Leviticus 18:21

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.

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}.

"'You are not to let any of your children be sacrificed to Molekh, thereby profaning the name of your God; I am ADONAI.

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.

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.

Commentary

Leviticus 18:21 delivers a stark prohibition against one of the most horrific practices in the ancient world: child sacrifice to pagan deities. It serves as a powerful declaration of God's absolute holiness and His demand for exclusive, undefiled worship from His covenant people, Israel.

Context

This verse is situated within Leviticus 18, a chapter that outlines a series of "unlawful" or "abominable" practices that distinguished God's people from the surrounding Canaanite nations. These prohibitions include various forms of sexual immorality and pagan religious rituals. The inclusion of the command against offering children to Molech among these severe injunctions highlights the extreme wickedness and defiling nature of this practice in God's sight. The chapter emphasizes the necessity for Israel to remain holy and undefiled in the land God was giving them, lest the land "vomit them out" as it would the Canaanites.

Key Themes

  • Prohibition of Child Sacrifice: The central theme is the outright condemnation of sacrificing "seed" (children) by "passing through the fire." This was a gruesome ritual, often involving the burning of infants as offerings to the Ammonite god Molech. The Bible consistently portrays this act as a profound abomination, a direct assault on the sanctity of human life, and a perversion of worship that deeply offended God.
  • Profaning God's Name: The verse explicitly states that engaging in such idolatry would "profane the name of thy God." To profane (`chalal` in Hebrew) means to desecrate, to make common, to defile, or to bring contempt upon something sacred. By participating in Molech worship, the Israelites would have been treating the holy name of Yahweh (the LORD) as if He were just another regional deity, or worse, implying His approval of such heinous acts, thereby dishonoring His character and reputation before the nations.
  • God's Sovereignty and Holiness: The concluding declaration, "I am the LORD," serves as the ultimate authority and immutable reason for the prohibition. It reminds Israel that Yahweh is the one true, sovereign God who demands absolute allegiance and is utterly distinct in His nature from the cruel, bloodthirsty gods of the nations. His inherent holiness cannot tolerate such defilement or shared worship.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "pass through the fire" is widely understood as a euphemism for actual child sacrifice by burning. While some ancient interpretations suggested a mere dedication ritual involving walking between fires, the severe condemnation and association with death in other scriptures (e.g., 2 Kings 23:10, Jeremiah 32:35) confirm it involved the death of the child. Molech (or Moloch) refers to a pagan deity, likely a form of the Canaanite god Milcom, whose worship was notoriously associated with child sacrifice.

Practical Application

While literal child sacrifice is largely absent in most modern societies, the profound principles embedded in Leviticus 18:21 remain deeply relevant for believers today. This verse challenges us to consider:

  • What "gods" do we prioritize over the Lord? Any addiction, ambition, relationship, or pursuit that demands our ultimate allegiance, compromises our moral integrity, or sacrifices the well-being of others can become a modern "Molech" in our lives.
  • How do we honor or profane God's name today? Our actions, words, and choices either bring glory to God or bring His name into disrepute. Living inconsistently with our professed faith, especially when claiming to be His followers, can profane His name in the eyes of the world.
  • The value of human life: This command underscores the sanctity of human life, particularly the innocent and vulnerable, which is a foundational biblical principle extending to all stages of life.

Ultimately, Leviticus 18:21 calls believers to a life of exclusive, undivided devotion to God, marked by holiness and a profound respect for life, always remembering that the LORD our God is one Lord, and He alone is worthy of all worship and obedience.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 12:31 (8 votes)

    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 (6 votes)

    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 (6 votes)

    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 (6 votes)

    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 (6 votes)

    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 (5 votes)

    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 (4 votes)

    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.