Abstract
The book of Leviticus from the Hebrew Bible is often referenced when discussing the LGBTQ+ community and related topics. This project offers historical, literary, and etymological analyses of Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13, exploring cultural and thematic similarities between Leviticus, the Avestan Vendidad of ancient Persia, and the Book of the Watchers in 1 Enoch. The influential views of other ancient Near Eastern cultures and the growing Persian culture during the time of the Exile establish a tolerant cultural background for the Levitical authors and for the Hebrew Bible. Moreover, the exilic priests who finalized the laws within Leviticus did not perceive gay orientations or identities as contemporary cultures often do. The paper argues that the verses are concerned with specific sexual acts between male-bodied individuals, in particular circumstances, rather than with a sweeping indictment of gay orientations and identities. More broadly, the paper suggests that enforcing secular laws based on singular, unintelligible religious laws and ignoring the historical context of the original texts has led to immeasurable violence condemned in other parts of the Bible.
Recommended Citation
Jarosz, Ian. “Homosexuality in Leviticus: A Historical-Literary-Critical Analysis.” James Madison Undergraduate Research Journal, vol. 9, no. 2, 2022, pp. 33-43. http://commons.lib.jmu.edu/jmurj/vol9/iss1/4
Included in
Gender and Sexuality Commons, History of Gender Commons, History of Religion Commons, Jewish Studies Commons, Language Interpretation and Translation Commons, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies Commons, Linguistics Commons, Other Languages, Societies, and Cultures Commons, Reading and Language Commons, Religion Commons, Social and Cultural Anthropology Commons, Social Justice Commons
