25 Ye shall therefore put difference H914 between clean H2889 beasts H929 and unclean, H2931 and between unclean H2931 fowls H5775 and clean: H2889 and ye shall not make your souls H5315 abominable H8262 by beast, H929 or by fowl, H5775 or by any manner of living thing that creepeth H7430 on the ground, H127 which I have separated H914 from you as unclean. H2930
And the LORD H3068 spake H1696 unto Moses H4872 and to Aaron, H175 saying H559 unto them, Speak H1696 unto the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 saying, H559 These H2063 are the beasts H2416 which ye shall eat H398 among all the beasts H929 that are on the earth. H776 Whatsoever parteth H6536 the hoof, H6541 and is clovenfooted, H8156 H8157 and cheweth H5927 the cud, H1625 among the beasts, H929 that shall ye eat. H398 Nevertheless H389 these shall ye not eat H398 of them that chew H5927 the cud, H1625 or of them that divide H6536 the hoof: H6541 as the camel, H1581 because he cheweth H5927 the cud, H1625 but divideth H6536 not the hoof; H6541 he is unclean H2931 unto you. And the coney, H8227 because he cheweth H5927 the cud, H1625 but divideth H6536 not the hoof; H6541 he is unclean H2931 unto you. And the hare, H768 because he cheweth H5927 the cud, H1625 but divideth H6536 not the hoof; H6541 he is unclean H2931 unto you. And the swine, H2386 though he divide H6536 the hoof, H6541 and be clovenfooted, H8156 H8157 yet he cheweth H1641 not the cud; H1625 he is unclean H2931 to you. Of their flesh H1320 shall ye not eat, H398 and their carcase H5038 shall ye not touch; H5060 they are unclean H2931 to you. These shall ye eat H398 of all that are in the waters: H4325 whatsoever hath fins H5579 and scales H7193 in the waters, H4325 in the seas, H3220 and in the rivers, H5158 them shall ye eat. H398 And all that have not fins H5579 and scales H7193 in the seas, H3220 and in the rivers, H5158 of all that move H8318 in the waters, H4325 and of any living H2416 thing H5315 which is in the waters, H4325 they shall be an abomination H8263 unto you: They shall be even an abomination H8263 unto you; ye shall not eat H398 of their flesh, H1320 but ye shall have their carcases H5038 in abomination. H8262 Whatsoever hath no fins H5579 nor scales H7193 in the waters, H4325 that shall be an abomination H8263 unto you. And these are they which ye shall have in abomination H8262 among H4480 the fowls; H5775 they shall not be eaten, H398 they are an abomination: H8263 the eagle, H5404 and the ossifrage, H6538 and the ospray, H5822 And the vulture, H1676 and the kite H344 after his kind; H4327 Every raven H6158 after his kind; H4327 And the owl, H1323 H3284 and the night hawk, H8464 and the cuckow, H7828 and the hawk H5322 after his kind, H4327 And the little owl, H3563 and the cormorant, H7994 and the great owl, H3244 And the swan, H8580 and the pelican, H6893 and the gier eagle, H7360 And the stork, H2624 the heron H601 after her kind, H4327 and the lapwing, H1744 and the bat. H5847 All fowls H5775 that creep, H8318 going H1980 upon all four, H702 shall be an abomination H8263 unto you. Yet these may ye eat H398 of every flying H5775 creeping H8318 thing that goeth H1980 upon all four, H702 which have legs H3767 above H4605 their feet, H7272 to leap H5425 withal H2004 upon the earth; H776 Even these of them ye may eat; H398 the locust H697 after his kind, H4327 and the bald locust H5556 after his kind, H4327 and the beetle H2728 after his kind, H4327 and the grasshopper H2284 after his kind. H4327 But all other flying H5775 creeping things, H8318 which have four H702 feet, H7272 shall be an abomination H8263 unto you. And for these ye shall be unclean: H2930 whosoever toucheth H5060 the carcase H5038 of them shall be unclean H2930 until the even. H6153 And whosoever beareth H5375 ought of the carcase H5038 of them shall wash H3526 his clothes, H899 and be unclean H2930 until the even. H6153 The carcases of every beast H929 which divideth H6536 the hoof, H6541 and is not clovenfooted, H8157 H8156 nor cheweth H5927 the cud, H1625 are unclean H2931 unto you: every one that toucheth H5060 them shall be unclean. H2930 And whatsoever H3605 H1992 goeth H1980 upon his paws, H3709 among all manner of beasts H2416 that go H1980 on all four, H702 those are unclean H2931 unto you: whoso toucheth H5060 their carcase H5038 shall be unclean H2930 until the even. H6153 And he that beareth H5375 the carcase H5038 of them shall wash H3526 his clothes, H899 and be unclean H2930 until the even: H6153 they are