Leviticus 18:19-23
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
19 You shall not approach a woman to have intercourse with her while she is in her menstrual uncleanness.(A) 20 You shall not have sexual relations with your neighbor’s wife,[a](B) defiling yourself with her. 21 (C)You shall not offer any of your offspring for immolation to Molech,[b] thus profaning the name of your God. I am the Lord. 22 You shall not lie with a male as with a woman;(D) such a thing is an abomination. 23 You shall not have sexual relations with an animal, defiling yourself with it; nor shall a woman set herself in front of an animal to mate with it; that is perverse.(E)
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- 18:20 Adultery in the Hebrew Bible and the ancient Near East is intercourse between a married or betrothed woman and any male. In the Bible it is generally punishable by the death of both individuals (20:10; cf. Dt 22:22–27). Intercourse with an unmarried or unbetrothed woman is not prohibited but carries responsibilities and fines (cf. Ex 22:15–16; Dt 22:28–29). Cf. Lv 19:20–22.
- 18:21 Immolation to Molech: the reference is to the custom of sacrificing children to the god Molech. Cf. Ez 16:20–21; 20:26, 31; 23:37. See note on Lv 20:1–5.
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