The Jerusalem Bridge

Leviticus 20

וַיִּקְרָא 20

27 verses · Hebrew with nikud, English alongside · tap 🔊 to hear a verse

1

וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃

vayedabber Adonai el-mosheh lemor

And GOD spoke to Moses:

2

וְאֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵל֮ תֹּאמַר֒ אִ֣ישׁ אִישׁ֩ מִבְּנֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל וּמִן־הַגֵּ֣ר ׀ הַגָּ֣ר בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִתֵּ֧ן מִזַּרְע֛וֹ לַמֹּ֖לֶךְ מ֣וֹת יוּמָ֑ת עַ֥ם הָאָ֖רֶץ יִרְגְּמֻ֥הוּ בָאָֽבֶן׃

ve'el-bene yisra'el tomar ish ish mibbene yisra'el umin-hagger haggar beyisra'el asher yitten mizzaro lammolekh mot yumat am ha'arets yirgemuhu va'aven

Say further to the Israelite people: Anyone among the Israelites, or among the strangers residing in Israel, who gives any offspring to Molech, shall be put to death; the people of the land shall pelt them with stones.

3

וַאֲנִ֞י אֶתֵּ֤ן אֶת־פָּנַי֙ בָּאִ֣ישׁ הַה֔וּא וְהִכְרַתִּ֥י אֹת֖וֹ מִקֶּ֣רֶב עַמּ֑וֹ כִּ֤י מִזַּרְעוֹ֙ נָתַ֣ן לַמֹּ֔לֶךְ לְמַ֗עַן טַמֵּא֙ אֶת־מִקְדָּשִׁ֔י וּלְחַלֵּ֖ל אֶת־שֵׁ֥ם קׇדְשִֽׁי׃

va'ani etten et-panay ba'ish hahu vehikhratti oto miqqerev ammo ki mizzaro natan lammolekh lema'an tamme et-miqdashi ulekhallel et-shem qodshi

And I will set My face against [that party], whom I will cut off from among their kin for having given offspring to Molech and so defiled My sanctuary and profaned My holy name.

4

וְאִ֡ם הַעְלֵ֣ם יַעְלִ֩ימֽוּ֩ עַ֨ם הָאָ֜רֶץ אֶת־עֵֽינֵיהֶם֙ מִן־הָאִ֣ישׁ הַה֔וּא בְּתִתּ֥וֹ מִזַּרְע֖וֹ לַמֹּ֑לֶךְ לְבִלְתִּ֖י הָמִ֥ית אֹתֽוֹ׃

ve'im halem yalimu am ha'arets et-enehem min-ha'ish hahu betitto mizzaro lammolekh levilti hamit oto

And if the people of the land should shut their eyes to that party’s giving offspring to Molech, and should not put them to death,

5

וְשַׂמְתִּ֨י אֲנִ֧י אֶת־פָּנַ֛י בָּאִ֥ישׁ הַה֖וּא וּבְמִשְׁפַּחְתּ֑וֹ וְהִכְרַתִּ֨י אֹת֜וֹ וְאֵ֣ת ׀ כׇּל־הַזֹּנִ֣ים אַחֲרָ֗יו לִזְנ֛וֹת אַחֲרֵ֥י הַמֹּ֖לֶךְ מִקֶּ֥רֶב עַמָּֽם׃

vesamti ani et-panay ba'ish hahu uvemishpakhto vehikhratti oto ve'et kol-hazzonim akharayw liznot akhare hammolekh miqqerev ammam

I Myself will set My face against not only that party but also their clan; and I will cut them off from among their people—all who follow in going astray after Molech.

6

וְהַנֶּ֗פֶשׁ אֲשֶׁ֨ר תִּפְנֶ֤ה אֶל־הָֽאֹבֹת֙ וְאֶל־הַיִּדְּעֹנִ֔ים לִזְנֹ֖ת אַחֲרֵיהֶ֑ם וְנָתַתִּ֤י אֶת־פָּנַי֙ בַּנֶּ֣פֶשׁ הַהִ֔וא וְהִכְרַתִּ֥י אֹת֖וֹ מִקֶּ֥רֶב עַמּֽוֹ׃

vehannefesh asher tifneh el-ha'ovot ve'el-hayyidde'onim liznot akharehem venatatti et-panay bannefesh hahiv vehikhratti oto miqqerev ammo

And if any person turns to ghosts and familiar spirits and goes astray after them, I will set My face against that person—and I will cut them off from among their kin.

7

וְהִ֨תְקַדִּשְׁתֶּ֔ם וִהְיִיתֶ֖ם קְדֹשִׁ֑ים כִּ֛י אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃

vehitqaddishtem vihyitem qedoshim ki ani Adonai elohekhem

You shall sanctify yourselves and be holy, for I the ETERNAL am your God.

