Berean Standard Bible

Leviticus 20

(Leviticus 26:14–39; Deuteronomy 28:15–68)

1Then the LORDיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068saidוַיְדַבֵּ֥רvay.da.BerH1696toאֶל־'el-H413Mosesמֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃mo.Sheh le.MorH4872 H559,

2“Tellוְאֶל־ תֹּאמַר֒ve.'el- to.MarH559 H413the Israelitesבְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֘לbe.Nei Yis.ra.'ElH1121 H3478, ‘AnyH376Israeliteמִבְּנֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֜לmi.be.Nei Yis.ra.'ElH1121 H3478orוּמִן־u.min-H4480foreignerהַגֵּ֣ר׀ha.GerH1616livingהַגָּ֣רha.GarH1481in Israelבְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֗לbe.Yis.ra.'ElH3478whoאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834givesיִתֵּ֧ןyi.TenH5414any of his childrenמִזַּרְע֛וֹmi.zar.'OH2233to Molechלַמֹּ֖לֶךְla.Mo.lekhH4432must be put to deathH4191.The peopleעַ֥ם'amH5971of the landהָאָ֖רֶץha.'A.retzH776are to stoneיִרְגְּמֻ֥הוּyir.ge.Mu.huH7275himבָאָֽבֶן׃va.'A.venH68.

3And Iוַאֲנִ֞יva.'a.NiH589will setאֶתֵּ֤ן'e.TenH5414אֶת־'et-H853My faceפָּנַי֙pa.NaiH6440against thatהַה֔וּאha.Hu'H1931manבָּאִ֣ישׁba.'IshH376and cut him offוְהִכְרַתִּ֥יve.hikh.ra.TiH3772אֹת֖וֹ'o.ToH853fromמִקֶּ֣רֶבmi.Ke.revH7130his peopleעַמּ֑וֹa.MoH5971,becauseכִּ֤יkiH3588by givingנָתַ֣ןna.TanH5414his offspringמִזַּרְעוֹ֙mi.zar.'OH2233to Molechלַמֹּ֔לֶךְ לְמַ֗עַןla.Mo.lekh le.Ma.'anH4432 H4616,he has defiledטַמֵּא֙ta.Me'H2930אֶת־'et-H853My sanctuaryמִקְדָּשִׁ֔יmik.da.ShiH4720and profanedוּלְחַלֵּ֖לu.le.cha.LelH2490אֶת־'et-H853My holyקָדְשִֽׁי׃kod.shiH6944nameשֵׁ֥םshemH8034.

4And ifוְאִ֡םve.'ImH518the peopleעַ֨ם'amH5971of the landהָאָ֜רֶץha.'A.retzH776אֶת־'et-H853ever hideH5956their eyesעֵֽינֵיהֶם֙'ei.nei.HemH5869and failלְבִלְתִּ֖יle.vil.TiH1115to put to deathהָמִ֥יתha.MitH4191אֹתֽוֹ׃'o.ToH853מִן־min-H4480the manהָאִ֣ישׁha.'IshH376whoהַה֔וּאha.Hu'H1931givesבְּתִתּ֥וֹbe.ti.ToH5414one of his childrenמִזַּרְע֖וֹmi.zar.'OH2233to Molechלַמֹּ֑לֶךְla.Mo.lekhH4432,

5then Iאֲנִ֧י'a.NiH589אֶת־'et-H853will setוְשַׂמְתִּ֨יve.sam.TiH7760My faceפָּנַ֛יpa.NaiH6440against thatהַה֖וּאha.Hu'H1931manבָּאִ֥ישׁba.'IshH376and his familyוּבְמִשְׁפַּחְתּ֑וֹu.ve.mish.pach.ToH4940and cut offוְהִכְרַתִּ֨יve.hikh.ra.TiH3772אֹת֜וֹ'o.ToH853וְאֵ֣ת׀ve.'EtH853from amongמִקֶּ֥רֶבmi.Ke.revH7130their peopleעַמָּֽם׃'a.MamH5971both him and allכָּל־kol-H3605who follow himאַחֲרָ֗יו'a.cha.RavH310in prostituting themselvesH2181withאַחֲרֵ֥י'a.cha.ReiH310Molechהַמֹּ֖לֶךְha.Mo.lekhH4432.

