New American Standard Bible 1995

Leviticus 20

On Human Sacrifice and Immoralities

1Then the Lordיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068spokeוַיְדַבֵּ֥רvay.da.BerH1696to Mosesמֹשֶׁ֥הmo.ShehH4872,sayingלֵּאמֹֽר׃le.MorH559,

2“You shall also sayתֹּאמַר֒to.MarH559to the sonsבְּנֵ֣יbe.NeiH1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֘לYis.ra.'ElH3478: ‘Anyאִ֣ישׁ'ishH376manאִישׁ֩'ishH376from the sonsמִבְּנֵ֨יmi.be.NeiH1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֜לYis.ra.'ElH3478or from the aliensהַגֵּ֣ר׀ha.GerH1616sojourningהַגָּ֣רha.GarH1481in Israelבְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֗לbe.Yis.ra.'ElH3478whoאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834givesיִתֵּ֧ןyi.TenH5414anyוּמִן־u.min-H4480of hisoffspringמִזַּרְע֛וֹmi.zar.'OH2233to Molechלַמֹּ֖לֶךְla.Mo.lekhH4432,shall surelyH4191be putH4191to deathH4191;the peopleעַ֥ם'amH5971of the landהָאָ֖רֶץha.'A.retzH776shall stoneיִרְגְּמֻ֥הוּyir.ge.Mu.huH7275him with stonesבָאָֽבֶן׃va.'A.venH68.

3I will also setאֶתֵּ֤ן'e.TenH5414My faceפָּנַי֙pa.NaiH6440against that manבָּאִ֣ישׁba.'IshH376and will cutוְהִכְרַתִּ֥יve.hikh.ra.TiH3772him offH3772from amongמִקֶּ֣רֶבmi.Ke.revH7130his peopleעַמּ֑וֹa.MoH5971,becauseכִּ֤יkiH3588he has givenנָתַ֣ןna.TanH5414someH4480of hisoffspringמִזַּרְעוֹ֙mi.zar.'OH2233to Molechלַמֹּ֔לֶךְla.Mo.lekhH4432,soלְמַ֗עַןle.Ma.'anH4616as to defileטַמֵּא֙ta.Me'H2930My sanctuaryמִקְדָּשִׁ֔יmik.da.ShiH4720andto profaneH2455My holyקָדְשִֽׁי׃kod.shiH6944nameשֵׁ֥םshemH8034.

4Ifוְאִ֡םve.'ImH518the peopleעַ֨ם'amH5971of the landהָאָ֜רֶץha.'A.retzH776, however,should everהַעְלֵ֣םha'.LemH5956disregardיַעְלִימֽוּ֩ עֵֽינֵיהֶם֙ya'.li.Mu 'ei.nei.HemH5956 H5869that manהָאִ֣ישׁha.'IshH376when he givesבְּתִתּ֥וֹbe.ti.ToH5414anyמִן־min-H4480of hisoffspringמִזַּרְע֖וֹmi.zar.'OH2233to Molechלַמֹּ֑לֶךְla.Mo.lekhH4432,so as not to putהָמִ֥יתha.MitH4191him to deathH4191,

5then I Myselfאֲנִ֧י'a.NiH589will setוְשַׂמְתִּ֨יve.sam.TiH7760My faceפָּנַ֛יpa.NaiH6440against that manבָּאִ֥ישׁba.'IshH376and against his familyוּבְמִשְׁפַּחְתּ֑וֹu.ve.mish.pach.ToH4940,and I will cutוְהִכְרַתִּ֨יve.hikh.ra.TiH3772offH3772from amongמִקֶּ֥רֶבmi.Ke.revH7130their peopleעַמָּֽם׃'a.MamH5971both him and allכָּל־kol-H3605those who playH2181the harlotH2181afterאַחֲרָ֗יו'a.cha.RavH310him, by playingH2181the harlotH2181afterאַחֲרֵ֥י'a.cha.ReiH310Molechהַמֹּ֖לֶךְha.Mo.lekhH4432.

6‘As for the personוְהַנֶּ֗פֶשׁve.ha.Ne.feshH5315whoאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834turnsתִּפְנֶ֤הtif.NehH6437tomediumsהָֽאֹבֹת֙ha.'o.VotH178and to spiritistsהַיִּדְּעֹנִ֔יםhai.yi.de.'o.NimH3049,to playH2181the harlotH2181afterאַחֲרֵיהֶ֑ם'a.cha.rei.HemH310them, I will also setוְנָתַתִּ֤יve.na.ta.TiH5414My faceפָּנַי֙pa.NaiH6440against that personבַּנֶּ֣פֶשׁba.Ne.feshH5315and will cutוְהִכְרַתִּ֥יve.hikh.ra.TiH3772him offH3772from amongמִקֶּ֥רֶבmi.Ke.revH7130his peopleעַמּֽוֹ׃a.MoH5971.

