ScriptureDepth's study of Leviticus 24
“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, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death.”
Leviticus 24:16
Yahweh commands Moses about proper punishment for blasphemy, establishing in v. 16 the dire consequence of death for those who curse 'the Name'.
What Leviticus 24 is about
Yahweh spoke to Moses about the lampstand. The children of Israel must bring pure olive oil for the lamp to burn continually (vv. 1-2). Aaron must keep the lamps in order before Yahweh every evening (vv. 3-4). Twelve cakes made from fine flour are to be prepared and arranged on a pure gold table (vv. 5-6). Pure frankincense is to be put on each row as an offering (vv. 7-9).
While in the camp, the son of an Israelite woman blasphemed the Name and cursed (vv. 10-11). He was brought to Moses, and they put him in custody (v. 12). Yahweh commanded that those who heard him lay hands on him and the congregation stone him (vv. 13-14). The law states that anyone who blasphemes Yahweh's Name must be put to death (vv. 15-16). Death is also required for murderers and those who injure their neighbors (vv. 17-21). The same law applies to both foreigners and native-born (vv. 22). Finally, the children of Israel executed the judgment as commanded (v. 23).
Yahweh's commands regarding offerings and blasphemy leave the community responsible for upholding holiness in Israel.
Leviticus 24 at a glance
- Leviticus 24:1–4Instructions for the Lampstand
- Leviticus 24:5–9Preparation of the Showbread
- Leviticus 24:10–12Incident of Blasphemy
- Leviticus 24:13–16Divine Judgment on Blasphemy
- Leviticus 24:17–22Laws of Retribution
- Leviticus 24:23Execution of Judgment
Key verse: Leviticus 24:16
Summary and study helps: AI-drafted (September 2026), checked by automated Scripture gates. Spotted an error? Report it. Fixes are listed on the corrections page.
Chapter text
Read Leviticus 24 (WEB)
Instructions for the Lampstand Leviticus 24:1–4
1Verse 1. Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 2Verse 2. “Command the children of Israel, that they bring to you pure olive oil beaten for the light, to cause a lamp to burn continually. 3Verse 3. Outside of the veil of the Testimony, in the Tent of Meeting, shall Aaron keep it in order from evening to morning before Yahweh continually: it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations. 4Verse 4. He shall keep in order the lamps on the pure gold lamp stand before Yahweh continually.
Preparation of the Showbread Leviticus 24:5–9
5Verse 5. “You shall take fine flour, and bake twelve cakes of it: two tenths of an ephah shall be in one cake. 6Verse 6. You shall set them in two rows, six on a row, on the pure gold table before Yahweh. 7Verse 7. You shall put pure frankincense on each row, that it may be to the bread for a memorial, even an offering made by fire to Yahweh. 8Verse 8. Every Sabbath day he shall set it in order before Yahweh continually. It is an everlasting covenant on the behalf of the children of Israel. 9Verse 9. It shall be for Aaron and his sons; and they shall eat it in a holy place: for it is most holy to him of the offerings of Yahweh made by fire by a perpetual statute.”
Incident of Blasphemy Leviticus 24:10–12
10Verse 10. The son of an Israelite woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the children of Israel; and the son of the Israelite woman and a man of Israel strove together in the camp. 11Verse 11. The son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the Name, and cursed; and they brought him to Moses. His mother’s name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan. 12Verse 12. They put him in custody, until Yahweh’s will should be declared to them.
Divine Judgment on Blasphemy Leviticus 24:13–16
13Verse 13. Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 14Verse 14. “Bring out of the camp him who cursed; and let all who heard him lay their hands on his head, and let all the congregation stone him. 15Verse 15. You shall speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘Whoever curses his God shall bear his sin. 16Verse 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, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death.
Laws of Retribution Leviticus 24:17–22
17Verse 17. “‘He who strikes any man mortally shall surely be put to death. 18Verse 18. He who strikes an animal mortally shall make it good, life for life. 19Verse 19. If anyone injures his neighbor; as he has done, so shall it be done to him: 20Verse 20. fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; as he has injured someone, so shall it be done to him. 21Verse 21. He who kills an animal shall make it good; and he who kills a man shall be put to death. 22Verse 22. You shall have one kind of law for the foreigner as well as the native-born; for I am Yahweh your God.’”
Execution of Judgment Leviticus 24:23
23Verse 23. 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.
World English Bible (public domain)
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Main themes in Leviticus 24
Divine presence
Yahweh provides specific instructions about the lampstand in the Tent of Meeting in verses 1-4, directing Aaron to keep the lamps burning from evening to morning before Yahweh continually. This requirement for constant light signifies ongoing worship in the presence of God. The careful maintenance of the lamp ensures it does not extinguish, aligning with the sacred nature of God's dwelling among His people.
