Bible Commentaries
Leviticus 20

Verse 1

spake. See note on Leviticus 5:14 .

Verse 2

Again. See Leviticus 18:21 . This is so serious that it must be repeated. There, only a command; here, the penalty.

children. Hebrew sons.

Molech. The king-idol. See note on Leviticus 18:21 , where this law follows that on incest; while here it precedes it.

Verse 3

man. Hebrew ' i s h . App-14 .

holy. See note on Exodus 3:8 .

Verse 4

the = that.

Verse 5

family. Compare Ezekiel 18:2 , and note the contrast. Jeremiah 31:29

Verse 6

soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

familiar spirits. See note on Leviticus 19:31 .

wizards. See note on Leviticus 19:31 .

Verse 7

the LORD [Hebrew. Jehovah. your God [Hebrew. Elohim. Some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch and Septuagint, read. "I am holy, Jehovah your God".

Verse 8

the LORDWhich sanctify you = Jehovah Mekad-dishkem, one of the Jehovah titles. See App-4 .

Verse 9

every one. Hebrew ' i sh 'ish. App-14 .

blood. Figure of speech Metalepsis, App-6 , "bloods", put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct) for guilt, and "guilt" put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause) for penalty.

Verse 11

father's wife. See Leviticus 18:8 .

Verse 12

daughter in law. See Leviticus 18:15 .

Verse 13

mankind. Hebrew "male". See Leviticus 18:22 .

abomination. See note on Leviticus 18:22 .

Verse 14

wife and her mother. See Ch. Leviticus 18:17 .

wickedness = disgraceful thing. Hebrew. chesed ( App-44 ). Chesed is a Homonym : i.e. another word, spelled the same. It means (1) mercy, grace, goodness (Genesis 24:12 . 2Sa 7:15 . 1 Chronicles 19:2 . 2 Chronicles 6:14 .Job 37:13 .Psalms 103:4 , Psalms 103:8 , Psalms 103:11 , &c. But here (2) it is chesed, a disgraceful or reproachful thing. It is so taken here and in Proverbs 14:34 .

burnt = burnt up: i.e. in judgment. Hebrew. saraph. App-43 .

Verse 15

beast. See Leviticus 18:23 .

Verse 17

sister. See Leviticus 18:9 .

sight of their People. A special penalty is attached to this disgraceful thing.

iniquity = perverseness. Hebrew ' avon . App-44 .

Verse 18

sickness. See Leviticus 15:24 ; Leviticus 18:19 .

Verse 20

sin = penalty. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause). App-6 .

Verse 22

spue. Compare Leviticus 18:28 , where it is rendered "vomit".

Verse 23

manners = statutes. It was this that brought down the judgment of extermination. No other remedy would do. These nations were descended from the nephilim (see App-25 ), who like those who were destroyed by the Flood, were "after that" (Genesis 6:4 ) to be destroyed by the sword of Israel.

nation. Some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch, Targum of Onkelos, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "nations" (plural)

Verse 25

difference = separation, as in verse Leviticus 20:24 . Compare Leviticus 10:10 ; Leviticus 11:47 .

souls. Hebrew, plural of nephesh. App-13 .

Verse 26

severed = separated, as in verses Leviticus 20:24 and Leviticus 20:25 .

Verse 27

familiar spirit. See note on Leviticus 19:31 .