Leviticus 18:29

For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even the souls that commit [them] shall be cut off from among their people.

For whosoever shall commit {H6213} any of these abominations {H8441}, even the souls {H5315} that commit {H6213} them shall be cut off {H3772} from among {H7130} their people {H5971}.

For those who engage in any of these disgusting practices, whoever they may be, will be cut off from their people.

Therefore anyone who commits any of these abominations must be cut off from among his people.

For whosoever shall do any of these abominations, even the souls that do them shall be cut off from among their people.

Commentary

Commentary on Leviticus 18:29 (KJV)

Leviticus 18:29 delivers a stark warning regarding the severe consequences for violating the divine statutes outlined in the preceding verses of chapter 18. This chapter details a comprehensive list of forbidden sexual relationships and other morally detestable practices, emphasizing God's demand for holiness from His people.

Context

Chapter 18 of Leviticus is foundational to understanding the moral and ethical framework God established for ancient Israel. It begins with a clear command for Israel not to follow the customs of the nations they came from (Egypt) or the nations they were going to (Canaan). The listed "abominations" include incest, adultery, child sacrifice to Molech, and homosexual acts. These were not just social taboos but practices that defiled the land and the people. Verse 29 serves as a concluding statement, underscoring the gravity of these sins. The preceding verses, like Leviticus 18:25 and Leviticus 18:28, warn that the land itself would "vomit out" its inhabitants if they engaged in such defilement, highlighting the profound connection between the people's actions and their dwelling place.

Key Themes

  • Holiness and Purity: The verse reinforces God's absolute standard of holiness for His covenant people. Israel was to be set apart from the surrounding pagan cultures, reflecting God's own pure character.
  • Consequences of Sin: It clearly articulates the severe repercussions for disobedience. The phrase "cut off from among their people" signifies not merely social ostracization but a profound separation from the covenant community, often implying premature death, exile, or exclusion from all the blessings of the covenant.
  • Divine Judgment: The action of being "cut off" is an act of divine judgment. God actively intervenes to maintain the sanctity of His people and the purity of the land He has given them.
  • Corporate Responsibility: While individuals commit the sins, the consequences affect the entire community and the land, emphasizing the interconnectedness within the covenant relationship.

Linguistic Insights

The term "abominations" translates the Hebrew word to'evah (ืชึผื•ึนืขึตื‘ึธื”), which signifies something utterly detestable, repugnant, or abhorrent, especially in God's sight. It is used repeatedly in Leviticus 18 to describe the forbidden sexual acts and child sacrifice. The strength of this word underscores the severity of the offenses.

The phrase "cut off" comes from the Hebrew verb karat (ื›ึผึธืจึทืช). This term is used frequently in the Old Testament to denote a severe penalty. Depending on the context, it could mean:

  • Execution: Direct capital punishment by the community.
  • Exclusion: Banishment from the community, leading to a loss of identity, protection, and livelihood.
  • Divine Judgment: A direct act of God causing the person to die prematurely or be removed from the covenant line, often implying a spiritual separation from God's favor and blessing.
In Leviticus 18:29, it points to a divinely ordained consequence that would remove the defiling individual from the midst of the holy people.

Practical Application

While the immediate context is the Old Covenant and the nation of Israel, the underlying principles of holiness, the seriousness of sin, and God's righteous judgment remain timeless.

  • God's Standards for Holiness: This verse reminds us that God has clear and unchanging standards for moral purity. The New Testament reiterates the call to holiness for believers, as seen in 1 Peter 1:16, "Be ye holy; for I am holy."
  • The Seriousness of Sexual Immorality: The emphasis on sexual purity in Leviticus 18 highlights that these are not minor offenses in God's eyes but deeply defiling acts that can corrupt individuals, families, and communities.
  • Consequences of Unrepentant Sin: For believers today, while we are under grace, unrepentant sin still carries serious consequences, including spiritual alienation, loss of fellowship with God, and potential temporal judgments. The ultimate "cutting off" is eternal separation from God, which is the fate of those who reject God's mercy and forgiveness offered through Jesus Christ, as explained in John 3:16.
  • Call to Purity: This verse serves as a powerful reminder for individuals and communities to strive for purity in all aspects of life, recognizing that our actions have far-reaching implications and that God is just in His judgments.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“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 โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Exodus 12:15

    Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.

  • Leviticus 17:10

    ยถ And whatsoever man [there be] of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people.

  • Leviticus 20:6

    And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.
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