What is the meaning of Leviticus 22:30?

by Howard
(Hampton VA)

It's not about gays and lesbians!

It's not about gays and lesbians!

Leviticus was written to the children of Israel as they prepared to enter the promised land around 1400 BC. Thirteen times in the book of Leviticus, God and Moses say that Leviticus is for the children of Israel. Christians have been free from the law of Moses since Jesus died on Calvary for our sins. God does not require any Christian anywhere to live under the law of Moses today because we are free in Christ Jesus.

Leviticus contains the Holiness Code, (Leviticus chapters 17-26), which gives specific instructions for the children of Israel to obey but which Christians today do not have to obey because we are not under Old Testament Law.

Context is always important!


The context of the Holiness Code and the parts of Levitical law often used against gays is the false worship of pagan gods. The biblical cultural doctrinal historical linguistic literary and religious context of the so called clobber passages in the Bible is NEVER gays and lesbians.

The context of the clobber passages is always cult prostitutes, shrine prostitutes and temple prostitutes (three ways scholars have of describing pagan idolaters and their worship practices), using sex to worship false gods. Idolatry and idol worship are always linked to the sexual worship of false gods.

Have you discovered this truth?


1. Lev 17:7 and goat idols, part 1

2. Lev 17:7 and goat idols, part 2

3. Lev 17:7 establishes context

4. To whom is the
Book of Leviticus addressed?

5. Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13
is about pagan worship practices.

6. How is Molech linked to
Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13?

7. Shrine prostitutes & ancient Israel


According to Acts 21:20-25, first century Jews who got saved did try to keep the Old Testament law, Acts 21:20 but Gentiles did not have to keep the law, Acts 21:25. The Bible links the pagan practices of false religions with the prohibitions of the Holiness Code.

Those pagan practices included using sex to worship the fertility goddess. That is what God and Moses intended to prohibit in Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13.

God and Moses never intended to prohibit two men or two women who love each other from partnering in committed, faithful, non-cultic relationship or gay marriage. That was not then and is not now the context of Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13, therefore, gay marriage and/or being gay is not what those verses address.

It is wicked and sinful and spiritual malpractice when anti-gay Christians rip those verses out of their context of shrine prostitution and use them as weapons to hurt their gay brothers and lesbian sisters.

Scripture cannot mean now
what it did not mean then.


If it wasn't talking about gays and lesbians when Moses originally wrote it, then it isn't talking about gays and lesbians now.


The key to understanding the Bible is to
know for sure you are saved.

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This page updated April 25, 2018

Comments for What is the meaning of Leviticus 22:30?

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Apr 06, 2014
 Wording?
by: Henry

Here's my question: The clobber passage in Leviticus says "Thou shalt not lie with a man as one lies with a woman", but this is clearly about pagan worship, not homosexuality in general. But what I'm confused about is - you said before that this pagan worship was done heterosexually as well.

So if the ritual was done homosexually and heterosexually, and homosexual marriage is as old as time itself, which you said on another page, then why did he word it the way he did to begin with? It sounds almost like he singled out the homosexual part of it, even though it was done with both orientations. With detail and context, can you help me understand, please?

Rick's comment: Hi Henry - the prohibition matched the transgression. The transgression was using anal sex rituals to worship false gods. That is why God forbad those pagan rituals.

In plainer words, God did not single out the homosexual part of it. He forbad a pagan practice which was used in pagan worship. The verse prohibits nothing except the pagan sexual rituals which accompanied worship of false gods.
May 23, 2019
 Confused
by: Nicki

Help me understand. So is it ok to sleep with animals too then? Lev 18:24.

Rick's comment: Hi Nicki - No, it is never okay to have sex with animals.

Here are three pages which explain why.

What does Leviticus 18:22 mean?

Is beastiality okay?

What about sex with animals?
May 19, 2020
 Your words and discernment
by: Blasphemous

This is beyond unbelievable, saying that what God has clearly identified as abhorrent, to the point of destroying Sodom and Gomorrah, for their perversion, is not a sin and is taken out of context. You are a false teacher promoting the lusts of Baal.

Rick's comment: Hi Blasphemous-

From time to time, it may be helpful to remind yourself that, When I disagree with you on the gay issue, that doesn't make me "a false teacher promoting the lusts of Baal."

Many thanks for remembering that.

What must I do to be saved?

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