Leviticus 24:23 · Bible study
Leviticus 24:23 Commentary: Exact Obedience
Hebrew · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
This verse highlights the Israelites' precise obedience to God's command in executing the blasphemer, teaching the seriousness of God's holiness and
Research Summary
- Meaning: The Israelites executed God's command precisely, demonstrating that obedience to divine justice is both required and possible for the community.
- Key words: Cursed (H7043, קלל, to lightly esteem, revile); stoned (H7275, רגם, to kill by throwing stones); commanded (H6680, צוה, to give orders, appoint).
- Main debate: Whether the emphasis lies on the justice of executing the blasphemer or on the community's exact obedience to God's instruction. Both are intertwined in the text.
- Theological theme: The holiness of God demands that his people take his name seriously and carry out his commands with precision, especially in matters of public sin.
- Best use: Teaching about the seriousness of blasphemy and the necessity of obeying God's instructions exactly, even when they involve difficult or costly actions.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Then Moses spoke to the Israelites, and they took the blasphemer outside the camp and stoned him. So the Israelites did as the LORD had commanded Moses.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Moses spoke to the children of Israel; and they brought him who had cursed out of the camp, and stoned him with stones. The children of Israel did as Yahweh commanded Moses.
KJV King James Version 1769
And Moses spake to the children of Israel, that they should bring forth him that had cursed out of the camp, and stone him with stones. And the children of Israel did as the Lord commanded Moses.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And Moses spake to the children of Israel; and they brought forth him that had cursed out of the camp, and stoned him with stones. And the children of Israel did as Jehovah commanded Moses.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And Moses speaketh unto the sons of Israel, and they bring out the reviler unto the outside of the camp, and stone him with stones; and the sons of Israel have done as Jehovah hath commanded Moses.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And Moses spoke to the children of Israel; and they led the reviler outside the camp and stoned him with stones. And the children of Israel did as Jehovah had commanded Moses.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And Moses spoke to the children of Israel. And they brought forth him that had blasphemed, without the camp: and they stoned him. And the children of Israel did as the Lord had commanded Moses.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y habló Moisés á los hijos de Israel, y ellos sacaron al blasfemo fuera del real, y apedreáronlo con piedras. Y los hijos de Israel hicieron según que Jehová había mandado á Moisés.
E falou Moisés aos filhos de Israel, e eles tiraram ao blasfemo fora do acampamento, e apedrejaram-no com pedras. E os filhos de Israel fizeram segundo que o SENHOR havia mandado a Moisés.
Moïse parla aux enfants d’ Israël; ils firent sortir du camp le blasphémateur, et ils le lapidèrent. Les enfants d’ Israël se conformèrent à l’ ordre que l’ Éternel avait donné à Moïse.
Mose aber sagte es den Kindern Israel; und sie führten den Flucher hinaus vor das Lager und steinigten ihn. Also taten die Kinder Israel, wie der HERR dem Mose geboten hatte.
En Mozes zeide tot de kinderen Israels, dat zij den vloeker tot buiten het leger uitbrengen, en hem met stenen stenigen zouden. En de kinderen Israels deden, gelijk als de HEERE Mozes geboden had.
E Mosè parlò ai figliuoli d’Israele, i quali trassero quel bestemmiatore fuori del campo, e lo lapidarono. Così i figliuoli d’Israele fecero quello che l’Eterno aveva ordinato a Mosè.
To gdy opowiedział Mojżesz synom Izraelskim, wywiedli onego bluźniercę za obóz, i ukamionowali go. I uczynili synowie Izraelscy według tego, jako przykazał Pan Mojżeszowi.
И сказал Моисей сынам Израилевым; и вывели злословившего вон из стана, и побили его камнями, и сделали сыны Израилевы, как повелел Господь Моисею.
