Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Leviticus 24:16

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.

16. all stone him ] probably to be attributed to P or R p [72] , as the original word for ‘congregation’ is not found elsewhere in H.

[72] A Reviser, who, probably after that collection had been combined with the Priestly Code, introduced further elements from that Code.

The occurrence just related having brought about the enactment of a law dealing with the particular case of blasphemy, an occasion is thus offered for adding penalties for other transgressions. For the death penalty as prescribed in this v. for smiting a man mortally, cp. Exo 21:12-14.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Stranger – i. e. foreigner. See Lev 16:29 note.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Verse 16. Blasphemeth the name of the Lord] venokeb shem Yehovah, he who pierces, transfixes, or, as some translate it, expounds, the name of Jehovah; See Clarke on Le 24:10. This being the name by which especially the Divine Essence was pointed out, it should be held peculiarly sacred. We have already seen that the Jews never pronounce this name, and so long has it been disused among them that the true pronunciation is now totally lost; See Clarke on Ex 6:3.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

He that blasphemeth the name of the Lord: this some make a distinct sin from cursing his God, mentioned Lev 24:15, but the difference they make seems arbitrary, and without evidence from reason, or the use of the words. And therefore this may be a repetition of the same sin in other words, which is common. And as this law is laid down in more general terms, Lev 24:15, so both the sin and the punishment are more particularly expressed, Lev 24:16. Or the first part of Lev 24:16 be an application of the former rule to the present case. And as for him that blasphemeth, &c., or is blaspheming, &c. in the present tense, which is fitly used concerning words just now uttered, and scarce yet out of their ears, he shall, &c. And so the following words,

as well the stranger, & c., may be a repetition and amplification of the former law.

All the congregation shall stone him, to show their zeal for God, and to beget in them the greater dread and abhorrency of blasphemy.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

16. as well the stranger, as he thatis born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the Lord, shallbe put to deathAlthough strangers were not obliged to becircumcised, yet by joining the Israelitish camp, they becameamenable to the law, especially that which related to blasphemy.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

And he that blasphemeth the name of the Lord,…. Or, “but he that blasphemeth”, c. from whence the Jews gather, that the name Jehovah must be expressed, or it is no blasphemy so Jarchi; but it is not bare using or expressing the word Jehovah that is blasphemy, but speaking ill and contemptuously of God, with respect to any of his names, titles, and epithets, or of any of his perfections, ways, and works:

he shall surely be put to death; no mercy shall be shown him, no reprieve or pardon granted him: hence it is said f, there is no atonement for it, by repentance, or chastisements, or the day of atonement: so blasphemy against the Holy Ghost is not forgiven, neither in this world nor in that which is to come, Mt 12:31;

[and] all the congregation shall certainly stone him; shall have no pity on him, nor spare him, but stone him till he dies:

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; even a proselyte of the gate, a Gentile that sojourned among them, uncircumcised, and did not profess the Jewish religion, as well as a proselyte of righteousness, and an Israelite born; yet, if he blasphemed the God of Israel, was to lose his life without any mercy shown him.

f R. Alphes, par. 1. Yoma, c. 1. fol. 261. 1.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(16) And he that blasphemeth the name of the Lord.Better, And he that curseth the name of the Lord. The case is, however, different when it is the God of Israel. It is henceforth to be the law that whosoever curses Jehovah is to suffer death by lapidation, which is to be inflicted upon the criminal by the Jewish community.

As well the stranger as he that is born in the land.This law is applicable alike to the proselyte and to the Gentile, who does not even profess to believe in Jehovah.

When he blasphemeth the name of the Lord.Better, when he curseth the Name. Here again the expression Name has, out of reverence, been substituted for Jehovah. (See Lev. 24:11.)

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

Upon the occasion of this man’s transgression, opportunity is taken to repeat some of those laws which had been before delivered. And the punishment of Shelomith’s son is related. Reader, do not close the chapter without taking with it the conclusion which it carries; that the wages of sin is, and must be, death. The soul that sinneth it shall die. Precious Redeemer! how reviving under all the sins and transgressions of my nature, whereby I stand most justly exposed to the dread sentence; how reviving is the view of thy righteousness, and the interest of thy redeemed in it, that as sin hath reigned unto death, so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life, through JESUS CHRIST our LORD.

Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

Lev 24:16 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.

Ver. 16. And he that blasphemeth. ] Swearers and blasphemers toss God’s name to and fro with such impiety and profaneness, as if their speech could have no grace but in his disgrace: as if Augustus Caesar were dealing with some god Neptune; or the three sons trying their archery at their father’s heart, to see who can shoot nearest. a

Shall surely be put to death. ] Though he be never so much provoked by others, as this blasphemer was; that shall no whit excuse him.

a Lonicer, Theat. Hist.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)