Bring forth him that hath cursed without the camp; and let all that heard him lay their hands upon his head, and let all the congregation stone him.
Take the man who cursed God's name outside the camp. Have everyone who heard him place their hands on his head, and then let the whole community stone him to death.
This verse describes the severe punishment for blasphemy under Old Testament law - death by stoning after witnesses confirmed what they heard.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Leviticus, which records laws given to the Israelites by God through Moses during their exodus from Egypt, this verse addresses the punishment for blasphemy as part of maintaining communal holiness. A specific incident involved a man who cursed the name of the Lord, prompting God's directive for the community to execute him by stoning outside the camp to symbolize separation from the sacred. This reflected the ancient Israelite emphasis on preserving God's honor in a theocratic society where reverence for the divine was essential for their identity and covenant.
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