unclean H2931 unto you. These also shall be unclean H2931 unto you among the creeping things H8318 that creep H8317 upon the earth; H776 the weasel, H2467 and the mouse, H5909 and the tortoise H6632 after his kind, H4327 And the ferret, H604 and the chameleon, H3581 and the lizard, H3911 and the snail, H2546 and the mole. H8580 These are unclean H2931 to you among all that creep: H8318 whosoever doth touch H5060 them, when they be dead, H4194 shall be unclean H2930 until the even. H6153 And upon whatsoever any of them, when they are dead, H4194 doth fall, H5307 it shall be unclean; H2930 whether it be any vessel H3627 of wood, H6086 or raiment, H899 or skin, H5785 or sack, H8242 whatsoever vessel H3627 it be, wherein any work H4399 is done, H6213 it must be put H935 into water, H4325 and it shall be unclean H2930 until the even; H6153 so it shall be cleansed. H2891 And every earthen H2789 vessel, H3627 whereinto any of them falleth, H5307 H8432 whatsoever is in it shall be unclean; H2930 and ye shall break H7665 it. Of all meat H400 which may be eaten, H398 that on which such water H4325 cometh H935 shall be unclean: H2930 and all drink H4945 that may be drunk H8354 in every such vessel H3627 shall be unclean. H2930 And every thing whereupon any part of their carcase H5038 falleth H5307 shall be unclean; H2930 whether it be oven, H8574 or ranges H3600 for pots, they shall be broken down: H5422 for they are unclean, H2931 and shall be unclean H2931 unto you. Nevertheless a fountain H4599 or pit, H953 wherein there is plenty H4723 of water, H4325 shall be clean: H2889 but that which toucheth H5060 their carcase H5038 shall be unclean. H2930 And if any part of their carcase H5038 fall H5307 upon any sowing H2221 seed H2233 which is to be sown, H2232 it shall be clean. H2889 But if any water H4325 be put H5414 upon the seed, H2233 and any part of their carcase H5038 fall H5307 thereon, it shall be unclean H2931 unto you. And if any beast, H929 of which ye may eat, H402 die; H4191 he that toucheth H5060 the carcase H5038 thereof shall be unclean H2930 until the even. H6153 And he that eateth H398 of the carcase H5038 of it shall wash H3526 his clothes, H899 and be unclean H2930 until the even: H6153 he also that beareth H5375 the carcase H5038 of it shall wash H3526 his clothes, H899 and be unclean H2930 until the even. H6153 And every creeping thing H8318 that creepeth H8317 upon the earth H776 shall be an abomination; H8263 it shall not be eaten. H398 Whatsoever goeth H1980 upon the belly, H1512 and whatsoever goeth H1980 upon all four, H702 or whatsoever hath more H7235 feet H7272 among all creeping things H8318 that creep H8317 upon the earth, H776 them ye shall not eat; H398 for they are an abomination. H8263 Ye shall not make H8262 yourselves H5315 abominable H8262 with any creeping thing H8318 that creepeth, H8317 neither shall ye make yourselves unclean H2933 with them, that ye should be defiled H2930 thereby. For I am the LORD H3068 your God: H430 ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, H6942 and ye shall be holy; H6918 for I am holy: H6918 neither shall ye defile H2930 yourselves H5315 with any manner of creeping thing H8318 that creepeth H7430 upon the earth. H776 For I am the LORD H3068 that bringeth H5927 you up out of the land H776 of Egypt, H4714 to be your God: H430 ye shall therefore be holy, H6918 for I am holy. H6918 This is the law H8451 of the beasts, H929 and of the fowl, H5775 and of every living H2416 creature H5315 that moveth H7430 in the waters, H4325 and of every creature H5315 that creepeth H8317 upon the earth: H776 To make a difference H914 between the unclean H2931 and the clean, H2889 and between the beast H2416 that may be eaten H398 and the beast H2416 that may not be eaten. H398
Thou shalt not eat H398 any abominable thing. H8441 These are the beasts H929 which ye shall eat: H398 the ox, H7794 the sheep, H7716 H3775 and the goat, H5795 The hart, H354 and the roebuck, H6643 and the fallow deer, H3180 and the wild goat, H689 and the pygarg, H1788 and the wild ox, H8377 and the chamois. H2169 And every beast H929 that parteth H6536 the hoof, H6541 and cleaveth H8157 the cleft H8156 into two H8147 claws, H6541 and cheweth H5927 the cud H1625 among the beasts, H929 that ye shall eat. H398 Nevertheless these ye shall not eat H398 of them that chew H5927 the cud, H1625 or of them that divide H6536 the cloven H8156 hoof; H6541 as the camel, H1581 and the hare, H768 and the coney: H8227 for they chew H5927 the cud, H1625 