Bible Gateway Leviticus 20 :: NIV (2023)

Leviticus 20
1
The LORD said to Moses,
2
"Say to the Israelites: `Any Israelite or any alien living in Israel who gives [1] any of his children to Molech must be put to death. The people of the community are to stone him.
3
I will set my face against that man and I will cut him off from his people; for by giving his children to Molech, he has defiled my sanctuary and profaned my holy name.
4
If the people of the community close their eyes when that man gives one of his children to Molech and they fail to put him to death,
5
I will set my face against that man and his family and will cut off from their people both him and all who follow him in prostituting themselves to Molech.
6
"`I will set my face against the person who turns to mediums and spiritists to prostitute himself by following them, and I will cut him off from his people.
7
"`Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the LORD your God.
8
Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the LORD, who makes you holy. [2]
9
"`If anyone curses his father or mother, he must be put to death. He has cursed his father or his mother, and his blood will be on his own head.
10
"`If a man commits adultery with another man's wife--with the wife of his neighbor--both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death.
11
"`If a man sleeps with his father's wife, he has dishonored his father. Both the man and the woman must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.
12
"`If a man sleeps with his daughter-in-law, both of them must be put to death. What they have done is a perversion; their blood will be on their own heads.
13
"`If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.
14
"`If a man marries both a woman and her mother, it is wicked. Both he and they must be burned in the fire, so that no wickedness will be among you.
15
"`If a man has sexual relations with an animal, he must be put to death, 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 must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.
17
"`If a man marries his sister, the daughter of either his father or his mother, and they have sexual relations, it is a disgrace. They must be cut off before the eyes of their people. He has dishonored his sister and will be held responsible.
18
"`If a man lies with a woman during her monthly period and has sexual relations with her, he has exposed the source of her flow, and she has also uncovered it. Both of them must be cut off from their people.
19
"`Do not have sexual relations with the sister of either your mother or your father, for that would dishonor a close relative; both of you would be held responsible.
20
"`If a man sleeps with his aunt, he has dishonored his uncle. They will be held responsible; they will die childless.
21
"`If a man marries his brother's wife, it is an act of impurity; he has dishonored his brother. They will be childless.
22
"`Keep all my decrees and laws and follow them, so that the land where I am bringing you to live may not vomit you out.
23
You must not live according to the customs of the nations I am going to drive out before you. Because they did all these things, I abhorred them.
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." I am the LORD your God, who has set you apart from the nations.
25
"`You must therefore make a distinction between clean and unclean animals and between unclean and clean birds. Do not defile yourselves by any animal or bird or anything that moves along the ground--those which I have set apart as unclean for you.
26
You are to be holy to me [3] because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own.
27
"`A man or woman who is a medium or spiritist among you must be put to death. You are to stone them; their blood will be on their own heads.'"
  1. [2] Or sacrifices; also in verses 3 and 4
  2. [8] Or who sanctifies you; or who sets you apart as holy
  3. [26] Or be my holy ones

    FAQs

    What is Leviticus 20 talking about? ›

    Bible Gateway Leviticus 20 :: NIV. "Say to the Israelites: `Any Israelite or any alien living in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech must be put to death. The people of the community are to stone him.

    What is the penalty for adultery in the Bible? ›

    The basis for punishment of stoning specifically for adultery is clearly provided in Leviticus (20:10-12) which reads: "If a man commits adultery with another man's wife, even with the wife of his neighbour, both the adulterer and adulteress must be put to death...." Further, in Deuteronomy (22:22-24), it is stated ...

    What is the chapter 20 of Leviticus? ›

    20If a man lies with his uncle's wife, he disgraces his uncle;r they shall bear the penalty; they shall die childless. 21If a man takes his brother's wife, it is severe defilement and he has disgraced his brother;s they shall be childless.

    What is the NIV version of Leviticus 20 13? ›

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

    What is Leviticus main message? ›

    One of the main messages imparted from the Book of Leviticus is that it is for those who have already accepted the presence of God in their lives. This indicates that the starting point is not with learning about the holiness of God but rather with accepting God into your heart.

