Leviticus 20:3 - I also will set my face against that person, and will cut him off from among his people because he has given of his offspring to Molech, to defile my sanctuary, and to profane my holy name.
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What does "Leviticus 20:3" mean?
Leviticus 20:3 is a very serious and direct condemnation of child sacrifice to the deity Molech. Let's break down what each part of the verse means:
"I also will set my face against that person...": This is God expressing his intense displeasure and opposition to the individual. "Setting one's face against" someone is a figure of speech indicating deep anger, disapproval, and active opposition. It signifies a severance of God's favor and blessing.
"...and will cut him off from among his people...": This is a pronouncement of divine judgment. "Cutting off" can mean several things in the Old Testament, including excommunication from the community, premature death, or being denied a future posterity. In this context, it likely means a severe punishment that isolates the person from the covenant community of Israel.
"...because he has given of his offspring to Molech...": This is the reason for God's judgment. It refers to the act of sacrificing one's children to Molech, a practice associated with pagan worship in the ancient Near East. This act was considered an abomination to God.
"...to defile my sanctuary, and to profane my holy name.": This explains why child sacrifice to Molech is so offensive to God.
Defiling the sanctuary: The sanctuary (the tabernacle or later the temple) was the place where God's presence dwelt among the Israelites. Child sacrifice was considered a severe form of ritual impurity that desecrated the sacred space.
Profaning God's holy name: God's name represents his character, reputation, and authority. Sacrificing children to a false god was seen as a direct insult to God's holiness and a degradation of his name among the nations.
In essence, this verse conveys the following:
God is vehemently opposed to the practice of child sacrifice to Molech. He will actively turn against anyone who engages in this practice and will punish them severely, removing them from the community of Israel. This is because child sacrifice is an act of extreme desecration that defiles God's holy place and dishonors his name, demonstrating a complete rejection of his covenant and commandments.
Historical Context and Significance:
Molech: Molech was a deity worshiped by some ancient Near Eastern cultures. Archaeological evidence suggests that the worship of Molech sometimes involved the sacrifice of children, often by burning them.
Prohibition in the Law: The Torah (the first five books of the Bible) repeatedly and strongly forbids the Israelites from sacrificing their children to Molech or any other deity (e.g., Deuteronomy 12:31, 18:10).
Theological Implications: The prohibition against child sacrifice highlights the sanctity of human life and the unique relationship between God and his people. It also underscores the contrast between the true God, who gives life, and false gods, who demand death.
Moral Implications: Even today, this verse resonates as a reminder of the inherent evil of sacrificing the innocent and vulnerable for any cause, be it religious, political, or economic.
Leviticus 20:3 - I also will set my face against that person, and will cut him off from among his people because he has given of his offspring to Molech, to defile my sanctuary, and to profane my holy name.
What does "Leviticus 20:3" mean?
Leviticus 20:3 is a very serious and direct condemnation of child sacrifice to the deity Molech. Let's break down what each part of the verse means:
"I also will set my face against that person...": This is God expressing his intense displeasure and opposition to the individual. "Setting one's face against" someone is a figure of speech indicating deep anger, disapproval, and active opposition. It signifies a severance of God's favor and blessing.
"...and will cut him off from among his people...": This is a pronouncement of divine judgment. "Cutting off" can mean several things in the Old Testament, including excommunication from the community, premature death, or being denied a future posterity. In this context, it likely means a severe punishment that isolates the person from the covenant community of Israel.
"...because he has given of his offspring to Molech...": This is the reason for God's judgment. It refers to the act of sacrificing one's children to Molech, a practice associated with pagan worship in the ancient Near East. This act was considered an abomination to God.
"...to defile my sanctuary, and to profane my holy name.": This explains why child sacrifice to Molech is so offensive to God.
Defiling the sanctuary: The sanctuary (the tabernacle or later the temple) was the place where God's presence dwelt among the Israelites. Child sacrifice was considered a severe form of ritual impurity that desecrated the sacred space.
Profaning God's holy name: God's name represents his character, reputation, and authority. Sacrificing children to a false god was seen as a direct insult to God's holiness and a degradation of his name among the nations.
In essence, this verse conveys the following:
God is vehemently opposed to the practice of child sacrifice to Molech. He will actively turn against anyone who engages in this practice and will punish them severely, removing them from the community of Israel. This is because child sacrifice is an act of extreme desecration that defiles God's holy place and dishonors his name, demonstrating a complete rejection of his covenant and commandments.
Historical Context and Significance:
Molech: Molech was a deity worshiped by some ancient Near Eastern cultures. Archaeological evidence suggests that the worship of Molech sometimes involved the sacrifice of children, often by burning them.
Prohibition in the Law: The Torah (the first five books of the Bible) repeatedly and strongly forbids the Israelites from sacrificing their children to Molech or any other deity (e.g., Deuteronomy 12:31, 18:10).
Theological Implications: The prohibition against child sacrifice highlights the sanctity of human life and the unique relationship between God and his people. It also underscores the contrast between the true God, who gives life, and false gods, who demand death.
Moral Implications: Even today, this verse resonates as a reminder of the inherent evil of sacrificing the innocent and vulnerable for any cause, be it religious, political, or economic.