lay their hands on his head. Then the entire congregation is to stone him to death. 15 Moreover, tell the Israelis that anyone who curses his God will bear the consequences of his own sin, 16 because the one who blasphemes the name of the Lord is certainly to be put to death. The entire congregation is to stone him to death. As it is for the resident alien, so it is to be with the native born: when he blasphemes the Name, he is to be put to death.

17 “If a man beats a human being[cr] to death,[cs] he is certainly to be executed, 18 but whoever beats an animal to death is to replace it—life for life. 19 If a man disfigures his fellow, whatever he did is to be done to him also. 20 Fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth—just as he had caused a disfigurement against another man, so it is to be done against him. 21 Whoever beats an animal to death is to replace it, but whoever beats a human being to death[ct] is to be put to death. 22 You are to have for yourselves consistent[cu] procedures in deciding a case. As it is for the resident alien, so it is for the native born. I am the Lord your God.”

23 So Moses spoke to the Israelis and they brought the one who cursed outside the camp and stoned him to death with boulders. The Israelis did just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

Sabbatical Years

25 The Lord told Moses on Mount Sinai, “Tell the Israelis that when you enter the land that I’m about to give you, you are to let the land observe a Sabbath to the Lord. For six years you may plant your fields, and for six years you may prune your vineyard and gather its produce. But the seventh year is to be a Sabbath of rest for the land—a Sabbath for the Lord. You are not to plant your field or prune your vineyard. You are not to gather what grows from the spilled kernels of your crops. You are not to pick the grapes of your untrimmed vines. Let it be a year of Sabbath for the land. You may take the Sabbath produce[cv] of the land for your food—you, your male and maid servants, your hired laborers, and the resident alien with you. The cattle and the wild animals in your land—everything it produces—are for your food.

“Count for yourselves seven years of Sabbaths—seven times seven years. This set of seven weeks of years total 49 years for you. Sound a horn on the tenth day of the seventh month of this fiftieth year.[cw] Likewise, on the Day of Atonement, sound the horn throughout your land. 10 Set aside and consecrate the fiftieth year to declare liberty throughout the land for all of its inhabitants. It is to be a jubilee for you. Every person[cx] is to return to his own land that he has inherited. Likewise, every person is to return to his tribe. 11 The fiftieth year is to be a year of jubilee for you. You are not to sow or harvest the spilled kernels that grow of themselves or pick grapes from the untrimmed vines 12 because it’s the jubilee—it’s sacred for you. But you may eat its produce from the field.

13 “During this year of jubilee, each person is to return to his own land that he has inherited. 14 So if you had sold property[cy] to a neighbor or had acquired land from your neighbor, you are not to cheat one another. 15 According to the number of years after the jubilee, you may buy from your neighbor. And according to the number of years with crops, he may sell to you. 16 If the number of years after the jubilee[cz] is more, increase the selling price. If the number of years after the jubilee[da] is few, decrease its selling price, because he’s selling to you according to the potential production volume[db] of the land.[dc]

