Bible Commentaries

spake. See note on Leviticus 5:14.

Again. See Leviticus 18:21. This is so serious that it must be repeated. There, only a command; here, the penalty.

children. Hebrew sons.

Molech. The king-idol. See note on Leviticus 18:21, where this law follows that on incest; while here it precedes it.

man. Hebrew "ish. App-14.

holy. See note on Exodus 3:8.

the = that.

family. Compare Ezekiel 18:2, and note the contrast. Jeremiah 31:29

soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.

familiar spirits. See note on Leviticus 19:31.

wizards. See note on Leviticus 19:31.

the LORD [Hebrew. Jehovah. your God [Hebrew. Elohim. Some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch and Septuagint, read. "I am holy, Jehovah your God".

the LORDWhich sanctify you = Jehovah Mekad-dishkem, one of the Jehovah titles. See App-4.

every one. Hebrew "ish "ish. App-14.

blood. Figure of speech Metalepsis, App-6, "bloods", put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct) for guilt, and "guilt" put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause) for penalty.

father's wife. See Leviticus 18:8.

daughter in law. See Leviticus 18:15.

mankind. Hebrew "male". See Leviticus 18:22.

abomination. See note on Leviticus 18:22.

wife and her mother. See Ch. Leviticus 18:17.

wickedness = disgraceful thing. Hebrew. chesed (App-44). Chesed is a Homonym : i.e. another word, spelled the same. It means (1) mercy, grace, goodness (Genesis 24:12. 2 Samuel 7:15. 1 Chronicles 19:2. 2 Chronicles 6:14. Job 37:13. Psalms 103:4, Psalms 103:8, Psalms 103:11, &c. But here (2) it is chesed, a disgraceful or reproachful thing. It is so taken here and in Proverbs 14:34.

burnt = burnt up: i.e. in judgment. Hebrew. saraph. App-43.

beast. See Leviticus 18:23.

sister. See Leviticus 18:9.

sight of their People. A special penalty is attached to this disgraceful thing.

iniquity = perverseness. Hebrew "avon. App-44.

sickness. See Leviticus 15:24; Leviticus 18:19.

sin = penalty. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause). App-6.

spue. Compare Leviticus 18:28, where it is rendered "vomit".

manners = statutes. It was this that brought down the judgment of extermination. No other remedy would do. These nations were descended from the nephilim (see App-25), who like those who were destroyed by the Flood, were "after that" (Genesis 6:4) to be destroyed by the sword of Israel.

nation. Some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch, Targum of Onkelos, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "nations" (plural)

difference = separation, as in verse Leviticus 20:24. Compare Leviticus 10:10; Leviticus 11:47.

souls. Hebrew, plural of nephesh. App-13.

severed = separated, as in verses Leviticus 20:24 and Leviticus 20:25.

familiar spirit. See note on Leviticus 19:31.