Leviticus 20:1

Study note

Setting — The LORD speaks to Moses at the opening of a legal declaration concerning covenant violations. This moment initiates the chapter’s specific commands regarding idolatry and community purity.

The words — The Hebrew וַיְדַבֵּר (va/y.da.Ber) literally means “and he spoke,” marking a continuous divine address. The phrase לֵ/אמֹר (le./Mor) translates to “to say,” introducing the exact command that follows.

The thread — This formulaic introduction appears repeatedly in Leviticus to mark divine mandates delivered through Moses (Leviticus 6:1; 11:1; 17:1). It establishes a consistent pattern of prophetic transmission for Israel’s covenant law.

Why it lands — It requires the reader to recognize that subsequent commands carry direct divine authority rather than human opinion. The structure demands attentive obedience to the specific instructions that immediately follow.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.