    Is adultery an unforgivable sin? ›

    Jesus forgives all sin

    The Bible teaches that the blood Jesus' shed on the cross covers all sin, including infidelity. “… the blood of Jesus, God's Son, purifies us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). This means that any sin we commit, including infidelity, can be forgiven when we come to Jesus with a repentant heart.

    What are the three types of adultery? ›

    Here are five sorts of adultery you likely didn't think about.
    • Passionate Adultery. ...
    • Energetic Adultery. ...
    • Mental Adultery. ...
    • Visual Adultery. ...
    • Spiritual Adultery.
    Jun 20, 2018

    What are the two types of adultery? ›

    Let's look at the dictionary definition of adultery: “voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and someone other than his or her lawful spouse.” In fact, there are two types: single adultery (with an unmarried person) and double adultery (with a married person.)

    Is an open marriage adultery? ›

    Open marriage is typically defined as a form of non-monogamy where the couple agrees that each may engage in extramarital sexual relationships. These sexual relationships are not considered infidelity and instead establish the open marriage or relationship despite society's implied monogamy as it relates to marriage.

    What does Leviticus 20 15 mean? ›

    Leviticus 20:15 In-Context

    15 If a man has sexual relations with an animal, he and the animal shall be put to death. 16 If a woman tries to have sexual relations with an animal, she and the animal shall be put to death. They are responsible for their own death.

    What does Leviticus 20 vs 10 mean? ›

    Leviticus 20:10 In-Context

    Because they have cursed their father or mother, their blood will be on their own head. 10 “ 'If a man commits adultery with another man's wife—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress are to be put to death.

    What is the meaning of Leviticus 20 7? ›

    Holiness - Leviticus 20: 7 be ye holy, for I am holy

    Therefore, the stakes may be very high, and one must seriously consider if he is willing in advance, to follow the Savior. It could mean certain physical death or giving in to compromise of some sort when faced this ultimate decision.

    What does Leviticus say about not getting tattoos? ›

    But in the ancient Middle East, the writers of the Hebrew Bible forbade tattooing. Per Leviticus 19:28, “You shall not make gashes in your flesh for the dead, or incise any marks on yourselves.” Historically, scholars have often understood this as a warning against pagan practices of mourning.

    What is Leviticus 20 vs 3? ›

    3 And I will set my face against that man, and will cut him off from among his people; because he hath given of his seed unto Molech, to adefile my sanctuary, and to bprofane my holy name.

    What is Leviticus 20 vs 26 KJV? ›

    Leviticus 20:26 KJV

    And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.

    What does Leviticus teach us today? ›

    As the people learn to trust Yahweh, he forms them to enter his rest and be close to him. This is what the entire scroll of Leviticus has been pointing to! God needed to illustrate the power of his presence so that people recognize their need for forgiveness and cleansing.

    What are the three main topics of Leviticus? ›

    The instructions of Leviticus emphasize ritual, legal, and moral practices rather than beliefs. Nevertheless, they reflect the world view of the creation story in Genesis 1 that God wishes to live with humans.

    What makes the book of Leviticus special? ›

    The book of Leviticus contains instructions on performing priesthood duties, such as animal sacrifice and other rituals that would help teach the children of Israel about Jesus Christ and His Atonement (see Alma 34:13–14).

    What two sins Cannot be forgiven? ›

    Therefore I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come."

    What is the one sin that Cannot be forgiven? ›

    Rev. Graham: Only one sin that can't be forgiven is on God's list — and that is the sin of rejecting Him and refusing His offer of forgiveness and new life in Jesus Christ. This alone is the unforgivable sin, because it means we are saying that the Holy Spirit's witness about Jesus is a lie (see Luke 12:10).

    What is the sin that Cannot be forgiven? ›

    In the Book of Matthew (12: 31-32), we read, "Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven men, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.