7You shall consecrateוְהִ֨תְקַדִּשְׁתֶּ֔םve.Hit.ka.dish.TemH6942yourselves therefore andbe holyH6944,for I am the Lordיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068your Godאֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃'e.lo.hei.KhemH430.

8You shall keepוּשְׁמַרְתֶּם֙u.she.mar.TemH8104My statutesחֻקֹּתַ֔יchu.ko.TaiH2708and practiceוַעֲשִׂיתֶ֖םva.'a.si.TemH6213them; I am the Lordיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068who sanctifiesמְקַדִּשְׁכֶֽם׃me.ka.dish.KhemH6942you.

9‘Ifכִּֽי־ki-H3588there isanyoneH376whoאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834cursesיְקַלֵּ֧לye.ka.LelH7043his fatherאָבִ֛יו'a.VivH1or his motherאִמּ֖וֹ'i.MoH517,he shall surelyH4191be putH4191to deathH4191;he has cursedקִלֵּ֖לki.LelH7043his fatherאָבִ֧יו'a.VivH1or his motherוְאִמּ֛וֹve.'i.MoH517,his bloodguiltinessדָּמָ֥יוda.MavH1818is upon him.

10‘If there isa manוְאִ֗ישׁve.'IshH376whoאֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.SherH834commitsH5003adulteryH5003with another man’sאִ֔ישׁ'IshH376wifeאֵ֣שֶׁת'E.shetH802,one whoאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834commitsH5003adulteryH5003with his friend’sרֵעֵ֑הוּre.'E.huH7453wifeאֵ֣שֶׁת'E.shetH802,the adultererH5003and the adulteressH5003shall surelyH4191be putH4191to deathH4191.

11If there isa manוְאִ֗ישׁve.'IshH376whoאֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.SherH834liesיִשְׁכַּב֙yish.KavH7901with his father’sאָבִ֔יו'a.VivH1wifeאֵ֣שֶׁת'E.shetH802,he has uncoveredגִּלָּ֑הgi.LahH1540his father’sאָבִ֖יו'a.VivH1nakednessעֶרְוַ֥ת'er.VatH6172;bothשְׁנֵיהֶ֖םshe.nei.HemH8147of them shall surelyH4191be putH4191to deathH4191,their bloodguiltinessדְּמֵיהֶ֥םde.mei.HemH1818is upon them.

12If there isa manוְאִ֗ישׁve.'IshH376whoאֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.SherH834liesיִשְׁכַּב֙yish.KavH7901with his daughter-in-lawכַּלָּת֔וֹka.la.ToH3618,bothשְׁנֵיהֶ֑םshe.nei.HemH8147of them shall surelyH4191be putH4191to deathH4191;they have committedעָשׂ֖וּ'a.SuH6213incestתֶּ֥בֶלTe.velH8397,their bloodguiltinessדְּמֵיהֶ֥םde.mei.HemH1818is upon them.

13If there isa manוְאִ֗ישׁve.'IshH376whoאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834liesיִשְׁכַּ֤בyish.KavH7901with a maleזָכָר֙za.KharH2145as those who lieמִשְׁכְּבֵ֣יmish.ke.VeiH4904with a womanאִשָּׁ֔ה'i.ShahH802,bothשְׁנֵיהֶ֑םshe.nei.HemH8147of them have committedעָשׂ֖וּ'a.SuH6213a detestableH8441actH8441;they shall surelyH4191be putH4191to deathH4191.Their bloodguiltinessדְּמֵיהֶ֥םde.mei.HemH1818is upon them.

14If there isa manוְאִ֗ישׁve.'IshH376whoאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834marriesיִקַּ֧חyi.KachH3947a womanאִשָּׁ֛ה'i.ShahH802and her motherאִמָּ֖הּ'i.MahH517,it is immoralityזִמָּ֣הzi.MahH2154;both he and they shall be burnedיִשְׂרְפ֤וּyis.re.FuH8313with fireבָּאֵ֞שׁba.'EshH784,so that there will be noוְלֹא־ve.lo'-H3808immoralityזִמָּ֖הzi.MahH2154in your midstבְּתוֹכְכֶֽם׃be.tokh.KhemH8432.

15If there isa manוְאִ֗ישׁve.'IshH376whoאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834liesיִתֵּ֧ן שְׁכָבְתּ֛וֹyi.Ten she.kha.ve.ToH5414 H7903with an animalבִּבְהֵמָ֖הbiv.he.MahH929,he shall surelyH4191be putH4191to deathH4191;you shall also killתַּהֲרֹֽגוּ׃ta.ha.Ro.guH2026the animalהַבְּהֵמָ֖הha.be.he.MahH929.