Footnotes

  1. Leviticus 17:4 The Heb. lacks from contact with
  2. Leviticus 17:5 Lit. For the sake of
  3. Leviticus 17:9 Lit. to do
  4. Leviticus 17:9 Lit. man
  5. Leviticus 17:9 The Heb. lacks from contact with
  6. Leviticus 17:10 Lit. I’ll set my face against
  7. Leviticus 17:12 Lit. soul
  8. Leviticus 17:14 The Heb. lacks from contact with his people
  9. Leviticus 18:4 Lit. do
  10. Leviticus 18:5 Lit. man
  11. Leviticus 18:6 Lit. relative to expose nakedness, and so throughout the chapter
  12. Leviticus 18:18 Lit. when she
  13. Leviticus 18:19 The Heb. lacks to have sexual relations with her
  14. Leviticus 18:21 Lit. to Molech to pass through; i.e. to incinerate an infant as a fire sacrifice
  15. Leviticus 18:22 Lit. to lie down, and so throughout the chapter
  16. Leviticus 18:27 Lit. men
  17. Leviticus 18:29 Lit. souls
  18. Leviticus 18:29 The Heb. lacks from contact with his people
  19. Leviticus 19:8 Lit. soul
  20. Leviticus 19:8 The Heb. lacks from contact with his people
  21. Leviticus 19:13 The Heb. lacks him
  22. Leviticus 19:16 The Heb. lacks idle
  23. Leviticus 19:16 Lit. stand on the blood of your neighbor
  24. Leviticus 19:19 Lit. breed within two kinds
  25. Leviticus 19:19 The Heb. lacks of seeds
  26. Leviticus 19:20 Lit. a lying of seed
  27. Leviticus 19:21 Lit. He
  28. Leviticus 19:26 I.e. divination
  29. Leviticus 19:26 Or practice witchcraft
  30. Leviticus 19:27 Lit. cut the sides of your hair; i.e. as a sign of affiliation
  31. Leviticus 19:32 Lit. of the grey head
  32. Leviticus 19:35 Lit. in judgment
  33. Leviticus 19:36 Lit. and honest weight, ephah, and hin
  34. Leviticus 20:2 Or foreigner who lives with you
  35. Leviticus 20:2 Or gives
  36. Leviticus 20:2 Lit. to die, he’ll die
  37. Leviticus 20:3 The Heb. lacks from contact with his people
  38. Leviticus 20:4 Lit. people conceal their face from
  39. Leviticus 20:5 The Heb. lacks from contact with his people
  40. Leviticus 20:6 The Heb. lacks contact with his people
  41. Leviticus 20:9 Lit. to die, he’ll die
  42. Leviticus 20:12 Lit. blood
  43. Leviticus 20:16 Lit. blood
  44. Leviticus 20:17 The Heb. lacks from contact with their people
  45. Leviticus 20:17 The Heb. lacks responsibility for
  46. Leviticus 20:18 The Heb. lacks from contact with their people
  47. Leviticus 20:19 The Heb. lacks responsibility for
  48. Leviticus 20:20 The Heb. lacks responsibility for
  49. Leviticus 20:21 Lit. an impurity
  50. Leviticus 20:23 Lit. walk
  51. Leviticus 20:24 Lit. said
  52. Leviticus 20:24 Lit. you to inherit
  53. Leviticus 20:27 Lit. blood
  54. Leviticus 21:3 Lit. hasn’t had a man
  55. Leviticus 21:5 Lit. cut the sides of their hair; i.e. as a sign of affiliation
  56. Leviticus 21:7 Or take
  57. Leviticus 21:7 Lit. he
  58. Leviticus 21:11 The Heb. lacks the deceased
  59. Leviticus 21:13 Lit. a wife in her virginity
  60. Leviticus 21:15 Or offspring
  61. Leviticus 21:18 The Heb. lacks the Tent of Meeting
  62. Leviticus 21:20 Or has a crooked back
  63. Leviticus 21:24 The Heb. lacks all of this
  64. Leviticus 22:6 Lit. soul
  65. Leviticus 22:6 Lit. his body
  66. Leviticus 22:8 The Heb. lacks by animals
  67. Leviticus 22:10 Lit. sojourner
  68. Leviticus 22:13 Lit. There’s no offspring to her
  69. Leviticus 22:13 Lit. early life
  70. Leviticus 22:15 Lit. to rise
  71. Leviticus 22:19 Lit. for your acceptance
  72. Leviticus 22:19 The Heb. lacks he is to offer
  73. Leviticus 22:24 The Heb. lacks animal
  74. Leviticus 22:29 Lit. sacrifice
  75. Leviticus 23:2 Lit. appointed times for festivals, and so throughout the chapter
  76. Leviticus 23:3 Lit. Lord in all your dwelling places, and so throughout the chapter
  77. Leviticus 23:5 Lit. between evenings
  78. Leviticus 23:13 The unit of measurement is not specified in MT, but cf. Lev. 5:11, 6:20.
  79. Leviticus 23:13 I.e. about one quart; the hin was equivalent to about one gallon
  80. Leviticus 23:14 Lit. grain until the bone of this day
  81. Leviticus 23:14 The Heb. lacks This is to be
  82. Leviticus 23:17 The Heb. lacks loaves
  83. Leviticus 23:18 The Heb. lacks each of them
  84. Leviticus 23:27 Lit. your souls
  85. Leviticus 23:29 The Heb. lacks from contact with his people
  86. Leviticus 23:32 Lit. Sabbath of all Sabbath
  87. Leviticus 23:40 Lit. from fruit from impressive trees
  88. Leviticus 23:43 The Heb. lacks future
  89. Leviticus 24:5 The unit of measurement is not specified in MT, but cf. Lev. 5:11, 6:20.
  90. Leviticus 24:8 Lit. in the day of the Sabbath, in the day of the Sabbath
  91. Leviticus 24:8 The Heb. lacks as a gift
  92. Leviticus 24:9 The Heb. lacks This gift
  93. Leviticus 24:10 Lit. woman the son of an Egyptian man
  94. Leviticus 24:12 The Heb. lacks would be made
  95. Leviticus 24:12 Lit. mouth
  96. Leviticus 24:17 Lit. soul of mankind
  97. Leviticus 24:17 The Heb. lacks to death
  98. Leviticus 24:21 The Heb. lacks to death
  99. Leviticus 24:22 Lit. one
  100. Leviticus 25:6 The Heb. lacks produce
  101. Leviticus 25:9 The Heb. lacks of this fiftieth year
  102. Leviticus 25:10 Lit. man
  103. Leviticus 25:14 Lit. sold a ware
  104. Leviticus 25:16 The Heb. lacks after the jubilee
  105. Leviticus 25:16 The Heb. lacks after the jubilee
  106. Leviticus 25:16 Lit. the number
  107. Leviticus 25:16 The Heb. lacks of the land

