Keraia
Leviticus 24

Leviticus 24:11

Punishment for Blasphemy · Leviticus 24:10–16
Read Leviticus 24

Translations

Modern
The son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the Name with a curse. So they brought him to Moses. (His mother’s name was Shelomith daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan.)
Traditional
And the Israelitish woman’s son blasphemed the name of the Lord, and cursed. And they brought him unto Moses: (and his mother’s name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan:)
Literal
And the son of the woman, the Israelitess, blasphemed the Name and cursed. And they brought him to Moses. And His mother’s name was Shelomith daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan.
Latin
Cumque blasphemasset nomen, et maledixisset ei, adductus est ad Moysen. (Vocabatur autem mater ejus Salumith, filia Dabri de tribu Dan.)

Original

Hebrew
English
The son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the Name with a curse. So they brought him to Moses. (His mother’s name was Shelomith daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan.)

Notes

Leviticus 24:11

  • blasphemed … with a curse: In biblical times, a name was more than a title. It represented a person's character, reputation, and origin. God is holy, and he required the Israelites to treat him as holy in all aspects of life (see Leviticus 10:3). God's instructed them to show respect for God's name (Exodus 20:7). Using God's name in a curse showed a sinful attitude toward God (Leviticus 24:15). It was punishable by death (24:13–16).

    The Hebrew text in this passage uses two different words for "curse." One refers to a formal type of curse, while the other means a blasphemous or irreverent expression. These terms are used together in 24:15–16 to show the seriousness of the offense.

  • the Name: The Hebrew text referes only to "the Name." This wording shows care and respect for God's name.

Leviticus 24:10–23

A large group of non-Israelites, including other Semitic people and Egyptians, left Egypt with the Israelites (Exodus 12:38). Among them was a man with an Israelite mother and an Egyptian father. A fight broke out between this man and a full-blooded Israelite. the man who was half-Egyptian verbally cursed the Israelite, using the name of God in a disrespectful manner.

Theme notes and profiles

Moses Ancient Law Codes

People

Dibri: Father of Shelomith, whose son blasphemed God's name Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes Moses: Prophet who led Israel out of Egypt Shelomith: Mother of a blasphemer

Places

Dan: Israelite tribe; city in northern Israel; originally called Laish/Leshem

Glossary

Biblical Concept of Law Blasphemy Courts and Trials Criminal Law and Punishment Curse, Cursed Deuteronomy, Book of Dibri God, Names of History of Israel Leviticus, Book of Naboth Shelomith Tribe of Dan

Topics

Blasphemy: General Scriptures Concerning Blasphemy: The Danite Blasphemy: The Depraved Son of Shelomith, Who, in an Altercation with an Israelite, Cursed God Dibri: Father of Shelomith Profane Swearing: Son of Israelitish Woman Punishment: Death Penalty for Blasphemy Shelomith: Mother of a Blasphemer Strife: Leads to Blasphemy Trial: Before Court