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Leviticus 24:23

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And Moses spake to the children of Israel, that they should bring forth him that had cursed out of the camp, and stone him with stones. And the children of Israel did as the LORD commanded Moses.

And Moses {H4872} spake {H1696} to the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478}, that they should bring forth {H3318} him that had cursed {H7043} out {H2351} of the camp {H4264}, and stone {H7275} him with stones {H68}. And the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478} did {H6213} as the LORD {H3068} commanded {H6680} Moses {H4872}.

So Moshe spoke to the people of Isra'el, and they took the man who had cursed outside the camp and stoned him to death. Thus the people of Isra'el did as ADONAI had ordered Moshe. see readings for Parashah 41]

Then Moses spoke to the Israelites, and they took the blasphemer outside the camp and stoned him. So the Israelites did as the LORD had commanded Moses.

And Moses spake to the children of Israel; and they brought forth him that had cursed out of the camp, and stoned him with stones. And the children of Israel did as Jehovah commanded Moses.

Commentary

Leviticus 24:23 concludes the narrative of a severe transgression within the Israelite camp: the blasphemy of the LORD's holy Name. This verse details the execution of the divine judgment, underscoring the absolute authority of God's law and the community's swift obedience.

Historical and Cultural Context

This event takes place shortly after the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai, while the Israelites are encamped in the wilderness. The incident, recorded in Leviticus 24:10-12, involves a man of mixed Israelite and Egyptian parentage who cursed the Name of the LORD. This act was not merely an insult but a direct affront to God's holiness and His covenant with Israel. The punishment—stoning outside the camp—was a common form of capital punishment in ancient Israel for severe offenses, symbolizing the removal of defilement from the community and the public condemnation of the act. It also served as a stark warning to all who witnessed it.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Sanctity of God's Name: The primary message is the profound reverence due to the Name of the LORD. To curse or blaspheme God's name was considered an ultimate act of rebellion, directly violating the Third Commandment, "Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain."
  • Divine Justice and Retribution: God's law demanded a precise and severe penalty for this grave sin. The principle of "life for life" (though here, blasphemy is equated to a capital offense against God) is evident, demonstrating God's unwavering righteousness and commitment to upholding His moral order.
  • Obedience to God's Commands: The verse highlights the immediate and complete obedience of the children of Israel to Moses' instruction, which was directly from the LORD. This collective action reinforced the community's commitment to the covenant.
  • Purity of the Camp: Removing the blasphemer "out of the camp" before stoning emphasized the need to cleanse the community from defilement and maintain its holiness in the presence of God. This act protected the entire nation from divine wrath.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word translated "cursed" in this context is naqav (נקב), which can mean "to pierce," "to bore," or "to blaspheme" or "to specify by name." In the context of blasphemy, it implies a direct, explicit, and intentional naming or uttering of a curse against God's holy name, emphasizing the severity of the offense as a direct piercing or affront to His divine character.

Practical Application

While modern legal systems do not apply capital punishment for blasphemy, the underlying principle of profound respect and reverence for God remains vital for believers. This passage teaches us:

  • To hold God's name in the highest esteem, avoiding its casual or irreverent use.
  • That sin, especially against God's holiness, has serious consequences, both in this life and eternally.
  • The importance of personal and communal obedience to God's revealed will.
  • The need for believers to live lives that reflect God's holiness and to seek to remove spiritual defilement from their lives and communities, as exhorted in passages like 2 Corinthians 7:1.

Leviticus 24:23 serves as a powerful reminder of God's unyielding holiness and the solemn responsibility of His people to honor His Name above all else.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) 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 — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Hebrews 2:2 (2 votes)

    For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;

  • Hebrews 2:3 (2 votes)

    How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard [him];

  • Leviticus 24:14 (2 votes)

    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.

  • Leviticus 24:16 (2 votes)

    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.

  • Hebrews 10:28 (2 votes)

    He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

  • Hebrews 10:29 (2 votes)

    Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

  • Numbers 15:35 (2 votes)

    And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.