Exodus 22:18-20
New English Translation
18 “You must not allow a sorceress to live.[a]
19 “Whoever has sexual relations[b] with a beast must surely be put to death.
20 “Whoever sacrifices to a god other than the Lord[c] alone must be utterly destroyed.[d]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Exodus 22:18 sn There still were many who wished to follow pagan beliefs and consort with the dead (see Deut 18:10-11). The sorceress was someone who dealt with drugs or herbs for occult purposes.
- Exodus 22:19 tn Heb “lies down with.” The verb שָׁכַב (shakhav) “to lie down” can imply going to bed to sleep or be a euphemism for sexual relations.
- Exodus 22:20 tn Heb “not to Yahweh.”
- Exodus 22:20 tn The verb חָרַם (kharam) means “to be devoted” to God or “to be banned.” The idea is that it would be God’s to do with as he liked. What was put under the ban was for God alone, either for his service or for his judgment. But it was out of human control. Here the verb is saying that the person will be utterly destroyed.
Exodus 22:18-20
New International Version
18 “Do not allow a sorceress(A) to live.
19 “Anyone who has sexual relations with an animal(B) is to be put to death.
20 “Whoever sacrifices to any god(C) other than the Lord must be destroyed.[a](D)
Footnotes
- Exodus 22:20 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them.
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