Lev 20:2-6 | NET2full | STEP | “You are to say to the Israelites , ‘ Any man from the Israelites (or any of the resident foreigners who live in Israel ) who gives any of his children to Molech must be put to death ; the people of the land must pelt him with stones .

‏ Leviticus 20:2-6

2 “You are to say to the Israelites, ‘Any man from the Israelites (or any of the resident foreigners ^{▼▼tn The noun “foreigner” (גֵּר; ger) is based on the same verbal root as “lives” (גּוּר; gur), which means “to sojourn, to dwell as an alien.” On the Hebrew ger (גֵּר) “resident foreigner” see notes at Exod 12:19 and Deut 29:11.} who live in Israel) who gives any of his children ^{▼▼tn Heb “his seed” (so KJV, ASV); likewise in vv. 3-4.} to Molech ^{▼▼tn Regarding Molech and Molech worship see the note on Lev 18:21.} must be put to death; the people of the land must pelt him with stones. ^{▼▼tn This is not the most frequently-used Hebrew verb for stoning (see instead סָקַל, saqal), but a word that refers to the action of throwing, slinging, or pelting someone with stones (רָגָם, ragam; see HALOT 1187 s.v. רגם qal.a, and B. A. Levine, Leviticus [JPSTC], 136).}

3 I myself will set my face ^{▼▼tn Heb “And I, I shall give my faces.”} against that man and cut him off from the midst of his people, ^{▼▼sn On the “cut off” penalty see the notes on Lev 7:20 and 17:4.} because he has given some of his children to Molech and thereby defiled my sanctuary and profaned my holy name. ^{▼▼tn Heb “for the sake of defiling my sanctuary and to profane my holy name.”}

4 If, however, the people of the land shut their eyes ^{▼▼tn Heb “And if shutting [infinitive absolute] they shut [finite verb].” For the infinitive absolute used to highlight contrast rather than emphasis see GKC 343 §113.p.} to that man ^{▼▼tn Heb “from that man” (so ASV); NASB “disregard that man.”} when he gives some of his children to Molech so that they do not put him to death,

5 I myself will set my face against that man and his clan. I will cut off from the midst of the people both him and all who follow after him in spiritual prostitution, ^{▼▼tn The adjective “spiritual” has been supplied in the translation to clarify that this is not a reference to literal prostitution, but figuratively compares idolatry to prostitution.} committing prostitution by worshiping Molech. ^{▼▼tn Heb “to commit harlotry after Molech.” The translation employs “worshiping” here for clarity (cf. NAB, NCV, TEV, CEV, NLT). On the “cut off” penalty see the note on Lev 7:20.}

Prohibition against Spiritists and Mediums ^{▼▼sn For structure and coherence in Lev 20:6-27 see the note on v. 27 below.}

‏ Leviticus 20:2-6

Prohibition against Spiritists and Mediums ▼▼sn For structure and coherence in Lev 20:6-27 see the note on v. 27 below.

Prohibition against Spiritists and Mediums ^{▼▼sn For structure and coherence in Lev 20:6-27 see the note on v. 27 below.}