Eating Blood Forbidden

17 The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to Aaron and his sons(A) and to all the Israelites and say to them: ‘This is what the Lord has commanded: Any Israelite who sacrifices an ox,[a] a lamb(B) or a goat(C) in the camp or outside of it instead of bringing it to the entrance to the tent of meeting(D) to present it as an offering to the Lord in front of the tabernacle of the Lord(E)—that person shall be considered guilty of bloodshed; they have shed blood and must be cut off from their people.(F) This is so the Israelites will bring to the Lord the sacrifices they are now making in the open fields. They must bring them to the priest, that is, to the Lord, at the entrance to the tent of meeting and sacrifice them as fellowship offerings.(G) The priest is to splash the blood against the altar(H) of the Lord(I) at the entrance to the tent of meeting and burn the fat as an aroma pleasing to the Lord.(J) They must no longer offer any of their sacrifices to the goat idols[b](K) to whom they prostitute themselves.(L) This is to be a lasting ordinance(M) for them and for the generations to come.’(N)

“Say to them: ‘Any Israelite or any foreigner residing among them who offers a burnt offering or sacrifice and does not bring it to the entrance to the tent(O) of meeting(P) to sacrifice it to the Lord(Q) must be cut off from the people of Israel.

10 “‘I will set my face against any Israelite or any foreigner residing among them who eats blood,(R) and I will cut them off from the people. 11 For the life of a creature is in the blood,(S) and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.[c](T) 12 Therefore I say to the Israelites, “None of you may eat blood, nor may any foreigner residing among you eat blood.”

13 “‘Any Israelite or any foreigner residing among you who hunts any animal or bird that may be eaten must drain out the blood and cover it with earth,(U) 14 because the life of every creature is its blood. That is why I have said to the Israelites, “You must not eat the blood of any creature, because the life of every creature is its blood; anyone who eats it must be cut off.”(V)

15 “‘Anyone, whether native-born or foreigner, who eats anything(W) found dead or torn by wild animals(X) must wash their clothes and bathe with water,(Y) and they will be ceremonially unclean till evening;(Z) then they will be clean. 16 But if they do not wash their clothes and bathe themselves, they will be held responsible.(AA)’”

Unlawful Sexual Relations

18 The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘I am the Lord your God.(AB) You must not do as they do in Egypt, where you used to live, and you must not do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you. Do not follow their practices.(AC) You must obey my laws(AD) and be careful to follow my decrees.(AE) I am the Lord your God.(AF) Keep my decrees and laws,(AG) for the person who obeys them will live by them.(AH) I am the Lord.

“‘No one is to approach any close relative to have sexual relations. I am the Lord.

“‘Do not dishonor your father(AI) by having sexual relations with your mother.(AJ) She is your mother; do not have relations with her.

“‘Do not have sexual relations with your father’s wife;(AK) that would dishonor your father.(AL)

“‘Do not have sexual relations with your sister,(AM) either your father’s daughter or your mother’s daughter, whether she was born in the same home or elsewhere.(AN)

10 “‘Do not have sexual relations with your son’s daughter or your daughter’s daughter; that would dishonor you.

11 “‘Do not have sexual relations with the daughter of your father’s wife, born to your father; she is your sister.

12 “‘Do not have sexual relations with your father’s sister;(AO) she is your father’s close relative.

13 “‘Do not have sexual relations with your mother’s sister,(AP) because she is your mother’s close relative.

14 “‘Do not dishonor your father’s brother by approaching his wife to have sexual relations; she is your aunt.(AQ)

15 “‘Do not have sexual relations with your daughter-in-law.(AR) She is your son’s wife; do not have relations with her.(AS)

16 “‘Do not have sexual relations with your brother’s wife;(AT) that would dishonor your brother.

17 “‘Do not have sexual relations with both a woman and her daughter.(AU) Do not have sexual relations with either her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter; they are her close relatives. That is wickedness.

18 “‘Do not take your wife’s sister(AV) as a rival wife and have sexual relations with her while your wife is living.

19 “‘Do not approach a woman to have sexual relations during the uncleanness(AW) of her monthly period.(AX)

20 “‘Do not have sexual relations with your neighbor’s wife(AY) and defile yourself with her.

21 “‘Do not give any of your children(AZ) to be sacrificed to Molek,(BA) for you must not profane the name of your God.(BB) I am the Lord.(BC)

22 “‘Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman;(BD) that is detestable.(BE)

23 “‘Do not have sexual relations with an animal and defile yourself with it. A woman must not present herself to an animal to have sexual relations with it; that is a perversion.(BF)

24 “‘Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, because this is how the nations that I am going to drive out before you(BG) became defiled.(BH) 25 Even the land was defiled;(BI) so I punished it for its sin,(BJ) and the land vomited out its inhabitants.(BK) 26 But you must keep my decrees and my laws.(BL) The native-born and the foreigners residing among you must not do any of these detestable things, 27 for all these things were done by the people who lived in the land before you, and the land became defiled. 28 And if you defile the land,(BM) it will vomit you out(BN) as it vomited out the nations that were before you.

