Leviticus 18:22 Meaning and Explanation
“Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →A line in God's call to a holy life, where what we do with our bodies is treated as holy ground that matters to Him.
The Context of Leviticus 18:22
One verse within Leviticus 18, a chapter where God, speaking through Moses, sets Israel apart from the sexual practices of Egypt and Canaan around them (verses 3 and 24). The whole chapter draws lines around marriage and the body, and grounds them in His own holiness.
What Does Leviticus 18:22 Mean?
This sits in a long chapter where God draws boundaries around the marriage bed and the body for a people He is making His own. The surrounding verses speak to many situations, and the refrain running through the chapter is that Israel is not to live as the nations around them lived (verses 3 and 24). Here God speaks plainly to one of those situations. The word translated "abomination" is strong, used through Leviticus for things that break covenant order. Behind every line stands the same reason given again and again in this chapter: "I am the LORD your God" (verse 4). What we do with our bodies is not a small or private thing to Him; He counts it holy ground.
Every one of us meets the holiness of God and finds we have fallen short of it somewhere, for "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). That shared honesty is where the gospel begins. Jesus came not to leave us in our failure but to carry it, dying for sinners and rising to make us new. He receives every person who comes to Him, offering forgiveness, a clean heart, and the slow, real work of being changed by His Spirit. The same Lord who drew these lines opened His arms on the cross.
Leviticus 18:22 in the Original Language
to'evah (תּוֹעֵבָה), 'abomination' -- something detestable, a thing that violates covenant order before God.
How to Apply Leviticus 18:22 Today
This verse reminds us that God cares about what we do with our bodies and calls every one of us to holiness, a standard none of us meets on our own. We can bring our whole selves, including the places we fall short, to Jesus, who meets us with forgiveness and the patient work of making us new.
Frequently Asked Questions About Leviticus 18:22
What does Leviticus 18:22 mean?
A line in God's call to a holy life, where what we do with our bodies is treated as holy ground that matters to Him.
What is the context of Leviticus 18:22?
One verse within Leviticus 18, a chapter where God, speaking through Moses, sets Israel apart from the sexual practices of Egypt and Canaan around them (verses 3 and 24). The whole chapter draws lines around marriage and the body, and grounds them in His own holiness.
How can I apply Leviticus 18:22 today?
This verse reminds us that God cares about what we do with our bodies and calls every one of us to holiness, a standard none of us meets on our own. We can bring our whole selves, including the places we fall short, to Jesus, who meets us with forgiveness and the patient work of making us new.