6Whoeverוְהַנֶּ֗פֶשׁve.ha.Ne.feshH5315אֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834turnsתִּפְנֶ֤הtif.NehH6437toאֶל־'el-H413mediumsהָֽאֹבֹת֙ וְאֶל־ha.'o.Vot ve.'el-H178 H413or spiritistsהַיִּדְּעֹנִ֔יםhai.yi.de.'o.NimH3049to prostitute himselfלִזְנ֖וֹתliz.NotH2181with themאַחֲרֵיהֶ֑ם'a.cha.rei.HemH310,I will also setוְנָתַתִּ֤יve.na.ta.TiH5414אֶת־'et-H853My faceפָּנַי֙pa.NaiH6440against that personבַּנֶּ֣פֶשׁ הַהִ֔ואba.Ne.fesh ha.Hiv'H5315 H1931and cut him offוְהִכְרַתִּ֥יve.hikh.ra.TiH3772אֹת֖וֹ'o.ToH853fromמִקֶּ֥רֶבmi.Ke.revH7130his peopleעַמּֽוֹ׃a.MoH5971.

7Consecrate yourselvesוְהִ֨תְקַדִּשְׁתֶּ֔םve.Hit.ka.dish.TemH6942,therefore, and beוִהְיִיתֶ֖םvih.yi.TemH1961holyקְדֹשִׁ֑יםke.do.ShimH6918,becauseכִּ֛יkiH3588Iאֲנִ֥י'a.NiH589am the LORDיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068your Godאֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃'e.lo.hei.KhemH430.

8And you shall keepוּשְׁמַרְתֶּם֙u.she.mar.TemH8104אֶת־'et-H853My statutesחֻקֹּתַ֔יchu.ko.TaiH2708and practice themוַעֲשִׂיתֶ֖םva.'a.si.TemH6213אֹתָ֑ם'o.TamH853.Iאֲנִ֥י'a.NiH589am the LORDיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068who sanctifies youמְקַדִּשְׁכֶֽם׃me.ka.dish.KhemH6942.

9Ifכִּֽי־ki-H3588anyoneH376אֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834cursesיְקַלֵּ֧לye.ka.LelH7043אֶת־'et-H853his fatherאָבִ֛יו'a.VivH1וְאֶת־ve.'EtH853or motherאִמּ֖וֹ'i.MoH517,he must be put to deathH4191.He has cursedקִלֵּ֖לki.LelH7043his fatherאָבִ֧יו'a.VivH1or motherוְאִמּ֛וֹve.'i.MoH517;his bloodדָּמָ֥יוda.MavH1818shall be upon him.

Punishments for Sexual Immorality

(Proverbs 5:1–23; 1 Corinthians 5:1–8)

10If a manוְאִ֗ישׁve.'IshH376commits adulteryיִנְאַף֙yin.'AfH5003withאֶת־'et-H853anotherman’sאִ֔ישׁ'IshH376wifeאֵ֣שֶׁת'E.shetH802אֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.SherH834אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834יִנְאַ֖ףyin.'AfH5003—withאֶת־'et-H853the wifeאֵ֣שֶׁת'E.shetH802of his neighborרֵעֵ֑הוּre.'E.huH7453—both the adultererהַנֹּאֵ֖ףha.no.'EfH5003and the adulteressוְהַנֹּאָֽפֶת׃ve.ha.no.'A.fetH5003must surely be put to deathH4191.

11If a manוְאִ֗ישׁve.'IshH376אֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.SherH834liesיִשְׁכַּב֙yish.KavH7901withאֶת־'et-H853his father’sאָבִ֔יו'a.VivH1wifeאֵ֣שֶׁת'E.shetH802,he has uncoveredגִּלָּ֑הgi.LahH1540his father’sאָבִ֖יו'a.VivH1nakednessעֶרְוַ֥ת'er.VatH6172.Bothשְׁנֵיהֶ֖םshe.nei.HemH8147must surely be put to deathH4191;their bloodדְּמֵיהֶ֥םde.mei.HemH1818is upon them.

12If a manוְאִ֗ישׁve.'IshH376אֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.SherH834liesיִשְׁכַּב֙yish.KavH7901withאֶת־'et-H853his daughter-in-lawכַּלָּת֔וֹka.la.ToH3618,bothשְׁנֵיהֶ֑םshe.nei.HemH8147must surely be put to deathH4191.They have actedעָשׂ֖וּ'a.SuH6213perverselyתֶּ֥בֶלTe.velH8397;their bloodדְּמֵיהֶ֥םde.mei.HemH1818is upon them.

