Exo 22:18-20 | NETfull | STEP | “You must not allow a sorceress to live.

Exodus 22:18-20

18 “You must not allow a sorceress to live. ^{▼▼ There still were many who wished to follow pagan beliefs and consort with the dead (see Deut 18:10–11). The sorceress was someone who dealt with drugs or herbs for occult purposes.}

19 “Whoever has sexual relations ^{▼▼ Heb “lies with.”} with a beast must surely be put to death.

20 “Whoever sacrifices to a god other than the Lord ^{▼▼ Heb “not to Yahweh.”} alone must be utterly destroyed. ^{▼▼ The verb חָרַם (kharam) means “to be devoted” to God or “to be banned.” The idea is that it would be God’s to do with as he liked. What was put under the ban was for God alone, either for his service or for his judgment. But it was out of human control. Here the verb is saying that the person will be utterly destroyed.}