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Leviticus 20
Christian Standard Bible

Molech Worship and Spiritism

20 The Lord spoke to Moses: 2 “Say to the Israelites: Any Israelite or alien residing in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech(A) must be put to death; the people of the country are to stone him.(B) 3 I will turn[a] against that man and cut him off from his people, because he gave his offspring to Molech, defiling my sanctuary(C) and profaning my holy name.(D) 4 But if the people of the country look the other way when that man[b] gives any of his children to Molech, and do not put him to death, 5 then I will turn against that man and his family, and cut off from their people both him and all who follow[c] him in prostituting(E) themselves with Molech.

6 “Whoever turns to mediums[d](F) or spiritists[e] and prostitutes himself with them, I will turn against that person and cut him off from his people. 7 Consecrate yourselves and be holy, for I am the Lord your God. 8 Keep my statutes and do them; I am the Lord who sets you apart.

Family and Sexual Offenses

9 “If anyone curses his father or mother, he must be put to death.(G) He has cursed his father or mother; his death is his own fault.[f]

10 “If a man commits adultery(H) with a married woman—if he commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife—both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death. 11 If a man sleeps with his father’s wife, he has violated the intimacy that belongs to his father.[g](I) Both of them must be put to death; their death is their own fault.[h] 12 If a man sleeps with his daughter-in-law,(J) both of them must be put to death. They have acted perversely; their death is their own fault. 13 If a man sleeps with a man as with a woman,(K) they have both committed a detestable act.(L) They must be put to death; their death is their own fault. 14 If a man marries[i] a woman and her mother,(M) it is depraved. Both he and they must be burned,(N) so that there will be no depravity among you. 15 If a man has sexual intercourse with[j] an animal, he must be put to death; you are also to kill the animal. 16 If a woman approaches any animal and mates with it, you are to kill the woman and the animal.(O) They must be put to death; their death is their own fault. 17 If a man marries his sister,(P) whether his father’s daughter or his mother’s daughter, and they have sexual relations,[k](Q) it is a disgrace.(R) They are to be cut off publicly from their people. He has had sexual intercourse with his sister; he will bear his iniquity. 18 If a man sleeps with a menstruating woman and has sexual intercourse with her, he has exposed the source of her flow, and she has uncovered the source of her blood.(S) Both of them are to be cut off from their people. 19 You must not have sexual intercourse with your mother’s sister or your father’s sister,(T) for it is exposing one’s own blood relative; both people will bear their iniquity. 20 If a man sleeps with his aunt, he has violated the intimacy that belongs to his uncle;[l](U) they will bear their guilt and die childless. 21 If a man marries his brother’s wife, it is impurity.(V) He has violated the intimacy that belongs to his brother;[m](W) they will be childless.

Holiness in the Land

22 “You are to keep all my statutes and all my ordinances, and do them, so that the land where I am bringing you to live will not vomit you out.(X) 23 You must not follow the statutes of the nations I am driving out before you, for they did all these things, and I abhorred them.(Y) 24 And I promised you: You will inherit their land, since I will give it to you to possess, a land flowing with milk and honey.(Z) I am the Lord your God who set you apart from the peoples. 25 Therefore you are to distinguish the clean animal from the unclean one, and the unclean bird from the clean one. Do not become contaminated(AA) by any land animal, bird, or whatever crawls on the ground; I have set these apart as unclean for you.(AB) 26 You are to be holy to me because I, the Lord, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be mine.(AC)

27 “A man or a woman who is[n] a medium or a spiritist must be put to death. They are to be stoned; their death is their own fault.”

Footnotes

  1. 20:3 Lit will set my face, also in vv. 5,6
  2. 20:4 Lit country ever close their eyes from that man when he
  3. 20:5 Lit prostitute themselves with
  4. 20:6 Or spirits of the dead
  5. 20:6 Or familiar spirits
  6. 20:9 Lit his blood on him
  7. 20:11 Lit has uncovered his father’s nakedness
  8. 20:11 Lit their blood on them, also in vv. 12,13,16,27
  9. 20:14 Lit takes, also in vv. 17,21
  10. 20:15 Lit man gives his emission to
  11. 20:17 Lit and he sees her nakedness and she sees his nakedness
  12. 20:20 Lit has uncovered his uncle’s nakedness
  13. 20:21 Lit has uncovered his brother’s nakedness
  14. 20:27 Lit is in them
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Leviticus 20
Christian Standard Bible Anglicised

Molech Worship and Spiritism

20 The Lord spoke to Moses: 2 ‘Say to the Israelites: Any Israelite or foreigner residing in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech(A) must be put to death; the people of the country are to stone him.(B) 3 I will turn[a] against that man and cut him off from his people, because he gave his offspring to Molech, defiling my sanctuary(C) and profaning my holy name.(D) 4 But if the people of the country look the other way when that man[b] gives any of his children to Molech, and do not put him to death, 5 then I will turn against that man and his family, and cut off from their people both him and all who follow[c] him in prostituting(E) themselves with Molech.

