The Bible and Homosexuality: Levitical Law

In a previous blog comment about the Bible and Homosexuality this topic came up. In this post I will present my evidence that Levitical Law has nothing to say about homosexuality at all. In the studies that will follow it I will discuss I Corinthians 6:9 as well as I Timothy 1:10, then the story of the destruction of Sodom and possibly other related scriptures and topics if there seems to be interest in this topic, as HaShem allows of course. I give strong evidence of the love and marriage of David, who became King of the Jews, and King Soul's son Jonathan here. If you are interesting in this topic be sure and comment either here or to me privately letting me.

In the following rather poor quality video I share the same basic information as appears in the textual portion of this blog. Whatever your views on this topic I invite your comments. My only request is that this discussion remain polite. Please resist to urge to insult people on either side of the debate. Let's have a nice conversation, shall we?

John of AllFaith's
Biblical Questions
Biblical Answers

Correctly Understanding Leviticus 20:13 and 18:22 A Study by Pastor John © 1999 (revised 8-1-2006)

On Leviticus 20:13,14

Does the Levitical Holiness Code condemn homosexuality? Find out here!
Watch this video, or return to the referenced study at Grace Inclusive

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 18:22

"Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination."


These verses are found within the "Holiness Code" which emphasized to the Israelites that they were to be set apart to God from the rest of the nations. The CONTEXT is God's prohibition that the Israelites must not engage in the practices found in the nearby fertility cult of Molech and Ashteroth. Look at the beginning of the chapter and you will see this clearly:

1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2 After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances.
4 Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the LORD your God.
5 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD.

As religious cults tend to ignore the Scriptural context in order to justify their doctrines, so too well meaning Christians sometimes take a verse here or there without considering its context when it appears, at first glance, that the verse supports their position. Such is the case here.



The word "Abomination" used here is a translation of the Hebrew word to-ay-baw which specifically refers to idolatrous practices that are displeasing to God. This word has nothing to do with sexuality, neither homo nor heterosexual, unless that sexuality is directly involved in the worship of other gods. Hence, this prohibition is the same as Paul's concern in Romans 1 and I Corinthians 6:9. The reference here is to the fertility worship, i.e. sex rites, which the Israelites were to shun. They were to only walk in paths directed by their God. In the following verses (6 on), many of these forbidden activities are specifically listed.



Allowing ones semen to be used in Pagan rites to fertility gods etc., and moreover the worship in any manner of those gods, is what is being discussed here, not homosexuality. Notice what the incorporation of sexuality into Pagan rites does, it 'profanes the name of thy God,' hence God commands the Jews that He alone is their God. And so we read in context:

"...And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD: 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."

What exactly is Moses forbidding here? In context he is forbidding the people from worshiping Molech and the other local gods in any way, including through the popular sex rites.



Then certain abuses are enumerated and we come to verse 13, again specifically concerning the use of semen and sex magic.

Throughout their history the Israelites had a weakness for idolatry according to the Bible. This is simply another example of God seeking to control that weakness. These two verses say nothing about homosexuality.

God's best,

~Pastor John

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