It appears that I erred by posting the Leviticus and Deuteronomy study in a separate thread. So, I'll place it here.
Leviticus 18:22 and Deuteronomy 23:17
Deuteronomy first and Leviticus second. Since the ERV, like the KJV uses the word "sodomite" in the passage, and keeping with the goal of not using the labels, I'm going to insert in each place the definition of the Hebrew words.
"There shall be no female temple prostitute of the daughters of Israel, neither shall there be a male temple prostitute of the sons of Israel." (Deut 23:17 ERV)
"Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore(zanah), or the wages of a dog(keleb), into the house of the LORD thy God for any vow: for even both these are an abomination unto the LORD thy God." (Deut 23:18, ERV)
or possibly more clear
"You must not allow a common prostitute’s fee, or the pay of a male prostitute, to be brought into the house of the Lord your God in fulfilment of any vow, for both of them are abominable to the Lord your God." (Deut 23:18, REB)
The definitions used in v 17 above come from the Brown-Driver-Biggs Lexicon . The female temple prostitute is the Hebrew qdeshah and Strong's defines it "(technically) a female shrine prostitute devoted to sexual idolatry." The male temple prostitute is the Hebrew qadesh and Strong's defines it "(technically) a male shrine prostitute devoted to sexual idolatry". The male temple prostitute is found in 1 Kings 14:24, 15:12, 22:46; 2 Kings 23:7. The Hebrew for male temple prostitute is also found in Job 36:14 translated "the unclean in the "KJV & ERV; but in the NRSV it is rendered "shame" with margin note (Heb ends among the temple prostitutes) and the REB translates as "male prostitutes".
The Hebrew for "female temple prostitute" in v17 is qdeshah and is used only 3 other times in the OT. The Hebrew translated "whore" v18, in the ERV and "common prostitute" in the REB is zanah and it is found 82 times in the OT. The exact meaning of v18 is not certain in details, but it is clear that fees from any prostitute, male or female was never to be brought into the temple, for both the prostitutes and the fees are an abomination(to`ebah) to God. Verse 18 appears to address secular prostitutes by the change in Hebrew wording.
Study of the Leviticus passage.
"Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination." (Lev 18:22, ERV)
The book of Leviticus was law specifically for Israel as seen in two clear passages:
"These are the statutes and judgments and laws, which the LORD made between him and the children of Israel in mount Sinai by the hand of Moses." (Lev 26:46, ERV)
"These are the commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses for the children of Israel in mount Sinai." (Lev 27:34, ERV) *this v34 is the last verse of the book of Leviticus.
Leviticus 18:22 is nowhere quoted for Christians in the NT. The command "thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself" is found several times in the NT for Christians and it is a quote from Lev. 19:18b. But, it is for Christians because it is given to us in the New Covenant, not because it is somewhere in the OT or in Leviticus.
Some make a point that in the Septuagint, the Greek koites for bed (marriage bed) found in v22; is half of the word arsenokoites translated "abusers of themselves with men" in 1 Cor. 6:9; therefore it seems to be thought it is 'almost' like a quote. Such comparisons are risky when comparing the Greek of the Septuagint translation and the NT Greek. In the Septuagint, the rape of Tamar by Amnon in chapter 13 of 2 Samuel is called "love" using the Greek word agape, v15. I do not think any Christian wishes to equate rape with agape love.
Leviticus chapter 18 must be seen in its full context. The chapter starts in this manner:
"After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their statutes." (Lev 18:3, ERV)
They are being separated from the "doings" of Egypt and Canaan. This is about being separate and apart from the world to the LORD. The word "statutes" in v3 is the Hebrew chuqqah and viewing how the word is used it is clearly a word of religious ritual, rites. In Exodus 12 the Passover is chuqqah, a rite. The continual burning of the lamp in the "tent of meeting", Ex. 27:21 is chuqqah. The word is a religious word. Then in Lev. 18:22 itself is the word "abomination" which is the Hebrew to`ebah, and again this is a word mainly of religious ritual. The incest in this chapter reminds one of the the incest practiced by the families of the Pharaohs, who were considered gods. Then in v23 bestiality is mentioned and women engaged in ritual sex with goats in Egypt. Because of the religious connotations of the Hebrew words used here, it is clear that v22 is referring to the "male temple prostitutes" that were prohibited in Deut. 23:17; where in v18 it was also called "abomination".
Verse 22 is between two verses clearly condemning works of idolatry:
"And thou shalt not give any of thy seed to make them pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD. Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. And thou shalt not lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast, to lie down thereto: it is confusion." (Lev 18:21-23, ERV)
Verse 21 condemns the sacrifice of children to Molech and v23 condemns the known idolatrous act of bestiality. The 19th century Keil & Delitzsch commentary states on this verse:
"Lying with animals was connected in Egypt with the worship of the goat; at Mendes especially, where the women lay down before he-goats (Herodotus, 2, 46; Strabo, 17, p. 802). Aelian (nat. an. vii. 19) relates an account of the crime being also committed with a dog in Rome; and according to Sonnini, R. 11, p. 330, in modern Egypt men are said to lie even with female crocodiles."
It seems clear that for the Israelites, to whom this law in v22 is directed, are prohibited from being male temple prostitutes. Deut. 23:17 states the female temple prostitute and the male temple prostitute are equally abominations to God. Since this verse is not quoted for Christians in the NT, it is not a command for Christians, but idolatry of any kind is condemned in the NT. This chapter 18 of Leviticus appears to be part of what God condemns in the following:
"When the LORD thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest in to possess them, and thou possessest them, and dwellest in their land; take heed to thyself that thou be not ensnared to follow them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou inquire not after their gods, saying, How do these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise. Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters do they burn in the fire to their gods." (Deut 12:29-31, ERV)
Leviticus 18:22 and Deuteronomy 23:17
Deuteronomy first and Leviticus second. Since the ERV, like the KJV uses the word "sodomite" in the passage, and keeping with the goal of not using the labels, I'm going to insert in each place the definition of the Hebrew words.
