King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through [the fire] to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I [am] the LORD.
Complete Jewish Bible:
"'You are not to let any of your children be sacrificed to Molekh, thereby profaning the name of your God; I am ADONAI.
Berean Standard Bible:
You must not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molech, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.
American Standard Version:
And thou shalt not give any of thy seed to make them pass through the fire to Molech; neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am Jehovah.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And thou shalt not{H5414} let any of thy seed{H2233} pass{H5674} through the fire to Molech{H4432}, neither shalt thou profane{H2490} the name{H8034} of thy God{H430}: I am the LORD{H3068}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Deuteronomy 12:31
- Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods.
Leviticus 19:12
- And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I [am] the LORD.
Leviticus 20:2
- Again, thou shalt say to the children of Israel, Whosoever [he be] of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that giveth [any] of his seed unto Molech; he shall surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones.
Leviticus 20:5
- Then I will set my face against that man, and against his family, and will cut him off, and all that go a whoring after him, to commit whoredom with Molech, from among their people.
Deuteronomy 18:10
- There shall not be found among you [any one] that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, [or] that useth divination, [or] an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,
Leviticus 22:32
- Neither shall ye profane my holy name; but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel: I [am] the LORD which hallow you,
Leviticus 22:2
- Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, that they separate themselves from the holy things of the children of Israel, and that they profane not my holy name [in those things] which they hallow unto me: I [am] the LORD.
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Commentary for Leviticus 18:21
1. Themes of Leviticus 18:21:
- Prohibition of Child Sacrifice: The verse explicitly forbids the Israelites from sacrificing their children to Molech, a Canaanite deity. This practice was a form of idolatry and a grave violation of the sanctity of life.
- Avoidance of Idolatry: The command not to profane the name of God emphasizes the importance of exclusive worship of Yahweh, rejecting the worship of other gods.
- Holiness and Identity: The Israelites are called to maintain their distinct identity as the people of God, which includes abstaining from the pagan practices of their neighbors.
2. Historical Context:
- The Israelites were surrounded by cultures that engaged in various pagan rituals, including child sacrifice, which was part of the worship of deities like Molech.
- The command is set during the time when the Israelites were in the wilderness, receiving God's laws through Moses, preparing to enter the Promised Land.
- The prohibition served to distinguish the religious practices of the Israelites from those of the Canaanites, whose land they were about to inhabit.
- The verse reflects a broader concern in the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible) to establish a moral and ritual code that would shape the religious and social life of the Israelite community.
In summary, Leviticus 18:21 addresses the grave sin of child sacrifice, a practice associated with the worship of Molech, and emphasizes the importance of revering God's name and maintaining the holiness of the Israelite community as they prepared to enter Canaan. This command was part of a larger set of instructions designed to shape Israel's religious identity and practices in contrast to the surrounding nations.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H5414
There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָתַן
Transliteration: nâthan
Pronunciation: naw-than'
Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield. - Strong's Number: H2233
There are 205 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: זֶרַע
Transliteration: zeraʻ
Pronunciation: zeh'-rah
Description: from זָרַע; seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity; [idiom] carnally, child, fruitful, seed(-time), sowing-time. - Strong's Number: H5674
There are 493 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָבַר
Transliteration: ʻâbar
Pronunciation: aw-bar'
Description: a primitive root; to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in copulation); alienate, alter, [idiom] at all, beyond, bring (over, through), carry over, (over-) come (on, over), conduct (over), convey over, current, deliver, do away, enter, escape, fail, gender, get over, (make) go (away, beyond, by, forth, his way, in, on, over, through), have away (more), lay, meddle, overrun, make partition, (cause to, give, make to, over) pass(-age, along, away, beyond, by, -enger, on, out, over, through), (cause to, make) [phrase] proclaim(-amation), perish, provoke to anger, put away, rage, [phrase] raiser of taxes, remove, send over, set apart, [phrase] shave, cause to (make) sound, [idiom] speedily, [idiom] sweet smelling, take (away), (make to) transgress(-or), translate, turn away, (way-) faring man, be wrath. - Strong's Number: H4432
There are 8 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מֹלֶךְ
Transliteration: Môlek
Pronunciation: mo'-lek
Description: from מָלַךְ; Molek (i.e. king), the chief deity of the Ammonites; Molech. Compare מַלְכָּם. - Strong's Number: H2490
There are 131 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָלַל
Transliteration: châlal
Pronunciation: khaw-lal'
Description: a primitive root (compare חָלָה); also denominative (from חָלִיל); properly, to bore, i.e. (by implication) to wound, to dissolve; figuratively, to profane (a person, place or thing), to break (one's word), to begin (as if by an 'opening wedge'); to play (the flute); begin ([idiom] men began), defile, [idiom] break, defile, [idiom] eat (as common things), [idiom] first, [idiom] gather the grape thereof, [idiom] take inheritance, pipe, player on instruments, pollute, (cast as) profane (self), prostitute, slay (slain), sorrow, stain, wound. - Strong's Number: H8034
There are 771 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שֵׁם
Transliteration: shêm
Pronunciation: shame
Description: a primitive word (perhaps rather from through the idea of definite and conspicuous position; compare שָׁמַיִם); an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character; [phrase] base, (in-) fame(-ous), named(-d), renown, report. - Strong's Number: H430
There are 2334 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֱלֹהִים
Transliteration: ʼĕlôhîym
Pronunciation: el-o-heem'
Description: plural of אֱלוֹהַּ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative; angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty. - Strong's Number: H3068
There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהֹוָה
Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.