13If a manוְאִ֗ישׁve.'IshH376אֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834liesיִשְׁכַּ֤בyish.KavH7901withאֶת־'et-H853a manזָכָר֙ מִשְׁכְּבֵ֣יza.Khar mish.ke.VeiH2145 H4904as with a womanאִשָּׁ֔ה'i.ShahH802,they have bothשְׁנֵיהֶ֑םshe.nei.HemH8147committedעָשׂ֖וּ'a.SuH6213an abominationתּוֹעֵבָ֥הto.'e.VahH8441.They must surely be put to deathH4191;their bloodדְּמֵיהֶ֥םde.mei.HemH1818is upon them.

14If a manוְאִ֗ישׁve.'IshH376אֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834marriesיִקַּ֧חyi.KachH3947אֶת־'et-H853both a womanאִשָּׁ֛ה'i.ShahH802וְאֶת־ve.'EtH853and her motherאִמָּ֖הּ'i.MahH517,itהִ֑ואhi'H1931is depravedזִמָּ֣הzi.MahH2154.Both heאֹתוֹ֙'o.ToH853and theyוְאֶתְהֶ֔ןve.'et.HenH853must be burnedיִשְׂרְפ֤וּyis.re.FuH8313in the fireבָּאֵ֞שׁba.'EshH784,so that there will beתִהְיֶ֥הtih.YehH1961noוְלֹא־ve.lo'-H3808depravityזִמָּ֖הzi.MahH2154among youבְּתוֹכְכֶֽם׃be.tokh.KhemH8432.

15If a manוְאִ֗ישׁve.'IshH376אֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834liesיִתֵּ֧ןyi.TenH5414carnallyשְׁכָבְתּ֛וֹshe.kha.ve.ToH7903with an animalבִּבְהֵמָ֖הbiv.he.MahH929,he must be put to deathH4191.Andוְאֶת־ve.'EtH853you are also to killתַּהֲרֹֽגוּ׃ta.ha.Ro.guH2026the animalהַבְּהֵמָ֖הha.be.he.MahH929.

16If a womanוְאִשָּׁ֗הve.'i.ShahH802אֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834approachesתִּקְרַ֤ב אֶל־tik.Rav 'el-H7126 H413anyכָּל־kol-H3605animalבְּהֵמָה֙be.he.MahH929to mateלְרִבְעָ֣הle.riv.'AhH7250with itאֹתָ֔הּ'o.TahH854,you must killוְהָרַגְתָּ֥ve.ha.rag.TaH2026bothאֶת־'et-H853the womanהָאִשָּׁ֖הha.'i.ShahH802andוְאֶת־ve.'EtH853the animalהַבְּהֵמָ֑הha.be.he.MahH929.They must surely be put to deathH4191;their bloodדְּמֵיהֶ֥םde.mei.HemH1818is upon them.

17If a manוְאִ֣ישׁve.'IshH376אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834marriesיִקַּ֣חyi.KachH3947H853his sisterאֲחֹת֡וֹ'a.cho.ToH269,whether the daughterבַּת־bat-H1323of his fatherאָבִ֣יו'a.VivH1orא֣וֹ'oH176of his motherאִ֠מּוֹ'i.moH517בַת־vat-H1323,and they have sexual relationsוְהִֽיא־ve.hi'-H7200 H853 H6172 H1931,itה֔וּאHu'H1931is a disgraceחֶ֣סֶדChe.sedH2617.They must be cut offוְנִ֨כְרְת֔וּve.Nikh.re.TuH3772in the sightלְעֵינֵ֖יle.'ei.NeiH5869ofבְּנֵ֣יbe.NeiH1121their peopleעַמָּ֑ם'a.MamH5971.He has uncoveredגִּלָּ֖הgi.LahH1540the nakednessH6172of his sisterאֲחֹת֛וֹ'a.cho.ToH269;he shall bearיִשָּֽׂא׃yi.Sa'H5375his iniquityעֲוֹנ֥וֹa.vo.NoH5771.

