Leviticus 18:21 kjv
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.
Leviticus 18:21 nkjv
And you shall not let any of your descendants pass through the fire to Molech, nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the LORD.
Leviticus 18:21 niv
"?'Do not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molek, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.
Leviticus 18:21 esv
You shall not give any of your children to offer them to Molech, and so profane the name of your God: I am the LORD.
Leviticus 18:21 nlt
"Do not permit any of your children to be offered as a sacrifice to Molech, for you must not bring shame on the name of your God. I am the LORD.
Leviticus 18 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 20:2 | 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... | Penalty for child sacrifice |
| Lev 20:3 | 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. | God's direct judgment |
| Lev 20:4-5 | And if the people of the land do not cut off...then I will set my face...and cut off him...and all that go a whoring after him... | Corporate responsibility & judgment |
| Deut 12:31 | For every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods. | Explicitly calls it an abomination |
| Deut 18:10 | There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering... | Broader prohibition on such practices |
| 2 Kgs 16:3 | But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel; indeed, he made his son pass through the fire, according to the abominable practices of the nations whom the LORD had driven out before the people of Israel. | Ahaz's wickedness |
| 2 Kgs 17:17 | And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments... | Israel's sin leading to exile |
| 2 Kgs 21:6 | And he made his son pass through the fire, and used augury, and practiced sorcery... | Manasseh's idolatry |
| 2 Kgs 23:10 | And he defiled Topheth, which is in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, that no one might burn his son or his daughter as an offering to Molech. | Josiah's reform stopping it |
| Jer 7:31 | And they have built the high places of Topheth...to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire...which I did not command, nor did it come into my mind. | God's absolute repudiation |
| Jer 19:5 | They have built the high places of Baal to burn their sons in the fire as offerings to Baal, which I did not command... | Offering children to Baal |
| Jer 32:35 | They built the high places of Baal in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, to offer up their sons and daughters to Molech... | Reiterates the abomination |
| Ps 106:37-38 | They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons; they shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters... | Likens it to sacrificing to demons |
| Ezek 16:20-21 | You took your sons and your daughters...and sacrificed them to them as food. Was your prostitution not enough? You slaughtered my children... | God's children sacrificed |
| Ezek 23:37 | For they have committed adultery, and blood is on their hands. With their idols they have committed adultery; and they have even offered up to them their children whom they bore to me, as food. | Spiritual adultery and child sacrifice |
| Lev 19:12 | You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the LORD. | Broader warning against profaning God's name |
| Lev 22:32 | You shall not profane my holy name, but I will be sanctified among the people of Israel: I am the LORD, who sanctifies you. | God's name must be kept holy |
| Exod 20:7 | You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain. | The third commandment |
| Rom 2:24 | For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” | Profaning God's name among nations |
| Lev 11:44 | For I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy... | Foundation of Israel's holiness |
| Lev 19:2 | Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy. | Call to holiness linked to God's nature |
Leviticus 18 verses
Leviticus 18 21 Meaning
Leviticus 18:21 is a divine prohibition against the abominable practice of child sacrifice, specifically dedicating one's offspring to the Canaanite deity Molech. This act is unequivocally declared a profanation of God’s holy name. The command is anchored in the assertion of God’s sovereign identity, "I am the LORD," emphasizing His exclusive claim to Israel's worship and the sanctity of human life. It underscores that such an act dishonors God and contaminates the people of Israel and the land itself.
Leviticus 18 21 Context
Leviticus 18:21 is situated within a larger discourse in Leviticus 18 which primarily addresses sexual relations and forbidden degrees of kinship. While the surrounding verses focus on personal and social purity through sexual morality, verse 21 abruptly shifts to a severe religious transgression: child sacrifice. This seemingly distinct prohibition, however, coheres with the overarching theme of the chapter and the book of Leviticus: the demand for Israel's holiness and distinctiveness from the corrupt practices of surrounding nations (Egypt and Canaan).
The chapter’s initial verses explicitly warn against following the "customs of the land of Egypt" and "the customs of the land of Canaan," positioning Israel as a set-apart nation whose way of life must reflect the holiness of their God. Child sacrifice, particularly to Molech, was a notorious practice among the Canaanites, Ammonites, and other peoples in the ancient Near East. This prohibition served as a strong polemic against their deeply abhorrent religious rites. The context thus reveals that worshipping Yahweh is inextricably linked to ethical conduct, particularly in valuing human life, and complete repudiation of the pagan practices that defile both people and land.
