Lev 18:22-30 | NET2full | STEP | You must not have sexual relations with a male as one has sexual relations with a woman ; it is a detestable act .

‏ Leviticus 18:22-30

22 You must not have sexual relations with a male as one has sexual relations with a woman; ^{▼▼tn Heb “And with a male you shall not lay [as the] lyings of a woman” (see B. A. Levine, Leviticus [JPSTC], 123). The specific reference here is to homosexual intercourse between males.} it is a detestable act. ^{▼▼tn The Hebrew term תּוֹעֵבָה (toʿevah, rendered “detestable act”) refers to the repugnant practices of foreigners, whether from the viewpoint of other peoples toward the Hebrews (e.g., Gen 43:32; 46:34; Exod 8:26) or of the Lord toward other peoples (see esp. Lev 18:26-27, 29-30). It can also designate, as here, detestable acts that might be perpetrated by the native peoples (it is used again in reference to homosexuality in Lev 20:13; cf. also its use for unclean food, Deut 14:3; idol worship, Isa 41:24; remarriage to a former wife who has been married to someone else in between, Deut 24:4).} 23 You must not have sexual relations ^{▼▼tn See the note on v. 20 above.} with any animal to become defiled with it, and a woman must not stand before an animal to have sexual relations with it; ^{▼▼tn Heb “to copulate with it” (cf. Lev 20:16).} it is a perversion. ^{▼▼tn The Hebrew term תֶּבֶל (tevel, “perversion”) derives from the verb “to mix; to confuse” and therefore refers to illegitimate mixtures of species or violation of the natural order of things.}

Warning against the Abominations of the Nations

24 “‘Do not defile yourselves with any of these things, for the nations that I am about to drive out before you ^{▼▼tn Heb “which I am sending away (Piel participle of שָׁלַח [shalakh, “to send”]) from your faces.” The rendering here takes the participle as anticipatory of the coming conquest events.} have been defiled with all these things. 25 Therefore ^{▼▼tn Heb “And.” The Hebrew conjunction ו (vav, “and”) can be considered to have resultative or even inferential force here.} the land has become unclean, and I have brought the punishment for its iniquity upon it, ^{▼▼tn Heb “and I have visited its [punishment for] iniquity on it.” See the note on Lev 17:16 above.} so that the land has vomited out its inhabitants. 26 You yourselves must obey ^{▼▼tn Heb “And you shall keep, you.” The latter emphatic personal pronoun “you” is left out of a few medieval Hebrew mss, Smr, the LXX, Syriac, and Vulgate.} my statutes and my regulations and must not do any of these abominations, both the native citizen and the resident foreigner ^{▼▼sn On the Hebrew ger (גֵּר) “resident foreigner” see notes at Exod 12:19 and Deut 29:11.} in your midst, 27 for the people who were in the land before you have done all these abominations, ^{▼▼tn Heb “for all these abominations the men of the land who were before you have done.”} and the land has become unclean. 28 So do not make the land vomit you out because you defile it ^{▼▼tn Heb “And the land will not vomit you out in your defiling it.”} just as it has vomited out the nations ^{▼▼tc The MT reads the singular “nation” and is followed by ASV, NASB, NRSV; the LXX, Syriac, and Targum have the plural “nations” (cf. v. 24).} that were before you. 29 For if anyone does any of these abominations, that person who does them will be cut off from the midst of the people. ^{▼▼sn Regarding the “cut off” penalty see the note on Lev 7:20.} 30 You must obey my charge not to practice any of the abominable statutes ^{▼▼tn Heb “to not do from the statutes of the detestable acts.”} that have been done before you, so that you do not ^{▼▼tn Heb “and you will not.” The Hebrew conjunction ו (vav, “and”) can be considered to have resultative force here.} defile yourselves by them. I am the Lord your God.’”