18If a manוְ֠אִישׁVe.'ishH376אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834liesיִשְׁכַּ֨בyish.KavH7901withאֶת־'et-H853a menstruatingדָּוָ֗הda.VahH1739womanאִשָּׁ֜ה'i.ShahH802and has sexual relations with herוְגִלָּ֤הve.gi.LahH1540אֶת־'et-H853עֶרְוָתָהּ֙'er.va.TahH6172,אֶת־'et-H853he has exposedהֶֽעֱרָ֔הhe.'e.RahH6168the source of her flowמְקֹרָ֣הּme.ko.RahH4726,and sheוְהִ֕יאve.Hi'H1931has uncoveredגִּלְּתָ֖הgi.le.TahH1540אֶת־'et-H853the sourceמְק֣וֹרme.KorH4726of her bloodדָּמֶ֑יהָda.Mei.haH1818.Bothשְׁנֵיהֶ֖םshe.nei.HemH8147of them must be cut offוְנִכְרְת֥וּve.nikh.re.TuH3772from amongמִקֶּ֥רֶבmi.Ke.revH7130their peopleעַמָּֽם׃'a.MamH5971.

19You must notלֹ֣אlo'H3808have sexual relations withוְעֶרְוַ֨ת תְגַלֵּ֑הve.'er.Vat te.ga.LehH6172 H1540the sisterאֲח֧וֹת'a.ChotH269of your motherאִמְּךָ֛'i.me.KhaH517or your fatherאָבִ֖יךָ'a.Vi.khaH1וַאֲח֥וֹתva.'a.ChotH269,forכִּ֧יkiH3588אֶת־'et-H853it is exposingהֶעֱרָ֖הhe.'e.RahH6168one’s own kinשְׁאֵר֛וֹshe.'e.RoH7607;both shall bearיִשָּֽׂאוּ׃yi.Sa.'uH5375their iniquityעֲוֹנָ֥ם'a.vo.NamH5771.

20If a manוְאִ֗ישׁve.'IshH376אֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.SherH834liesיִשְׁכַּב֙yish.KavH7901withאֶת־'et-H853his uncle’s wifeדֹּ֣דָת֔וֹdo.da.ToH1733,he has uncoveredגִּלָּ֑הgi.LahH1540the nakednessעֶרְוַ֥ת'er.VatH6172of his uncleדֹּד֖וֹdo.DoH1730.They will bearיִשָּׂ֖אוּyi.Sa.'uH5375their sinחֶטְאָ֥םchet.'AmH2399;they shall dieיָמֻֽתוּ׃ya.Mu.tuH4191childlessעֲרִירִ֥ים'a.ri.RimH6185.

21If a manוְאִ֗ישׁve.'IshH376אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834marriesיִקַּ֛חyi.KachH3947אֶת־'et-H853his brother’sאָחִ֖יו'a.ChivH251wifeאֵ֥שֶׁת'E.shetH802,itהִ֑ואhi'H1931is an act of impurityנִדָּ֣הni.DahH5079.He has uncoveredגִּלָּ֖הgi.LahH1540the nakednessעֶרְוַ֥ת'er.VatH6172of his brotherאָחִ֛יו'a.ChivH251;they shall beיִהְיֽוּ׃yih.YuH1961childlessעֲרִירִ֥ים'a.ri.RimH6185.

Distinguish between Clean and Unclean

22You are therefore to keepוּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֤םu.she.mar.TemH8104אֶת־'et-H853allכָּל־kol-H3605My statutesחֻקֹּתַי֙chu.ko.TaiH2708וְאֶת־ve.'EtH853andכָּל־kol-H3605ordinancesמִשְׁפָּטַ֔יmish.pa.TaiH4941וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֖םva.'a.si.TemH6213אֹתָ֑ם'o.TamH853,so that the landהָאָ֔רֶץha.'A.retzH776whereאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834Iאֲנִ֜י'a.NiH589am bringingמֵבִ֥יאme.Vi'H935אֶתְכֶם֙'et.KhemH853שָׁ֖מָּהSha.mahH8033you to liveלָשֶׁ֥בֶתla.She.vetH3427will notוְלֹא־ve.lo'-H3808vomit you outתָקִ֤יאta.Ki'H6958אֶתְכֶ֛ם'et.KhemH853.

23You must notוְלֹ֤אve.Lo'H3808followתֵֽלְכוּ֙te.le.KhuH1980the statutesבְּחֻקֹּ֣תbe.chu.KotH2708of the nationsהַגּ֔וֹיha.GoyH1471אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834Iאֲנִ֥י'a.NiH589am driving outמְשַׁלֵּ֖חַme.sha.Le.achH7971before youמִפְּנֵיכֶ֑םmi.pe.nei.KhemH6440.Becauseכִּ֤יkiH3588אֶת־'et-H853they didעָשׂ֔וּ'a.SuH6213allכָּל־kol-H3605these thingsאֵ֙לֶּה֙'e.lehH428,I abhorredוָאָקֻ֖ץva.'a.KutzH6973them.

