Leviticus 20:4

New Living Translation

And if the people of the community ignore those who offer their children to Molech and refuse to execute them,

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
If the people at the land do at all hide their eyes from that man, when he gives of his seed to Molekh, and don't put him to death;

King James Version
And if the people of the land do any ways hide their eyes from the man, when he giveth of his seed unto Molech, and kill him not:

Lexham English Bible
And if the people of the land ever shut their eyes from that man at his giving some of his offspring to Molech, not putting him to death,

New Century Version
The people of the community might ignore that person and not kill the one who gave his children to Molech.

New English Translation
If, however, the people of the land shut their eyes to that man when he gives some of his children to Molech so that they do not put him to death,

Amplified Bible
'If the people of the land should ever tolerate that man when he gives any of his children [as a burnt offering] to Molech, and fail to put him to death [as My law requires],

New American Standard Bible
'If the people of the land, however, should ever disregard that man when he gives any of his children to Molech, so as not to put him to death,

Geneva Bible (1587)
And if the people of the lande hide their eyes, and winke at that man when he giueth his children vnto Molech, and kill him not,

Legacy Standard Bible
If the people of the land, however, should ever turn a blind eye to that man when he gives any of those who are his seed to Molech, so as not to put him to death,

Contemporary English Version
Some of you may let them get away with human sacrifice,

Complete Jewish Bible
If the people of the land look the other way when that man sacrifices his child to Molekh and fail to put him to death,

Darby Translation
And if the people of the land do any ways hide their eyes from that man, when he giveth of his seed unto Molech, that they kill him not,

Easy-to-Read Version
Maybe the common people will ignore them. Maybe they will not kill those who gave their children to Molech.

English Standard Version
And if the people of the land do at all close their eyes to that man when he gives one of his children to Molech, and do not put him to death,

George Lamsa Translation
And if the people of the land do in any way ignore the offense of the man who has cast of his semen into an alien woman, that they may not kill him,

Good News Translation
But if the community ignores what you have done and does not put you to death,

Christian Standard Bible®
But if the people of the country look the other way when that man gives any of his children to Molech, and do not put him to death,

Literal Translation
And if the people of the land truly hide their eyes from that man, as he gives his seed to Molech, so as not to put him to death,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And though the people of the londe loke thorow the fyngers vpon that man, which hath geuen of his sede unto Moloch, so that they put him not to death,

American Standard Version
And if the people at the land do at all hide their eyes from that man, when he giveth of his seed unto Molech, and put him not to death;

Bible in Basic English
And if the people of the land do not take note of that man when he gives his offspring to Molech, and do not put him to death,

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And though that the people of the lande hyde their eyes from the man that geueth his chyldren vnto Moloch, and kyll hym not:

JPS Old Testament (1917)
And if the people of the land do at all hide their eyes from that man, when he giveth of his seed unto Molech, and put him not to death;

King James Version (1611)
And if the people of the land doe any wayes hide their eyes from the man, when he giueth of his seed vnto Molech, and kill him not:

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And if the natives of the land should in anywise overlook that man in giving of his seed to Moloch, so as not to put him to death;

English Revised Version
And if the people of the land do any ways hide their eyes from that man, when he giveth of his seed unto Molech, and put him not to death:

Berean Standard Bible
And if the people of the land ever hide their eyes and fail to put to death the man who gives one of his children to Molech,

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
That if the puple of the lond is necgligent, and as litil chargynge myn heeste, and suffrith the man that yaf of his seed to Moloch, nether wole sle hym, Y schal sette my face on that man,

Young's Literal Translation
`And if the people of the land really hide their eyes from that man, in his giving of his seed to the Molech, so as not to put him to death,

Update Bible Version
And if the people at the land do at all hide their eyes from that man, when he gives of his seed to Molech, and do not put him to death;

Webster's Bible Translation
And if the people of the land do any ways hide their eyes from the man, when he giveth of his seed to Molech, and kill him not;

World English Bible
If the people at the land do at all hide their eyes from that man, when he gives of his seed to Molech, and don't put him to death;

New King James Version
And if the people of the land should in any way hide their eyes from the man, when he gives some of his descendants to Molech, and they do not kill him,

New Life Bible
If the people of the land close their eyes when a man gives any of his children to Molech, and do not put him to death,

