Leviticus 17:7
So they shall no more sacrifice their sacrifices to goat demons, after whom they whore. This shall be a statute forever for them throughout their generations.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The original Hebrew word here for "devils" is literally "shaggy goats." This points to a specific type of idolatry practiced in Egypt, where goat-like deities were worshipped, often with deeply impure rites, which the text starkly calls "going a whoring." This prohibition isn't just about avoiding a vague evil, but about severing ties with very concrete, sensually charged forms of paganism that defiled their relationship with God.
This passage is part of a larger instruction from God to Moses about where and how animals should be sacrificed. Immediately before this verse, God is explaining that all animal offerings must be brought to the entrance of the Tabernacle to be properly presented to Him, rather than being sacrificed in open fields. This specific verse then explicitly forbids the Israelites from continuing to offer sacrifices to "goat demons," a practice they had adopted, symbolizing a spiritual betrayal of God.
Why does the Bible call idols 'devils' or 'goat demons'?
This verse confronts the Israelites with the true nature of the gods they might be tempted to worship. The Hebrew word translated here as "devils" literally means "shaggy goats" or "hairy ones." This points to specific forms of idolatry common in the ancient Near East, particularly in Egypt, where goats and goat-like figures (like the god Pan) were worshipped.
These were not just harmless statues or distant deities; they represented powers and spiritual forces that were diametrically opposed to the one true God. The Bible makes it clear: any worship directed away from the Creator towards created things, or towards spiritual entities that oppose Him, is essentially worship of the devil. It's a spiritual betrayal, a forsaking of the One who created and sustains all.
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What does 'going a whoring' have to do with worship?
The phrase "after whom they have gone a whoring" is a powerful metaphor for spiritual unfaithfulness. In the Old Testament, God often describes His relationship with Israel in terms of marriage. God is the husband, and Israel is the wife.
When Israel turned to worship other gods, it was seen as an act of adultery—a betrayal of their covenant commitment to God. This wasn't just a minor sin; it was a violation of the sacred bond that God had established with them. This language highlights the deep intimacy God desires with His people and the severity of forsaking Him for lesser, deceptive powers.
Why was this command for worship so strict and permanent?
The verse concludes with the declaration, "This shall be a statute for ever for them throughout their generations." This isn't just a rule about where to offer sacrifices; it's about establishing divine order and centering worship on God alone.
Previously, the text emphasized bringing sacrifices to the entrance of the Tabernacle, to the priest, and burning the fat as a "sweet savor" to the Lord (Leviticus 17:1-6). This verse serves as a critical reinforcement: all sacrifice and worship must be directed through God's appointed means and to God Himself, not to deceptive spiritual powers or in random places. This prohibition against sacrificing to "goat demons" is part of a larger framework designed to keep worship pure and focused on Yahweh.
Understand the original words
se'irim · Hebrew Noun
Spiritual entities or idols associated with pagan worship; the term implies detestable beings or satyr-like figures that represent rebellion against the true God.
zanah · Hebrew Verb
A term frequently used in the prophets to describe idolatry, emphasizing that worshiping other gods is a breach of the covenant relationship with God, akin to marital unfaithfulness.
huqqah · Hebrew Noun
A permanent ordinance or decree established by God, indicating that the command is binding upon the community throughout their history.
This verse directly parallels the idea that sacrifices offered to idols are actually sacrifices offered to demons, reinforcing the concept that worshipping anything other than God is a form of spiritual allegiance to evil.
2 Chronicles 11:15This passage explicitly mentions that Jeroboam appointed priests for the goat demons, showing a historical precedent for the type of idolatry forbidden in Leviticus and connecting 'goat demons' to actual religious practices.
Hosea 2:13This verse describes Israel's spiritual adultery by referencing their participation in pagan festivals dedicated to Baals, highlighting the 'going a whoring' metaphor used in Leviticus to describe the betrayal of their covenant with God through idolatry.
Deuteronomy 32:17This prophetic song warns Israel that they sacrificed 'to demons that were not God,' directly echoing the Leviticus command and demonstrating that this prohibition was a recurring theme throughout their history.
Revelation 9:20This future vision shows that even after Christ's coming, people continue to worship demons and idols, illustrating the ongoing spiritual battle against false worship that Leviticus 17:7 addresses.
gillLeviticus 17:7: "And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gone a whoring. This shall be a statute for ever unto them throughout their generations."
And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils,.... As it seems they had done, which was monstrously shocking, and especially by a people that had the knowledge of the true God. Such shocking idolatry has been committed, and still is among the Indians, both East and West: when Columbus discovered His…
calvinLeviticus 17:1-9: "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,"
And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer an offering unto the LORD before the tabernacle of the LORD; blood shall be imputed unto that man; he hath shed blood; and that man shall be cut off from among his people:
Et ad ostium tabernaculi conventionis non adduxerit eum, ut offerat oblationem Jehovae coram tabernaculo Jehovae: sanguis imputabitur viro illi: ipse sanguinem fudit, excideturque…
The original Hebrew word here for "devils" is literally "shaggy goats." This points to a specific type of idolatry practiced in Egypt, where goat-like deities were worshipped, often with deeply impure rites, which the text starkly calls "going a whoring." This prohibition isn't just about avoiding a vague evil, but about severing ties with very concrete, sensually charged forms of paganism that defiled their relationship with God.
This passage is part of a larger instruction from God to Moses about where and how animals should be sacrificed. Immediately before this verse, God is explaining that all animal offerings must be brought to the entrance of the Tabernacle to be properly presented to Him, rather than being sacrificed in open fields. This specific verse then explicitly forbids the Israelites from continuing to offer sacrifices to "goat demons," a practice they had adopted, symbolizing a spiritual betrayal of God.
This passage is part of a larger instruction from God to Moses about where and how animals should be sacrificed. Immediately before this verse, God is explaining that all animal offerings must be brought to the entrance of the Tabernacle to be properly presented to Him, rather than being sacrificed in open fields. This specific verse then explicitly forbids the Israelites from continuing to offer sacrifices to "goat demons," a practice they had adopted, symbolizing a spiritual betrayal of God.
"So they shall no more sacrifice their sacrifices to goat demons, after whom they whore. This shall be a statute forever for them throughout their generations." — The original Hebrew word here for "devils" is literally "shaggy goats." This points to a specific type of idolatry practiced in Egypt, where goat-like deities were worshipped, often with deeply impur…
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