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.

Then I will set {H7760} my face {H6440} against that man {H376}, and against his family {H4940}, and will cut him off {H3772}, and all that go a whoring {H2181} after {H310} him, to commit whoredom {H2181} with Molech {H4432}, from among {H7130} their people {H5971}.

then I will set myself against him, his family and everyone who follows him to go fornicating after Molekh, and cut them off from their people.

then I will set My face against that man and his family and cut off from among their people both him and all who follow him in prostituting themselves with Molech.

then I will set my face against that man, and against his family, and will cut him off, and all that play the harlot after him, to play the harlot with Molech, from among their people.

Commentary

Leviticus 20:5 is a solemn declaration of God's severe judgment against the abhorrent practice of child sacrifice to the pagan deity Molech, and against all who participate in or condone such idolatry. This verse emphasizes the profound consequences for individuals and their families who engage in such detestable acts, underscoring God's absolute demand for holiness and exclusive devotion from His people.

Historical and Cultural Context

This verse is part of a larger section in Leviticus (chapters 18-20) detailing the moral and cultic laws given to Israel, emphasizing holiness and separation from the abominable practices of the surrounding Canaanite nations. The worship of Molech, particularly through the ritualistic burning of children, was a deeply offensive act to God, directly violating the sanctity of human life and the covenant relationship. It was a common practice among some pagan cultures in the ancient Near East, making Israel's adherence to God's law a stark contrast and a testament to their unique identity as God's chosen people.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment against Idolatry: God's declaration, "I will set my face against that man," signifies His direct, uncompromising opposition and wrath against those who engage in such grave sin. This is not passive disapproval but active intervention.
  • Corporate Responsibility: The judgment extends "against his family," highlighting the principle of corporate responsibility often seen in the Old Testament. The sin of an individual could bring consequences upon their household, especially when the family unit was complicit or failed to prevent such evil.
  • Excommunication and Purity: To "cut him off... from among their people" means expulsion from the covenant community. This was the ultimate social and spiritual penalty, ensuring the purity and holiness of Israel as God's people were maintained, preventing the defilement from spreading.
  • Spiritual Adultery: The phrase "go a whoring after him, to commit whoredom with Molech" uses the metaphor of adultery to describe idolatry. This powerfully conveys the idea of unfaithfulness to God, Israel's divine Husband, by turning to other gods.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "set my face against" (Hebrew: ื•ึฐื ึธืชึทืชึดึผื™ ืึถืชึพืคึธึผื ึทื™ ื‘ึธึผืึดื™ืฉื ื”ึทื”ื•ึผื, v'natati et-panai ba'ish ha'hu) conveys an intense, determined opposition. It's a strong anthropomorphic expression of divine anger and resolve to punish. The term "whoredom" (Hebrew: ื–ึธื ึธื”, zanah) is consistently used in the Old Testament to describe both literal prostitution and, more frequently, spiritual unfaithfulness or idolatry, emphasizing the intimate and exclusive nature of the covenant relationship between God and Israel.

Related Scriptures

The severe consequences described here resonate with other passages emphasizing God's intolerance for idolatry and the importance of national purity. The concept of being "cut off" from the people appears frequently in the Law, signifying a breach of covenant that warranted removal from the community (e.g., for breaking the Sabbath or failing to be circumcised). This divine judgment against sin and its familial implications can also be seen in historical accounts, such as the punishment of Achan and his family for his transgression.

Practical Application

While direct child sacrifice to Molech is not a common practice today, the principles embedded in Leviticus 20:5 remain highly relevant. It serves as a powerful reminder of:

  • God's Holiness and Jealousy: God demands exclusive worship and abhors anything that takes His rightful place in our lives. Modern "idols" can include materialism, career, pleasure, or anything we prioritize over God.
  • The Gravity of Sin: Sin, especially that which defiles and harms the innocent, has severe consequences, not only for the individual but potentially for those connected to them.
  • The Call to Purity: Believers are called to live holy lives, separating themselves from practices and influences that are anathema to God's character. This involves discerning what truly honors God and what constitutes spiritual compromise.
  • Protecting the Vulnerable: The abhorrence of child sacrifice underscores God's deep concern for the innocent and vulnerable. This principle translates into a contemporary call to protect children and advocate for justice.
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Cross-References

  • Psalms 106:39 (4 votes)

    Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions.

  • Hosea 2:13 (3 votes)

    And I will visit upon her the days of Baalim, wherein she burned incense to them, and she decked herself with her earrings and her jewels, and she went after her lovers, and forgat me, saith the LORD.

  • Jeremiah 3:2 (3 votes)

    Lift up thine eyes unto the high places, and see where thou hast not been lien with. In the ways hast thou sat for them, as the Arabian in the wilderness; and thou hast polluted the land with thy whoredoms and with thy wickedness.

  • Exodus 20:5 (3 votes)

    Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God [am] a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth [generation] of them that hate me;

  • Hosea 2:5 (3 votes)

    For their mother hath played the harlot: she that conceived them hath done shamefully: for she said, I will go after my lovers, that give [me] my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, mine oil and my drink.

  • Leviticus 17:7 (3 votes)

    And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gone a whoring. This shall be a statute for ever unto them throughout their generations.

  • Leviticus 17:10 (3 votes)

    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.