29 “‘Everyone who does any of these detestable things—such persons must be cut off from their people. 30 Keep my requirements(BO) and do not follow any of the detestable customs that were practiced before you came and do not defile yourselves with them. I am the Lord your God.(BP)’”

Various Laws

19 The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the entire assembly of Israel(BQ) and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the Lord your God,(BR) am holy.(BS)

“‘Each of you must respect your mother and father,(BT) and you must observe my Sabbaths.(BU) I am the Lord your God.(BV)

“‘Do not turn to idols or make metal gods for yourselves.(BW) I am the Lord your God.(BX)

“‘When you sacrifice a fellowship offering to the Lord, sacrifice it in such a way that it will be accepted on your behalf. It shall be eaten on the day you sacrifice it or on the next day; anything left over until the third day must be burned up.(BY) If any of it is eaten on the third day, it is impure and will not be accepted.(BZ) Whoever eats it will be held responsible(CA) because they have desecrated what is holy(CB) to the Lord; they must be cut off from their people.(CC)

“‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges(CD) of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest.(CE) 10 Do not go over your vineyard a second time(CF) or pick up the grapes that have fallen.(CG) Leave them for the poor and the foreigner.(CH) I am the Lord your God.

11 “‘Do not steal.(CI)

“‘Do not lie.(CJ)

“‘Do not deceive one another.(CK)

12 “‘Do not swear falsely(CL) by my name(CM) and so profane(CN) the name of your God. I am the Lord.

13 “‘Do not defraud or rob(CO) your neighbor.(CP)

“‘Do not hold back the wages of a hired worker(CQ) overnight.(CR)

14 “‘Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind,(CS) but fear your God.(CT) I am the Lord.

15 “‘Do not pervert justice;(CU) do not show partiality(CV) to the poor or favoritism to the great,(CW) but judge your neighbor fairly.(CX)

16 “‘Do not go about spreading slander(CY) among your people.

“‘Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life.(CZ) I am the Lord.

17 “‘Do not hate a fellow Israelite in your heart.(DA) Rebuke your neighbor frankly(DB) so you will not share in their guilt.

18 “‘Do not seek revenge(DC) or bear a grudge(DD) against anyone among your people,(DE) but love your neighbor(DF) as yourself.(DG) I am the Lord.

19 “‘Keep my decrees.(DH)

“‘Do not mate different kinds of animals.

“‘Do not plant your field with two kinds of seed.(DI)

“‘Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material.(DJ)

20 “‘If a man sleeps with a female slave who is promised to another man(DK) but who has not been ransomed or given her freedom, there must be due punishment.[d] Yet they are not to be put to death, because she had not been freed. 21 The man, however, must bring a ram to the entrance to the tent of meeting for a guilt offering to the Lord.(DL) 22 With the ram of the guilt offering the priest is to make atonement for him before the Lord for the sin he has committed, and his sin will be forgiven.(DM)

23 “‘When you enter the land and plant any kind of fruit tree, regard its fruit as forbidden.[e] For three years you are to consider it forbidden[f]; it must not be eaten. 24 In the fourth year all its fruit will be holy,(DN) an offering of praise to the Lord. 25 But in the fifth year you may eat its fruit. In this way your harvest will be increased. I am the Lord your God.

26 “‘Do not eat any meat with the blood still in it.(DO)

“‘Do not practice divination(DP) or seek omens.(DQ)

27 “‘Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.(DR)

28 “‘Do not cut(DS) your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord.

29 “‘Do not degrade your daughter by making her a prostitute,(DT) or the land will turn to prostitution and be filled with wickedness.(DU)

30 “‘Observe my Sabbaths(DV) and have reverence for my sanctuary. I am the Lord.(DW)

31 “‘Do not turn to mediums(DX) or seek out spiritists,(DY) for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God.

32 “‘Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect(DZ) for the elderly(EA) and revere your God.(EB) I am the Lord.(EC)

33 “‘When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. 34 The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born.(ED) Love them as yourself,(EE) for you were foreigners(EF) in Egypt.(EG) I am the Lord your God.

35 “‘Do not use dishonest standards when measuring length, weight or quantity.(EH) 36 Use honest scales(EI) and honest weights, an honest ephah[g](EJ) and an honest hin.[h](EK) I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt.(EL)

37 “‘Keep all my decrees(EM) and all my laws(EN) and follow them. I am the Lord.’”

Punishments for Sin

20 The Lord said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites: ‘Any Israelite or any foreigner residing in Israel who sacrifices any of his children to Molek is to be put to death.(EO) The members of the community are to stone him.(EP) I myself will set my face against him and will cut him off from his people;(EQ) for by sacrificing his children to Molek, he has defiled(ER) my sanctuary(ES) and profaned my holy name.(ET) If the members of the community close their eyes when that man sacrifices one of his children to Molek and if they fail to put him to death,(EU) I myself will set my face against him and his family and will cut them off from their people together with all who follow him in prostituting themselves to Molek.

“‘I will set my face against anyone who turns to mediums and spiritists to prostitute themselves by following them, and I will cut them off from their people.(EV)

“‘Consecrate yourselves(EW) and be holy,(EX) because I am the Lord your God.(EY) Keep my decrees(EZ) and follow them. I am the Lord, who makes you holy.(FA)

“‘Anyone who curses their father(FB) or mother(FC) is to be put to death.(FD) Because they have cursed their father or mother, their blood will be on their own head.(FE)

10 “‘If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife(FF)—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress are to be put to death.(FG)

11 “‘If a man has sexual relations with his father’s wife, he has dishonored his father.(FH) Both the man and the woman are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.(FI)

12 “‘If a man has sexual relations with his daughter-in-law,(FJ) both of them are to be put to death. What they have done is a perversion; their blood will be on their own heads.

