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Leviticus 18

30 verses

TL;DR

Leviticus 18 instructs Israel to observe God's statutes, prohibiting sexual immorality, incest, idolatry, and maintaining holiness.

Summary

The chapter opens with the LORD speaking through Moses, commanding the Israelites to keep His judgments and ordinances. It then enumerates detailed prohibitions against incest, covering relationships with parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and in-laws, emphasizing the sanctity of family boundaries. Sexual relations with neighbors' wives and homosexual acts are declared abominations, as is worship of the god Molech. The passage warns that these practices defile the land and that those who commit them will be cut off from the people. It stresses that both Israelites and foreigners who live among them must refrain from these abominations. The chapter concludes by urging the people to keep God's law to avoid defiling themselves and the land.

Outline
  1. Command to observe God's statutes and judgments
  2. Explicit prohibitions against incest, adultery, homosexual acts, and idolatry
  3. Consequence of defilement and exhortation to maintain holiness
Themes
Sexual ethicsFamily and kinship boundariesIdolatry and holiness
Keywords
nakednessincestincestuousidolatryMolechabominationstatutesjudgmentsholiness
People
Mosesthe LORDIsraelMolech
Places
EgyptCanaan
Things
nakednessstatutesjudgmentsMolechidolatryabomination
Key Verses
  • Leviticus 18:20: Condemnation of adultery with a neighbor's wife, a central prohibition.
  • Leviticus 18:22: Declaration of same‑sex relations as an abomination, establishing the moral boundary.
  • Leviticus 18:21: Ban on child sacrifice to Molech, highlighting the seriousness of idolatrous practices.
Questions
  • Why does Leviticus 18 place such a strong emphasis on incest prohibitions?
  • How does the chapter’s view on homosexual behavior reflect its broader covenantal ethics?
  • What is the significance of the repeated phrase 'I am the LORD' in establishing authority?
  • In what ways does the prohibition against worshiping Molech serve to protect Israel's identity?
  • How do the warnings about defilement relate to the covenantal relationship between God and Israel?
Sentiment

neutral
The chapter contains stern warnings and directives, leading to an overall neutral tone.