24But I have toldוָאֹמַ֣רva.'o.MarH559youthat youאַתֶּם֮'a.TemH859will inheritתִּֽירְשׁ֣וּti.re.ShuH3423אֶת־'et-H853their landאַדְמָתָם֒'ad.ma.TamH127,since Iוַאֲנִ֞יva.'a.NiH589will giveאֶתְּנֶ֤נָּה'et.te.Ne.nahH5414it to youas an inheritanceלָרֶ֣שֶׁתla.Re.shetH3423אֹתָ֔הּ'o.TahH853—a landאֶ֛רֶץ'E.retzH776flowingזָבַ֥תza.VatH2100with milkחָלָ֖בcha.LavH2461and honeyוּדְבָ֑שׁu.de.VashH1706.Iאֲנִי֙'a.NiH589am the LORDיְהוָ֣הYah.wehH3068your Godאֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם'e.lo.hei.KhemH430,whoאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834has set you apartהִבְדַּ֥לְתִּיhiv.Dal.tiH914אֶתְכֶ֖ם'et.KhemH853fromמִן־min-H4480the peoplesהָֽעַמִּֽים׃Ha.'a.MimH5971.

25You are therefore to distinguishוְהִבְדַּלְתֶּ֞םve.hiv.dal.TemH914betweenבֵּֽין־bein-H996cleanהַטְּהֹרָה֙ha.te.ho.RahH2889and uncleanלַטְּמֵאָ֔הla.te.me.'AhH2931animalsהַבְּהֵמָ֤הha.be.he.MahH929andוּבֵין־u.vein-H996הַטָּמֵ֖אha.ta.Me'H2931birdsהָע֥וֹףha.'ofH5775לַטָּהֹ֑רla.ta.HorH2889.Do notוְלֹֽא־ve.lo'-H3808become contaminatedתְשַׁקְּצ֨וּte.sha.ke.TzuH8262אֶת־'et-H853נַפְשֹֽׁתֵיכֶ֜םnaf.sho.tei.KhemH5315by any animalבַּבְּהֵמָ֣הba.be.he.MahH929or birdוּבָע֗וֹףu.va.'ofH5775,or by anythingוּבְכֹל֙u.ve.KholH3605thatאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834crawlsתִּרְמֹ֣שׂtir.MosH7430on the groundהָֽאֲדָמָ֔הha.'a.da.MahH127;I have set theseאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834apartהִבְדַּ֥לְתִּיhiv.Dal.tiH914as uncleanלְטַמֵּֽא׃le.ta.Me'H2930for you.

26You are to beוִהְיִ֤יתֶםvih.Yi.temH1961holyקְדֹשִׁ֔יםke.do.ShimH6918to Mebecauseכִּ֥יkiH3588Iאֲנִ֣י'a.NiH589,the LORDיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068,am holyקָד֖וֹשׁka.Do.oshH6918,and I have set you apartוָאַבְדִּ֥לva.'av.DilH914אֶתְכֶ֛ם'et.KhemH853fromמִן־min-H4480the nationsהָֽעַמִּ֖יםha.'a.MimH5971to beלִהְי֥וֹתlih.YotH1961My own.

27A manוְאִ֣ישׁve.'IshH376orאֽוֹ־'ov-H176a womanאִשָּׁ֗ה כִּֽי־'i.Shah ki-H802 H3588who isיִהְיֶ֨הyih.YehH1961a mediumא֛וֹב'ovH178orא֥וֹ'oH176spiritistיִדְּעֹנִ֖יyi.de.'o.NiH3049must surely be put to deathH4191.They shall be stonedבָּאֶ֛בֶן יִרְגְּמ֥וּba.'E.ven yir.ge.MuH68 H7275אֹתָ֖ם'o.TamH853;their bloodדְּמֵיהֶ֥םde.mei.HemH1818is upon them.’”

(Leviticus 26:14–39; Deuteronomy 28:15–68)

Punishments for Sexual Immorality

(Proverbs 5:1–23; 1 Corinthians 5:1–8)

Distinguish between Clean and Unclean

Commentaries on Leviticus 20