Leviticus 20:5

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

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}.

Complete Jewish Bible

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.

Berean Standard Bible

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.

American Standard Version

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

### SUMMARY
Leviticus 20:5 pronounces God's unwavering and severe judgment against any Israelite who engages in the detestable practice of child sacrifice to Molech, or who condones such idolatry through complicity. This divine decree underscores the absolute sanctity of human life, the exclusivity of God's covenant relationship with Israel, and the profound consequences—extending to the entire family and the entire community—for those who violate His holy commands and defile the covenant people through spiritual unfaithfulness.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Leviticus 20 is a pivotal chapter within the larger section of holiness laws (Leviticus 17-27), following the detailed prohibitions against various sexual sins and illicit cultic practices found in [Leviticus 18](/leviticus/18 "Leviticus 18 - Prohibited Sexual Relations") and [Leviticus 19](/leviticus/19 "Leviticus 19 - The Holiness Code"). Chapter 20 specifically outlines the severe penalties for violating these laws, emphasizing the community's responsibility to uphold God's holiness. Verses 1-5 focus intensely on the capital offense of child sacrifice to Molech, establishing it as a sin so abhorrent that it warrants both communal execution and, if the community fails, direct divine judgment. This particular sin is highlighted due to its extreme nature, its direct assault on the sanctity of life, and its profound breach of the covenant. The subsequent verses detail penalties for other sexual sins and cultic defilements, reinforcing the overarching theme that Israel's identity as God's holy people hinges on their strict adherence to His statutes and judgments, ensuring purity within the covenant community.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The practice of child sacrifice, particularly to the deity Molech (also known as Milcom among the Ammonites), was a horrifying reality among the Canaanite peoples surrounding ancient Israel. Archaeological evidence and biblical texts (e.g., [2 Kings 23:10](/2_kings/23-10 "2 Kings 23:10 - Josiah Destroys Topheth"), [Jeremiah 32:35](/jeremiah/32-35 "Jeremiah 32:35 - Child Sacrifice in Judah")) confirm that children were offered as burnt offerings in places like the Topheth in the Valley of Hinnom. This practice was often associated with fertility cults or desperate attempts to appease deities during times of crisis or to secure prosperity. For Israel, such acts represented the ultimate defilement and a direct affront to Yahweh, who had redeemed them from slavery and established a unique, exclusive covenant with them. God's law in [Leviticus 18:21](/leviticus/18-21 "Leviticus 18:21 - Prohibition of Child Sacrifice") explicitly forbids "passing children through the fire to Molech," and [Deuteronomy 12:31](/deuteronomy/12-31 "Deuteronomy 12:31 - Abominable Practices of the Nations") condemns it as an "abominable practice" of the nations God was dispossessing. Leviticus 20:5, therefore, serves as a stark warning and a foundational principle for Israel's distinct identity as a holy nation, set apart from the pagan practices of their neighbors.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes within Leviticus and the broader Pentateuch. Foremost is the theme of **God's Holiness and Purity**, emphasizing that Yahweh is utterly distinct from the pagan deities and demands a consecrated people who reflect His moral character. The severe penalty for child sacrifice underscores the **Sanctity of Human Life**, which is created in God's image and is not to be offered to false gods or treated as a commodity. The concept of **Covenant Fidelity** is central, as "whoring after Molech" is depicted as spiritual adultery, a betrayal of Israel's exclusive relationship with Yahweh. Finally, the verse highlights **Corporate Responsibility and Communal Purity**, demonstrating that the sin of an individual can defile the entire community, necessitating the removal of the offender to preserve the holiness of God's people. This ensures that Israel remains a distinct and undefiled nation, set apart for God's purposes, as called for throughout [Leviticus](/leviticus/1 "Leviticus - The Book of Holiness").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Face (Hebrew, _pânîym'_):** H6440. While literally referring to a physical face, in the phrase "set my face against," _pânîym_ is used anthropomorphically to convey God's direct, personal, and unyielding opposition. It signifies an intense, determined resolve to act in judgment, indicating not just disapproval but an active, confrontational stance. This expression implies a divine pursuit of justice against the offender, a resolute turning toward judgment.
* **Cut him off (Hebrew, _kârath'_):** H3772. This primitive root means "to cut (off, down or asunder)" and, by implication, "to destroy or consume." In this context, it denotes excommunication and removal from the covenant community. This can imply both physical death at the hands of the community or God, and/or spiritual alienation, signifying a breach of the covenant relationship so severe that the individual forfeits their place among God's people. It is the ultimate social and spiritual penalty, ensuring the purity of Israel by purging the defilement.
* **Go a whoring (Hebrew, _zânâh'_):** H2181. A primitive root meaning "to commit adultery (usually of the female, and less often of simple fornication, rarely of involuntary ravishment)." Figuratively, and as used here, it means "to commit idolatry." This powerful metaphor conveys the idea of disloyalty and betrayal against God, who is depicted as Israel's faithful husband. To "whore after Molech" means to abandon the exclusive devotion due to Yahweh and engage in illicit spiritual relations with a false god, thereby breaking the covenant bond.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then I will set my face against that man":** This declares God's direct, personal, and active opposition to the individual who commits child sacrifice. It signifies a divine judgment that is immediate and unyielding, demonstrating God's profound abhorrence for this sin and His resolute determination to address it.
* **"and against his family":** The judgment extends beyond the individual to their household. This highlights the principle of corporate responsibility, where the sin of one can bring consequences upon the family, especially if they were complicit, condoned the act, or failed to intervene. It also underscores the defiling nature of the sin, impacting the entire family unit and requiring a thorough cleansing.
* **"and will cut him off":** This specifies the severe penalty: excommunication from the covenant community. This means the individual loses their standing, rights, and identity as a member of Israel, often implying divine judgment leading to death or severe alienation from God's presence and blessings.
* **"and all that go a whoring after him, to commit whoredom with Molech":** This broadens the scope of judgment to include anyone who participates in, supports, or follows the idolatrous practice of child sacrifice to Molech. The repeated use of "whoring" emphasizes the spiritual adultery inherent in turning away from God to worship false deities, highlighting the deep betrayal involved.
* **"from among their people":** This reiterates the ultimate goal of the judgment: to purge the defilement from the midst of the holy nation. It ensures the purity and distinctiveness of Israel as God's consecrated people, preventing the spread of such abominable practices and maintaining the integrity of the covenant community.

