Leviticus 19 8

Leviticus 19:8 kjv

Therefore every one that eateth it shall bear his iniquity, because he hath profaned the hallowed thing of the LORD: and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.

Leviticus 19:8 nkjv

Therefore everyone who eats it shall bear his iniquity, because he has profaned the hallowed offering of the LORD; and that person shall be cut off from his people.

Leviticus 19:8 niv

Whoever eats it will be held responsible because they have desecrated what is holy to the LORD; they must be cut off from their people.

Leviticus 19:8 esv

and everyone who eats it shall bear his iniquity, because he has profaned what is holy to the LORD, and that person shall be cut off from his people.

Leviticus 19:8 nlt

Anyone who eats it on the third day will be punished for defiling what is holy to the LORD and will be cut off from the community.

Leviticus 19 verses

Leviticus 19 8 Meaning

Leviticus 19:8 stipulates that if anyone eats a peace offering on the third day, after its designated period of sacred consumption, they will be held accountable for their sin. This is because such an act is considered a desecration of that which is holy to the LORD, treating it as common or profane. The severe consequence for this transgression is that the individual "shall be cut off from his people," implying divine judgment leading to exclusion from the covenant community, spiritual alienation, and possibly an early, divinely appointed death.

Leviticus 19 8 Context

Leviticus 19 is often called the "Holiness Code," serving as the programmatic core of the book. Its overarching theme is encapsulated in verse 2: "You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy." This chapter details a series of commands that outline practical ways in which Israel was to live out its distinctive holiness, blending ethical statutes (love your neighbor, justice) with ritual laws (like sacrifices, observing Sabbaths).

Verse 8 specifically addresses the handling of a "peace offering" (shelamim). These sacrifices were unique as parts of the animal were consumed by the worshiper and priests, signifying fellowship with God. Unlike burnt offerings, which were entirely consumed by fire, or sin/guilt offerings, peace offerings were meant to be eaten within a specified timeframe: on the day they were offered or the day after (Lev 7:16). The law in verse 8, therefore, provides the severe consequence for extending the consumption into the third day. This restriction ensured that the offering was not allowed to putrefy and remained distinct from ordinary food, thereby preserving its sacred quality and preventing contempt for God's designated holy things. It underscored that while fellowship was communal, it operated within divinely set boundaries of purity and reverence.

Leviticus 19 8 Word analysis

• everyone who eats it: Refers to any person, Israelite or sojourner, who consumes the designated parts of the peace offering from Lev 19:6-7, specifically after the two-day consumption period, i.e., on the third day. This indicates an intentional act of disregard.
• shall bear his iniquity: (Hebrew: nasa avono - נשׂא עוֹנוֹ). This phrase signifies bearing the punishment or consequences for one's sin, accepting culpability, and incurring divine judgment. It's a statement of personal accountability for the transgression committed.
• because he has profaned: (Hebrew: hillel - חִלֵּל, a Piel form of חלל). This powerful verb means "to make common," "to defile," "to desecrate," or "to pollute." It is the opposite of sanctifying or hallowing. It implies a deliberate act that diminishes the sacred status of something dedicated to God, treating it as ordinary or trivial.
• the holy thing of the LORD: (Hebrew: qodesh YHVH - קֹדֶשׁ יְהוָה). This refers specifically to the sacrificial offering (the peace offering) that had been consecrated and set apart for God's purposes. By being offered to the LORD, it acquired a unique sacred status, demanding respect and strict adherence to divine regulations concerning its handling. It emphasized its exclusive connection and dedication to the holy God.
• and that person: (Hebrew: hannefesh hahi - הַנֶּפֶשׁ הַהִוא). "That soul/person." Emphasizes the individual nature of accountability, reinforcing that the consequence applies directly to the transgressor.
• shall be cut off from his people: (Hebrew: ve-nikhreta hannefesh hahi mim'ammeha - וְנִכְרְתָה הַנֶּפֶשׁ הַהִוא מֵעַמֶּיהָ, from karat - כרת, "to cut off"). This is the significant term karet. It is a severe form of divine judgment for deliberate offenses, implying spiritual, social, and often physical excision. It can mean excommunication from the community, loss of family line/offspring, or even a premature, divinely-inflicted death, indicating a break in the covenant relationship and an exclusion from its benefits.
• shall bear his iniquity, because he has profaned: This phrase group establishes a direct cause-and-effect relationship. The act of profaning a holy thing causes the individual to bear the weighty consequences of their iniquity. It links the outward ritual action with deep spiritual and moral culpability.
• profaned the holy thing of the LORD: This emphasizes the grave nature of the offense. It is not merely breaking a rule, but violating the sacred, showing contempt for God's presence and distinction between what belongs to Him and what is common. It attacks the very nature of God's holiness as reflected in His consecrated objects.
• bear his iniquity... shall be cut off from his people: These two phrases outline the severe dual consequences. Bearing iniquity describes the direct punitive outcome upon the individual. Being "cut off" specifies the nature of that judgment as a radical separation from God's covenant community and its attendant blessings, demonstrating the extreme seriousness of desecrating divine holiness.

Leviticus 19 8 Bonus section

The underlying reason for the three-day limit for peace offerings often incorporates practical purity and theological reverence. Physically, after two days in that climate, the meat would begin to spoil, symbolizing spiritual decay if not properly honored. Theologically, allowing consumption indefinitely would blur the lines between ordinary food and sacred provisions, thus diluting the distinction of the offering itself as set apart for the LORD. The karet punishment, being "cut off," is more than human excommunication; it typically refers to a divine judgment, possibly involving early death or the cessation of one's lineage, effectively removing the individual from the life of the covenant people both physically and through future generations. This stern penalty served as a deterrent and reinforced the gravity of treating any part of God's revelation or ritual as trivial, thus upholding God's majesty and the purity required to live in His presence. It also highlights the responsibility of the individual to uphold the holiness of the community by adhering to God's precise instructions for worship.

Leviticus 19 8 Commentary

Leviticus 19:8 vividly portrays the sanctity God demands in worship and conduct. The prohibition against consuming the peace offering on the third day, coupled with such severe penalties, reveals that divine holiness is not merely an abstract concept but a practical reality requiring meticulous reverence. Eating the offering past its prescribed time was seen as an act of contempt because it violated the sacred temporality and quality set by God for consecrated things. This was not a minor dietary lapse; it was a profound spiritual transgression, treating a holy object as common, indicating a casualness or disrespect for the LORD Himself and His appointed boundaries. The consequences, "bearing iniquity" and being "cut off from his people," underscored that maintaining distinction between the holy and the common was fundamental to Israel's covenant relationship with God. Failure to do so meant expulsion from the community that benefited from God's presence, signifying a spiritual break. This law reinforces that sincerity, precision, and deep reverence are non-negotiable in approaching the holy God.