"There shall be no female temple prostitute of the daughters of Israel, neither shall there be a male temple prostitute of the sons of Israel." (Deut 23:17 ERV)
"Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore(zanah), or the wages of a dog(keleb), into the house of the LORD thy God for any vow: for even both these are an abomination unto the LORD thy God." (Deut 23:18, ERV)
or possibly more clear
"You must not allow a common prostitute’s fee, or the pay of a male prostitute, to be brought into the house of the Lord your God in fulfilment of any vow, for both of them are abominable to the Lord your God." (Deut 23:18, REB)
The definitions used in v 17 above come from the Brown-Driver-Biggs Lexicon . The female temple prostitute is the Hebrew qdeshah and Strong's defines it "(technically) a female shrine prostitute devoted to sexual idolatry." The male temple prostitute is the Hebrew qadesh and Strong's defines it "(technically) a male shrine prostitute devoted to sexual idolatry". The male temple prostitute is found in 1 Kings 14:24, 15:12, 22:46; 2 Kings 23:7. The Hebrew for male temple prostitute is also found in Job 36:14 translated "the unclean in the "KJV & ERV; but in the NRSV it is rendered "shame" with margin note (Heb ends among the temple prostitutes) and the REB translates as "male prostitutes".
The Hebrew for "female temple prostitute" in v17 is qdeshah and is used only 3 other times in the OT. The Hebrew translated "whore" v18, in the ERV and "common prostitute" in the REB is zanah and it is found 82 times in the OT. The exact meaning of v18 is not certain in details, but it is clear that fees from any prostitute, male or female was never to be brought into the temple, for both the prostitutes and the fees are an abomination(to`ebah) to God. Verse 18 appears to address secular prostitutes by the change in Hebrew wording.
Study of the Leviticus passage.
"Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination." (Lev 18:22, ERV)
The book of Leviticus was law specifically for Israel as seen in two clear passages:
"These are the statutes and judgments and laws, which the LORD made between him and the children of Israel in mount Sinai by the hand of Moses." (Lev 26:46, ERV)
"These are the commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses for the children of Israel in mount Sinai." (Lev 27:34, ERV) *this v34 is the last verse of the book of Leviticus.
Leviticus 18:22 is nowhere quoted for Christians in the NT. The command "thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself" is found several times in the NT for Christians and it is a quote from Lev. 19:18b. But, it is for Christians because it is given to us in the New Covenant, not because it is somewhere in the OT or in Leviticus.
Some make a point that in the Septuagint, the Greek koites for bed (marriage bed) found in v22; is half of the word arsenokoites translated "abusers of themselves with men" in 1 Cor. 6:9; therefore it seems to be thought it is 'almost' like a quote. Such comparisons are risky when comparing the Greek of the Septuagint translation and the NT Greek. In the Septuagint, the rape of Tamar by Amnon in chapter 13 of 2 Samuel is called "love" using the Greek word agape, v15. I do not think any Christian wishes to equate rape with agape love.
Leviticus chapter 18 must be seen in its full context. The chapter starts in this manner:
"After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their statutes." (Lev 18:3, ERV)
They are being separated from the "doings" of Egypt and Canaan. This is about being separate and apart from the world to the LORD. The word "statutes" in v3 is the Hebrew chuqqah and viewing how the word is used it is clearly a word of religious ritual, rites. In Exodus 12 the Passover is chuqqah, a rite. The continual burning of the lamp in the "tent of meeting", Ex. 27:21 is chuqqah. The word is a religious word. Then in Lev. 18:22 itself is the word "abomination" which is the Hebrew to`ebah, and again this is a word mainly of religious ritual. The incest in this chapter reminds one of the the incest practiced by the families of the Pharaohs, who were considered gods. Then in v23 bestiality is mentioned and women engaged in ritual sex with goats in Egypt. Because of the religious connotations of the Hebrew words used here, it is clear that v22 is referring to the "male temple prostitutes" that were prohibited in Deut. 23:17; where in v18 it was also called "abomination".
Verse 22 is between two verses clearly condemning works of idolatry:
"And thou shalt not give any of thy seed to make them pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD. Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. And thou shalt not lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast, to lie down thereto: it is confusion." (Lev 18:21-23, ERV)
Verse 21 condemns the sacrifice of children to Molech and v23 condemns the known idolatrous act of bestiality. The 19th century Keil & Delitzsch commentary states on this verse:
"Lying with animals was connected in Egypt with the worship of the goat; at Mendes especially, where the women lay down before he-goats (Herodotus, 2, 46; Strabo, 17, p. 802). Aelian (nat. an. vii. 19) relates an account of the crime being also committed with a dog in Rome; and according to Sonnini, R. 11, p. 330, in modern Egypt men are said to lie even with female crocodiles."
It seems clear that for the Israelites, to whom this law in v22 is directed, are prohibited from being male temple prostitutes. Deut. 23:17 states the female temple prostitute and the male temple prostitute are equally abominations to God. Since this verse is not quoted for Christians in the NT, it is not a command for Christians, but idolatry of any kind is condemned in the NT. This chapter 18 of Leviticus appears to be part of what God condemns in the following:
"When the LORD thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest in to possess them, and thou possessest them, and dwellest in their land; take heed to thyself that thou be not ensnared to follow them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou inquire not after their gods, saying, How do these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise. Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters do they burn in the fire to their gods." (Deut 12:29-31, ERV)