6 ‘Whoever turns to mediums[d](F) or spiritists[e] and prostitutes himself with them, I will turn against that person and cut him off from his people. 7 Consecrate yourselves and be holy, for I am the Lord your God. 8 Keep my statutes and do them; I am the Lord who sets you apart.

Family and Sexual Offences

9 ‘If anyone curses his father or mother, he must be put to death.(G) He has cursed his father or mother; his death is his own fault.[f]

10 ‘If a man commits adultery(H) with a married woman – if he commits adultery with his neighbour’s wife – both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death. 11 If a man sleeps with his father’s wife, he has violated the intimacy that belongs to his father.[g](I) Both of them must be put to death; their death is their own fault.[h] 12 If a man sleeps with his daughter-in-law,(J) both of them must be put to death. They have acted perversely; their death is their own fault. 13 If a man sleeps with a man as with a woman,(K) they have both committed a detestable act.(L) They must be put to death; their death is their own fault. 14 If a man marries[i] a woman and her mother,(M) it is depraved. Both he and they must be burned,(N) so that there will be no depravity among you. 15 If a man has sexual intercourse with[j] an animal, he must be put to death; you are also to kill the animal. 16 If a woman approaches any animal and mates with it, you are to kill the woman and the animal.(O) They must be put to death; their death is their own fault. 17 If a man marries his sister,(P) whether his father’s daughter or his mother’s daughter, and they have sexual relations,[k](Q) it is a disgrace.(R) They are to be cut off publicly from their people. He has had sexual intercourse with his sister; he will bear his iniquity. 18 If a man sleeps with a menstruating woman and has sexual intercourse with her, he has exposed the source of her flow, and she has uncovered the source of her blood.(S) Both of them are to be cut off from their people. 19 You must not have sexual intercourse with your mother’s sister or your father’s sister,(T) for it is exposing one’s own blood relative; both people will bear their iniquity. 20 If a man sleeps with his aunt, he has violated the intimacy that belongs to his uncle;[l](U) they will bear their guilt and die childless. 21 If a man marries his brother’s wife, it is impurity.(V) He has violated the intimacy that belongs to his brother;[m](W) they will be childless.

Holiness in the Land

22 ‘You are to keep all my statutes and all my ordinances, and do them, so that the land where I am bringing you to live will not vomit you out.(X) 23 You must not follow the statutes of the nations I am driving out before you, for they did all these things, and I abhorred them.(Y) 24 And I promised you: You will inherit their land, since I will give it to you to possess, a land flowing with milk and honey.(Z) I am the Lord your God who set you apart from the peoples. 25 Therefore you are to distinguish the clean animal from the unclean one, and the unclean bird from the clean one. Do not become contaminated(AA) by any land animal, bird, or whatever crawls on the ground; I have set these apart as unclean for you.(AB) 26 You are to be holy to me because I, the Lord, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be mine.(AC)

27 ‘A man or a woman who is[n] a medium or a spiritist must be put to death. They are to be stoned; their death is their own fault.’

Footnotes

  1. 20:3 Lit will set my face, also in vv. 5,6
  2. 20:4 Lit country ever close their eyes from that man when he
  3. 20:5 Lit prostitute themselves with
  4. 20:6 Or spirits of the dead
  5. 20:6 Or familiar spirits
  6. 20:9 Lit his blood on him
  7. 20:11 Lit has uncovered his father’s nakedness
  8. 20:11 Lit their blood on them, also in vv. 12,13,16,27
  9. 20:14 Lit takes, also in vv. 17,21
  10. 20:15 Lit man gives his emission to
  11. 20:17 Lit and he sees her nakedness and she sees his nakedness
  12. 20:20 Lit has uncovered his uncle’s nakedness
  13. 20:21 Lit has uncovered his brother’s nakedness
  14. 20:27 Lit is in them
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Leviticus 20
New International Version

Punishments for Sin

20 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “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.(A) The members of the community are to stone him.(B) 3 I myself will set my face against him and will cut him off from his people;(C) for by sacrificing his children to Molek, he has defiled(D) my sanctuary(E) and profaned my holy name.(F) 4 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,(G) 5 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.

6 “‘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.(H)

7 “‘Consecrate yourselves(I) and be holy,(J) because I am the Lord your God.(K) 8 Keep my decrees(L) and follow them. I am the Lord, who makes you holy.(M)

9 “‘Anyone who curses their father(N) or mother(O) is to be put to death.(P) Because they have cursed their father or mother, their blood will be on their own head.(Q)

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

11 “‘If a man has sexual relations with his father’s wife, he has dishonored his father.(T) Both the man and the woman are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.(U)

12 “‘If a man has sexual relations with his daughter-in-law,(V) 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.(W) 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,(X) it is wicked. Both he and they must be burned in the fire,(Y) so that no wickedness will be among you.(Z)

15 “‘If a man has sexual relations with an animal,(AA) he is to be put to death,(AB) 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(AC), the daughter of either his father or his mother, and they have sexual relations, it is a disgrace. They are to be publicly removed(AD) from their people. He has dishonored his sister and will be held responsible.(AE)

18 “‘If a man has sexual relations with a woman during her monthly period,(AF) 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.(AG)

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

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

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

22 “‘Keep all my decrees and laws(AM) and follow them, so that the land(AN) where I am bringing you to live may not vomit you out. 23 You must not live according to the customs of the nations(AO) I am going to drive out before you.(AP) Because they did all these things, I abhorred them.(AQ) 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.”(AR) I am the Lord your God, who has set you apart from the nations.(AS)

25 “‘You must therefore make a distinction between clean and unclean animals and between unclean and clean birds.(AT) 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(AU) because I, the Lord, am holy,(AV) and I have set you apart from the nations(AW) to be my own.

