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.
LEVITICUS 7:20KJVWhat does Leviticus 7:20 mean?
Leviticus 7:20 warns that anyone who eats the meat from the peace offerings to the LORD while still being ritually unclean will be separated from their community. This rule stresses that only those who are ceremonially clean may participate in eating these special sacrifices.
In Leviticus, God is giving instructions to Moses for the Israelites about proper worship and sacrifices. The peace offerings were a way for people to celebrate fellowship with God, but there were strict rules about who could take part. Being "cut off" meant exclusion from the community, showing how seriously purity was taken in these rituals.
The Hebrew behind Leviticus 7:20
- The word "soul" (נֶפֶשׁ, nephesh) here refers to a person or individual, not just a spiritual part, emphasizing personal responsibility for ritual purity.
- "Uncleanness" (טֻמְאָה, tum'ah) means a state of ritual impurity, which could come from various sources like contact with certain animals or bodily conditions. This word highlights that the concern is not physical dirt but a specific religious status.
- "Cut off" (כָּרַת, karath) often means to be excluded or separated from the people, which could involve banishment or loss of community standing, not necessarily death. This shows the seriousness of breaking these worship rules.
Why Leviticus 7:20 matters
- This verse clarifies that ritual purity was not just a private matter but affected the whole community’s relationship with God.
- The rule connects to the broader theme in Leviticus about holiness and the need for careful boundaries around sacred things.
- Understanding the specific terms helps modern readers see that "uncleanness" was about ritual status, not moral failure, and "cut off" was a severe but communal consequence.