Commentaries Dictionaries Concordances

Commentary Critical and Explanatory

Leviticus 20:4

And if the people of the land do any ways hide their eyes from the man, when he giveth of his seed unto Molech, and kill him not:

If the people of the land ... - i:e., connive at their countrymen practicing the horrid rites of Molech. Awful was it that any Hebrew parents could so violate their national covenant; and no wonder that God denounced the severest penalties against them and their families.

Continues after advertising

See also Leviticus 20:4 in other biblical comments:

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    Molech, literally, “the King”, called also Moloch, Milcom, and Malcham, was known in later times as “the abomination of the Ammonites” 1 Kings 11:5. He appears to have been the fire-god of the eastern...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    3. WARNINGS AGAINST SPECIAL SINS AND THEIR PENALTIES CHAPTER 20 _ 1. Warning against Molech--worship and familiar spirits (Leviticus 20:1)_ 2. Warning against cursing parents (Leviticus 20:9) 3. C...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    WORSHIP OF MOLECH, ETC. Offering children to Molech (see Leviticus 18:21 *) is to be punished by stoning; such a death emphasizes the repudiation by the whole community and involves everyone in the ac...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    THE. that....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _hide their eyes_ i.e. disregard. For the expression in this sense cp. Proverbs 28:27; Isaiah 1:15....

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    AND THE LORD SPAKE, &C.— In ch. Leviticus 18:21 this dedication of children to Molech, is forbidden in more general terms. It is there said, _thou shalt not let any of thy offspring pass through the f...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    SHALL STONE HIM, &C.— Compare Deuteronomy 7:2; Deuteronomy 7:26. Who, upon the face of these laws, could ever attempt to support so absurd a notion, as that idolatry was tolerated among the Jews? Yet...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    PUNISHMENT FOR UNHOLINESS 20:1-27 MOLECH WORSHIP 20:1-5 TEXT 20:1-5 1 And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Moreover, thou shalt say to the children of Israel, Whosoever he be of the children of...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    (CHS. 17-26) THE LAW OF HOLINESS This section of Leviticus occupies a position by itself, being distinguished from the rest of the book both by style and contents. A few only of its main characteristi...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    LEVITICUS *WORSHIP THE *LORD IN THE BEAUTY OF *HOLINESS LEVITICUS _GORDON CHURCHYARD_ This commentary HAS BEEN through Advanced Checking. Words in boxes are from the Bible, except for the words i...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    AND IF THE PEOPLE OF THE LAND... — In the former verse the Legislator treated of cases where there was insufficient evidence. Here he declares what God would do if the community itself, whose duty it...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וְ אִ֡ם הַעְלֵ֣ם יַעְלִימֽוּ֩ עַ֨ם הָ אָ֜רֶץ

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    PENAL SANCTIONS Leviticus 20:1 In no age or community has it been found sufficient, to secure obedience, that one should appeal to the conscience of men, or depend, as a sufficient motive, upon the n...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Once more we have a repetition of laws already enunciated with the same persistent thought of responsibility. In this section we find the death sentence associated with certain forms of disobedience,...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    And if the (c) people of the land do any ways hide their eyes from the man, when he giveth of his seed unto Molech, and kill him not: (c) Though the people be negligent to do their duty, and defend G...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _My commandment: Hebrew, "If the people hide their face not to see:" (Calmet) or Septuagint, "look over on purpose, and neglect the man who has given of his seed to the ruler."_...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Observe how jealous the LORD is of his honour. If the people of the land connive at this wickedness, and instead of punishing the offender, wink at him; GOD himself will avenge it, and also on the per...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    We have seen the various forms of the work of Christ, of His offering of Himself to God, whether in all the perfectness of His life, or in His death as the means of our acceptance. We have seen furthe...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 19 AND 20. Chapter s 19, 20, carry us somewhat farther. They were to be holy, for Jehovah was holy. Chapter 19 takes up rather the side of good, though keepin...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND IF THE PEOPLE OF THE LAND DO ANY WAYS HIDE THEIR EYES FROM THE MAN,.... That is, the people of the house of Israel, as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan; if the friends, relations, and neighbour...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And if the people of the land do any ways hide their eyes from the man, when he giveth of his seed unto Molech, and kill him not: Ver. 4:. Hide their eyes,] _i.e., _ Be negligent or ignorant....

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Hide their eyes_ Wink at his fault, and forbear to accuse and punish him....

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Of him that giueth of his seed to Molech. 4 of him that fauoureth such an one. 6 Of going to Wizards. 7 Of sanctification. 9 Of him that curseth his parents. 10 Of adulterie. 11.14.17.19 Of Inc...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    FOR SINS AGAINST THE SIXTH, SECOND, AND FOURTH COMMANDMENTS...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    And if the people of the land do anyways hide their eyes from the man when he giveth of his seed unto Molech, consecrating it as an act of worship, AND KILL HIM NOT,...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    PENALTIES FOR SIN GODWARD (VV. 1-8) Chapter 19 has given many laws forbidding sin; now chapter 20 shows that law, when it is broken, demands certain penalties. These penalties were to be executed as s...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-9 Are we shocked at the unnatural cruelty of the ancient idolaters in sacrificing their children? We may justly be so. But are there not very many parents, who, by bad teaching and wicked examples,...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    i.e. Wink at his fault, and forbear to accuse and punish him. Compare ACTS 17:30....

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Leviticus 20:4 people H5971 land H776 way H5956 (H8687) hide H5956 (H8686) eyes H5869 man H376 gives...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    CHILD SACRIFICE TO MOLECH AND INVOLVEMENT IN THE OCCULT IS FORBIDDEN TO ALL IN THE LAND (LEVITICUS 20:2). Leviticus 20:2 “Moreover, you shall say to the children of Israel, Whoever he be of the chil...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Further laws on relationship and walk of God's people. CHARACTERS: God, Moses. CONCLUSION: God has distinguished His people from all others by a holy covenant with them through Christ, the...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Leviticus 20:2. _Molech._ See on Leviticus 18:21. Leviticus 20:3. _I will cut him off._ Ahaz gave his son to Molech, and the Lord afflicted his reign with miseries....

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _He shall surely be put to death._ PENAL SANCTIONS This chapter, directly or indirectly, casts no little light on some most fundamental and practical questions regarding the administration of justice...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    LEVITICUS—NOTE ON LEVITICUS 20:1 Worshipers of MOLECH ought to be stoned TO DEATH (v. Leviticus 20:2). If that is not done,

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    Social and Moral Crimes SUGGESTIVE READINGS Leviticus 20:2.—Again thou shalt say to the children of Israel. These denunclations of sin (already denounced in ch. 18.) are to be _repeated_ in the heari...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION The subject of Leviticus 18:1, is resumed in this chapter; but that which was before considered as sin only is now regarded as crime, and penalties are attached according to the heinousness...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Chapter twenty, now God begins to get a little heavier. In chapter twenty God goes over some of the things He dealt with in chapter eighteen, only in chapter twenty telling that the violators of these...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Kings 20:42; 1 Samuel 3:13; 1 Samuel 3:14; Acts 17:30; Deuteronom

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Hide their eyes — Wink at his fault, and forbear to accuse and punish him....

Continues after advertising