16If there isa womanוְאִשָּׁ֗הve.'i.ShahH802whoאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834approachesתִּקְרַ֤בtik.RavH7126anyכָּל־kol-H3605animalבְּהֵמָה֙be.he.MahH929tomateלְרִבְעָ֣הle.riv.'AhH7250with it, you shall killוְהָרַגְתָּ֥ve.ha.rag.TaH2026the womanהָאִשָּׁ֖הha.'i.ShahH802and the animalהַבְּהֵמָ֑הha.be.he.MahH929;they shall surelyH4191be putH4191to deathH4191.Their bloodguiltinessדְּמֵיהֶ֥םde.mei.HemH1818is upon them.

17‘If there isa manוְאִ֣ישׁve.'IshH376whoאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834takesיִקַּ֣חyi.KachH3947his sisterאֲחֹת֡וֹ'a.cho.ToH269,his father’sאָבִ֣יו'a.VivH1daughterבַּת־bat-H1323orא֣וֹ'oH176his mother’sאִ֠מּוֹ'i.moH517daughterבַת־vat-H1323,so that he seesוְרָאָ֨הve.ra.'AhH7200her nakednessעֶרְוָתָ֜הּ'er.va.TahH6172and she seesתִרְאֶ֤הtir.'EhH7200his nakednessעֶרְוָתוֹ֙er.va.ToH6172,it is a disgraceחֶ֣סֶדChe.sedH2617;and they shall be cutוְנִ֨כְרְת֔וּve.Nikh.re.TuH3772offH3772in the sightלְעֵינֵ֖יle.'ei.NeiH5869of the sonsבְּנֵ֣יbe.NeiH1121of their peopleעַמָּ֑ם'a.MamH5971.He has uncoveredגִּלָּ֖הgi.LahH1540his sister’sאֲחֹת֛וֹ'a.cho.ToH269nakednessעֶרְוַ֧ת'er.VatH6172;he bearsיִשָּֽׂא׃yi.Sa'H5375his guiltעֲוֹנ֥וֹa.vo.NoH5771.

18If there isa manוְ֠אִישׁVe.'ishH376whoאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834liesיִשְׁכַּ֨בyish.KavH7901with amenstruousדָּוָ֗הda.VahH1739womanאִשָּׁ֜ה'i.ShahH802and uncoversוְגִלָּ֤הve.gi.LahH1540her nakednessעֶרְוָתָהּ֙'er.va.TahH6172,he has laidH6168bareH6168her flowמְקֹרָ֣הּme.ko.RahH4726, and she hasexposedגִּלְּתָ֖הgi.le.TahH1540the flowמְק֣וֹרme.KorH4726of her bloodדָּמֶ֑יהָda.Mei.haH1818;thus bothשְׁנֵיהֶ֖םshe.nei.HemH8147of them shall be cutוְנִכְרְת֥וּve.nikh.re.TuH3772offH3772from amongמִקֶּ֥רֶבmi.Ke.revH7130their peopleעַמָּֽם׃'a.MamH5971.

19You shall also not uncoverתְגַלֵּ֑הte.ga.LehH1540the nakednessוְעֶרְוַ֨תve.'er.VatH6172of your mother’sאִמְּךָ֛'i.me.KhaH517sisterאֲח֧וֹת'a.ChotH269or of your father’sאָבִ֖יךָ'a.Vi.khaH1sisterוַאֲח֥וֹתva.'a.ChotH269,for such a one has madeהֶעֱרָ֖הhe.'e.RahH6168nakedH6168hisbloodH7607relativeשְׁאֵר֛וֹshe.'e.RoH7607;they will bearיִשָּֽׂאוּ׃yi.Sa.'uH5375their guiltעֲוֹנָ֥ם'a.vo.NamH5771.

20If there isa manוְאִ֗ישׁve.'IshH376whoאֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.SherH834liesיִשְׁכַּב֙yish.KavH7901with his uncle’sH1733wifeH1733he has uncoveredגִּלָּ֑הgi.LahH1540his uncle’sדֹּד֖וֹdo.DoH1730nakednessעֶרְוַ֥ת'er.VatH6172;they will bearיִשָּׂ֖אוּyi.Sa.'uH5375their sinחֶטְאָ֥םchet.'AmH2399.They will dieיָמֻֽתוּ׃ya.Mu.tuH4191childlessעֲרִירִ֥ים'a.ri.RimH6185.

