20:2 Molech A Canaanite deity associated with child sacrifice.

must stone him with stones Stoning also was the punishment in cases of blasphemy (24:14, 16) and the worship of other gods (Deut 17:1–7; compare Exod 21:15–17, 29.).

20:3 profanes my holy name At the most basic level, to profane something means treat it as common or ordinary, that is, not sacred. The ritualistic sacrifice of one’s children is an affront to God’s holy name.

20:5 against his clan The entire clan becomes the target of God’s wrath if the offender is not punished.

who prostitute after The Hebrew word used here, zanah, is a common word for illicit sexual activity that is often used metaphorically to describe the worship of other gods (see Exod 34:15–16; Lev 17:7; Judg 2:17; Hos 4:12).

20:7 you shall be holy Holiness may be defined as “otherness,” or distinctiveness—something separate from that which is common or ordinary (see note on Lev 6:18).

Holiness and Sacred Space in Israelite Religion

20:9 curses his father or his mother Honoring one’s parents is one of the Ten Commandments (see Exod 20:12; Lev 19:3). A death sentence associated with cursing underscores the egregiousness of a dysfunctional relationship.

20:10 commits adultery with a man’s wife, who commits adultery with his neighbor’s Adultery is also forbidden in Exod 20:14; Lev 18:20; and Deut 22:22.

20:11 he has exposed his father’s nakedness The Hebrew idiom used here, often translated as “uncovering nakedness,” is a common euphemism for sexual intercourse. The context here makes it clear that the idiom refers to a son having sex with any of his father’s wives. See note on Lev 18:7.

20:12 their blood is on them Another way of referring to being under the death penalty.

20:13 lies with a male as lying with a woman One of Leviticus’ explicit denouncements of homosexual behavior. As with 18:22, it is described as an abomination (to’evah), meaning something abhorrent, offensive, or detestable. Here, the death penalty is associated with the crime.

20:14 a woman and her mother This legislation is echoed in 18:17 and Deut 27:23. In the Deuteronomic context, this prohibition is chanted during the covenant renewal ceremony.

they shall burn Death by fire is noted elsewhere with respect to prohibited sexual relationships. Leviticus 21:9, for instance, calls for burning a priest’s daughter who prostitutes herself. Compare Gen 38:24.

20:15 a man who has sexual relations with an animal Refers to bestiality (see Lev 18:23 and note; compare Exod 22:19; Deut 27:21).

20:17 takes his sister The context indicates that this refers to having sexual relations with a sister. The Hebrew verb used here, laqach, is a common term used for taking a woman in marriage (e.g., Deut 22:13, 22:30).

he has exposed his sister’s nakedness Refers to having sexual relations with a sister (see note on Lev 18:6; compare Deut 27:22).

20:18 a menstruating Prohibits having sex with a woman who is menstruating (Lev 18:19; compare 15:24).

20:19 your mother’s sister Forbids sexual relations with an aunt (compare 18:12–13).

20:20 they shall die childless Although the penalty here is not death, having no children would result in the death of the family name and line—which relates to a person being cut off from their people (see note on 7:20).

20:21 marries his brother’s wife Levirate marriage is the exception to this case (see note on 18:16).

20:22 shall not vomit you out Obedience is linked to longevity in the land. Disobedience is a violation of Israel’s covenant with Yahweh; violation results in the loss of Yahweh’s blessing of the land.

20:23 I detested them The Hebrew word used here, quts (“abhor” or “detest”), conveys extreme disgust and dislike (see Num 21:5).

20:24 You yourselves shall take possession of their land The inheritance of the land recalls the Abrahamic promise (see Gen 15; 17).

has set you apart from the nations Separation is conceptually akin to sanctifying. Things and people are “made holy” by being set apart as sacred. See Exod 33:16; Deut 7:6; 14:2; 1 Kgs 8:53.

20:26 you shall be holy for me The exhortation to be holy is rooted in two realities. First Yahweh is holy, and second, He has set His people apart for this purpose. This also functions as a transition into Lev 21, which focuses upon holiness.