8

וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם֙ אֶת־חֻקֹּתַ֔י וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֖ם אֹתָ֑ם אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה מְקַדִּשְׁכֶֽם׃

ushemartem et-khuqqotay va'asitem otam ani Adonai meqaddishkhem

You shall faithfully observe My laws: I GOD make you holy.

9

כִּֽי־אִ֣ישׁ אִ֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יְקַלֵּ֧ל אֶת־אָבִ֛יו וְאֶת־אִמּ֖וֹ מ֣וֹת יוּמָ֑ת אָבִ֧יו וְאִמּ֛וֹ קִלֵּ֖ל דָּמָ֥יו בּֽוֹ׃

ki-ish ish asher yeqallel et-aviv ve'et-immo mot yumat aviv ve'immo qillel damayw bo

Regarding anyone who insults their father or their mother: they shall be put to death; they have insulted their father and their mother—and the bloodguilt is theirs.

10

וְאִ֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֤ר יִנְאַף֙ אֶת־אֵ֣שֶׁת אִ֔ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִנְאַ֖ף אֶת־אֵ֣שֶׁת רֵעֵ֑הוּ מֽוֹת־יוּמַ֥ת הַנֹּאֵ֖ף וְהַנֹּאָֽפֶת׃

ve'ish asher yinaf et-eshet ish asher yinaf et-eshet re'ehu mot-yumat hanno'ef vehanno'afet

If a man commits adultery with a married woman—committing adultery with another man’s wife—the adulterer and the adulteress shall be put to death.

11

וְאִ֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֤ר יִשְׁכַּב֙ אֶת־אֵ֣שֶׁת אָבִ֔יו עֶרְוַ֥ת אָבִ֖יו גִּלָּ֑ה מֽוֹת־יוּמְת֥וּ שְׁנֵיהֶ֖ם דְּמֵיהֶ֥ם בָּֽם׃

ve'ish asher yishkav et-eshet aviv ervat aviv gillah mot-yumetu shenehem demehem bam

If a man lies with his father’s wife, it is the nakedness of his father that he has uncovered; the two shall be put to death—and the bloodguilt is theirs.

12

וְאִ֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֤ר יִשְׁכַּב֙ אֶת־כַּלָּת֔וֹ מ֥וֹת יוּמְת֖וּ שְׁנֵיהֶ֑ם תֶּ֥בֶל עָשׂ֖וּ דְּמֵיהֶ֥ם בָּֽם׃

ve'ish asher yishkav et-kallato mot yumetu shenehem tevel asu demehem bam

If a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall be put to death; they have committed incest—and the bloodguilt is theirs.

13

וְאִ֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִשְׁכַּ֤ב אֶת־זָכָר֙ מִשְׁכְּבֵ֣י אִשָּׁ֔ה תּוֹעֵבָ֥ה עָשׂ֖וּ שְׁנֵיהֶ֑ם מ֥וֹת יוּמָ֖תוּ דְּמֵיהֶ֥ם בָּֽם׃

ve'ish asher yishkav et-zakhar mishkeve isha to'evah asu shenehem mot yumatu demehem bam

If a man lies with a male as one lies with a woman, the two of them have done an abhorrent thing; they shall be put to death—and the bloodguilt is theirs.

14

וְאִ֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִקַּ֧ח אֶת־אִשָּׁ֛ה וְאֶת־אִמָּ֖הּ זִמָּ֣ה הִ֑וא בָּאֵ֞שׁ יִשְׂרְפ֤וּ אֹתוֹ֙ וְאֶתְהֶ֔ן וְלֹא־תִהְיֶ֥ה זִמָּ֖ה בְּתוֹכְכֶֽם׃

ve'ish asher yiqqakh et-isha ve'et-immah zimmah hiv ba'esh yisrefu oto ve'ethen velo-tihyeh zimmah betokhekhem

If a man marries a woman and her mother, it is depravity; both he and they shall be put to the fire, that there be no depravity among you.

15

וְאִ֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִתֵּ֧ן שְׁכׇבְתּ֛וֹ בִּבְהֵמָ֖ה מ֣וֹת יוּמָ֑ת וְאֶת־הַבְּהֵמָ֖ה תַּהֲרֹֽגוּ׃

ve'ish asher yitten shekhovto bivhemah mot yumat ve'et-habbehemah taharogu

If a man has carnal relations with an animal, he shall be put to death; and you shall kill the animal.