#### Literary Devices
Leviticus 20:5 employs several potent **literary devices** to convey its message with maximum impact. The phrase "I will set my face against" is a striking example of **anthropomorphism**, attributing human characteristics (a face, and the act of setting it with determination) to God. This device makes the divine judgment more relatable and impactful, emphasizing God's intense, personal, and active opposition to the sin. The repeated use of "whoredom" and "go a whoring" is a powerful **metaphor** for idolatry. It likens the covenant relationship between God and Israel to a marriage, thereby portraying unfaithfulness to God through the worship of other deities as an act of spiritual adultery. This metaphor underscores the intimacy and exclusivity God demands in His relationship with His people, and the profound betrayal inherent in idolatry. The severity of the stated consequences, "cut him off... from among their people," also functions as **hyperbole** to emphasize the absolute gravity of the sin and the uncompromising nature of God's holiness and justice, ensuring the audience fully comprehends the stakes involved.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Leviticus 20:5 profoundly articulates God's absolute holiness, His unyielding demand for exclusive worship, and the severe consequences of covenant infidelity. The prohibition against child sacrifice to Molech is not merely a cultic regulation but a foundational theological statement affirming the sanctity of human life as created in God's image, and condemning any practice that devalues it or offers it to a false god. This verse highlights God's jealousy for His covenant people, His intolerance for syncretism, and His unwavering commitment to maintaining the purity of Israel, both individually and corporately. It underscores that true worship involves complete devotion and separation from the defiling practices of the world, emphasizing that God's people must reflect His character in all aspects of their lives, upholding His standards of righteousness and justice.

* [Exodus 34:14](/exodus/34-14 "Exodus 34:14 - God's Jealousy for Exclusive Worship")
* [Deuteronomy 18:10](/deuteronomy/18-10 "Deuteronomy 18:10 - Abominations of the Nations")
* [Ezekiel 20:30-31](/ezekiel/20-30-31 "Ezekiel 20:30-31 - Idolatry and Child Sacrifice")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the direct practice of child sacrifice to Molech is (thankfully) not a common temptation in contemporary society, the spiritual principles embedded in Leviticus 20:5 resonate deeply with the modern believer. This passage serves as a stark reminder of God's uncompromising holiness and His demand for our exclusive devotion. Any area of our lives—be it career, finances, relationships, pleasure, or even self-image—that begins to usurp God's rightful place as supreme Lord becomes a modern "Molech," subtly demanding our ultimate allegiance and potentially leading us to "sacrifice" our time, integrity, or even our spiritual well-being. The corporate judgment extending to the family also reminds us that our choices have ripple effects, impacting those closest to us and potentially the wider community of faith. We are called to a radical purity, discerning what truly honors God and what constitutes spiritual compromise, ensuring that our lives are not defiled by the "whoredom" of idolatry in any form. This verse also implicitly calls us to protect the vulnerable and advocate for justice, reflecting God's deep concern for the sanctity of human life and His abhorrence for any practice that devalues it.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "Molechs" might exist in my life today—things or pursuits that subtly demand my ultimate loyalty or "sacrifice" of time, energy, or values that rightfully belong to God?**
* **How do my personal choices and spiritual disciplines (or lack thereof) impact the spiritual well-being of my family or the community of faith around me?**
* **In what ways am I called to actively protect the vulnerable and advocate for the sanctity of life in my contemporary context, reflecting God's abhorrence for practices that devalue human life?**
* **How does the severity of God's judgment against idolatry in this passage deepen my appreciation for the grace and mercy offered through Christ?**

