Leviticus 24:11 - The son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the Name, and cursed; and they brought him to Moses. His mother’s name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Leviticus 24:11" mean?
This verse, Leviticus 24:11, is part of a larger story in Leviticus 24:10-23 that addresses the punishment for blasphemy. Let's break down what the verse means and its significance:
"The son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the Name, and cursed": This is the core action. The individual, identified by his maternal lineage (important because his father was not an Israelite), committed two offenses:
Blasphemed the Name: "The Name" is understood as a euphemism for God's sacred name, often referred to as the Tetragrammaton (YHWH). Blasphemy, in this context, is considered a grave offense against God, involving irreverence, contempt, or cursing of the divine. It's more than just using God's name in vain; it's actively reviling or speaking evil of God.
Cursed: This reinforces the blasphemous act, indicating he not only spoke against God but also actively cursed.
"and they brought him to Moses": This shows the seriousness of the offense and the need for guidance from the highest authority. The community recognized that they needed Moses's judgment to determine the proper course of action.
"His mother’s name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan": This detail is significant for several reasons:
Lineage through the mother: The focus on the mother's lineage, specifying her name, her father's name, and her tribe, is important. The father of the blasphemer was not an Israelite (mentioned in verse 10), so the identity of the son was defined by his mother and her heritage.
Tribe of Dan: This detail might have been important to the original audience, possibly for reasons we no longer fully understand. Some suggest it could be related to tribal associations or historical events linked to the tribe of Dan. Others have suggested that mentioning the specific tribe highlights that sin can come from within any part of the community.
Significance and Interpretation:
Importance of God's Name: The passage underscores the importance of reverence for God's name and the seriousness of blasphemy in Israelite society.
Justice and Law: The story sets the stage for establishing a legal precedent for dealing with blasphemy. The incident prompts God to instruct Moses on the appropriate punishment (stoning), which is applied uniformly to both native-born Israelites and foreigners residing among them.
Community Responsibility: The fact that the community brought the man to Moses highlights their responsibility to uphold God's laws and maintain social order.
Equality before the Law: Leviticus 24:22 explicitly states that the same law applies to both the native-born and the foreigner who resides among them. This underscores the principle of equal justice under the law.
Moral and Ethical Implications: The passage raises questions about the nature of blasphemy, the severity of punishment, and the role of divine law in shaping moral behavior. It also touches upon the tension between divine law and human justice.
In summary, Leviticus 24:11 describes a serious offense of blasphemy and cursing committed by a man of mixed Israelite and non-Israelite parentage. The verse sets the stage for a legal precedent and underscores the importance of reverence for God and the community's responsibility to uphold divine law.
Leviticus 24:11 - The son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the Name, and cursed; and they brought him to Moses. His mother’s name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan.
What does "Leviticus 24:11" mean?
This verse, Leviticus 24:11, is part of a larger story in Leviticus 24:10-23 that addresses the punishment for blasphemy. Let's break down what the verse means and its significance:
"The son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the Name, and cursed": This is the core action. The individual, identified by his maternal lineage (important because his father was not an Israelite), committed two offenses:
Blasphemed the Name: "The Name" is understood as a euphemism for God's sacred name, often referred to as the Tetragrammaton (YHWH). Blasphemy, in this context, is considered a grave offense against God, involving irreverence, contempt, or cursing of the divine. It's more than just using God's name in vain; it's actively reviling or speaking evil of God.
Cursed: This reinforces the blasphemous act, indicating he not only spoke against God but also actively cursed.
"and they brought him to Moses": This shows the seriousness of the offense and the need for guidance from the highest authority. The community recognized that they needed Moses's judgment to determine the proper course of action.
"His mother’s name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan": This detail is significant for several reasons:
Lineage through the mother: The focus on the mother's lineage, specifying her name, her father's name, and her tribe, is important. The father of the blasphemer was not an Israelite (mentioned in verse 10), so the identity of the son was defined by his mother and her heritage.
Tribe of Dan: This detail might have been important to the original audience, possibly for reasons we no longer fully understand. Some suggest it could be related to tribal associations or historical events linked to the tribe of Dan. Others have suggested that mentioning the specific tribe highlights that sin can come from within any part of the community.
Significance and Interpretation:
Importance of God's Name: The passage underscores the importance of reverence for God's name and the seriousness of blasphemy in Israelite society.
Justice and Law: The story sets the stage for establishing a legal precedent for dealing with blasphemy. The incident prompts God to instruct Moses on the appropriate punishment (stoning), which is applied uniformly to both native-born Israelites and foreigners residing among them.
Community Responsibility: The fact that the community brought the man to Moses highlights their responsibility to uphold God's laws and maintain social order.
Equality before the Law: Leviticus 24:22 explicitly states that the same law applies to both the native-born and the foreigner who resides among them. This underscores the principle of equal justice under the law.
Moral and Ethical Implications: The passage raises questions about the nature of blasphemy, the severity of punishment, and the role of divine law in shaping moral behavior. It also touches upon the tension between divine law and human justice.
In summary, Leviticus 24:11 describes a serious offense of blasphemy and cursing committed by a man of mixed Israelite and non-Israelite parentage. The verse sets the stage for a legal precedent and underscores the importance of reverence for God and the community's responsibility to uphold divine law.