Keraia
Leviticus 7

Leviticus 7:20

The Peace Offering · Leviticus 7:11–21
Read Leviticus 7

Translations

Modern
But if anyone who is unclean eats meat from the peace offering that belongs to the LORD, that person must be cut off from his people.
Traditional
But the soul that eateth of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, that pertain unto the Lord, having his uncleanness upon him, even that soul shall be cut off from his people.
Literal
And the soul who eats the flesh from the sacrifice of the peace offerings that is to YHWH, and his uncleanness is on him, that soul shall be cut off from his people.
Latin
Anima polluta quæ ederit de carnibus hostiæ pacificorum, quæ oblata est Domino, peribit de populis suis.

Original

Hebrew
English
But if anyone who is unclean eats meat from the peace offering that belongs to the LORD, that person must be cut off from his people.

Notes

Leviticus 7:20–21

cut off: This expression can mean three serious things:

  1. God judged the person, and they died early from natural causes (Leviticus 17:10–14).

  2. The community executed the person (see Exodus 31:14).

  3. The person lost membership in Israel. This was either by expulsion (like excommunication) or being shunned and treated as ceremonially unclean (Leviticus 18:24–30; see 23:29–30, where "cut off" seems different from "destroy").

Leviticus 7:19–21

Anything ceremonially unclean could not touch what was holy (Leviticus 7:20). Although uncleanness was not sinful by itself, it symbolized what was unholy (see Exodus 19:10).

Theme notes and profiles

Ancient Law Codes Pure Worship

Parallels

Leviticus 3:1–17

Glossary

Biblical Concept of Law Deuteronomy, Book of History of Israel Law of Moses Leviticus, Book of Moses Offerings and Sacrifices Peace Offering

Topics

Defilement: Laws Relating To Peace-Offerings: No Unclean Person to Eat of Purification: Penalty to be Imposed Upon Those Who do not Observe the Ordinances Concerning Uncleanness: (Ceremonially Speaking)