Leviticus 20:24

Authorized King James Version

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But I have said unto you, Ye shall inherit their land, and I will give it unto you to possess it, a land that floweth with milk and honey: I am the LORD your God, which have separated you from other people.

Original Language Analysis

וָֽאֹמַ֣ר But I have said H559
וָֽאֹמַ֣ר But I have said
Strong's: H559
Word #: 1 of 23
to say (used with great latitude)
לָכֶ֗ם H0
לָכֶ֗ם
Strong's: H0
Word #: 2 of 23
אַתֶּם֮ H859
אַתֶּם֮
Strong's: H859
Word #: 3 of 23
thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you
לָרֶ֣שֶׁת it unto you to possess H3423
לָרֶ֣שֶׁת it unto you to possess
Strong's: H3423
Word #: 4 of 23
to occupy (by driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place); by implication, to seize, to rob, to inherit; also to expel, to impoverish
אֶת H853
אֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 5 of 23
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
אַדְמָתָם֒ their land H127
אַדְמָתָם֒ their land
Strong's: H127
Word #: 6 of 23
soil (from its general redness)
וַֽאֲנִ֞י H589
וַֽאֲנִ֞י
Strong's: H589
Word #: 7 of 23
i
אֶתְּנֶ֤נָּה and I will give H5414
אֶתְּנֶ֤נָּה and I will give
Strong's: H5414
Word #: 8 of 23
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
לָכֶם֙ H0
לָכֶם֙
Strong's: H0
Word #: 9 of 23
לָרֶ֣שֶׁת it unto you to possess H3423
לָרֶ֣שֶׁת it unto you to possess
Strong's: H3423
Word #: 10 of 23
to occupy (by driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place); by implication, to seize, to rob, to inherit; also to expel, to impoverish
אֹתָ֔הּ H853
אֹתָ֔הּ
Strong's: H853
Word #: 11 of 23
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
אֶ֛רֶץ it a land H776
אֶ֛רֶץ it a land
Strong's: H776
Word #: 12 of 23
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
זָבַ֥ת that floweth H2100
זָבַ֥ת that floweth
Strong's: H2100
Word #: 13 of 23
to flow freely (as water), i.e., (specifically) to have a (sexual) flux; figuratively, to waste away; also to overflow
חָלָ֖ב with milk H2461
חָלָ֖ב with milk
Strong's: H2461
Word #: 14 of 23
milk (as the richness of kine)
וּדְבָ֑שׁ and honey H1706
וּדְבָ֑שׁ and honey
Strong's: H1706
Word #: 15 of 23
honey (from its stickiness); by analogy, syrup
אֲנִי֙ H589
אֲנִי֙
Strong's: H589
Word #: 16 of 23
i
יְהוָ֣ה I am the LORD H3068
יְהוָ֣ה I am the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 17 of 23
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם your God H430
אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם your God
Strong's: H430
Word #: 18 of 23
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
אֲשֶׁר H834
אֲשֶׁר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 19 of 23
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
הִבְדַּ֥לְתִּי which have separated H914
הִבְדַּ֥לְתִּי which have separated
Strong's: H914
Word #: 20 of 23
to divide (in variation senses literally or figuratively, separate, distinguish, differ, select, etc.)
אֶתְכֶ֖ם H853
אֶתְכֶ֖ם
Strong's: H853
Word #: 21 of 23
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
מִן H4480
מִן
Strong's: H4480
Word #: 22 of 23
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
הָֽעַמִּֽים׃ you from other people H5971
הָֽעַמִּֽים׃ you from other people
Strong's: H5971
Word #: 23 of 23
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock

Cross References

Deuteronomy 14:2For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.Exodus 6:8And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the LORD.Exodus 3:17And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.Exodus 3:8And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.Deuteronomy 7:6For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.Exodus 33:16For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.Leviticus 20:26And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.1 Kings 8:53For thou didst separate them from among all the people of the earth, to be thine inheritance, as thou spakest by the hand of Moses thy servant, when thou broughtest our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord GOD.1 Peter 2:9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Analysis & Commentary

But I have said unto you, Ye shall inherit their land, and I will give it unto you to possess it, a land that floweth with milk and honey: I am the LORD your God, which have separated you from other people.

This verse falls within the section on Penalties for Disobedience. Punishments for violations of sexual and religious laws, emphasizing the seriousness of sin in God's holy community.


The access to God's presence that Leviticus carefully regulated is now freely available through Christ's blood, tearing the veil and opening the way to God.

Historical Context

Punishments for violations of sexual and religious laws, emphasizing the seriousness of sin in God's holy community. Chapters 17-27, often called the 'Holiness Code,' expand covenant obligations beyond ritual to encompass all of life—sexuality, economics, justice, and relationships. The repeated refrain 'I am the LORD' grounds these laws in God's character and covenant relationship with Israel. Israel received these laws while encamped at Sinai, before entering Canaan. The laws prepared them for life in the promised land, distinguishing them from Canaanite practices and establishing their identity as God's holy nation. The portable tabernacle, central to Levitical worship, accompanied them through wilderness wanderings and eventually found permanent form in Solomon's temple. The tabernacle's design parallels ancient Near Eastern temple architecture, yet its portable nature and absence of divine images distinguished it from pagan temples.

Questions for Reflection

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