📖 Leviticus — Chapter 20 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
Leviticus 20:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Leviticus 20:2 Again, thou shalt say to the children of Israel, RWhosoever he be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that giveth any of his seed unto Molech; he shall surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones.
Leviticus 20:3 And RI will set my face against that man, and will cut him off from among his people; because he hath given of his seed unto Molech, to defile my sanctuary, and to profane my holy name.
Leviticus 20:4 And if the people of the land do any ways Rhide their eyes from the man, when he giveth of his seed unto Molech, and kill him not:
Leviticus 20:5 Then RI will set my face against that man, and against his family, and will cut him off, and all that go a whoring after him, to commit whoredom with Molech, from among their people.
Leviticus 20:6 And the soul that turneth after such as have Rfamiliar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.
Leviticus 20:7 Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God.
Leviticus 20:8 RAnd ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the LORD which sanctify you.
Leviticus 20:9 For every one that Rcurseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death: he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him.
Leviticus 20:10 And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour’s wife, Rthe adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
Leviticus 20:11 And the man that lieth with his father’s wife hath uncovered his father’s nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
Leviticus 20:12 And if a man Rlie with his daughter in law, both of them shall surely be put to death: they have wrought confusion; their blood shall be upon them.
Leviticus 20:13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
Leviticus 20:14 And if a man take Ra wife and her mother, it is wickedness: they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they; that there be no wickedness among you.
Leviticus 20:15 And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death: and ye shall slay the beast.
Leviticus 20:16 And if a woman approach unto any beast, and lie down thereto, thou shalt kill the woman, Rand the beast: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
Leviticus 20:17 And if a man shall take his sister, his father’s daughter, or his mother’s daughter, and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness; it is a wicked thing; and they shall be cut off in the sight of their people: he hath uncovered his sister’s nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity.
Leviticus 20:18 And if a man shall lie with a woman Rhaving her sickness, and shall uncover her nakedness; he hath Tdiscovered her fountain, and she hath uncovered the fountain of her blood: and both of them shall be cut off from among their people.
Leviticus 20:19 And thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother’s sister, nor of thy father’s sister: for he RTuncovereth his near kin: they shall bear their iniquity.
Leviticus 20:20 And if a man shall lie with his uncle’s wife, he hath uncovered his uncle’s nakedness: they shall bear their sin; they shall die Rchildless.
Leviticus 20:21 And if a man shall take his brother’s wife, it is Tan unclean thing: he hath uncovered his brother’s nakedness; they shall be childless.
Leviticus 20:22 Ye shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all my Rjudgments, and do them: that the land, whither I bring you to dwell therein, spue you not out.
Leviticus 20:23 And ye shall not walk Rin the manners of the nation, which I cast out before you: for they committed all these things, and therefore I abhorred them.
Leviticus 20:24 RBut I have said unto you, Ye shall inherit their land, and I will give it unto you to possess it, a land that floweth with milk and honey: I am the LORD your God, which have separated you from other people.
Leviticus 20:25 Ye shall therefore Rput difference between clean beasts and unclean, and between unclean fowls and clean: and ye shall not make your souls abominable by beast, or by fowl, or by any manner of living thing that Tcreepeth on the ground, which I have separated from you as unclean.
Leviticus 20:26 And ye shall be holy unto me: for I Rthe LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.
Leviticus 20:27 A man also or woman that hath Ra familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
Leviticus 20:1–9 — Holiness and Covenant Penalties
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The chapter sets out severe penalties in Israel's covenant law for giving children to Molech, turning to familiar spirits or wizards, and cursing parents. Israel is commanded to sanctify themselves and keep the LORD's statutes. The text says that the LORD sanctifies them.
Key Truth: The passage joins the call to holiness with the consequences stated in Israel's covenant law.
Check What You Remember
1. To whom were children not to be given? (Leviticus 20:2)
Find it in Leviticus 20:2 (KJV).
2. What were the people commanded to be in verse 7? (Leviticus 20:7)
Find it in Leviticus 20:7 (KJV).
3. Who says he sanctifies Israel? (Leviticus 20:8)
Find it in Leviticus 20:8 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Leviticus 20:10–21 — Penalties for the Named Offences
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
These verses record penalties for adultery and the sexual acts and family relationships named in the passage. The stated consequences differ among the cases and include death, being cut off, and childlessness. They are presented as part of the law given to Israel.
Key Truth: The chapter records particular offences and their stated covenant consequences.
Check What You Remember
1. Did verse 10 name both the adulterer and the adulteress? (Leviticus 20:10)
Find it in Leviticus 20:10 (KJV).
2. Which close relative is named in verse 17? (Leviticus 20:17)
Find it in Leviticus 20:17 (KJV).
3. What consequence is stated in verse 20? (Leviticus 20:20)
Find it in Leviticus 20:20 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Leviticus 20:22–27 — A People Set Apart
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The LORD warns Israel not to copy the nation being displaced from the land. He promises a land flowing with milk and honey and repeats the distinctions between clean and unclean. Israel is to be holy to him because he has separated them to be his people. The closing verse repeats a penalty concerning familiar spirits and wizards.
Key Truth: The LORD calls Israel to belong to him and keep the statutes of the covenant.
Check What You Remember
1. With what two things was the promised land said to flow? (Leviticus 20:24)
Find it in Leviticus 20:24 (KJV).
2. Name both animal statuses distinguished in verse 25. (Leviticus 20:25)
Find it in Leviticus 20:25 (KJV).
3. Whose people were they to be according to verse 26? (Leviticus 20:26)
Find it in Leviticus 20:26 (KJV).
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. How does hiding their eyes from the Molech offence fail to remove its consequence?
2. How do commands to sanctify themselves and obey relate to God’s action?
3. How is keeping the statutes connected with continued dwelling in the land?
4. How do animal distinctions accompany Israel’s separation from other peoples?
5. What purpose is stated for God’s severing Israel from other peoples?
Notes
Write what you want to remember, questions to explore, or Scriptures to look up later. Your saved notes are private to your account.
Loading your notes…
Chapter Navigation