but divide H6536 not the hoof; H6541 therefore they are unclean H2931 unto you. And the swine, H2386 because it divideth H6536 the hoof, H6541 yet cheweth not the cud, H1625 it is unclean H2931 unto you: ye shall not eat H398 of their flesh, H1320 nor touch H5060 their dead carcase. H5038 These ye shall eat H398 of all that are in the waters: H4325 all that have fins H5579 and scales H7193 shall ye eat: H398 And whatsoever hath not fins H5579 and scales H7193 ye may not eat; H398 it is unclean H2931 unto you. Of all clean H2889 birds H6833 ye shall eat. H398 But these are they of which ye shall not eat: H398 the eagle, H5404 and the ossifrage, H6538 and the ospray, H5822 And the glede, H7201 and the kite, H344 and the vulture H1772 after his kind, H4327 And every raven H6158 after his kind, H4327 And the owl, H1323 H3284 and the night hawk, H8464 and the cuckow, H7828 and the hawk H5322 after his kind, H4327 The little owl, H3563 and the great owl, H3244 and the swan, H8580 And the pelican, H6893 and the gier eagle, H7360 and the cormorant, H7994 And the stork, H2624 and the heron H601 after her kind, H4327 and the lapwing, H1744 and the bat. H5847 And every creeping thing H8318 that flieth H5775 is unclean H2931 unto you: they shall not be eaten. H398 But of all clean H2889 fowls H5775 ye may eat. H398 Ye shall not eat H398 of any thing that dieth of itself: H5038 thou shalt give H5414 it unto the stranger H1616 that is in thy gates, H8179 that he may eat H398 it; or thou mayest sell H4376 it unto an alien: H5237 for thou art an holy H6918 people H5971 unto the LORD H3068 thy God. H430 Thou shalt not seethe H1310 a kid H1423 in his mother's H517 milk. H2461
And G2532 saw G2334 heaven G3772 opened, G455 and G2532 a certain G5100 vessel G4632 descending G2597 unto G1909 him, G846 as G5613 it had been a great G3173 sheet G3607 knit G1210 at the four G5064 corners, G746 and G2532 let down G2524 to G1909 the earth: G1093 Wherein G1722 G3739 were G5225 all manner G3956 of fourfooted beasts G5074 of the earth, G1093 and G2532 wild beasts, G2342 and G2532 creeping things, G2062 and G2532 fowls G4071 of the air. G3772 And G2532 there came G1096 a voice G5456 to G4314 him, G846 Rise, G450 Peter; G4074 kill, G2380 and G2532 eat. G5315 But G1161 Peter G4074 said, G2036 Not so, G3365 Lord; G2962 for G3754 I have G5315 never G3763 eaten G5315 any thing G3956 that is common G2839 or G2228 unclean. G169 And G2532 the voice G5456 spake unto G4314 him G846 again G3825 G1537 the second time, G1208 What G3739 God G2316 hath cleansed, G2511 that call G2840 not G3361 thou G4771 common. G2840
Be G1096 not G3361 ye G1096 therefore G3767 partakers G4830 with them. G846 For G1063 ye were G2258 sometimes G4218 darkness, G4655 but G1161 now G3568 are ye light G5457 in G1722 the Lord: G2962 walk G4043 as G5613 children G5043 of light: G5457 (For G1063 the fruit G2590 of the Spirit G4151 is in G1722 all G3956 goodness G19 and G2532 righteousness G1343 and G2532 truth;) G225 Proving G1381 what G5101 is G2076 acceptable G2101 unto the Lord. G2962 And G2532 have G4790 no G3361 fellowship G4790 with the unfruitful G175 works G2041 of darkness, G4655 but G1161 rather G3123 G2532 reprove G1651 them.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Keil & Delitzsch Commentary » Commentary on Leviticus 20
Commentary on Leviticus 20 Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
Punishments for the Vices and crimes Prohibited in Ch. 18 and 19. - The list commences with idolatry and soothsaying, which were to be followed by extermination, as a practical apostasy from Jehovah, and a manifest breach of the covenant.
Whoever, whether an Israelite or a foreigner in Israel, dedicated of his seed (children) to Moloch (see Leviticus 18:21), was to be put to death. The people of the land were to stone him. בּאבן רגם , lapide obruere , is synonymous with סקל , lit., lapidem jacere: this was the usual punishment appointed in the law for cases in which death was inflicted, either as the result of a judicial sentence, or by the national community.
By this punishment the nation only carried out the will of Jehovah; for He would cut off such a man (see at Leviticus 17:10 and Leviticus 18:21) for having defiled the sanctuary of Jehovah and desecrated the name of Jehovah, not because he had brought the sacrifice to Moloch into the sanctuary of Jehovah, as Movers supposes, but in the same sense in which all the sins of Israel defiled the sanctuary in their midst (Leviticus 15:31; Leviticus 16:16).