21If there isa manוְאִ֗ישׁve.'IshH376whoאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834takesיִקַּ֛חyi.KachH3947his brother’sאָחִ֖יו'a.ChivH251wifeאֵ֥שֶׁת'E.shetH802, it isabhorrentנִדָּ֣הni.DahH5079;he has uncoveredגִּלָּ֖הgi.LahH1540his brother’sאָחִ֛יו'a.ChivH251nakednessעֶרְוַ֥ת'er.VatH6172.They will be childlessעֲרִירִ֥ים'a.ri.RimH6185.

22‘You are therefore to keepוּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֤םu.she.mar.TemH8104allכָּל־kol-H3605My statutesחֻקֹּתַי֙chu.ko.TaiH2708and allכָּל־kol-H3605My ordinancesמִשְׁפָּטַ֔יmish.pa.TaiH4941and doוַעֲשִׂיתֶ֖םva.'a.si.TemH6213them, so that the landהָאָ֔רֶץha.'A.retzH776to whichאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834I am bringingמֵבִ֥יאme.Vi'H935you toliveלָשֶׁ֥בֶתla.She.vetH3427will notspewH7006you out.

23Moreover, you shall notfollowתֵֽלְכוּ֙te.le.KhuH1980the customsבְּחֻקֹּ֣תbe.chu.KotH2708of the nationהַגּ֔וֹיha.GoyH1471whichאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834I will driveמְשַׁלֵּ֖חַme.sha.Le.achH7971out beforeמִפְּנֵיכֶ֑םmi.pe.nei.KhemH6440you, for they didעָשׂ֔וּ'a.SuH6213allכָּל־kol-H3605theseH428thingsאֵ֙לֶּה֙'e.lehH428, andtherefore I have abhorredוָאָקֻ֖ץva.'a.KutzH6973them.

24Hence I have saidוָאֹמַ֣רva.'o.MarH559to you, “You are to possessתִּֽירְשׁ֣וּti.re.ShuH3423their landאַדְמָתָם֒'ad.ma.TamH127,and I MyselfH589will giveאֶתְּנֶ֤נָּה'et.te.Ne.nahH5414it to you to possessלָרֶ֣שֶׁתla.Re.shetH3423it, a landאֶ֛רֶץ'E.retzH776flowingזָבַ֥תza.VatH2100with milkחָלָ֖בcha.LavH2461and honeyוּדְבָ֑שׁu.de.VashH1706.”I am the Lordיְהוָ֣הYah.wehH3068your Godאֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם'e.lo.hei.KhemH430,whoאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834hasseparatedהִבְדַּ֥לְתִּיhiv.Dal.tiH914you from the peoplesהָֽעַמִּֽים׃Ha.'a.MimH5971.

25You are therefore to makeH914a distinctionH914betweenבֵּֽין־bein-H996the cleanהַטְּהֹרָה֙ha.te.ho.RahH2889animalהַבְּהֵמָ֤הha.be.he.MahH929and the uncleanלַטְּמֵאָ֔הla.te.me.'AhH2931,and betweenוּבֵין־u.vein-H996the uncleanהַטָּמֵ֖אha.ta.Me'H2931birdהָע֥וֹףha.'ofH5775and the cleanלַטָּהֹ֑רla.ta.HorH2889;and you shall not makeתְשַׁקְּצ֨וּte.sha.ke.TzuH8262yourselvesנַפְשֹֽׁתֵיכֶ֜םnaf.sho.tei.KhemH5315detestableH8262by animalבַּבְּהֵמָ֣הba.be.he.MahH929or by birdוּבָע֗וֹףu.va.'ofH5775or by anythingוּבְכֹל֙u.ve.KholH3605that creepsתִּרְמֹ֣שׂtir.MosH7430on the groundהָֽאֲדָמָ֔הha.'a.da.MahH127,whichH834I have separatedH914for you as uncleanלְטַמֵּֽא׃le.ta.Me'H2930.

26Thus you are to be holyקְדֹשִׁ֔יםke.do.ShimH6918to Me, for I the Lordיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068am holyקָד֖וֹשׁka.Do.oshH6918; and Ihave setH914you apartH914from the peoplesהָֽעַמִּ֖יםha.'a.MimH5971to be Mine.

27‘Now a manוְאִ֣ישׁve.'IshH376orאֽוֹ־'ov-H176a womanאִשָּׁ֗ה'i.ShahH802who is a mediumא֛וֹב'ovH178orא֥וֹ'oH176aspiritistיִדְּעֹנִ֖יyi.de.'o.NiH3049shall surelyH4191be putH4191to deathH4191.They shall be stonedיִרְגְּמ֥וּyir.ge.MuH7275with stonesבָּאֶ֛בֶןba.'E.venH68,their bloodguiltinessדְּמֵיהֶ֥םde.mei.HemH1818is upon them.’”

On Human Sacrifice and Immoralities

Commentaries on Leviticus 20