And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the Lord, shall be put to death.
Anyone who curses or speaks evil against the name of the LORD must be put to death, and the whole community must stone them. This applies equally to foreigners and native-born Israelites—when anyone curses the name of the LORD, they must be put to death.
This verse establishes that under Old Testament law, cursing God's holy name was punishable by death for everyone, regardless of their nationality.
📚 Historical Context
This command appears in the context of Moses giving detailed laws to the Israelites in the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt. It followed a specific incident where a half-Israelite man blasphemed God's name during a fight, prompting God to clarify the punishment for such actions. The law applied equally to native Israelites and foreign residents living among them, emphasizing that God's holiness was to be respected by all.
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