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

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Leviticus 20
New King James Version

Penalties for Breaking the Law

20 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 (A)“Again, you shall say to the children of Israel: (B)‘Whoever of the children of Israel, or of the strangers who [a]dwell in Israel, who gives any of his descendants to Molech, he shall surely be put to death. The people of the land shall (C)stone him with stones. 3 (D)I will set My face against that man, and will [b]cut him off from his people, because he has given some of his descendants to Molech, to defile My sanctuary and profane My holy name. 4 And if the people of the land should in any way [c]hide their eyes from the man, when he gives some of his descendants to Molech, and they do not kill him, 5 then I will set My face against that man and against his family; and I will cut him off from his people, and all who prostitute themselves with him to commit harlotry with Molech.

6 ‘And (E)the person who turns to mediums and familiar spirits, to prostitute himself with them, I will set My face against that person and cut him off from his people. 7 (F)Consecrate[d] yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am the Lord your God. 8 And you shall keep (G)My statutes, and perform them: (H)I am the Lord who [e]sanctifies you.

9 ‘For (I)everyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death. He has cursed his father or his mother. (J)His blood shall be upon him.

10 (K)‘The man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, he who commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress, shall surely be put to death. 11 The man who lies with his (L)father’s wife has uncovered his father’s nakedness; both of them shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them. 12 If a man lies with his (M)daughter-in-law, both of them shall surely be put to death. They have committed perversion. Their blood shall be upon them. 13 (N)If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them. 14 If a man marries a woman and her (O)mother, it is wickedness. They shall be burned with fire, both he and they, that there may be no wickedness among you. 15 If a man mates with an (P)animal, he shall surely be put to death, and you shall kill the animal. 16 If a woman approaches any animal and mates with it, you shall kill the woman and the animal. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood is upon them.

17 ‘If a man takes his (Q)sister, his father’s daughter or his mother’s daughter, and sees her nakedness and she sees his nakedness, it is a wicked thing. And they shall be [f]cut off in the sight of their people. He has uncovered his sister’s nakedness. He shall bear his [g]guilt. 18 (R)If a man lies with a woman during her [h]sickness and uncovers her nakedness, he has [i]exposed her flow, and she has uncovered the flow of her blood. Both of them shall be [j]cut off from their people.

19 ‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your (S)mother’s sister nor of your (T)father’s sister, for that would uncover his near of kin. They shall bear their guilt. 20 If a man lies with his (U)uncle’s wife, he has uncovered his uncle’s nakedness. They shall bear their sin; they shall die childless. 21 If a man takes his (V)brother’s wife, it is an [k]unclean thing. He has uncovered his brother’s nakedness. They shall be childless.

22 ‘You shall therefore keep all My (W)statutes and all My judgments, and perform them, that the land where I am bringing you to dwell (X)may not vomit you out. 23 (Y)And you shall not walk in the statutes of the nation which I am casting out before you; for they commit all these things, and (Z)therefore I abhor them. 24 But (AA)I have said to you, “You shall inherit their land, and I will give it to you to possess, a land flowing with milk and honey.” I am the Lord your God, (AB)who has separated you from the peoples. 25 (AC)You shall therefore distinguish between clean animals and unclean, between unclean birds and clean, (AD)and you shall not make yourselves [l]abominable by beast or by bird, or by any kind of living thing that creeps on the ground, which I have separated from you as [m]unclean. 26 And you shall be holy to Me, (AE)for I the Lord am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be Mine.

27 (AF)‘A man or a woman who is a medium, or who has familiar spirits, shall surely be put to death; they shall stone them with stones. Their blood shall be upon them.’ ”

Footnotes

  1. Leviticus 20:2 As resident aliens
  2. Leviticus 20:3 Put him to death
  3. Leviticus 20:4 disregard
  4. Leviticus 20:7 Set yourselves apart for the Lord
  5. Leviticus 20:8 sets you apart
  6. Leviticus 20:17 Put to death
  7. Leviticus 20:17 iniquity
  8. Leviticus 20:18 Or customary impurity
  9. Leviticus 20:18 Lit. made bare
  10. Leviticus 20:18 Put to death
  11. Leviticus 20:21 indecent, impure
  12. Leviticus 20:25 detestable or loathsome
  13. Leviticus 20:25 defiled
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Leviticus 19
Leviticus 21
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