16

וְאִשָּׁ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר תִּקְרַ֤ב אֶל־כׇּל־בְּהֵמָה֙ לְרִבְעָ֣הֿ אֹתָ֔הּ וְהָרַגְתָּ֥ אֶת־הָאִשָּׁ֖ה וְאֶת־הַבְּהֵמָ֑ה מ֥וֹת יוּמָ֖תוּ דְּמֵיהֶ֥ם בָּֽם׃

ve'isha asher tiqrav el-kol-behemah lerivah otah veharagta et-ha'isha ve'et-habbehemah mot yumatu demehem bam

If a woman approaches any animal to mate with it, you shall kill the woman and the animal; they shall be put to death—and the bloodguilt is theirs.

17

וְאִ֣ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־יִקַּ֣ח אֶת־אֲחֹת֡וֹ בַּת־אָבִ֣יו א֣וֹ בַת־אִ֠מּ֠וֹ וְרָאָ֨ה אֶת־עֶרְוָתָ֜הּ וְהִֽיא־תִרְאֶ֤ה אֶת־עֶרְוָתוֹ֙ חֶ֣סֶד ה֔וּא וְנִ֨כְרְת֔וּ לְעֵינֵ֖י בְּנֵ֣י עַמָּ֑ם עֶרְוַ֧ת אֲחֹת֛וֹ גִּלָּ֖ה עֲוֺנ֥וֹ יִשָּֽׂא׃

ve'ish asher-yiqqakh et-akhoto bat-aviv o vat-immo vera'ah et-ervatah vehi-tireh et-ervato khesed hu venikhretu le'ene bene ammam ervat akhoto gillah avono yissa

If a man marries his sister, the daughter of either his father or his mother, so that he sees her nakedness and she sees his nakedness, it is a disgrace; they shall be excommunicated in the sight of their kinsfolk. He has uncovered the nakedness of his sister, he shall bear the guilt.

18

וְ֠אִ֠ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־יִשְׁכַּ֨ב אֶת־אִשָּׁ֜ה דָּוָ֗ה וְגִלָּ֤ה אֶת־עֶרְוָתָהּ֙ אֶת־מְקֹרָ֣הּ הֶֽעֱרָ֔ה וְהִ֕וא גִּלְּתָ֖ה אֶת־מְק֣וֹר דָּמֶ֑יהָ וְנִכְרְת֥וּ שְׁנֵיהֶ֖ם מִקֶּ֥רֶב עַמָּֽם׃

ve'ish asher-yishkav et-isha davah vegillah et-ervatah et-meqorah he'erah vehiv gilletah et-meqor dameha venikhretu shenehem miqqerev ammam

If a man lies with a woman during her menstrual condition and uncovers her nakedness, he has laid bare her flow and she has exposed her blood flow; both of them shall be cut off from among their people.

19

וְעֶרְוַ֨ת אֲח֧וֹת אִמְּךָ֛ וַאֲח֥וֹת אָבִ֖יךָ לֹ֣א תְגַלֵּ֑ה כִּ֧י אֶת־שְׁאֵר֛וֹ הֶעֱרָ֖ה עֲוֺנָ֥ם יִשָּֽׂאוּ׃

ve'ervat akhot immekha va'akhot avikha lo tegalleh ki et-she'ero he'erah avonam yissa'u

You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother’s sister or of your father’s sister, for that is laying bare one’s own flesh; they shall bear the guilt.

20

וְאִ֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֤ר יִשְׁכַּב֙ אֶת־דֹּ֣דָת֔וֹ עֶרְוַ֥ת דֹּד֖וֹ גִּלָּ֑ה חֶטְאָ֥ם יִשָּׂ֖אוּ עֲרִירִ֥ים יָמֻֽתוּ׃

ve'ish asher yishkav et-dodato ervat dodo gillah khetam yissa'u aririm yamutu

If a man lies with his uncle’s wife, it is his uncle’s nakedness that he has uncovered. They shall bear the guilt: they shall die childless.

21

וְאִ֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִקַּ֛ח אֶת־אֵ֥שֶׁת אָחִ֖יו נִדָּ֣ה הִ֑וא עֶרְוַ֥ת אָחִ֛יו גִּלָּ֖ה עֲרִירִ֥ים יִהְיֽוּ׃

ve'ish asher yiqqakh et-eshet akhiv niddah hiv ervat akhiv gillah aririm yihyu

If a man marries the wife of his brother, it is indecency. It is the nakedness of his brother that he has uncovered; they shall remain childless.

22

וּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֤ם אֶת־כׇּל־חֻקֹּתַי֙ וְאֶת־כׇּל־מִשְׁפָּטַ֔י וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֖ם אֹתָ֑ם וְלֹא־תָקִ֤יא אֶתְכֶם֙ הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר אֲנִ֜י מֵבִ֥יא אֶתְכֶ֛ם שָׁ֖מָּה לָשֶׁ֥בֶת בָּֽהּ׃

ushemartem et-kol-khuqqotay ve'et-kol-mishpatay va'asitem otam velo-taqi etkhem ha'arets asher ani mevi etkhem shammah lashevet bah

You shall faithfully observe all My laws and all My regulations, lest the land to which I bring you to settle in spew you out.