13 “‘If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable.(FK) They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.

14 “‘If a man marries both a woman and her mother,(FL) it is wicked. Both he and they must be burned in the fire,(FM) so that no wickedness will be among you.(FN)

15 “‘If a man has sexual relations with an animal,(FO) he is to be put to death,(FP) and you must kill the animal.

16 “‘If a woman approaches an animal to have sexual relations with it, kill both the woman and the animal. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.

17 “‘If a man marries his sister(FQ), the daughter of either his father or his mother, and they have sexual relations, it is a disgrace. They are to be publicly removed(FR) from their people. He has dishonored his sister and will be held responsible.(FS)

18 “‘If a man has sexual relations with a woman during her monthly period,(FT) he has exposed the source of her flow, and she has also uncovered it. Both of them are to be cut off from their people.(FU)

19 “‘Do not have sexual relations with the sister of either your mother or your father,(FV) for that would dishonor a close relative; both of you would be held responsible.

20 “‘If a man has sexual relations with his aunt,(FW) he has dishonored his uncle. They will be held responsible; they will die childless.(FX)

21 “‘If a man marries his brother’s wife,(FY) it is an act of impurity; he has dishonored his brother. They will be childless.(FZ)

22 “‘Keep all my decrees and laws(GA) and follow them, so that the land(GB) where I am bringing you to live may not vomit you out. 23 You must not live according to the customs of the nations(GC) I am going to drive out before you.(GD) Because they did all these things, I abhorred them.(GE) 24 But I said to you, “You will possess their land; I will give it to you as an inheritance, a land flowing with milk and honey.”(GF) I am the Lord your God, who has set you apart from the nations.(GG)

25 “‘You must therefore make a distinction between clean and unclean animals and between unclean and clean birds.(GH) Do not defile yourselves by any animal or bird or anything that moves along the ground—those that I have set apart as unclean for you. 26 You are to be holy to me(GI) because I, the Lord, am holy,(GJ) and I have set you apart from the nations(GK) to be my own.

27 “‘A man or woman who is a medium(GL) or spiritist among you must be put to death.(GM) You are to stone them;(GN) their blood will be on their own heads.’”

Rules for Priests

21 The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron,(GO) and say to them: ‘A priest must not make himself ceremonially unclean(GP) for any of his people who die,(GQ) except for a close relative, such as his mother or father,(GR) his son or daughter, his brother, or an unmarried sister who is dependent on him since she has no husband—for her he may make himself unclean.(GS) He must not make himself unclean for people related to him by marriage,[i] and so defile himself.

“‘Priests must not shave(GT) their heads or shave off the edges of their beards(GU) or cut their bodies.(GV) They must be holy to their God(GW) and must not profane the name of their God.(GX) Because they present the food offerings to the Lord,(GY) the food of their God,(GZ) they are to be holy.(HA)

“‘They must not marry women defiled by prostitution or divorced from their husbands,(HB) because priests are holy to their God.(HC) Regard them as holy,(HD) because they offer up the food of your God.(HE) Consider them holy, because I the Lord am holy—I who make you holy.(HF)

“‘If a priest’s daughter defiles herself by becoming a prostitute, she disgraces her father; she must be burned in the fire.(HG)

10 “‘The high priest, the one among his brothers who has had the anointing oil poured on his head(HH) and who has been ordained to wear the priestly garments,(HI) must not let his hair become unkempt[j] or tear his clothes.(HJ) 11 He must not enter a place where there is a dead body.(HK) He must not make himself unclean,(HL) even for his father or mother,(HM) 12 nor leave the sanctuary(HN) of his God or desecrate it, because he has been dedicated by the anointing oil(HO) of his God. I am the Lord.

13 “‘The woman he marries must be a virgin.(HP) 14 He must not marry a widow, a divorced woman, or a woman defiled by prostitution, but only a virgin from his own people, 15 so that he will not defile his offspring among his people. I am the Lord, who makes him holy.’”

16 The Lord said to Moses, 17 “Say to Aaron: ‘For the generations to come none of your descendants who has a defect(HQ) may come near to offer the food of his God.(HR) 18 No man who has any defect(HS) may come near: no man who is blind(HT) or lame,(HU) disfigured or deformed; 19 no man with a crippled foot or hand, 20 or who is a hunchback or a dwarf, or who has any eye defect, or who has festering or running sores or damaged testicles.(HV) 21 No descendant of Aaron the priest who has any defect(HW) is to come near to present the food offerings to the Lord.(HX) He has a defect; he must not come near to offer the food of his God.(HY) 22 He may eat the most holy food of his God,(HZ) as well as the holy food; 23 yet because of his defect,(IA) he must not go near the curtain or approach the altar, and so desecrate my sanctuary.(IB) I am the Lord, who makes them holy.(IC)’”

24 So Moses told this to Aaron and his sons and to all the Israelites.

22 The Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons to treat with respect the sacred offerings(ID) the Israelites consecrate to me, so they will not profane my holy name.(IE) I am the Lord.(IF)

“Say to them: ‘For the generations to come, if any of your descendants is ceremonially unclean and yet comes near the sacred offerings that the Israelites consecrate to the Lord,(IG) that person must be cut off from my presence.(IH) I am the Lord.