New Revised Standard
And if the people of the land should ever close their eyes to them, when they give of their offspring to Molech, and do not put them to death,

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But, if the people of the land, do even hide, their eyes from that man, when he giveth of his seed unto Molech, - so as not to put him to death,

Douay-Rheims Bible
And if the people of the land neglecting, and as it were little regarding my commandment, let alone the man that hath given of his seed to Moloch, and will not kill him:

Revised Standard Version
And if the people of the land do at all hide their eyes from that man, when he gives one of his children to Molech, and do not put him to death,

New American Standard Bible (1995)
'If the people of the land, however, should ever disregard that man when he gives any of his offspring to Molech, so as not to put him to death,

Contextual Overview

¹ The Lord said to Moses, ² "Give the people of Israel these instructions, which apply both to native Israelites and to the foreigners living in Israel. "If any of them offer their children as a sacrifice to Molech, they must be put to death. The people of the community must stone them to death. ³ I myself will turn against them and cut them off from the community, because they have defiled my sanctuary and brought shame on my holy name by offering their children to Molech. ⁴ And if the people of the community ignore those who offer their children to Molech and refuse to execute them, ⁵ I myself will turn against them and their families and will cut them off from the community. This will happen to all who commit spiritual prostitution by worshiping Molech. ⁶ "I will also turn against those who commit spiritual prostitution by putting their trust in mediums or in those who consult the spirits of the dead. I will cut them off from the community. ⁷ So set yourselves apart to be holy, for I am the Lord your God. ⁸ Keep all my decrees by putting them into practice, for I am the Lord who makes you holy. ⁹ "Anyone who dishonors father or mother must be put to death. Such a person is guilty of a capital offense.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

hide: Acts 17:30

and kill: Deuteronomy 13:8, Deuteronomy 17:2-5, Joshua 7:12, 1 Samuel 3:13, 1 Samuel 3:14, 1 Kings 20:42, Revelation 2:14

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 22:1 - hide thyself

Cross-References

Genesis 19:24
Then the Lord rained down fire and burning sulfur from the sky on Sodom and Gomorrah.

Genesis 20:6
In the dream God responded, "Yes, I know you are innocent. That's why I kept you from sinning against me, and why I did not let you touch her.

Genesis 20:17
Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants, so they could have children.

Genesis 20:18
For the Lord had caused all the women to be infertile because of what happened with Abraham's wife, Sarah.

2 Samuel 4:11
How much more should I reward evil men who have killed an innocent man in his own house and on his own bed? Shouldn't I hold you responsible for his blood and rid the earth of you?"

1 Chronicles 21:17
And David said to God, "I am the one who called for the census! I am the one who has sinned and done wrong! But these people are as innocent as sheep—what have they done? O Lord my God, let your anger fall against me and my family, but do not destroy your people."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And if the people of the land do any ways hide their eyes from the man,.... That is, the people of the house of Israel, as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan; if the friends, relations, and neighbours of such a man, though they know what he is about to do, or has done, yet they shut their eyes wilfully, or look another way; or, however, wink and connive at his wickedness, and will not discover him, and bear witness against him; or if a court of judicature, before whom he comes, does not take the evidence of his crime, nor condemn for it, or are negligent in punishing him as the law directs, a gift having blinded their eyes, or they careless and remiss in their duty:

when he giveth his seed unto Molech; a crime so heinous and abominable:

and kill him not; do not bring witness against him, so as that he may be put to death, or do not upon the evidence given condemn him to death, or do not take care to have sentence executed, by stoning him to death.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Molech, literally, “the King”, called also Moloch, Milcom, and Malcham, was known in later times as “the abomination of the Ammonites” 1 Kings 11:5. He appears to have been the fire-god of the eastern nations; related to, and sometimes made identical with, Baal, the sun-god. The nature of the rite and of the impious custom called passing children through the fire to Molech is very doubtful. The practices appear to have been essentially connected with magical arts, probably also with unlawful lusts, and with some particular form of profane swearing. The rite in the time of Moses belonged to the region rather of magic than of definite idolatrous worship, and may have been practiced as a lustral charm, or fire-baptism, for the children of incest and adultery.

Leviticus 20:2

Stone him with stones - The commonest form of capital punishment. It was probably preferred as being the one in which the execution was the act of the whole congregation.

Leviticus 20:3

Defile my sanctuary - i. e. pollute the people as identified with their sanctuary.