What practices are considered detestable according to Leviticus 18:27? Setting of Leviticus 18:27 “For all these detestable things were done by the men who lived in the land before you, and the land became defiled.” What Makes Something “Detestable” in This Context? Verse 27 looks back over the entire chapter, gathering everything God just forbade and labeling it “detestable.” In plain terms, these are practices that violate the created order of sexuality, marriage, and worship. Detailed List of the Detestable Practices (Leviticus 18:6-23) • Incestuous relationships (vv. 6-18) – Parent or step-parent (v. 7) – Siblings, half-siblings (vv. 9, 11) – Grandchildren (v. 10) – Aunt or uncle (vv. 12-14) – Daughter-in-law or son-in-law (v. 15) – Sister-in-law while the brother lives (v. 16) – A woman and her daughter or granddaughter (v. 17) – A wife’s sister as a rival wife (v. 18) • Sexual relations during a woman’s menstrual impurity (v. 19) • Adultery—sexual relations with a neighbor’s wife (v. 20) • Child sacrifice to Molech (v. 21) (Though not sexual, it is grouped here because of its abhorrence and its link to pagan fertility rites.) • Homosexual acts—“You shall not lie with a man as with a woman” (v. 22) • Bestiality—any sexual act with an animal (v. 23) Why God Calls Them Detestable • They corrupt the divine design for family and sexuality (Genesis 2:24). • They mirror the idolatrous, exploitative customs of the Canaanites (Leviticus 18:24-25). • They defile the land and invite divine judgment (Leviticus 18:28). Echoes in the Rest of Scripture • Israel reminded: “Do not follow the practices of the nations” (Leviticus 20:22-23). • New Testament calls believers to flee sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Hebrews 13:4). • God’s design upheld: marriage as a covenant between one man and one woman (Matthew 19:4-6). Key Takeaway Leviticus 18:27 places a sweeping moral fence around God’s people: anything that twists God’s blueprint for sexuality, family, or worship is “detestable.” These boundaries protect human dignity, preserve covenant faithfulness, and keep the community’s relationship with God undefiled. |
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