Leviticus 18:22
““‘You shall not lie with a man, as with a woman. That is detestable.”
What does Leviticus 18:22 mean?
This verse appears in a section of Leviticus that outlines practices the Israelites were called to avoid, many of which related to purity laws and separation from surrounding cultures. The prohibition addresses sexual relations between men, calling such an act detestable by the community's standards at that time. People interpret this verse very differently today. Some read it as a timeless moral rule, while others understand it within its ancient cultural and religious context, noting that the broader purity code in Leviticus (including rules about fabric blends, shellfish, and trimming beards) isn't practiced literally by most communities. Still others focus on what they see as the underlying principle about boundaries or covenant faithfulness rather than specific prohibitions about orientation. What matters most in a faith community is approaching this passage, and others like it, with genuine humility. If you're wrestling with what it means for your own life or beliefs, talking with someone you trust spiritually can help you think it through. God's love for you isn't determined by how you interpret any single verse.