Leviticus 24:16

And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, [and] all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name [of the LORD], shall be put to death.

And he that blasphemeth {H5344} the name {H8034} of the LORD {H3068}, he shall surely {H4191} be put to death {H4191}, and all the congregation {H5712} shall certainly {H7275} stone {H7275} him: as well the stranger {H1616}, as he that is born in the land {H249}, when he blasphemeth {H5344} the name {H8034} of the LORD, shall be put to death {H4191}.

and whoever blasphemes the name of ADONAI must be put to death; the entire community must stone him. The foreigner as well as the citizen is to be put to death if he blasphemes the Name.

Whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD must surely be put to death; the whole assembly must surely stone him, whether he is a foreign resident or native; if he blasphemes the Name, he must be put to death.

And he that blasphemeth the name of Jehovah, he shall surely be put to death; all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the sojourner, as the home-born, when he blasphemeth the name of Jehovah, shall be put to death.

Commentary

Leviticus 24:16 delivers a stern command regarding the ultimate penalty for blaspheming the sacred name of the LORD within the ancient Israelite community. This verse underscores the profound reverence God demanded for His character and identity, equating a direct verbal assault on His name with a capital offense.

Context

This specific law arises immediately after an incident recorded in Leviticus 24:10-12, where the son of an Israelite woman and an Egyptian man "blasphemed the name of the LORD, and cursed." This event prompted Moses to seek the Lord's judgment, resulting in the divine decree found in verse 16. It is part of a broader section of laws in Leviticus designed to establish and maintain the holiness of the Israelite nation as God's chosen people, emphasizing their distinct separation from surrounding pagan cultures and their commitment to the covenant relationship with God.

Key Themes

  • The Sanctity of God's Name: The core message is the absolute holiness and inviolability of God's name, which represents His very essence, authority, and presence. To blaspheme it was a direct and grave affront to God Himself. This aligns with the Third Commandment, "Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain."
  • Severity of Divine Judgment: The prescribed punishment—death by stoning—highlights the extreme seriousness with which God viewed this sin under the Mosaic Law. It was a deliberate act of rebellion against the divine order and a direct challenge to God's sovereignty.
  • Community Responsibility: The phrase "all the congregation shall certainly stone him" indicates that the entire community was responsible for upholding God's laws and purging evil from their midst, thus maintaining their collective holiness before God.
  • Equality Under the Law: "As well the stranger, as he that is born in the land" emphasizes that the law applied equally to everyone living within the Israelite community, irrespective of their ethnic origin. God's standards of holiness were universal for those under His covenant.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word translated "blasphemeth" here is naqav (נָקַב), which literally means "to pierce," "to prick," or "to designate distinctly." In this context, it signifies a deliberate, forceful, and public denouncement or cursing of God's name, effectively "piercing" or "wounding" His honor and reputation. It's not merely accidental misuse but a defiant act of contempt.

Practical Application

While the New Covenant does not prescribe physical stoning for blasphemy, the underlying principle of reverence for God's name remains eternally vital. Under the New Covenant, true blasphemy is understood as a grave sin against the Holy Spirit, particularly the deliberate and unrepentant rejection of His testimony to Christ's divinity (Matthew 12:31). This verse from Leviticus serves as a powerful reminder of God's absolute holiness and the profound seriousness of treating His name, character, or Word with contempt or irreverence. Believers today are called to honor God's name not only in their speech but also through lives that reflect His glory and character (1 Peter 2:9), living in awe and adoration of the One who is truly worthy of all praise.

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Cross-References

  • Matthew 12:31 (6 votes)

    Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy [against] the [Holy] Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.

  • John 10:33 (4 votes)

    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.

  • John 10:36 (4 votes)

    Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?

  • James 2:7 (4 votes)

    Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?

  • Mark 3:28 (3 votes)

    Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:

  • Mark 3:29 (3 votes)

    But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:

  • 1 Timothy 1:13 (3 votes)

    Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did [it] ignorantly in unbelief.