    Is kissing a form of adultery? ›

    Legally, adultery only covers sexual intercourse, which means behaviours such as kissing, webcam, virtual, and “emotional adultery” do not count for the purposes of getting divorced.

    What is the number 1 reason for adultery? ›

    The number one reason why people cheat is a lack of connection in the relationship. Most people do not realize how important creating, maintaining, and nurturing a connection in a relationship is.

    What is the difference between fornication and adultery? ›

    Fornication is generally consensual sexual intercourse between two people not married to each other. When one or more of the partners having consensual sexual intercourse is married to another person, it is called adultery.

    What is a silent divorce? ›

    What is a silent divorce? The term 'silent divorce' refers to a state where there isn't obvious conflict, but nor is there much of anything else going on in a relationship. It is not sustainable in the long term.

    What are 3 common causes of adultery? ›

    What are the causes of infidelity?
    • One's partner has already cheated. Many whose spouses have cheated on them feel justified in cheating, too. ...
    • Unhappiness in the marriage. ...
    • Physical or emotional distance. ...
    • Milestone birthday. ...
    • Economic dependence. ...
    • Falling out of love. ...
    • Sexual dissatisfaction. ...
    • Physical (Sexual) Affair.

    What is true adultery? ›

    : voluntary sexual activity (as sexual intercourse) between a married man and someone other than his wife or between a married woman and someone other than her husband.

    Can a married man commit adultery? ›

    Despite the ethical breaches and potential legal consequences, many people have engaged in adulterous acts for one reason or another. Is Your Marriage Adultery-Proof? It is not uncommon for a married woman or man to engage in an adulterous relationship simply because they are unhappy in their current marriage.

    Is kissing a married woman considered cheating? ›

    Since cheating means different things to different people, it may not come as a surprise if someone says kissing does not count as cheating. In fact, according to a survey conducted by BBC Radio 5 Live, 73 per cent of women consider kissing as cheating but only 50 per cent men count it as an act of betrayal.

    Is it adultery if I'm not married? ›

    If you are not married but are co-habiting with someone else and have penetrative sex with someone else, then this is not adultery. You may be cheating. You may be unfaithful.

    What is unclean in Leviticus? ›

    "`Every animal that has a split hoof not completely divided or that does not chew the cud is unclean for you; whoever touches [the carcass of] any of them will be unclean.

    What is the forbidden food in Leviticus? ›

    Leviticus rules all of the creatures that swarm on the ground off limits to the Israelites: "You shall not eat, among all things that swarm upon the earth, anything that crawls on its belly, or anything that walks on fours, or anything that has many legs; for they are an abomination.

    What is the difference between Leviticus 18 and 20? ›

    While Leviticus 18 focuses on the forbidden sexual relationships, Leviticus 20 focuses on the punishment for participating in such relationships. The laws are reordered in Leviticus 20 to emphasize consequences of deviant relationships.

    What does Leviticus 20 22 26 mean? ›

    Leviticus 20:22-26 In-Context

    20 Whoever has sexual intercourse with his uncle's wife violates his uncle's marriage. That man and woman are guilty of sin. They will die without children. 21 Whoever marries his brother's wife violates his brother's marriage and does an unclean thing.

    What is Leviticus 20 vs 19? ›

    Leviticus 20:19, ESV: You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother's sister or of your father's sister, for that is to make naked one's relative; they shall bear their iniquity.

    What is the meaning of Leviticus 20 23? ›

    Leviticus 20:23 In-Context

    22 “ 'Keep all my decrees and laws and follow them, so that the land where I am bringing you to live may not vomit you out. 23 You must not live according to the customs of the nations I am going to drive out before you. Because they did all these things, I abhorred them.

    What is the meaning of Leviticus 20 8? ›

    Leviticus 20:8 Reminds Us that God Purifies

    God's purifying us.

    What does Leviticus 20 15 16 mean? ›

    Cross References. Verse Numbers. 15 “ 'If a man has sexual relations with an animal, he is to be put to death, 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.

