Misinterpretations of Leviticus 18:22 often claim it targets only ritual prostitution, pederasty, or exploitative same-sex acts in pagan temples rather than all male homosexual behavior, but the verse contains no such qualifiers and mirrors the absolute prohibitions of adjacent verses against adultery or incest. Some assert the Hebrew 'lie with' implies mere companionship or non-sexual acts, disregarding the explicit sexual context throughout the chapter. Progressive readings dismiss it as outdated cultural taboo irrelevant to committed same-sex relationships today, ignoring its foundational role in Mosaic sexual ethics and enduring moral principles echoed in the New Testament.
Leviticus 18:22
King James Version (1769)
22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
Leviticus 18:22 articulates a clear divine prohibition against men engaging in sexual intercourse with other men, deeming it an abomination, as part of a broader holiness code in chapter 18 that lists forbidden sexual practices to set Israel apart from the immoral customs of surrounding nations like Egypt and Canaan. This command upholds God's intended order for human sexuality, confining it to the marital union between man and woman, reflecting themes of purity, covenant fidelity, and rejection of pagan depravity.