Leviticus 24:14

KJV

Bring forth him that hath cursed without the camp; and let all that heard [him] lay their hands upon his head, and let all the congregation stone him.

KJV (with Strong's)

Bring forth {H3318} him that hath cursed {H7043} without {H2351} the camp {H4264}; and let all that heard {H8085} him lay {H5564} their hands {H3027} upon his head {H7218}, and let all the congregation {H5712} stone {H7275} him.

Complete Jewish Bible

"Take the man who cursed outside the camp, have everyone who heard him lay their hands on his head, and have the entire community stone him.

Berean Standard Bible

“Take the blasphemer outside the camp, and have all who heard him lay their hands on his head; then have the whole assembly stone him.

American Standard Version

Bring forth him that hath cursed without the camp; and let all that heard him lay their hands upon his head, and let all the congregation stone him.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Leviticus 24:14 details the divine command for the execution of a blasphemer, underscoring the absolute sanctity of God's name within the Israelite covenant community. This specific incident, involving the son of an Israelite woman and an Egyptian man, establishes a severe legal precedent: anyone who curses the Lord's name must be led outside the camp, have witnesses lay hands upon their head, and then be stoned by the entire congregation. The passage powerfully communicates the gravity of blasphemy as a direct affront to divine authority, demanding communal action to purge such defilement and uphold the holiness of the nation in God's presence.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is the culmination of a specific legal case detailed in [Leviticus 24:10-13](/leviticus/24-10 "Leviticus 24:10-13 - The Blasphemer's Incident"). Prior to this incident, [Leviticus 24:1-9](/leviticus/24-1 "Leviticus 24:1-9 - Regulations for the Tabernacle Lamps and Showbread") outlines meticulous instructions for maintaining the sacred lamps and showbread within the Tabernacle, emphasizing the order, purity, and reverence required in God's dwelling place. The blasphemer's act directly violates this sacred order, interrupting the flow of ritual instruction with an act of profound defilement. The subsequent verses in [Leviticus 24:15-23](/leviticus/24-15-23 "Leviticus 24:15-23 - Laws Regarding Various Offenses") then generalize the principles of justice, applying the "eye for an eye" principle to various offenses, indicating that the blasphemy incident serves as a foundational legal precedent for maintaining societal and spiritual purity. The placement of this severe judgment immediately after detailed instructions for Tabernacle worship highlights the inseparable link between proper worship and righteous living.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The incident occurs within the nascent Israelite nation, recently delivered from Egypt and living under the direct covenant of Yahweh. The individual in question is explicitly identified as the son of an Israelite woman and an Egyptian man, highlighting the presence of a "mixed multitude" among the Israelites ([Exodus 12:38](/exodus/12-38 "Exodus 12:38 - The Mixed Multitude")). This detail underscores that God's laws and the sanctity of His name applied equally to all within the covenant community, regardless of their ethnic origin, emphasizing the universal application of divine law within the camp. Blasphemy, in this context, was not merely an insult but an act of high treason against the divine King who had redeemed them and established His presence among them via the Tabernacle. The communal nature of the punishment—being cast "without the camp" and stoned by "all the congregation"—reflects the collective responsibility of the Israelite community to maintain ritual purity and uphold the holiness required for God to dwell among them ([Numbers 5:2-3](/numbers/5-2-3 "Numbers 5:2-3 - Removing the Unclean from the Camp")).
* **Key Themes:** This passage profoundly contributes to several overarching themes within Leviticus and the Pentateuch. Foremost is the **Holiness of God's Name**, asserting that Yahweh's name is utterly sacred and must not be treated lightly or dishonored. This connects directly to the [Third Commandment](/exodus/20-7 "Exodus 20:7 - The Third Commandment") and the broader call for Israel to be a holy nation set apart for God ([Leviticus 19:2](/leviticus/19-2 "Leviticus 19:2 - Be Holy, for I Am Holy")). Another critical theme is **Communal Responsibility and Purity**: the entire congregation's participation in the judgment underscores the corporate nature of the covenant. The defilement caused by blasphemy affected the whole community, necessitating a collective act of purging to maintain the camp's holiness and avert divine wrath ([Deuteronomy 13:5](/deuteronomy/13-5 "Deuteronomy 13:5 - Purging Evil from Among You")). Finally, the passage reinforces the theme of **Divine Justice and Retribution**, demonstrating God's unwavering commitment to upholding His moral standards and punishing severe transgressions that undermine the covenant relationship.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Cursed (Hebrew, _qâlal'_ H7043):** From an unused root meaning "to be (causatively, make) light, literally (swift, small, sharp, etc.) or figuratively (easy, trifling, vile, etc.); abate, make bright, bring into contempt, (ac-) curse, despise, (be) ease(-y, -ier), (be a, make, make somewhat, move, seem a, set) light(-en, -er, -ly, -ly afflict, -ly esteem, thing), [idiom] slight(-ly), be swift(-er), (be, be more, make, re-) vile, whet." In this context, `qâlal` signifies treating God's name as "light," "trifling," or "vile," thereby bringing it into contempt. It implies a deliberate act of despising or reviling the divine, a profound disrespect that undermines God's majesty and authority. This is distinct from an accidental utterance, highlighting the intentional nature of the blasphemer's offense.
* **Hands (Hebrew, _yâd'_ H3027):** A primitive word referring to "a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),)." The act of witnesses laying their hands upon the blasphemer's head is a profoundly symbolic gesture. It signifies the transfer of responsibility and guilt from the community to the condemned individual. It also publicly affirms the witnesses' testimony and their agreement with the divine judgment, ensuring that the execution is carried out with communal assent and not as a private act of vengeance. This ritual act ensures the community's purity by symbolically placing the defilement squarely on the one who committed the offense.
* **Camp (Hebrew, _machăneh'_ H4264):** From a root meaning "to encamp," referring to "an encampment (of travellers or troops); hence, an army... or even the sacred courts." The Israelite camp was considered holy ground because the Tabernacle, symbolizing God's dwelling presence, was situated within it. Being cast "without the camp" was not merely a physical expulsion but a profound act of spiritual excommunication. It symbolized the offender's defilement and unfitness to remain in the holy community, signifying separation from God's presence and the blessings of the covenant. This act was crucial for maintaining the ritual purity of the entire nation.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Bring forth him that hath cursed without the camp":** This initial command mandates the immediate removal of the offender from the sacred space of the Israelite encampment. The camp's sanctity, due to God's dwelling among them, meant that any severe defilement had to be expelled. This expulsion symbolized not only physical banishment but also spiritual excommunication, marking the individual as utterly defiled and unfit to remain among God's holy people. It was the first step in purging the evil from the community.
* **"and let all that heard [him] lay their hands upon his head":** This instruction details a crucial step involving the witnesses. The act of laying hands served multiple purposes: it publicly identified those who had heard the blasphemy, affirming the truthfulness of their testimony; it symbolized the transfer of the community's collective guilt and the burden of judgment onto the condemned individual, thereby absolving the congregation of responsibility for his death; and it served as a communal ratification of the divine verdict, emphasizing that the judgment was not arbitrary but based on confirmed testimony.
* **"and let all the congregation stone him."**: The final command prescribes the method of execution and the participants. Stoning was a common form of capital punishment in ancient Israel for offenses that directly violated the covenant or severely defiled the community, such as idolatry, false prophecy, and blasphemy. The participation of "all the congregation" underscored the collective responsibility of the entire nation to uphold God's laws, purge evil from their midst, and maintain the holiness and purity of the community. This communal act was essential for removing the defilement and averting divine wrath from the nation, ensuring God's continued presence among them.

