Leviticus 7:20

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Leviticus 7:20 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “but the soul that eateth of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace-offerings, that pertain unto Jehovah, having his uncleanness upon him, that soul shall be cut off from his people.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

but the soul that eateth of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace-offerings, that pertain unto Jehovah, having his uncleanness upon him, that soul shall be cut off from his people.
Leviticus 7:20 — American Standard Version

Context — Leviticus 7

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
20but the soul that eateth of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace-offerings, that pertain unto Jehovah, having his uncleanness upon him, that soul shall be cut off from his people.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“But the soul that eateth [of] the flesh of the sacrifice of the peace offerings, that [pertain] unto the Lord, etc.] That are offered up to him, and so are holy, and therefore not to be eaten by unholy persons, or by any having his uncleanness upon him; a profluvious person that has an issue running out of him, a gonorrhoea; (see <031502>Leviticus 15:2) even that soul shall be cut off from his people; be disfranchised as an Israelite, be debarred the privileges of the sanctuary, or be cut off by death before the usual time and term of man’s life; so those that eat and drink unworthily in the supper of our Lord, where his flesh is eaten and his blood drank, eat and drink damnation to…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“cut off from his people--that is, excluded from the privileges of an Israelite--lie under a sentence of excommunication.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“That eateth - Knowingly; for if it were done ignorantly, a sacrifice was accepted for it. Not being cleansed from his uncleanness according to the appointment, Lev 11:24, &c. This verse speaks of uncleanness from an internal cause, as by an issue, &c. for what was from an external cause is spoken of in the next verse. Leviticus 7:21”
Read attributed excerpt →
Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“7:20-21 cut off: Three interpretations are possible for this expression, all of them very grave: (1) The person was subject to God’s judgment and faced an early death by natural causes (17:10-14). (2) The person was to be executed by the community (cp. Exod 31:14). (3) The person lost communal membership in Israel, either by banishment (such as by excommunication) or by shunning the person and treating him or her as unclean (Lev 18:24-30; cp. 23:29-30, where “cut off” seems distinct from “destroy”).”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“having: Lev 15:2, 3-33; Co1 11:28 shall be: Gen 17:14 Leviticus 7:21”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Sources and verification