If the people, however (the people of the land), should hide their eyes from him (on the dagesh in חעלּם and יעלּימוּ see the note on Leviticus 4:13-21), from an unscrupulous indifference or a secret approval of his sin, the Lord would direct His face against him and his family, and cut him off with all that went a whoring after him.
He would also do the same to every soul that turned to familiar spirits and necromantists (Leviticus 19:31, cf. Exodus 22:17), “to go a whoring after them,” i.e., to make himself guilty of idolatry by so doing, such practices being always closely connected with idolatry.
For the Israelites were to sanctify themselves, i.e., to keep themselves pure from all idolatrous abominations, to be holy because Jehovah was holy (Leviticus 11:44; Leviticus 19:2), and to keep the statutes of their God who sanctified them (Exodus 31:13).
Whoever cursed father or mother was to be punished with death (Leviticus 19:3); “ His blood would be upon him .” The cursing of parents was a capital crime (see at Leviticus 17:4, and for the plural דּמיו Exodus 22:1 and Genesis 4:10), which was to return upon the doer of it, according to Genesis 9:6. The same punishment was to be inflicted upon adultery (Leviticus 20:10, cf. Leviticus 18:20), carnal intercourse with a father's wife (Leviticus 20:11, cf. Leviticus 18:7-8) or with a daughter-in-law (Leviticus 20:12, cf. Leviticus 18:17), sodomy (Leviticus 20:13, cf. Leviticus 18:22), sexual intercourse with a mother and her daughter, in which case the punishment was to be heightened by the burning of the criminals when put to death (Leviticus 20:14, cf. Leviticus 18:17), lying with a beast (Leviticus 20:15, Leviticus 20:16, cf. Leviticus 18:23), sexual intercourse with a half-sister (Leviticus 20:17, cf. Leviticus 18:9 and Leviticus 18:11), and lying with a menstruous woman (Leviticus 20:18, cf. Leviticus 18:19). The punishment of death, which was to be inflicted in all these cases upon both the criminals, and also upon the beast that had been abused (Leviticus 20:15, Leviticus 20:16), was to be by stoning, according to Leviticus 20:2, Leviticus 20:27, and Deuteronomy 22:21.; and by the burning (Leviticus 20:14) we are not to understand death by fire, or burning alive, but, as we may clearly see from Joshua 7:15 and Joshua 7:25, burning the corpse after death. This was also the case in Leviticus 21:9 and Genesis 38:24.
No civil punishment, on the other hand, to be inflicted by the magistrate or by the community generally, was ordered to follow marriage with an aunt, the sister of father or mother (Leviticus 20:19, cf. Leviticus 18:12-13), with an uncle's wife (Leviticus 20:20, cf. Leviticus 18:4), or with a sister-in-law, a brother's wife (Leviticus 20:21, cf. Leviticus 18:16). In all these cases the threat is simply held out, “they shall bear their iniquity,” and (according to Leviticus 20:20, Leviticus 20:21) “die childless;” that is to say, God would reserve the punishment to Himself (see at Leviticus 18:14). In the list of punishments no reference is made to intercourse with a mother (Leviticus 18:7) or a granddaughter (Leviticus 18:10), as it was taken for granted that the punishment of death would be inflicted in such cases as these; just as marriage with a daughter or a full sister is passed over in the prohibitions in ch. 18.
The list of punishments concludes, like the prohibitions in Leviticus 18:24., with exhortations to observe the commandments and judgments of the Lord, and to avoid such abominations (on Leviticus 18:22 cf. Leviticus 18:3-5, Leviticus 18:26, Leviticus 18:28, Leviticus 18:30; and on Leviticus 18:23 cf. Leviticus 18:3 and Leviticus 18:24). The reason assigned for the exhortations is, that Jehovah was about to give them for a possession the fruitful land, whose inhabitants He had driven out because of their abominations, and that Jehovah was their God, who had separated Israel from the nations. For this reason (Leviticus 18:25) they were also to sever (make distinctions) between clean and unclean cattle and birds, and not make their souls (i.e., their persons) abominable through unclean animals, with which the earth swarmed, and which God had “ separated to make unclean, ” i.e., had prohibited them from eating or touching when dead, because they defiled (see ch. 11). For (Leviticus 18:26) they were to be holy, because Jehovah their God was holy, who had severed them from the nations, to belong to Him, i.e., to be the nation of His possession (see Exodus 19:4-6).
But because Israel was called to be the holy nation of Jehovah, every one, ether man or woman, in whom there was a heathenish spirit of soothsaying, was to be put to death, viz., stoned (cf. Leviticus 19:31), to prevent defilement by idolatrous abominations.