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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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Footnotes

  1. 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.
  2. 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.

19 “‘Do not approach a woman to have sexual relations during the uncleanness(A) of her monthly period.(B)

20 “‘Do not have sexual relations with your neighbor’s wife(C) and defile yourself with her.

21 “‘Do not give any of your children(D) to be sacrificed to Molek,(E) for you must not profane the name of your God.(F) I am the Lord.(G)

22 “‘Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman;(H) that is detestable.(I)

23 “‘Do not have sexual relations with an animal and defile yourself with it. A woman must not present herself to an animal to have sexual relations with it; that is a perversion.(J)

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