於是，摩西 曉諭 以色列 人，他們就把 那咒詛聖名的人 帶 到 營 外，用石頭 打死。以色列 人 就照 耶和華 所吩咐 摩西 的行了。
And Moses said these words to the children of Israel, and they took the man who had been cursing outside the tent-circle and had him stoned. The children of Israel did as the Lord gave orders to Moses.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Leviticus 24:23
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree this verse records the community's exact compliance with God's instruction regarding the blasphemer. Matthew Henry notes that the incident shows how 'evil manners beget good laws', the new case prompted a clear divine command. Adam Clarke stresses that the stoning was judicial, not mob violence: the condemned was led outside the camp, the witnesses laid hands on him, and the execution followed a set procedure. Gill observes that the people 'did as the Lord commanded Moses,' emphasizing complete obedience. Wesley points out that this blasphemer was 'the first that died by the law of Moses,' while Stephen later died by the abuse of that same law. The Cambridge Bible draws a parallel to Numbers 15:32-36, where the Sabbath-breaker was also executed outside the camp under direct divine instruction. Across the traditions, the consensus is clear: the verse demonstrates that God's word was followed to the letter, and that such obedience was essential for maintaining holiness in the community.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The Israelites carried out God's command to execute the blasphemer precisely as instructed, and this obedience is recorded as an example for subsequent generations.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Nature of the blasphemy | The man cursed or reviled the name of Yahweh (v.11). | Some early Jewish traditions (Targums) and Lange note that the Hebrew verb (קלל) may mean 'to utter distinctly,' implying he pronounced the divine Name itself. Other commentators read it simply as cursing or reviling God. |
| Application to foreigners | The punishment applied equally to native Israelites and resident foreigners (v.22). | The Cambridge Bible notes that later post-exilic prohibitions on mixed marriages (Ezra 9-10) went beyond this law, suggesting a stricter application developed over time. |
| Method of execution | The stoning was a judicial act, not mob violence. Witnesses laid hands on the condemned first. | Adam Clarke describes a detailed rabbinic procedure (strip the criminal, one witness strikes with a stone, then a large stone is thrown). Other commentators simply note the fact of stoning without such specifics. |
| Significance of 'outside the camp' | The camp was holy; the blasphemer's sin defiled, so he was removed to maintain purity. | Some see this as a foreshadowing of Christ suffering 'outside the gate' (Hebrews 13:12). Others focus strictly on the ritual-uncleanness context of the wilderness camp. |
Historical & Cultural Context
This verse concludes a narrative that begins in Leviticus 24:10-12, where a man with an Egyptian father and an Israelite mother blasphemes the Name of Yahweh during a quarrel. The case was unprecedented, so the people placed him in custody 'that the mind of the Lord might be shown them' (v.12). The camp of Israel was a holy space where God dwelt among his people; blasphemy defiled the land and required removal. Execution outside the camp symbolically purged the community from pollution, a pattern repeated in Numbers 15:35 for the Sabbath-breaker.
The man's mixed heritage (an Egyptian father, from the 'mixed multitude' of Exodus 12:38) raised questions about whether the law applied to him. God's response in verse 22 made clear: 'You shall have one kind of law for the foreigner as well as the native-born.' This established that Yahweh's holiness and the penalties for violating it bound everyone living within the covenant community, regardless of ancestry.
The stoning procedure, as described by Jewish tradition and cited by Clarke, was deliberate: the witnesses placed their hands on the condemned's head (v.14), then one struck him with a stone; if that failed, a large stone was thrown. This was not mob violence but a controlled, communal act of judgment. The repetition of 'as Yahweh commanded Moses' at the close underscores that justice was not arbitrary, it followed divine instruction to the last detail. The camp's order and purity depended on such faithful execution.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Leviticus 24:23. The Hebrew text is stable across manuscripts. Some English versions render the participle 'the one who had cursed' (WEB, KJV, ASV) while others use 'the reviler' (YLT, Darby) or 'the blasphemer' (BSB), but these are translation choices reflecting the same underlying Hebrew (H7043, קלל). The final clause, 'as Yahweh commanded Moses,' is consistent across all supplied translations and ancient versions.
Reception History
Early Jewish tradition, as reflected in the Targums, associated the blasphemer's sin with uttering the ineffable Name, reinforcing the gravity of reverence toward God. The early church saw in this stoning a type of the death of Christ, who was led 'outside the camp' (Hebrews 13:12). John Wesley specifically linked this verse to Stephen's martyrdom: 'This blasphemer was the first that died by the law of Moses. Stephen the first that died for the gospel, died by the abuse of the law.' Matthew Henry observed that the incident gave rise to new legislation, noting that 'evil manners beget good laws.' Through the centuries, the passage has been used to teach the seriousness of blasphemy and the necessity of exact obedience to God's commands, though Christians have differed on whether the literal penalty applies after Christ.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God gives specific commands for specific sins.Blasphemy was a new case; God did not leave the community to guess the penalty. He spoke directly through Moses, providing clear instruction.
- Obedience must be complete and exact.The text emphasizes that the people did 'as the Lord commanded Moses.' Partial obedience would have dishonored God and undermined justice.
- Justice is a communal responsibility.The whole congregation carried out the execution, not a private individual. Maintaining holiness required collective action.
Five-point outline
- The crime: blasphemy against the sacred Name.
- The custody: the man was held until God's will was known.
- The command: death by stoning outside the camp, with witnesses laying on hands.
- The execution: the community carried out the sentence precisely.
- The principle: God's law applies equally to native and foreigner.