“‘If a descendant of Aaron has a defiling skin disease[k] or a bodily discharge,(II) he may not eat the sacred offerings until he is cleansed. He will also be unclean if he touches something defiled by a corpse(IJ) or by anyone who has an emission of semen, or if he touches any crawling thing(IK) that makes him unclean, or any person(IL) who makes him unclean, whatever the uncleanness may be. The one who touches any such thing will be unclean(IM) till evening.(IN) He must not eat any of the sacred offerings unless he has bathed himself with water.(IO) When the sun goes down, he will be clean, and after that he may eat the sacred offerings, for they are his food.(IP) He must not eat anything found dead(IQ) or torn by wild animals,(IR) and so become unclean(IS) through it. I am the Lord.(IT)

“‘The priests are to perform my service(IU) in such a way that they do not become guilty(IV) and die(IW) for treating it with contempt. I am the Lord, who makes them holy.(IX)

10 “‘No one outside a priest’s family may eat the sacred offering, nor may the guest of a priest or his hired worker eat it.(IY) 11 But if a priest buys a slave with money, or if slaves are born in his household, they may eat his food.(IZ) 12 If a priest’s daughter marries anyone other than a priest, she may not eat any of the sacred contributions. 13 But if a priest’s daughter becomes a widow or is divorced, yet has no children, and she returns to live in her father’s household as in her youth, she may eat her father’s food. No unauthorized person, however, may eat it.

14 “‘Anyone who eats a sacred offering by mistake(JA) must make restitution to the priest for the offering and add a fifth of the value(JB) to it. 15 The priests must not desecrate the sacred offerings(JC) the Israelites present to the Lord(JD) 16 by allowing them to eat(JE) the sacred offerings and so bring upon them guilt(JF) requiring payment.(JG) I am the Lord, who makes them holy.(JH)’”

Unacceptable Sacrifices

17 The Lord said to Moses, 18 “Speak to Aaron and his sons and to all the Israelites and say to them: ‘If any of you—whether an Israelite or a foreigner residing in Israel(JI)—presents a gift(JJ) for a burnt offering to the Lord, either to fulfill a vow(JK) or as a freewill offering,(JL) 19 you must present a male without defect(JM) from the cattle, sheep or goats in order that it may be accepted on your behalf.(JN) 20 Do not bring anything with a defect,(JO) because it will not be accepted on your behalf.(JP) 21 When anyone brings from the herd or flock(JQ) a fellowship offering(JR) to the Lord to fulfill a special vow or as a freewill offering,(JS) it must be without defect or blemish(JT) to be acceptable.(JU) 22 Do not offer to the Lord the blind, the injured or the maimed, or anything with warts or festering or running sores. Do not place any of these on the altar as a food offering presented to the Lord. 23 You may, however, present as a freewill offering an ox[l] or a sheep that is deformed or stunted, but it will not be accepted in fulfillment of a vow. 24 You must not offer to the Lord an animal whose testicles are bruised, crushed, torn or cut.(JV) You must not do this in your own land, 25 and you must not accept such animals from the hand of a foreigner and offer them as the food of your God.(JW) They will not be accepted on your behalf, because they are deformed and have defects.(JX)’”

26 The Lord said to Moses, 27 “When a calf, a lamb or a goat(JY) is born, it is to remain with its mother for seven days.(JZ) From the eighth day(KA) on, it will be acceptable(KB) as a food offering presented to the Lord. 28 Do not slaughter a cow or a sheep and its young on the same day.(KC)

29 “When you sacrifice a thank offering(KD) to the Lord, sacrifice it in such a way that it will be accepted on your behalf. 30 It must be eaten that same day; leave none of it till morning.(KE) I am the Lord.(KF)

31 “Keep(KG) my commands and follow them.(KH) I am the Lord. 32 Do not profane my holy name,(KI) for I must be acknowledged as holy by the Israelites.(KJ) I am the Lord, who made you holy(KK) 33 and who brought you out of Egypt(KL) to be your God.(KM) I am the Lord.”

The Appointed Festivals

23 The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘These are my appointed festivals,(KN) the appointed festivals of the Lord, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies.(KO)

The Sabbath

“‘There are six days when you may work,(KP) but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest,(KQ) a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work;(KR) wherever you live, it is a sabbath to the Lord.

The Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread(KS)

“‘These are the Lord’s appointed festivals, the sacred assemblies you are to proclaim at their appointed times:(KT) The Lord’s Passover(KU) begins at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month.(KV) On the fifteenth day of that month the Lord’s Festival of Unleavened Bread(KW) begins; for seven days(KX) you must eat bread made without yeast. On the first day hold a sacred assembly(KY) and do no regular work. For seven days present a food offering to the Lord.(KZ) And on the seventh day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work.’”

