The Meaning of Leviticus 24:16 Explained

Leviticus 24:16

KJV: 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.

YLT: and he who is execrating the name of Jehovah is certainly put to death; all the company do certainly cast stones at him; as a sojourner so a native, in his execrating the Name, is put to death.

Darby: And he that blasphemeth the name of Jehovah shall certainly be put to death; all the assembly shall certainly stone him; as well the stranger as he that is home-born, when he blasphemeth the Name, shall be put to death.

ASV: And he that blasphemeth the name of Jehovah, he shall surely be put to death; all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the sojourner, as the home-born, when he blasphemeth the name of Jehovah , shall be put to death.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Leviticus 24:16 Mean?

Context Summary

Leviticus 24:1-23 - Light And Bread And The Holy Name
The words "Before the Lord" are twice repeated in the opening paragraph. The pure lamplight, emblematic of the influence of a religious life; and the showbread, set on the golden table, emblematic of lives of obedience and devotion, which are well-pleasing to God, are both said to be "before the Lord." We are reminded of the command to Abram, "Walk before me and be thou perfect;" and of the words of the dying Jacob, "The God before whom my fathers, Abraham and Isaac, did walk." This implies the continual consciousness of the presence of God. We all possess what may be termed a sub-consciousness, which lies beneath our ordinary sense. Let that be God filled!
What a pitiable condition that half-breed was in! May we be Israelites indeed, in whom is no guile! How they reverenced the very name of God. See 3 John 1:7. [source]

Chapter Summary: Leviticus 24

1  The oil for the lamps
5  The showbread
10  Shelomith's son blasphemes
13  The law of blasphemy
17  Of murder
18  Of damage
23  The blasphemer is stoned

What do the individual words in Leviticus 24:16 mean?

And whoever blasphemes the name of Yahweh surely shall be put to death surely shall stone him all the congregation as well as the stranger him who is born in the land when he blasphemes the name [of the Lord] he shall be put to death
וְנֹקֵ֤ב שֵׁם־ יְהוָה֙ מ֣וֹת יוּמָ֔ת רָג֥וֹם יִרְגְּמוּ־ ב֖וֹ כָּל־ הָעֵדָ֑ה כַּגֵּר֙ כָּֽאֶזְרָ֔ח בְּנָקְבוֹ־ שֵׁ֖ם יוּמָֽת

וְנֹקֵ֤ב  And  whoever  blasphemes 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: נָקַב 
Sense: to pierce, perforate, bore, appoint.
שֵׁם־  the  name 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
יְהוָה֙  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
מ֣וֹת  surely 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive absolute
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.
יוּמָ֔ת  shall  be  put  to  death 
Parse: Verb, Hofal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.
רָג֥וֹם  surely 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive absolute
Root: רָגַם  
Sense: to stone, slay or kill by stoning.
יִרְגְּמוּ־  shall  stone 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: רָגַם  
Sense: to stone, slay or kill by stoning.
הָעֵדָ֑ה  the  congregation 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: עֵדָה  
Sense: congregation, gathering.
כַּגֵּר֙  as  well  as  the  stranger 
Parse: Preposition-k, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: גֵּר  
Sense: sojourner.
כָּֽאֶזְרָ֔ח  him  who  is  born  in  the  land 
Parse: Preposition-k, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֶזְרָח  
Sense: a native (one rising from the soil).
בְּנָקְבוֹ־  when  he  blasphemes 
Parse: Preposition-b, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, third person masculine singular
Root: נָקַב 
Sense: to pierce, perforate, bore, appoint.
שֵׁ֖ם  the  name  [of  the  Lord] 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
יוּמָֽת  he  shall  be  put  to  death 
Parse: Verb, Hofal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.