The presence of verse 21 in the middle of this chapter dealing with forbidden sexual practices is surprising and seems out of place by some commentators. But a similar association of ideas is found in chapter 20 (verses 2-5 and 10-21). And even Moffatt, who freely transposes whole blocks of Old Testament text, retains this verse at this point in the text.

To devote them by fire: literally “give them to be passed through (fire).” The word fire is not in the text here but is implied. In the ritual of the Canaanites, children were sacrificed by being made to pass through fire. Moffatt translates vividly “burned alive.” This practice was condemned in 20.2-5 and in Deuteronomy 21.31 and 18.10. Nevertheless it was adopted by some Israelites (see 2 Kgs 16.3; 21.6; 23.10; Jer 7.31; 32.35; Ezek 16.21).

Molech: commentaries often mention the possibility that this word may be a common noun referring to a kind of human sacrifice instead of the proper name of a pagan god. But this interpretation is not found in any standard English translation. Most versions retain it as the name of a god to which sacrifices were offered. The word itself is said to have made Hebrew speakers think of two things: (1) the word for “king,” which has the same consonants, and (2) the word for “shame,” which has the same vowels. This information would suggest something like “the King of Shame.” But it is probably best to retain the proper name and give the more detailed explanation in a footnote.

Profane: this carries the idea of “remove the sacred character of.” To sacrifice children to a false deity is to act as if God is not the true God. It is to withdraw from him the respect and honor which he should rightly receive. When used of human beings the word is better translated “to disgrace” (compare 19.29), but here a stronger term like profane may be more appropriate.

The name: the name represents the person of God. To disgrace his name is to disgrace him. Most translations retain the word name, but it is also possible to translate in some languages “bring shame on me.”

I am the LORD: see verse 2.

Quoted with permission from Péter-Contesse, René and Ellington, John. A Handbook on Leviticus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1990. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .