The Book of Leviticus addresses homosexuality specifically in two verses:
- Leviticus 18:22 states, "You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination."
- Leviticus 20:13 says, "If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall be put to death; their blood is upon them."
These verses are part of the Holiness Code and list prohibited sexual behaviors. The language used condemns male homosexual acts by describing them as abominations and prescribes death as a punishment in Leviticus 20:13. The exact interpretation and context of these verses have been widely debated among scholars, with some suggesting the prohibitions targeted specific cultic or abusive practices rather than consensual homosexual relationships broadly. However, traditional interpretations hold these as clear prohibitions against male homosexual acts in the Israelite community.