    What is the meaning of Leviticus 20 11? ›

    CSB If a man sleeps with his father's wife, he has violated the intimacy that belongs to his father. Both of them must be put to death; their death is their own fault.

    Can Christians get cremated? ›

    For most Christians today, the question of cremation is largely left to individual discretion. Many Christians choose cremation as an alternative to burial, while still retaining those aspects of their traditional funeral practices that allow them to honor the lives of their loved ones and glorify God.

    What does the Bible say about cremation? ›

    Burying the dead was the usual practice in Biblical times, and until recently, the preferred method for most people when they passed. Even though many Bible passages see cremation as necessary in only dire times, nowhere in the Bible is cremation directly condemned.

    Is it a sin to get your ears pierced in the Bible? ›

    Some Christians who are against body piercing use the “Book of Leviticus” to support the view that body piercing is a sin, arguing that you “should never mark your body”. While others read the same Book and interpret the marking of the body as more figurative than literal.

    What is Leviticus 20 vs 22? ›

    Ye shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: that the land, whither I bring you to dwell therein, spue you not out.

    What is the meaning of Leviticus 20 14? ›

    (14) The penalty for marrying both a woman and her mother. If a man marries a woman and her mother, it is wickedness. They shall be burned with fire, both he and they, that there may be no wickedness among you. a. If a man marries a woman and her mother: This was spoken against previously in Leviticus 18:17.

    What is Leviticus 20 9? ›

    9 For anyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death; he has cursed his father or his mother; his blood is upon him.

    What does Leviticus 20 verse 13 say KJV? ›

    [13] If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

    What is the Book of Leviticus 20 21? ›

    Leviticus 20:21 New International Version (NIV)

    “ 'If a man marries his brother's wife, it is an act of impurity; he has dishonored his brother. They will be childless.

    What does Leviticus mean by cut off from his people? ›

    Hebrew Bible

    According to Richard C. Steiner, the phrase "to be cut off from one's people" is an antonym for "to be gathered to one's people" (e.g. Genesis 25:8), and thus to be "cut off" in the Bible means to be deprived of the afterlife.

    What is the meaning of Leviticus 20 22? ›

    Reason. Implication. Because of the peace of the land. (Lev 20:22) This land is the land that God promised to them, and He is going to bring them to it.

    What is the meaning of Leviticus 20 10? ›

    Leviticus 20:10 In-Context

    Because they have cursed their father or mother, their blood will be on their own head. 10 “ 'If a man commits adultery with another man's wife—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress are to be put to death.

    What is the significance of the Leviticus 20 26? ›

    But this great statement in Leviticus 20:26 declares that God knows all about human brokenness and hurt. He knows that we are that way. He sees this in sharp contrast to his own wholeness. And his love reaches out and says to us, "You shall be whole; for I am whole." "That is my purpose," he declares to his people.

    What does Leviticus Chapter 20 verse 2 mean? ›

    CSB "Say to the Israelites: Any Israelite or alien residing in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech must be put to death; the people of the country are to stone him. NLT 'Give the people of Israel these instructions, which apply both to native Israelites and to the foreigners living in Israel.

    What does Leviticus say not to eat? ›

    Leviticus rules all of the creatures that swarm on the ground off limits to the Israelites: "You shall not eat, among all things that swarm upon the earth, anything that crawls on its belly, or anything that walks on fours, or anything that has many legs; for they are an abomination.

    What is Leviticus 20 vs 13 KJV? ›

    [13] If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

    What is Leviticus 20 vs 5? ›

    ESV then I will set my face against that man and against his clan and will cut them off from among their people, him and all who follow him in whoring after Molech.

    What is Leviticus Chapter 20 21? ›

    20 “ 'If a man has sexual relations with his aunt, he has dishonored his uncle. They will be held responsible; they will die childless. 21 “ 'If a man marries his brother's wife, it is an act of impurity; he has dishonored his brother. They will be childless.

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