#### Literary Devices
The passage employs several potent literary devices that amplify its message. **Symbolism** is profoundly present: being cast "without the camp" symbolizes spiritual excommunication and defilement, underscoring the offender's unfitness for God's holy presence. The laying on of hands by witnesses symbolizes the transfer of guilt and communal assent to the judgment, ensuring that the defilement is absorbed by the offender and the community is cleansed. The act of stoning by the "whole congregation" is also highly symbolic, representing the collective purging of evil and the maintenance of national holiness and covenant fidelity. The narrative itself functions as a **Legal Precedent**, establishing a clear and uncompromising standard for the treatment of blasphemy, which is then generalized in the subsequent verses of [Leviticus 24:15-23](/leviticus/24-15-23 "Leviticus 24:15-23 - Laws Regarding Various Offenses"). There is also an underlying **Contrast** between the meticulous order, purity, and reverence prescribed for the Tabernacle and its rituals in [Leviticus 24:1-9](/leviticus/24-1-9 "Leviticus 24:1-9 - Regulations for the Tabernacle Lamps and Showbread") and the chaotic, defiling act of blasphemy, highlighting the absolute incompatibility of irreverence and contempt with God's sacred presence.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Leviticus 24:14 profoundly emphasizes the absolute holiness and majesty of God's name, demonstrating that any direct affront to it is an act of supreme rebellion against divine authority. This incident underscores the gravity of sin, particularly that which directly dishonors God, and the unyielding nature of divine justice within the Old Covenant. It also highlights the corporate responsibility of the community to uphold God's standards and purge evil from their midst, ensuring the purity necessary for God's continued presence. While the specific form of punishment belongs to the Old Covenant, the underlying principle of God's uncompromised holiness and the seriousness of dishonoring Him remains eternally true, serving as a foundational truth for all of Scripture.