Word Analysis
- And thou shalt not: (וְלֹא - welo’) This strong conjunction and negative particle introduce an absolute and unequivocal prohibition. It signals a divine imperative that brooks no compromise.
- let any of thy seed: (מִזַּרְעֲךָ - miz-zar'akha) Refers to one's offspring or descendants. "Seed" highlights the sanctity and lineage of Israel, intended to carry on the covenant heritage. This emphasis underscores the tragedy of dedicating a future generation, a divine gift, to a foreign deity.
- pass through the fire: (לְהַעֲבִיר בָּאֵשׁ - leha'avir ba'esh) Literally, "to cause to pass over/through in fire." This phrase is primarily understood as a euphemism for actual child sacrifice, i.e., burning the child as an offering, as evidenced by clear descriptions in Jeremiah 7:31 and Ezekiel 16:21. While some ancient interpretations debated if it meant a non-fatal purification ritual, the biblical context consistently portrays it as a heinous, fatal act. This practice defiled both the child and the parent's sacred covenant relationship with God.
- to Molech: (לַמֹּלֶךְ - lam-molekh) Refers to a specific deity associated with child sacrifice. Scholars suggest the name Molech (מלך) might be a deliberate vocalization of the Hebrew word melek (king) with the vowels of bosheth (shame) to disgrace the deity, signifying contempt for such an idol. Molech worship represented the epitome of pagan depravity, demanding the ultimate human cost—innocent lives—for purported blessings. This offering fundamentally opposed Yahweh, who bestows life and forbids its destruction in this manner.
- neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: (וְלֹא תְחַלֵּל אֶת־שֵׁם אֱלֹהֶיךָ - welo tehalel et-shem eloheykha)
- profane: (תְחַלֵּל - tehalel) From the root halal, meaning "to make common, to defile, desecrate, pollute." This highlights that sacrificing children to Molech was not merely murder or idolatry, but a direct attack on God's holy character. It demonstrated contempt for His majesty and distinctiveness, implying that Yahweh was no different from pagan gods who required such horrific acts.
- the name of thy God: Refers to God's revealed character, His very being and reputation. By such acts, Israel dragged God’s holy name into the mud of pagan idolatry, cheapening His unique holiness among the nations. It shattered the sacred boundaries God had established.
- I am the LORD: (אֲנִי יְהוָה - ani YHWH) This is a recurring divine self-attestation throughout Leviticus and other books. It serves as the ultimate authority for the command, grounding it in God's unchangeable, sovereign nature. It is not merely a statement of identity, but a declaration of exclusive right, power, and ultimate demand for obedience. It asserts His unique holiness and sole claim to worship, contrasting sharply with the defiling actions against His children and His name.
Leviticus 18 21 Commentary
Leviticus 18:21 stands as a critical declaration of divine holiness and human value. The commandment absolutely forbids child sacrifice, emphasizing its direct violation of God's character and His covenant with Israel. Offering "seed" to Molech was considered the ultimate betrayal, as children, viewed as blessings from God and carriers of the covenant promise, were given to an entity that was antithetical to life. This act directly contradicted Yahweh's sanctification of Israel and defiled His holy name, reducing Him to the level of pagan deities who craved human blood. It represented a severe failure to differentiate between the true God, who gives and preserves life, and false gods who demanded its destruction. The divine assertion "I am the LORD" punctuates this command, underscoring that obedience is not optional, but integral to recognizing God's supreme authority and unique holiness, which stands distinct from all pagan practices.
Bonus Section
- Pagan Contrast: This prohibition sets Yahweh worship apart from the surrounding cultures, distinguishing Israel's God as one who values human life and abhors bloodshed, particularly the murder of children, contrary to deities like Molech.
- Perversion of Firstborn: Child sacrifice can be seen as a perversion of the legitimate Old Testament principle that the firstborn belonged to the Lord (Exod 13:2), but in a way that involved redemption, not ritual burning or death.
- Land Defilement: This horrific practice, alongside forbidden sexual relationships (also in Lev 18), was said to pollute the land itself, leading to God's judgment and the land "vomiting out" its inhabitants (Lev 18:25).