Leviticus 20:5

My Notes

What Does Leviticus 20:5 Mean?

"Then I will set my face against that man, and against his family, and will cut him off, and all that go a whoring after him, to commit whoredom with Molech, from among their people." God promises to SET HIS FACE AGAINST the person who sacrifices children to Molech — and not just the individual but their FAMILY and all who FOLLOW the practice. The judgment is PERSONAL (God's face set against), FAMILIAL (the family is included), and COMMUNAL (all who follow the practice are cut off). The face-setting is the OPPOSITE of the priestly blessing ('the LORD make His face shine upon thee,' Numbers 6:25). The shining face is blessing. The SET face is judgment.

The phrase "I will set my face against" (venatatti et panai ba'ish — I will set/give my face against the person) is the most PERSONAL form of divine judgment: God doesn't just SEND punishment. He FACES the person — turns His attention, His expression, His countenance AGAINST them. The face of God that BLESSES when it shines now JUDGES when it's set. The face-setting is DIRECT, PERSONAL confrontation. God looks AT you with the intention of OPPOSING you.

The "to commit whoredom with Molech" (liznot acharei haMolekh — to prostitute/whore after Molech) uses SEXUAL INFIDELITY language for child-sacrifice: the Molech-worship (child-sacrifice by fire) is called WHOREDOM — spiritual prostitution, covenant-adultery. The children sacrificed to Molech are the OFFSPRING of the covenant-infidelity. The worship of Molech isn't just a 'different religion.' It's ADULTERY against the covenant God. The language is RELATIONAL: the sin is BETRAYAL, not just error.

Reflection Questions

• 1.What face is God turning toward you — the shining face or the set face?
• 2.What does the judgment including the FAMILY teach about sin's blast-radius?
• 3.How does calling Molech-worship 'whoredom' describe the relational nature of idolatry?
• 4.What does God's face being PERSONAL (set against, turned toward) teach about divine judgment being relational?

Devotional

I will SET MY FACE against that person. And their FAMILY. And everyone who follows them into Molech-worship. The judgment is personal (God's face against you), familial (your family is included), and communal (everyone who follows). The face that should SHINE in blessing is SET in judgment. The divine countenance turns from favor to opposition.

The 'set my face against' is the PERSONAL divine confrontation: God doesn't just send impersonal judgment. He FACES you — turns His countenance, His expression, His full attention AGAINST you. The face of God that shines in the priestly blessing (Numbers 6:25) is the same face that SETS in this judgment. The difference is the DIRECTION: the shining face blesses. The set face opposes. The same face. Different posture.

The 'against his family' extends the judgment DOMESTICALLY: the individual who sacrifices to Molech doesn't face judgment ALONE. The FAMILY is included — the household, the domestic unit, the circle of influence. The sin that was committed by ONE affects the MANY. The judgment that falls on the sinner falls on the sinner's sphere. The family-inclusion says: your sin has a blast-radius. Your idolatry damages more than just you.

The 'whoredom with Molech' uses ADULTERY language for child-sacrifice: the relationship with YHWH is a MARRIAGE. The worship of Molech is CHEATING on that marriage. The sacrificing of children to a false god is the ultimate BETRAYAL — taking the offspring of the covenant-relationship and offering them to the covenant-RIVAL. The language of prostitution makes the worship PERSONAL, not just theological. The sin is RELATIONAL betrayal, not just religious error.

What face is God setting toward you — the shining face of blessing or the set face of judgment?

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Cross References

Related passages throughout Scripture