Homosexuality and Leviticus verse

Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 seem like that condemn male-to-male sexual acts.

Leviticus 18:22 "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination"


Leviticus 20:13 "If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them."


Now If we look at Leviticus 18:22 and give a good thought to it.... It says that "A man Must not lie with a man, As He lies with woman, Its ritually unclean"
If we follow the Kind James Version literally, it simply says that "A man must not lie with a man, as (the same man) would lie with a woman, its an abomination."
In a way this verse from the King James version condemns a man who has sexual intercourse with a man, as he does with a woman. But if we follow this verse, we know that gay men only has sex with men. So no gay man has any sexual attraction towards a woman. so, a gay man never has sexual intercourse with a woman. Hence this particular verse of Leviticus 18:22 doesnt condemn homosexuality, because it says that a man cant lie with the same manner with a man as with a woman.
Hence the modern King James version doesnt condemn homosexual acts between two gay man.

We see that in Leviticus 18, God came and spoke Moses to the CHILDREN of ISRAEL!

God didnt say speak unto the men of Israel, but CHILDREN (Including men, women n children)
so, we can not definitely say that (in this reference) that Verse 22 is only for men...
In a way, It could have forbidden everyone.... Hence,,, we find no specific command for only men.




Now if we go back to original Hebrew scriptures, we see a different fact!
Leviticus 18:22 "Thou shalt not lie with ( שכב Shakab) mankind, as with ( משכב Mishkab) womankind: it is abomination."


Leviticus 20:13 "If a man also lie with ( שכב shakab) mankind, as he lieth with ( משכב Mishkab) a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them."

The word used for traditional sexual intercourse in Hebrew is "Shekobeth"

This word was not used in Leviticus verse 18:22 or 20:13.

the Hebrew word Mishkab which has been used in these verses to compare to "lieth with a woman" has several definitions and meanings like Lying on the bed, lying on the couch, Bed, sleeping and sometimes for lying down in submission for sex.

It is states 46 times in 44 verses and in those verses it meant a woman submitting for sex to another man. 

The Hebrew word shakab which has been used in reference to "lie with mankind" also has several definitions. This word has been found 213 times in 194 verses. about 100 incidents use this word to man as simply lying down to sleep.

 For example: Genesis 19:4 "But before they lay down (Shakab), the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:"

Joshua 2:8 "And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof"

51 of the verses use this word in context to "lie down in death". 


52 incidents use this word in context to deceptive coercion which mean Rape or sex by force in modern language. 

Genesis 19:32 "Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father."

Genesis 34:2 "And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her."

2 Samuel 13:14 "Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her."

So may be the Phrase read like this-

"A man must not force rape another man, just as a woman submits to sex with a man."

                                             OR
"A man must not sleep with another man, on a woman's bed"

                                             OR

"A man must not rest with another man on a woman's bed"  

It doesn't appear to be condemning homosexual sex, but most probably homosexual rape or coercion homosexual sex. 

On the other hand if we look at the King James version of 20:13, take a look at the words carefully:
"If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them."

Here we find a stronger proof that God doesnt condemn sexual acts done between 2 gay men.
the verses says...If a man also lie with mankind, meaning if a MAN ALSO lies with a MAN, as he lieth with a woman, In The SAME WAY, As the SAME MAN lies with a woman....both of them have committed an abomination: Both have committed a Act which is RITUALLY UNCLEAN TO GOD.


Now... Lets a revise the Verse again. It states that 1 man must not lie with another man, as THE SAME MAN lies with a woman.... It never says that a Man must not lie with a woman like other men lies with a woman.


Hence forth.... This verse does not condemn gay sex acts between 2 men... But as per the word ABOMINATION (Hebrew word = Toevah) means something that is Unclean in Idol worship. TOEVAH doesnt mean something wicked or sinful... But it means something that is sin in idol worshiping.

Now, if you are curious enough that why would God say that 1 man cannot have sex with a man, as with a woman. We have to Go back to Leviticus 18:22
If we read the Chapter properly, we see that the chapter is split up into 4 parts:
1. Verses 1-5 are greetings from God to Moses...
2. 6-20 are sexual relationships which are banned by God.
3. 21-24 are rituals banned by God which was done in reference to the worship of MOLECH!

4. 25-30 are description of the people who committed these acts.
Leviticus 18:22 if read with reference to the original context, we see that its closely related to the the Verse 21 which states "And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD."

The very next verse states that "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination"


Verse 23 states that "Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion."


It becomes clear when we read the chapter in context, that these verses are referring to the rituals done with the worship of MOLECH!

It is a Cultural fact that in Biblical times, The HETEROSEXUAL men used to have sex with the male shrine prostitutes to give their sperm as a sacrifice to Molech. Male Shrine prostitutes were used as intercessors to Gods like Molech and Baal.

These men were not all gay men... but Heterosexual men who gave their sperm as a sacrifice to Molech. This was unwanted but coerced sex performed to give their sperm to their Gods as their sacrifice. 

Likewise animals like cows n bulls were used for this ritual in a sexual manner. People would have sex with these animals for the same rituals... hence many idols of Biblical times appear as animals like cows or bulls.


This explains why 22-23 appear to forbid male-2-male sex acts n sex with animals due to their links with idolatry.

(Notice the same idol worshiping can be seen in Romans 1)

Hence its clear that Leviticus 18:22 is not forbidding same sex monogamous love relationships... But Leviticus 20:13 forbids the CHILDREN of Israel not to pass their sperm/ children to Molech.

When we read these verses in context, we see that this verses doesnt condemn consensual male-to-male sex acts... But they do Condemn:
1. HOMOSEXUAL SEX WITHIN IDOL WORSHIP.
2. HOMOSEXUAL SEX WITHIN PROSTITUTION
3. HOMOSEXUAL RAPE
4. COERCED HOMOSEXUAL SEX


Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 is Not about concerning Life-long loving monogamous same-sex relationships Or same-sex marriage.
Love (Whether gay or straight) can NEVER be called an ABOMINATION BY GOD!