Leviticus 7 20

Leviticus 7:20 kjv

But the soul that eateth of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, that pertain unto the LORD, having his uncleanness upon him, even that soul shall be cut off from his people.

Leviticus 7:20 nkjv

But the person who eats the flesh of the sacrifice of the peace offering that belongs to the LORD, while he is unclean, that person shall be cut off from his people.

Leviticus 7:20 niv

But if anyone who is unclean eats any meat of the fellowship offering belonging to the LORD, they must be cut off from their people.

Leviticus 7:20 esv

but the person who eats of the flesh of the sacrifice of the LORD's peace offerings while an uncleanness is on him, that person shall be cut off from his people.

Leviticus 7:20 nlt

If you are ceremonially unclean and you eat meat from a peace offering that was presented to the LORD, you will be cut off from the community.

Leviticus 7 verses

Leviticus 7 20 Meaning

Leviticus 7:20 articulates a fundamental principle concerning holiness and participation in sacred rituals: any person who consumes the flesh of the LORD's peace offerings while in a state of ritual uncleanness is to be "cut off" from the community. This underscores the sanctity of God's consecrated offerings and the indispensable requirement of ritual purity for anyone approaching or partaking in acts of communion with God. The peace offering, being a communal meal shared between God, the priest, and the offerer, made the issue of personal cleanness paramount.

Leviticus 7 20 Context

Leviticus chapter 7 elaborates on the laws of various sacrifices, detailing portions for the priests and offerers. Verses 11-38 specifically deal with the peace offering (šĕlāmîm), an offering of fellowship and thanksgiving, uniquely characterized by the sharing of its meat between God (burnt portion), the priests (specific portions), and the offerer's family. Verse 20, immediately following rules about contact with unclean food (v. 19), shifts the focus to the uncleanness of the person consuming the sacred meat. This regulation ensures the purity of those participating in the communal meal with the LORD. The entire book of Leviticus establishes a comprehensive framework for holiness, defining how a holy God can dwell among an imperfect people through purification rites, sacrifices, and strict adherence to divine commands, preparing Israel to be a consecrated nation distinct from its pagan neighbors. The historical context reflects a nomadic society freshly covenanting with a holy God at Sinai, learning foundational principles for living in His presence.

Leviticus 7 20 Word Analysis

• But: (Heb. waw – ו) Serves as a conjunction, connecting this specific prohibition to the preceding one (Lev 7:19), indicating a related but distinct regulation.
• the person: (Heb. hannefesh – הנפש) Literally "the soul" or "the living being." Emphasizes individual accountability for violating sacred norms, highlighting that each member of the community is personally responsible.
• who eats: (Heb. ki yokal – כי יאכל) The act of consuming is deliberate. The warning is not against accidental contact, but active partaking in the sacred meal while being ritually unfit.
• of the flesh: (Heb. mibbasar – מבשר) Specifically refers to the edible meat portion of the sacrifice, differentiating it from blood or fat.
• of the sacrifice of the LORD's peace offerings: (Heb. hazzevaḥ miššlāmîm lē'Adonay – הזבח משלמים ליהוה)
  • sacrifice: (zevaḥ) – a general term for an animal sacrifice.
  • peace offerings: (šĕlāmîm) – From the root š-l-m (שלם), meaning "completeness," "wholeness," "peace," "fellowship." This offering signified communion, gratitude, or a vow. Eating it was akin to a shared meal with God. Its defilement was a grave insult to this fellowship.
  • of the LORD's: (lē'Adonay) – "Belonging to Yahweh." Reinforces divine ownership and the holy nature of the offering, making its desecration an affront directly to God.
• while unclean: (Heb. ṭūm’ātô ‘ālāyw – טמאתו עליו) "His uncleanness upon him." This refers to a state of ritual impurity (ṭāmē') that, while not necessarily sin, rendered a person unfit for sacred engagement or presence in holy space. Sources of uncleanness could include bodily emissions, contact with dead bodies, or certain skin diseases. Such states were temporary and could be removed by specific purification rituals (e.g., ritual washing, offerings).
• that person: (Heb. hû' hannefesh – הוא הנפש) Repetition of "that soul/person," for emphatic certainty, ensuring no ambiguity regarding the subject of the severe penalty.
• shall be cut off: (Heb. wĕnikrĕtāh – ונכרתה) From the verb kārat (כרת), "to cut off." A passive form, suggesting a divine decree or divinely commanded action carried out by the community. This severe penalty typically means expulsion from the covenant community, implying loss of social, economic, and religious rights and often entailing divine judgment, potentially including premature death. It represented an extreme form of exclusion.
• from his people: (Heb. mē'ammâw – מעמיו) "From his 'am'," referring to the covenant people of Israel. This signifies banishment from the assembly, fellowship, and protection of the covenant, marking the individual as a non-participant in God's chosen nation.

Words-group analysis:

• "But the person... while unclean": This emphasizes the crucial condition of the worshipper. It's not just the consecrated object, but the state of the person engaging with it that is paramount. Holiness demands purity in participation.
• "eats of the flesh...peace offerings": This precisely identifies the holy material and the sacred context being profaned. The peace offering was a high point of communal worship and intimacy with God, making its defilement particularly egregious.
• "shall be cut off from his people": This is the stark consequence. It underscores the severity with which God views the profanation of sacred things and the indispensable nature of purity for maintaining the integrity of the covenant community and its relationship with Him.

Leviticus 7 20 Bonus Section

• The meticulous purity laws in Leviticus (including 7:20) provided a tangible and daily educational framework for ancient Israel regarding God's transcendent holiness and their own fallenness, demonstrating the necessity of divine intervention (atonement) and meticulous adherence for meaningful fellowship with Him.
• The distinction between ṭāmē’ (unclean) and ḥāṭā’ (sin) is vital: while uncleanness was not always a sin, treating holy things or engaging in worship while unclean constituted a sin, punishable because it demonstrated a disregard for God's holiness.
• The repeated usage of "cut off" (kārat) across various Pentateuchal laws (e.g., for not circumcising, violating Passover rules, presumptuous sin) emphasizes its critical role as the ultimate covenant boundary-maintenance mechanism, safeguarding the integrity and purity of the LORD's people.

Leviticus 7 20 Commentary

Leviticus 7:20 encapsulates a central theological truth for ancient Israel: God's holiness demands corresponding purity from His people, especially in acts of worship and communion. The peace offering, being unique as a communal meal shared between God and His worshippers, epitomized fellowship. To partake of this consecrated meal while ritually unclean was not merely a ceremonial infraction, but an act of profanation that violated the sanctity of the offering and, by extension, the Holy God to whom it belonged. The penalty, "being cut off," was a grave measure of covenant discipline. It meant spiritual, social, and often physical ostracism from the community, indicating God's judgment and separation from the benefits of His covenant. This demonstrated the seriousness of approaching the divine without due reverence and prescribed purification. It served as a constant reminder that fellowship with God is not automatic but conditional, requiring intentional purity and obedience, foreshadowing the New Testament emphasis on inner purity for true worship.