Offering the Firstfruits

The Lord said to Moses, 10 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter the land I am going to give you(LA) and you reap its harvest,(LB) bring to the priest a sheaf(LC) of the first grain you harvest.(LD) 11 He is to wave the sheaf before the Lord(LE) so it will be accepted(LF) on your behalf; the priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath. 12 On the day you wave the sheaf, you must sacrifice as a burnt offering to the Lord a lamb a year old(LG) without defect,(LH) 13 together with its grain offering(LI) of two-tenths of an ephah[m](LJ) of the finest flour mixed with olive oil—a food offering presented to the Lord, a pleasing aroma—and its drink offering(LK) of a quarter of a hin[n] of wine.(LL) 14 You must not eat any bread, or roasted or new grain,(LM) until the very day you bring this offering to your God.(LN) This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come,(LO) wherever you live.(LP)

The Festival of Weeks(LQ)

15 “‘From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, count off seven full weeks. 16 Count off fifty days up to the day after the seventh Sabbath,(LR) and then present an offering of new grain to the Lord. 17 From wherever you live, bring two loaves made of two-tenths of an ephah(LS) of the finest flour, baked with yeast, as a wave offering of firstfruits(LT) to the Lord. 18 Present with this bread seven male lambs, each a year old and without defect, one young bull and two rams. They will be a burnt offering to the Lord, together with their grain offerings and drink offerings(LU)—a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord. 19 Then sacrifice one male goat for a sin offering[o] and two lambs, each a year old, for a fellowship offering. 20 The priest is to wave the two lambs before the Lord as a wave offering,(LV) together with the bread of the firstfruits. They are a sacred offering to the Lord for the priest. 21 On that same day you are to proclaim a sacred assembly(LW) and do no regular work.(LX) This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live.

22 “‘When you reap the harvest(LY) of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest.(LZ) Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you.(MA) I am the Lord your God.’”

The Festival of Trumpets(MB)

23 The Lord said to Moses, 24 “Say to the Israelites: ‘On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of sabbath rest, a sacred assembly(MC) commemorated with trumpet blasts.(MD) 25 Do no regular work,(ME) but present a food offering to the Lord.(MF)’”

The Day of Atonement(MG)

26 The Lord said to Moses, 27 “The tenth day of this seventh month(MH) is the Day of Atonement.(MI) Hold a sacred assembly(MJ) and deny yourselves,[p] and present a food offering to the Lord. 28 Do not do any work(MK) on that day, because it is the Day of Atonement, when atonement is made for you before the Lord your God. 29 Those who do not deny themselves on that day must be cut off from their people.(ML) 30 I will destroy from among their people(MM) anyone who does any work on that day. 31 You shall do no work at all. This is to be a lasting ordinance(MN) for the generations to come, wherever you live. 32 It is a day of sabbath rest(MO) for you, and you must deny yourselves. From the evening of the ninth day of the month until the following evening you are to observe your sabbath.”(MP)

The Festival of Tabernacles(MQ)

33 The Lord said to Moses, 34 “Say to the Israelites: ‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh(MR) month the Lord’s Festival of Tabernacles(MS) begins, and it lasts for seven days. 35 The first day is a sacred assembly;(MT) do no regular work.(MU) 36 For seven days present food offerings to the Lord, and on the eighth day hold a sacred assembly(MV) and present a food offering to the Lord.(MW) It is the closing special assembly; do no regular work.

37 (“‘These are the Lord’s appointed festivals, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies for bringing food offerings to the Lord—the burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings(MX) required for each day. 38 These offerings(MY) are in addition to those for the Lord’s Sabbaths(MZ) and[q] in addition to your gifts and whatever you have vowed and all the freewill offerings(NA) you give to the Lord.)

39 “‘So beginning with the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the crops of the land, celebrate the festival(NB) to the Lord for seven days;(NC) the first day is a day of sabbath rest, and the eighth day also is a day of sabbath rest. 40 On the first day you are to take branches(ND) from luxuriant trees—from palms, willows and other leafy trees(NE)—and rejoice(NF) before the Lord your God for seven days. 41 Celebrate this as a festival to the Lord for seven days each year. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come; celebrate it in the seventh month. 42 Live in temporary shelters(NG) for seven days: All native-born Israelites are to live in such shelters 43 so your descendants will know(NH) that I had the Israelites live in temporary shelters when I brought them out of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.’”

44 So Moses announced to the Israelites the appointed festivals of the Lord.

Olive Oil and Bread Set Before the Lord(NI)

24 The Lord said to Moses, “Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning continually. Outside the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law in the tent of meeting, Aaron is to tend the lamps before the Lord from evening till morning, continually. This is to be a lasting ordinance(NJ) for the generations to come. The lamps on the pure gold lampstand(NK) before the Lord must be tended continually.

“Take the finest flour and bake twelve loaves of bread,(NL) using two-tenths of an ephah[r](NM) for each loaf. Arrange them in two stacks, six in each stack, on the table of pure gold(NN) before the Lord. By each stack put some pure incense(NO) as a memorial[s] portion(NP) to represent the bread and to be a food offering presented to the Lord. This bread is to be set out before the Lord regularly,(NQ) Sabbath after Sabbath,(NR) on behalf of the Israelites, as a lasting covenant. It belongs to Aaron and his sons,(NS) who are to eat it in the sanctuary area,(NT) because it is a most holy(NU) part of their perpetual share of the food offerings presented to the Lord.”

