- These verses are found within the "Holiness Code" of the Torah. They emphasized to the Israelites that they had been set apart as covenanted people by HaShem ("the Name", the God of Israel) from the rest of the nations.
The context of these verses is God's prohibition that the Israelites not engage in the practices found in the nearby fertility cult of Moloch and Ashtaroth. Look at the beginning of the chapter and you will see this clearly:
The Authorized King James Version of the Bible is used throughout this study.
Leviticus 20:13
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"If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them."
Leviticus 18:22
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"Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination."
Leviticus 18:22
Leviticus 18:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2 After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances.
4 Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the LORD your God.
5 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD.
As religious cults tend to ignore the Scriptural context in order to justify their doctrines, so too well meaning Christians sometimes take a verse here or there without considering its context when it appears, at first glance, that the verse supports their position. Such is the case here.
The God of Israel never directed His people to engage in ritual sex magic, as was common among the Pagan religions that surrounded them. Despite this, some of God's people were practicing these abominable (tow'ebah) rites.
To the Israelites HaShem had said:
Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the LORD your God. (18:4)
The word "Abomination" here is a translation of the Hebrew word tow'ebah ("to-ay-baw") and specifically refers to idolatrous practices that are displeasing to God. This word specifically relates to religious matters and has nothing to do with sexuality -- neither homosexual nor heterosexual -- unless that sexuality is directly involved in the worship of other gods. Therefore this prohibition is the same as Paul's concern in Romans 1, I Corinthians 6:9 and elsewhere in the Scriptures.
The prohibition is to the fertility worship and sex rites of the Pagan religions which they were to shun. As the people of HaShem Jews are commanded to only participate in religious rites directed by the God of Israel. By engaging in these rite they were violating their sacred covenant with HaShem.
In the following verses (verse 6 on), many of these forbidden activities are specifically listed.
That this is the concern being addressed is made clear:
18:21: And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD:
Employing ones "seed" or semen (zera) in religious rites with the Qadeshah (the female temple prostitutes)or Qadesh (male temple prostitutes) and/or worshiping in the Pagan deities any manner is strictly forbidden and is what is being discussed here. This has nothing to do with consensual homosexuality.
Deuteronomy 23:17 There shall be no Qadeshah of the daughters of Israel, nor a Qadesh of the sons of Israel.
Notice that the Jewish incorporation of their sexuality in these Pagan rites "profanes the name of thy God." HaShem therefore chastises His people and reminds them that He alone is their God.
And so following the progressive flow of the text we read:
18:21,22 And thou shalt not let any of thy seed [zera: semen] pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD [YHVH]: If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination [tow'ebah]: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
What the Torah is forbidding here in context is the people from worshiping Moloch and the other local gods in any way, including through the popular sex rites with the Qadeshah and Qadesh.
Leviticus 20:13
That this is what is being forbidden is even more clear in Leviticus 20!
Note how this chapter begins:
1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
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.
3 And I will set my face against that man, and will cut him off from among his people; because he hath given of his seed unto Molech, to defile my sanctuary, and to profane my holy name.
4 And if the people of the land do any ways hide their eyes from the man, when he giveth of his seed unto Molech, and kill him not:
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.
6 And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.
7 Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God.
8 And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the LORD which sanctify you.
Then various common abuses are enumerated and we come to verse 13, again specifically concerning the use of semen and sex magic.
20:13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination [tow'ebah]: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
They have committed a religious abomination.
Throughout their history the Israelites showed a weakness for idolatry according to the Tanack. This is simply another example of God seeking to control that weakness. These two verses say nothing about homosexuality at all.
As always I welcome your comments, questions and so on.
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~ Pastor John
~ Ben Ruach HaKodesh
The Grace Inclusive Christian Prayer And/Or Bible and Homosexuality (and discussion) groups
The Grace Inclusive Christian Prayer And/Or Bible and Homosexuality (and discussion) groups
Just as YOU are!
Who cares, I'm glad YOU'RE here!
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