Illustration hooks
- A construction foreman receives a blueprint with exact measurements. Cutting corners may save time, but the building could collapse. Moses and Israel followed the blueprint exactly because God's design was perfect.
- A pharmacist fills a prescription: one wrong pill could kill a patient. The Israelites understood that misapplying God's command would harm the community's relationship with him.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does this passage mean Christians should execute blasphemers today? How do we handle the shift from Old Testament theocracy to the New Covenant era?
- Why does the Bible record such a severe punishment for words? What does this teach about the weight of speech and the honor due to God?
- How can we apply the principle of 'exact obedience' when God's commands in the New Testament are often principles rather than specific laws? What does careful obedience look like in daily life?
Leading a Discussion
This verse ends a difficult story: a man cursed God, and the community stoned him exactly as God commanded. As you read, notice the refrain 'as the Lord commanded Moses.' This phrase is the key to understanding what the writer wants us to see. The passage challenges us to take God's holiness seriously and to consider what obedience to his commands means in our own context.
Discussion questions
- What details in verse 23 show that the Israelites did exactly what God told them? Why do you think the writer repeats this?
- Look at the surrounding laws (vv.15-22). How does the case of the blasphemer connect to the principles of 'eye for eye' and one law for native and foreigner?
- In what ways is the community's obedience here different from merely following a rule? What made this obedience an act of worship?
- The New Testament does not command Christians to execute blasphemers. How do we determine which Old Testament laws to follow literally and which to interpret through Christ?
- How does this passage challenge our modern tendency to minimize the seriousness of irreverent speech about God?
- If God's instructions for the blasphemer were exact, what does that suggest about how we should approach the commands he gives us, even the ones that seem difficult?
- How can a church today honor the principle that God's holiness requires a deliberate, communal response, without reverting to legalism or violence?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Leviticus 24:14 | “Bring him who cursed out of the camp; and let all who heard him lay their hands on his head, and let all the congregation stone him. |
| Leviticus 24:16 | He who blasphemes Yahweh’s name, he shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall certainly stone him. The foreigner as well as the native-born shall be put to death when he blasphemes the Name. |
| Numbers 15:35 | Yahweh said to Moses, “The man shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him with stones outside of the camp.” |
| Numbers 15:36 | All the congregation brought him outside of the camp, and stoned him to death with stones, as Yahweh commanded Moses. |
| Hebrews 2:2 | For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, |
| Hebrews 2:3 | how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation—which at the first having been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard, |
| Hebrews 10:28 | A man who disregards Moses’ law dies without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses. |
| Hebrews 10:29 | How much worse punishment do you think he will be judged worthy of who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant with which he was sanctified an unholy thing, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke draws a sharp line between lawful stoning and mob violence. The Jewish procedure was orderly, with witnesses throwing stones from an elevated place, not a free-for-all. He also notes the crime was unprecedented, which is why Moses had to consult God before judgment could be passed.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator notes that the blasphemer was only half Israelite, a detail that links this incident to later Jewish concerns about foreign influence. After the Return, alliances with Egyptians and other nations were banned because mixed marriages were seen as a threat to the Jewish faith.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note emphasizes the people's exact and immediate obedience to God's command: they brought the blasphemer out and stoned him without delay or alteration, doing precisely what the Lord had instructed Moses. This underscores the seriousness of carrying out divine judgment exactly as given.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill emphasizes that Moses did not act on his own authority but first inquired of the Lord for specific instructions. The people then carried out the sentence exactly as commanded, including placing their hands on the blasphemer before stoning him, showing full compliance with God's directive.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB observes that the execution of Shelomith's son for blasphemy set a precedent in Israel. Stoning became the established punishment for all blasphemy cases, which later explains Stephen's fate in Acts, where he suffered under a false accusation of that crime.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil and Delitzsch highlight that the punishment followed the giving of the laws, not the other way around. For them, this sequence shows that God first established the legal principle, then acted in judgment. The execution of the blasphemer was not arbitrary but carried out according to the divine law already proclaimed.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange sees the Egyptian blasphemer as an outsider who intruded into the Israelite camp and sparked a religious quarrel. His crime was not just against God but against the entire covenant revelation embodied in the Name. The case established that the law against blasphemy applies equally to strangers, and the following penal scale shows the offense ranks above murder.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry observes that this single act of blasphemy became the occasion for God to establish a clear, written law on the matter. What began as a man's wicked outburst led to a broader statute protecting God's name and ensuring equal justice for both native-born and foreigner.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley draws a sharp contrast between the first man stoned under the law of Moses and Stephen, the first Christian martyr. Both suffered the same physical death, but Wesley stresses the vast difference: one was a guilty blasphemer receiving just punishment, the other an innocent servant killed by the law's abuse for preaching the gospel.