A Blasphemer Put to Death

10 Now the son of an Israelite mother and an Egyptian father went out among the Israelites, and a fight broke out in the camp between him and an Israelite. 11 The son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the Name(NV) with a curse;(NW) so they brought him to Moses.(NX) (His mother’s name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri the Danite.)(NY) 12 They put him in custody until the will of the Lord should be made clear to them.(NZ)

13 Then the Lord said to Moses: 14 “Take the blasphemer outside the camp. All those who heard him are to lay their hands on his head, and the entire assembly is to stone him.(OA) 15 Say to the Israelites: ‘Anyone who curses their God(OB) will be held responsible;(OC) 16 anyone who blasphemes(OD) the name of the Lord is to be put to death.(OE) The entire assembly must stone them. Whether foreigner or native-born, when they blaspheme the Name they are to be put to death.

17 “‘Anyone who takes the life of a human being is to be put to death.(OF) 18 Anyone who takes the life of someone’s animal must make restitution(OG)—life for life. 19 Anyone who injures their neighbor is to be injured in the same manner: 20 fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth.(OH) The one who has inflicted the injury must suffer the same injury. 21 Whoever kills an animal must make restitution,(OI) but whoever kills a human being is to be put to death.(OJ) 22 You are to have the same law for the foreigner(OK) and the native-born.(OL) I am the Lord your God.’”

23 Then Moses spoke to the Israelites, and they took the blasphemer outside the camp and stoned him.(OM) The Israelites did as the Lord commanded Moses.

The Sabbath Year

25 The Lord said to Moses at Mount Sinai,(ON) “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter the land I am going to give you, the land itself must observe a sabbath to the Lord. For six years sow your fields, and for six years prune your vineyards and gather their crops.(OO) But in the seventh year the land is to have a year of sabbath rest,(OP) a sabbath to the Lord. Do not sow your fields or prune your vineyards.(OQ) Do not reap what grows of itself(OR) or harvest the grapes(OS) of your untended vines.(OT) The land is to have a year of rest. Whatever the land yields during the sabbath year(OU) will be food for you—for yourself, your male and female servants, and the hired worker and temporary resident who live among you, as well as for your livestock and the wild animals(OV) in your land. Whatever the land produces may be eaten.

The Year of Jubilee(OW)(OX)

“‘Count off seven sabbath years—seven times seven years—so that the seven sabbath years amount to a period of forty-nine years. Then have the trumpet(OY) sounded everywhere on the tenth day of the seventh month;(OZ) on the Day of Atonement(PA) sound the trumpet throughout your land. 10 Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty(PB) throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee(PC) for you; each of you is to return to your family property(PD) and to your own clan. 11 The fiftieth year shall be a jubilee(PE) for you; do not sow and do not reap what grows of itself or harvest the untended vines.(PF) 12 For it is a jubilee and is to be holy for you; eat only what is taken directly from the fields.

13 “‘In this Year of Jubilee(PG) everyone is to return to their own property.

14 “‘If you sell land to any of your own people or buy land from them, do not take advantage of each other.(PH) 15 You are to buy from your own people on the basis of the number of years(PI) since the Jubilee. And they are to sell to you on the basis of the number of years left for harvesting crops. 16 When the years are many, you are to increase the price, and when the years are few, you are to decrease the price,(PJ) because what is really being sold to you is the number of crops.

Footnotes

  1. Leviticus 17:3 The Hebrew word can refer to either male or female.
  2. Leviticus 17:7 Or the demons
  3. Leviticus 17:11 Or atonement by the life in the blood
  4. Leviticus 19:20 Or be an inquiry
  5. Leviticus 19:23 Hebrew uncircumcised
  6. Leviticus 19:23 Hebrew uncircumcised
  7. Leviticus 19:36 An ephah was a dry measure having the capacity of about 3/5 of a bushel or about 22 liters.
  8. Leviticus 19:36 A hin was a liquid measure having the capacity of about 1 gallon or about 3.8 liters.
  9. Leviticus 21:4 Or unclean as a leader among his people
  10. Leviticus 21:10 Or not uncover his head
  11. Leviticus 22:4 The Hebrew word for defiling skin disease, traditionally translated “leprosy,” was used for various diseases affecting the skin.
  12. Leviticus 22:23 The Hebrew word can refer to either male or female.
  13. Leviticus 23:13 That is, probably about 7 pounds or about 3.2 kilograms; also in verse 17
  14. Leviticus 23:13 That is, about 1 quart or about 1 liter
  15. Leviticus 23:19 Or purification offering
  16. Leviticus 23:27 Or and fast; similarly in verses 29 and 32
  17. Leviticus 23:38 Or These festivals are in addition to the Lord’s Sabbaths, and these offerings are
  18. Leviticus 24:5 That is, probably about 7 pounds or about 3.2 kilograms
  19. Leviticus 24:7 Or representative