Leviticus 18 25

Leviticus 18:25 kjv

And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants.

Leviticus 18:25 nkjv

For the land is defiled; therefore I visit the punishment of its iniquity upon it, and the land vomits out its inhabitants.

Leviticus 18:25 niv

Even the land was defiled; so I punished it for its sin, and the land vomited out its inhabitants.

Leviticus 18:25 esv

and the land became unclean, so that I punished its iniquity, and the land vomited out its inhabitants.

Leviticus 18:25 nlt

Because the entire land has become defiled, I am punishing the people who live there. I will cause the land to vomit them out.

Leviticus 18 verses

Leviticus 18 25 Meaning

Leviticus 18:25 declares that the land itself becomes defiled by the grave immoralities and idolatries committed by its inhabitants. As a consequence of this defilement, God asserts His divine judgment, stating He will "visit the iniquity thereof upon it," signifying a righteous reckoning. This judgment results in the powerful imagery of "the land itself vomits out her inhabitants," illustrating that the land, metaphorically speaking, cannot tolerate such egregious sin and will expel those who pollute it, reflecting God's holiness and justice.

Leviticus 18 25 Context

Leviticus chapter 18, leading up to verse 25, lays out a series of prohibitions regarding unlawful sexual relationships and pagan practices like child sacrifice. This chapter distinguishes God's holy people, Israel, from the nations around them, particularly the Egyptians and Canaanites, whose "customs" and "doings" were detestable to the Lord. Verse 25 serves as a dire warning and explanation for the severity of these laws. It explains why these acts are so serious in God's eyes: they actively defile the land, which is God's dwelling place among His people. Historically, Israel was on the cusp of entering the Promised Land, Canaan, inhabited by peoples who practiced the very abominations God was forbidding. This verse justifies God's judgment and subsequent expulsion of those nations from the land, simultaneously warning Israel that the same fate awaited them if they followed similar paths of moral corruption.

Leviticus 18 25 Word analysis

• And the land: (Hebrew: v'ha'aretz וְהָאָרֶץ). Refers specifically to the land of Canaan, the covenant land God promised to Israel. It highlights the profound connection between human conduct and the physical environment, seeing the land as an entity sensitive to spiritual and moral pollution, not just a neutral stage.
• is defiled: (Hebrew: vattimma וַתִּטְמָא). From the root ṭāmē', meaning to be unclean, impure, or ceremonially defiled. In this context, it refers to moral and spiritual contamination by gross sin (sexual immorality, idolatry, child sacrifice). This is not merely ritual impurity but a deep stain upon the land itself, making it abhorrent to a holy God.
• therefore I do visit: (Hebrew: va'efkod וָאֶפְקֹד). From the root pāqad, which means to visit, muster, appoint, or attend to, often with the connotation of punishment or judgment. Here, it denotes God's direct, active intervention and reckoning for the defilement that has occurred.
• the iniquity thereof upon it: (Hebrew: et avonah aleha אֶת־עֲוֺנָהּ עָלֶיהָ). "Iniquity" (avon) signifies guilt, perversion, or punishment for wrongdoing. This phrase specifies that God's "visitation" is specifically directed at the land, as a consequence of the inhabitants' guilt and sin. The land becomes the recipient of the judgment due to what has transpired upon it.
• and the land itself vomits out: (Hebrew: vattāqe' ha'aretz וַתָּקִא הָאָרֶץ). From the root qî', to vomit or spew forth. This is extremely vivid, anthropomorphic language. It paints the land not as passively receiving sin, but as having a visceral, almost organic reaction to it. It implies an overwhelming nausea and an active, violent expulsion, an act of utter rejection.
• her inhabitants: (Hebrew: et yosheveha אֶת־יֹשְׁבֶיהָ). Those dwelling in the land. This makes it clear that the land's expulsion is aimed directly at the people who have defiled it through their actions. This applies both to the current Canaanite inhabitants and serves as a severe warning to Israel if they were to fall into the same sins.

Leviticus 18 25 Bonus section

The concept of the "vomiting land" extends beyond physical expulsion to underscore the spiritual principle that severe unholiness and moral degradation are intolerable in God's presence and His intended order. It points to a divine abhorrence of certain actions, revealing the depth of their offensive nature to the Creator. This anthropomorphic imagery signifies not just God's judgment through the land but an almost organic revulsion by the land itself. This divine judgment is an inevitable outcome when boundaries of holiness are crossed with impunity, serving as a timeless reminder that rebellion against God's moral law leads to consequences, impacting not only individuals but their communities and environments.

Leviticus 18 25 Commentary

Leviticus 18:25 encapsulates a foundational truth about God's holiness, justice, and the deep interconnectedness He establishes between human morality and the well-being of the created order. The "vomiting land" metaphor is among the most striking in the Old Testament, conveying the extreme repugnance of certain sins to God and His creation. It signifies that the abominations detailed in the chapter – particularly sexual perversions and child sacrifice – are not merely moral transgressions but acts that deeply corrupt and pollute. This pollution is so profound that the land, as God's domain, cannot stomach it; it actively expels those who commit such deeds, highlighting the inherent incompatibility of wickedness with the holy space God intends for His people. This serves as both a righteous justification for the expulsion of the Canaanites and a stern, enduring warning to Israel, emphasizing that their tenure in the Promised Land was conditional upon their obedience to God's moral and spiritual laws.