Worship and holiness
The preparation of the showbread in verses 5-9 involves placing the cakes on the pure gold table 'before Yahweh.' This act is part of the worship ritual, emphasizing the necessity of maintaining holiness in the worship setting. The priests are instructed to consume the bread in a holy place, which establishes the proper conduct necessary for worship.
Community justice
In vv. 17-22, the text outlines laws of retribution applicable to all members of the community, including both 'the foreigner as well as the native-born.' This highlights the expectation of justice as a communal responsibility. The stipulations such as 'fracture for fracture, eye for eye' establish a standard for accountability in the community, ensuring that justice is meted out fairly.
Sanctity of God's name
The incident of blasphemy in verses 10-12 details a grave violation as the son of an Israelite woman curses and blasphemes. In verses 13-16, severe divine judgment is mandated, including death for the blasphemer, illustrating the seriousness of disrespecting Yahweh. The chapter outlines the community's obligation to ensure that God's name is honored and upheld.
Chapter outline
How Leviticus 24 unfolds
Leviticus 24:1–4 Instructions for the Lampstand
Yahweh commands the Israelites to provide 'pure olive oil beaten for the light' so that the lamp can burn continually before Him (vv. 1-2). Aaron is instructed to maintain the lampstand in the Tent of Meeting (v. 4).
Leviticus 24:5–9 Preparation of the Showbread
The Israelites are instructed to prepare 'twelve cakes' of fine flour, setting them in two rows on a gold table before Yahweh (vv. 5-6). Each row will have frankincense as a memorial offering (v. 7).
Leviticus 24:10–12 Incident of Blasphemy
An incident occurs where the son of an Israelite woman, who has an Egyptian father, blasphemes Yahweh's name, leading to his being taken into custody by the community (vv. 10-12).
Leviticus 24:13–16 Divine Judgment on Blasphemy
Yahweh commands Moses to bring out the blasphemer for the congregation to stone him, after those who heard him lay their hands on his head (vv. 13-14). This includes a mandate that both foreigners and natives who blaspheme shall be put to death (v. 16).
Leviticus 24:17–22 Laws of Retribution
Yahweh states that anyone who commits murder shall be put to death (v. 17). The laws require reciprocation for injuries, establishing 'fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth' (vv. 19-20), and mandates equal justice for foreigners and natives (v. 22).
Leviticus 24:23 Execution of Judgment
Moses carries out Yahweh’s command by bringing the blasphemer outside the camp and having him stoned by the children of Israel (v. 23). This act fulfills the judgment decreed by God.
Key verses
Leviticus 24:16Yahweh commands Moses about proper punishment for blasphemy, establishing in v. 16 the dire consequence of death for those who curse 'the Name'.
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Study questions
Questions for studying Leviticus 24
- observeIn v6, why are the twelve cakes set in two rows before Yahweh?
- observeWhat does the phrase 'pure olive oil beaten' in v2 indicate about the lamp?
- interpretIn vv. 15-16, why is cursing the Name of Yahweh punishable by death?
- interpretWhy is there a distinction made between the foreigner and the native-born in v22?
- applyWhen have you witnessed or experienced a situation where 'the congregation' took action in response to wrongdoing?
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Cross-references
Passages that echo Leviticus 24
- Matthew 5Leviticus 24:19 and Matthew 5:38Both address retribution: Leviticus 24:19 states, 'as he has done, so shall it be done to him', while Matthew 5:38 references 'an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth'.
- Numbers 15Leviticus 24:12 and Numbers 15:34Both mention custody: Leviticus 24:12 states, 'until Yahweh’s will should be declared to them', while Numbers 15:34 says it was not declared what to do.
- Exodus 25Leviticus 24:5 and Exodus 25:30Both refer to showbread: Leviticus 24:5 states, 'twelve cakes of it', while Exodus 25:30 commands, 'set bread of the presence on the table before me always'.
- Genesis 9Leviticus 24:17 and Genesis 9:6Both discuss capital punishment: Leviticus 24:17 states, 'shall surely be put to death', while Genesis 9:6 says, 'his blood will be shed by man'.
- Deuteronomy 19Leviticus 24:17 and Deuteronomy 19:11Both address homicide: Leviticus 24:17 states, 'He who strikes any man mortally', while Deuteronomy 19:11 details a man who 'strikes him mortally so that he dies'.
- Matthew 12Leviticus 24:16 and Matthew 12:31Both address blasphemy: Leviticus 24:16 states, 'shall surely be put to death', while Matthew 12:31 notes, 'blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men'.
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