Leviticus 20:2 - “Moreover, you shall tell the children of Israel, ‘Anyone of the children of Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners in Israel, who gives any of his offspring to Molech; he shall surely be put to death. The people of the land shall stone him with stones.
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What does "Leviticus 20:2" mean?
Leviticus 20:2 lays out a very strict and severe penalty for the act of offering children to the pagan god Molech. Let's break down the meaning:
"Moreover, you shall tell the children of Israel...": This indicates that God is instructing Moses to convey this law to the Israelites.
"...Anyone of the children of Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners in Israel...": This clarifies that the law applies to both native Israelites and any foreigners residing within Israel. The prohibition is universal within the Israelite community.
"...who gives any of his offspring to Molech...": This is the core of the prohibition. "Giving offspring to Molech" is generally understood to refer to child sacrifice, a practice associated with this particular deity. It may have involved burning, dedication rituals, or other forms of offering a child.
"...he shall surely be put to death...": The consequence for offering a child to Molech is capital punishment. The gravity of the offense is underscored by the severity of the penalty.
"...The people of the land shall stone him with stones.": The method of execution is stoning, carried out by "the people of the land." This suggests a communal act of justice, indicating that the community as a whole is responsible for enforcing this law and purging the evil from their midst.
In summary: The verse unequivocally condemns child sacrifice to Molech. It applies to everyone living within Israelite territory, and the punishment is death by stoning, carried out by the community. The verse underscores the sanctity of life and the abomination of sacrificing children to pagan gods.
Leviticus 20:2 - “Moreover, you shall tell the children of Israel, ‘Anyone of the children of Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners in Israel, who gives any of his offspring to Molech; he shall surely be put to death. The people of the land shall stone him with stones.
What does "Leviticus 20:2" mean?
Leviticus 20:2 lays out a very strict and severe penalty for the act of offering children to the pagan god Molech. Let's break down the meaning:
"Moreover, you shall tell the children of Israel...": This indicates that God is instructing Moses to convey this law to the Israelites.
"...Anyone of the children of Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners in Israel...": This clarifies that the law applies to both native Israelites and any foreigners residing within Israel. The prohibition is universal within the Israelite community.
"...who gives any of his offspring to Molech...": This is the core of the prohibition. "Giving offspring to Molech" is generally understood to refer to child sacrifice, a practice associated with this particular deity. It may have involved burning, dedication rituals, or other forms of offering a child.
"...he shall surely be put to death...": The consequence for offering a child to Molech is capital punishment. The gravity of the offense is underscored by the severity of the penalty.
"...The people of the land shall stone him with stones.": The method of execution is stoning, carried out by "the people of the land." This suggests a communal act of justice, indicating that the community as a whole is responsible for enforcing this law and purging the evil from their midst.
In summary: The verse unequivocally condemns child sacrifice to Molech. It applies to everyone living within Israelite territory, and the punishment is death by stoning, carried out by the community. The verse underscores the sanctity of life and the abomination of sacrificing children to pagan gods.