Leviticus 18 24

Leviticus 18:24 kjv

Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you:

Leviticus 18:24 nkjv

'Do not defile yourselves with any of these things; for by all these the nations are defiled, which I am casting out before you.

Leviticus 18:24 niv

"?'Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, because this is how the nations that I am going to drive out before you became defiled.

Leviticus 18:24 esv

"Do not make yourselves unclean by any of these things, for by all these the nations I am driving out before you have become unclean,

Leviticus 18:24 nlt

"Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, for the people I am driving out before you have defiled themselves in all these ways.

Leviticus 18 verses

Leviticus 18 24 Meaning

Leviticus 18:24 serves as a crucial warning and a foundational explanation for the preceding list of prohibited sexual relationships and cultic practices (vv. 6-23). It unequivocally commands the Israelites to avoid defiling themselves through these specific acts. The verse then provides the theological justification and dire consequence: the nations previously inhabiting Canaan had engaged in these very same practices, leading to their moral defilement and, consequently, God's divine judgment in driving them out. Thus, Israel is called to be different and holy, lest they suffer the same fate.

Leviticus 18 24 Context

Leviticus chapter 18 outlines a comprehensive list of illicit sexual unions and abominable practices, serving as a strict moral code for the newly formed nation of Israel. Following the covenant at Sinai and God's call for Israel to be a holy nation, this chapter specifically defines the boundaries of ethical and pure behavior in contrast to the prevailing customs of surrounding pagan nations, particularly the Egyptians and Canaanites (vv. 3, 24). The instructions are not merely ceremonial but deeply moral, focusing on actions that inherently "defile" the person, the community, and even the land itself. Verse 24, positioned near the end of this list, acts as a pivotal summary and motivation, explicitly linking the specified prohibitions to the reason for the displacement of the Canaanites. It provides the rationale that moral corruption among the prior inhabitants led to their downfall, warning Israel that similar practices would inevitably lead to their own dispossession from the promised land.

Leviticus 18 24 Word analysis

• Do not defile yourselves: The Hebrew term is tā•mê’ (טָמֵא), meaning "to be unclean, to become impure, to be polluted, defiled." In Levitical law, this word carries both ritual and moral connotations. Here, it refers primarily to moral and spiritual impurity, indicating that these acts corrupt one's spiritual standing and inherent purity before God. The passive-reflexive form emphasizes self-defilement – individuals choose to make themselves unclean. This concept signifies a deep moral degradation that affects the whole being.
• by any of these things: This phrase serves as an anaphoric reference to the extensive list of forbidden sexual acts and cultic abominations detailed in Leviticus 18:6-23. This includes various forms of incest, adultery, child sacrifice to Molech, bestiality, and homosexual acts. The inclusion of "any" highlights the comprehensive and absolute nature of the prohibition; there is no tolerance for even a single deviation from these standards.
• for by all these: Reiterates the preceding point, emphasizing that the totality of these actions leads to defilement. It highlights the direct cause-and-effect relationship: engaging in "these things" directly causes spiritual and moral impurity.
• the nations: The Hebrew word goyim (גּוֹיִם), referring specifically to the indigenous populations of Canaan (e.g., Amorites, Hittites, Jebusites, Perizzites), whom God commanded Israel to dispossess. They represent the archetype of morally depraved societies, whose practices stood in stark opposition to God's holiness. Their example serves as a potent object lesson.
• whom I am driving out before you: This signifies divine judgment and justice. The phrase "driving out" (Hebrew: gāraš - to drive out, expel, cast out) directly refers to God's active role in executing judgment upon the Canaanites. Their removal from the land is presented not as a arbitrary act but as a just consequence of their severe moral and spiritual defilement. It underscores God's sovereignty over the nations and His unwavering commitment to righteousness. "Before you" connects this divine action directly to Israel's imminent conquest and inheritance of the land, emphasizing their direct observation of God's justice.
• have become defiled: Repeats the term ṭame’ (niṭmə’û), confirming that the nations' participation in "these things" resulted in their profound and pervasive impurity, which subsequently led to their expulsion. This demonstrates God's consistent standard: moral defilement, regardless of who commits it, necessitates separation from His presence and blessing, ultimately leading to removal from the promised land.

Words-group analysis

• Do not defile yourselves by any of these things: This is a direct command, laying personal and communal responsibility at Israel's feet. It warns against self-inflicted defilement, which is distinct from ritual uncleanness from external contact. The "things" referred to are sins that pollute the inner person and violate the covenant with God, creating an intrinsic impurity.
• for by all these the nations... have become defiled: This provides the rationale and the grim consequence. The impurity is not just a personal matter but has national, and even cosmic, implications. The land itself reacts to such pollution ("the land vomited out its inhabitants," Lev 18:25). The nations serve as a negative example and a stark warning to Israel about the natural, covenantal consequences of such behavior. It establishes a theological precedent for why the Canaanites were being displaced.

Leviticus 18 24 Bonus section

• The Land's Reaction: The subsequent verse, Lev 18:25, personifies the land as "vomiting out" its inhabitants due to defilement. This powerful imagery signifies that the land itself, created by God and given as an inheritance, cannot tolerate such severe moral pollution. It reflects the sanctity of God's creation and His holy dwelling presence.
• A Basis for Dispossession: This verse offers a key theological explanation for the command to drive out the Canaanites, refuting any notion of arbitrary conquest. It demonstrates that God's judgment against them was just and righteous, provoked by their extensive and ingrained immoral practices, some of which (like child sacrifice) were deeply abhorrent.
• Ongoing Relevance: While addressed to ancient Israel, the moral principles embedded in Lev 18:24 against sexual immorality and abominable practices resonate throughout Scripture. The New Testament consistently reasserts the importance of sexual purity for believers (e.g., in passages against porneia), linking it to the sanctity required of God's people and the coming kingdom of God.

Leviticus 18 24 Commentary

Leviticus 18:24 encapsulates the core message of the chapter: God demands holiness and distinctiveness from Israel. The verse functions as a powerful theological justification for the stringent sexual laws outlined earlier, highlighting the direct link between moral behavior and divine judgment. The "defilement" described is not merely ritual impurity, but a profound moral and spiritual corruption that grieves God and fundamentally pollutes the individual, the community, and even the land promised to Israel. The precedent of the Canaanites serves as an unmistakable warning: these practices, which God identifies as abominations, are precisely what caused the previous inhabitants of the land to be expelled. God's standard of holiness is unwavering, applicable to all peoples. For Israel, failure to uphold these laws would lead to the same consequence of being "vomited out" by the land. This verse thus underscores the gravity of obedience, presenting it as vital for national survival and flourishing in the covenant relationship with God. It reinforces that Israel's tenancy in the land was conditional upon their moral and cultic purity.