23

וְלֹ֤א תֵֽלְכוּ֙ בְּחֻקֹּ֣ת הַגּ֔וֹי אֲשֶׁר־אֲנִ֥י מְשַׁלֵּ֖חַ מִפְּנֵיכֶ֑ם כִּ֤י אֶת־כׇּל־אֵ֙לֶּה֙ עָשׂ֔וּ וָאָקֻ֖ץ בָּֽם׃

velo telekhu bekhuqqot haggoy asher-ani meshalleakh mippenekhem ki et-kol-elleh asu va'aquts bam

You shall not follow the practices of the nation that I am driving out before you. For it is because they did all these things that I abhorred them

24

וָאֹמַ֣ר לָכֶ֗ם אַתֶּם֮ תִּֽירְשׁ֣וּ אֶת־אַדְמָתָם֒ וַאֲנִ֞י אֶתְּנֶ֤נָּה לָכֶם֙ לָרֶ֣שֶׁת אֹתָ֔הּ אֶ֛רֶץ זָבַ֥ת חָלָ֖ב וּדְבָ֑שׁ אֲנִי֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־הִבְדַּ֥לְתִּי אֶתְכֶ֖ם מִן־הָֽעַמִּֽים׃

va'omar lakhem attem tireshu et-admatam va'ani ettenennah lakhem lareshet otah erets zavat khalav udevash ani Adonai elohekhem asher-hivdalti etkhem min-ha'ammim

and said to you: You shall possess their land, for I will give it to you to possess, a land flowing with milk and honey. I the ETERNAL am your God who has set you apart from other peoples.

25

וְהִבְדַּלְתֶּ֞ם בֵּֽין־הַבְּהֵמָ֤ה הַטְּהֹרָה֙ לַטְּמֵאָ֔ה וּבֵין־הָע֥וֹף הַטָּמֵ֖א לַטָּהֹ֑ר וְלֹֽא־תְשַׁקְּצ֨וּ אֶת־נַפְשֹֽׁתֵיכֶ֜ם בַּבְּהֵמָ֣ה וּבָע֗וֹף וּבְכֹל֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּרְמֹ֣שׂ הָֽאֲדָמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־הִבְדַּ֥לְתִּי לָכֶ֖ם לְטַמֵּֽא׃

vehivdaltem ben-habbehemah hattehorah latteme'ah uven-ha'of hattame lattahor velo-teshaqqetsu et-nafshotekhem babbehemah uva'of uvekhol asher tirmos ha'adamah asher-hivdalti lakhem letamme

So you shall set apart the pure animal from the impure, the impure bird from the pure. You shall not draw abomination upon yourselves through that which I have set apart for you to treat as impure—[whether] animal or bird or anything with which the ground is alive.

26

וִהְיִ֤יתֶם לִי֙ קְדֹשִׁ֔ים כִּ֥י קָד֖וֹשׁ אֲנִ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה וָאַבְדִּ֥ל אֶתְכֶ֛ם מִן־הָֽעַמִּ֖ים לִהְי֥וֹת לִֽי׃

vihyitem li qedoshim ki qadosh ani Adonai va'avdil etkhem min-ha'ammim lihyot li

You shall be holy to Me, for I GOD am holy, and I have set you apart from other peoples to be Mine.

27

וְאִ֣ישׁ אֽוֹ־אִשָּׁ֗ה כִּי־יִהְיֶ֨ה בָהֶ֥ם א֛וֹב א֥וֹ יִדְּעֹנִ֖י מ֣וֹת יוּמָ֑תוּ בָּאֶ֛בֶן יִרְגְּמ֥וּ אֹתָ֖ם דְּמֵיהֶ֥ם בָּֽם׃ {פ}

ve'ish o-isha ki-yihyeh vahem ov o yidde'oni mot yumatu ba'even yirgemu otam demehem bam

A man or a woman who has a ghost or a familiar spirit shall be put to death; they shall be pelted with stones—and the bloodguilt is theirs.

Hebrew text and English translation from Sefaria, under their Creative Commons licence.

Yaacov, native Jerusalemite

Want to go further with a teacher?

A real 30-minute lesson, one to one — Modern Hebrew, Biblical Hebrew, Yiddish or Aramaic. No card required.

Study 1-on-1 with Yaacov

Prefer a small group? Eight-week groups

One Hebrew word from the Bible, every morning

Get tomorrow's word in your inbox. Free. Unsubscribe whenever.