### FAQ

**What exactly was "Molech worship" and why was it so offensive to God?**

Answer: Molech worship was a pagan religious practice, primarily associated with the Ammonites and other Canaanite peoples, that involved the ritualistic sacrifice of children, often by burning them alive. Biblical texts like [Leviticus 18:21](/leviticus/18-21 "Leviticus 18:21 - Prohibition of Child Sacrifice") and [2 Kings 23:10](/2_kings/23-10 "2 Kings 23:10 - Josiah Destroys Topheth") refer to "passing children through the fire" or sacrificing them in the Valley of Hinnom (Gehenna). This practice was profoundly offensive to God for several reasons: it violated the sanctity of human life, which is created in His image; it was a direct act of idolatry, turning away from the one true God to a false deity; and it defiled the land and the people whom God had consecrated to Himself. It was the antithesis of God's character, which values life, justice, and mercy above all else.

**Does the concept of "corporate responsibility" (judgment against the family) still apply today?**

Answer: While the direct, immediate execution of judgment upon an entire family for an individual's sin, as seen in some Old Testament contexts (e.g., [Joshua 7:24-25](/joshua/7-24 "Joshua 7:24-25 - Achan's Punishment")), is not typically applied in the New Covenant era, the principle of corporate impact remains profoundly relevant. The Bible teaches that sin has ripple effects, and the choices of individuals can certainly affect their families, communities, and even future generations (e.g., through generational patterns of sin, the consequences of a parent's actions, or the reputation of a family name). However, under the New Covenant, personal accountability for one's own sin is heavily emphasized ([Ezekiel 18:20](/zekiel/18-20 "Ezekiel 18:20 - Individual Responsibility")). The primary application today is recognizing that our spiritual health and choices contribute to the overall spiritual health of our household and community, and that our sin can bring dishonor or negative consequences upon those associated with us, even if they are not held directly culpable in the same way as in ancient Israel. It serves as a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of the body of Christ and the influence each member has.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Leviticus 20:5, with its stern declaration against idolatry and child sacrifice, finds its ultimate fulfillment and transformation in Jesus Christ. The severe judgment against those who "go a whoring after Molech" underscores the gravity of sin and the absolute holiness of God, a holiness that could not tolerate defilement within His covenant people. Jesus, as the perfect [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), is the ultimate and final sacrifice, rendering all human sacrifices (including the abhorrent practice of child sacrifice) utterly obsolete and an affront to God's redemptive plan. He perfectly embodied the holiness that Israel was called to, living a life without sin and fully devoted to the Father, thus fulfilling the Law's demands for purity ([Matthew 5:17](/matthew/5-17 "Matthew 5:17 - Jesus Fulfills the Law")). Through His atoning work on the cross, Jesus takes away the "whoredom" of our spiritual idolatry, cleansing us from all unrighteousness and reconciling us to God ([1 John 1:9](/1_john/1-9 "1 John 1:9 - Confession and Forgiveness")). The "cutting off" from the people, a consequence for covenant breach, is reversed for those who are "in Christ," as they are grafted into God's family and become part of His new covenant people, the church ([Romans 11:17-24](/romans/11-17 "Romans 11:17-24 - Grafted Branches")). Furthermore, Jesus' future return will bring the ultimate separation of the righteous from the unrighteous, fulfilling the divine judgment against all forms of spiritual rebellion and idolatry, and establishing a kingdom of perfect holiness where God's face is eternally set *for* His redeemed people, dwelling among them in perfect communion ([Revelation 21:3-4](/revelation/21-3 "Revelation 21:3-4 - God Dwells with His People")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 106:39

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

Hosea 2:13

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

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

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

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

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

¶ 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.