what does the torah say about homosexuality

what does the torah say about homosexuality

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Nature

The Torah explicitly prohibits male homosexual intercourse in the Book of Leviticus, describing it as an abomination and prescribing severe penalties for those involved. There is no explicit mention of female same-sex relations in the Torah, and the main biblical focus is on consensual sexual acts between men.

Scriptural Passages

  • Leviticus 18:22 states, “Do not lie with a male as one lies with a woman; it is an abhorrence.”
  • Leviticus 20:13 adds that such an act is punishable by death for both involved men, showing the seriousness with which this prohibition was treated in ancient Israelite society.

Interpretation and Context

  • These prohibitions are specific parts of a set of sexual laws which also include other forbidden acts, such as bestiality and incest.
  • The Torah’s stance is primarily concerned with male relations and does not address lesbianism directly; traditional Jewish law later addressed female same-sex relations in rabbinic literature, usually without similarly severe consequences.

Legal and Rabbinic Tradition

  • Later Jewish writings and scholars have offered various interpretations and attempted to reconcile these prohibitions with changing social norms, but the biblical text itself is unambiguous in its condemnation of male homosexual acts.

In summary, the Torah directly prohibits male homosexual intercourse and considers it a serious offense, while it does not explicitly mention female same-sex relations.

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