* [Exodus 20:7](/exodus/20-7 "Exodus 20:7 - The Third Commandment")
* [Numbers 15:30-31](/numbers/15-30-31 "Numbers 15:30-31 - Punishment for High-Handed Sin")
* [Deuteronomy 13:5](/deuteronomy/13-5 "Deuteronomy 13:5 - Purging Evil from the Community")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the specific judicial penalties of the Old Testament covenant are not directly transferable to the New Covenant era, the spiritual principles embedded in Leviticus 24:14 remain profoundly relevant for believers today. This passage serves as a stark reminder of the infinite holiness of God's name and the profound reverence we are called to exhibit in all aspects of our lives. It challenges us to examine our speech, attitudes, and actions, ensuring that we do not treat God's name lightly, use it in vain, or allow irreverence to creep into our worship or daily discourse. Furthermore, it underscores the enduring gravity of sin, particularly that which directly dishonors God. While Christ's sacrifice provides forgiveness and grace, it does not diminish the inherent seriousness of rebellion against a holy God. As a New Covenant community, the church is still called to uphold God's honor, maintain purity, and address serious sin according to biblical principles, not through physical stoning, but through spiritual discipline and a collective commitment to reflecting God's character to the world. Our responsibility is to live lives that honor God's name, recognizing His supreme worth and authority in every thought, word, and deed.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does this passage deepen your understanding of the holiness and majesty of God's name?**
* **In what ways might we, even subtly, dishonor God's name in our contemporary culture or personal lives?**
* **What is the church's responsibility today in upholding God's honor and addressing serious sin within its fellowship, in light of this Old Testament precedent?**

### FAQ
**Why was the punishment for blasphemy so severe in ancient Israel?**

Answer: The severity of the punishment for blasphemy in ancient Israel stemmed from the unique nature of their covenant relationship with God. Israel was a theocracy, with God as their direct King and the Tabernacle (and later Temple) symbolizing His literal presence among them. Blasphemy, or cursing the name of the Lord, was considered an act of high treason against the divine sovereign. It was a direct assault on God's character, authority, and holiness, which were foundational to the nation's existence and identity. Such an act defiled the entire community and threatened God's holy presence among them. The severe penalty was therefore necessary to purge the defilement, uphold God's honor, and maintain the purity and integrity of the covenant people, ensuring God's continued blessing and presence ([Deuteronomy 17:12-13](/deuteronomy/17-12-13 "Deuteronomy 17:12-13 - Punishment for Stubborn Disobedience")).

**Does this Old Testament law of stoning apply to believers in the New Covenant today?**

Answer: No, the specific judicial penalty of stoning for blasphemy, as prescribed in [Leviticus 24:14](/leviticus/24-14 "Leviticus 24:14 - The Blasphemer's Punishment"), does not apply to believers in the New Covenant. Under the New Covenant, the emphasis shifts from a national, political theocracy with physical penalties to a spiritual kingdom where sin is dealt with primarily through the atoning work of Christ and, within the church, through spiritual discipline ([Matthew 18:15-17](/matthew/18-15-17 "Matthew 18:15-17 - Church Discipline")). While the *gravity* of blasphemy and dishonoring God's name remains unchanged, the *method* of addressing it has transformed. Believers are called to reverence God's name ([Philippians 2:9-11](/philippians/2-9-11 "Philippians 2:9-11 - Jesus' Exalted Name")), but the ultimate judgment for those who persistently reject and revile God rests with Him in the eschatological future ([Romans 12:19](/romans/12-19 "Romans 12:19 - Vengeance is the Lord's")). The New Covenant calls for spiritual discernment and discipline, aimed at repentance and restoration where possible, rather than physical execution.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Leviticus 24:14, with its stark decree against blasphemy and the communal judgment it prescribes, finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in several powerful ways. Jesus, the very Son of God, was himself accused of blasphemy by the religious leaders for claiming divine authority and equality with God ([Matthew 26:65](/matthew/26-65 "Matthew 26:65 - Jesus Accused of Blasphemy"); [John 10:33](/john/10-33 "John 10:33 - Jews Accuse Jesus of Blasphemy")). Yet, paradoxically, He is the one whose name is ultimately exalted above every name, before whom every knee will bow ([Philippians 2:9-11](/philippians/2-9-11 "Philippians 2:9-11 - Jesus' Exalted Name")). The blasphemer in Leviticus was cast "without the camp" to bear his sin and judgment; similarly, Jesus was led "outside the gate" of Jerusalem to be crucified, bearing the curse and judgment for humanity's sin, becoming the ultimate sacrifice for our defilement ([Hebrews 13:12](/hebrews/13-12 "Hebrews 13:12 - Jesus Suffered Outside the Gate")). He, the sinless Lamb of God, allowed the collective "hands" of humanity's sin and judgment to be laid upon Him, absorbing the full wrath of God against all unrighteousness, including blasphemy, so that those who believe in His name might be forgiven and brought into God's holy presence ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us"); [Isaiah 53:5-6](/isaiah/53-5-6 "Isaiah 53:5-6 - The Suffering Servant")). Thus, the terrifying justice of Leviticus 24:14 points to the greater justice and mercy found in Christ, who perfectly honored God's name and bore the curse, offering reconciliation and eternal life to all who call upon Him and reverence His holy name.

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

Deuteronomy 17:7

The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So thou shalt put the evil away from among you.

Leviticus 20:27

A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood [shall be] upon them.

Deuteronomy 21:21

And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

John 10:31

Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.

John 10:33

The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

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.

John 8:59

Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.