King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And if a man take a wife and her mother, it [is] wickedness: they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they; that there be no wickedness among you.
Complete Jewish Bible:
If a man marries a woman and her mother, it is depravity; they are to be put to death by fire, both he and they, so that there will not be depravity among you.
Berean Standard Bible:
If a man marries both a woman and her mother, it is depraved. Both he and they must be burned in the fire, so that there will be no depravity among you.
American Standard Version:
And if a man take a wife and her mother, it is wickedness: they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they; that there be no wickedness among you.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And if a man{H376} take{H3947} a wife{H802} and her mother{H517}, it is wickedness{H2154}: they shall be burnt{H8313} with fire{H784}, both he and they; that there be no wickedness{H2154} among{H8432} you.
Cross-References (KJV):
Leviticus 18:17
- Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter, neither shalt thou take her son's daughter, or her daughter's daughter, to uncover her nakedness; [for] they [are] her near kinswomen: it [is] wickedness.
Deuteronomy 27:23
- Cursed [be] he that lieth with his mother in law. And all the people shall say, Amen.
Amos 2:7
- That pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor, and turn aside the way of the meek: and a man and his father will go in unto the [same] maid, to profane my holy name:
Joshua 7:15
- And it shall be, [that] he that is taken with the accursed thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he hath: because he hath transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he hath wrought folly in Israel.
Leviticus 21:9
- And the daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the whore, she profaneth her father: she shall be burnt with fire.
Joshua 7:25
- And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Leviticus 20:14
1. **Themes:**
- **Moral Purity:** Leviticus 20:14 emphasizes the importance of moral purity within the community, particularly regarding sexual relations. The verse condemns the act of a man marrying a woman and her mother, which is seen as an egregious breach of ethical and ritual standards.
- **Severity of Punishment:** The specified punishment for this transgression is severe—burning with fire for all parties involved. This reflects the gravity with which such offenses were viewed, intended to serve as a deterrent to others.
- **Community Holiness:** The broader theme is the holiness of the community. By eliminating such wickedness, the Israelites were to maintain their distinctiveness as a holy people set apart for God.
2. **Historical Context:**
- **Law and Order:** The book of Leviticus is part of the Pentateuch, traditionally ascribed to Moses, and contains laws given to the Israelites after their Exodus from Egypt. These laws were intended to govern the religious and social life of the nation.
- **Holiness Code:** Leviticus 20 falls within the Holiness Code (Leviticus 17-26), which outlines various laws and rituals to ensure the Israelites' holiness. This code includes regulations on sacrifices, sexual conduct, social justice, and religious observances.
- **Distinction from Surrounding Cultures:** The strict prohibitions against certain sexual unions, such as those mentioned in Leviticus 20:14, served to distinguish the Israelites from their pagan neighbors, who often practiced different standards of sexual morality.
- **Cultic Practices:** Some scholars suggest that the prohibition may also be related to cultic practices of other nations that the Israelites were to avoid, as these practices were often associated with idolatry and fertility rites.
In summary, Leviticus 20:14 addresses the theme of moral purity within the context of Israel's holiness code, designed to maintain the community's sanctity and distinguish it from surrounding cultures. The severe punishment reflects the importance of these laws in the religious and social fabric of ancient Israelite society.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H376
There are 1507 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אִישׁ
Transliteration: ʼîysh
Pronunciation: eesh
Description: contracted for אֱנוֹשׁ (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation); also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare אִשָּׁה. - Strong's Number: H3947
There are 909 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לָקַח
Transliteration: lâqach
Pronunciation: law-kakh'
Description: a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications); accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, [idiom] many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win. - Strong's Number: H802
There are 729 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אִשָּׁה
Transliteration: ʼishshâh
Pronunciation: ish-shaw'
Description: feminine of אִישׁ or אֱנוֹשׁ; irregular plural, נָשִׁים;(used in the same wide sense as אֱנוֹשׁ); a woman; (adulter) ess, each, every, female, [idiom] many, [phrase] none, one, [phrase] together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English. - Strong's Number: H517
There are 387 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֵם
Transliteration: ʼêm
Pronunciation: ame
Description: a primitive word; a mother (as the bond of the family); in a wide sense (both literally and figuratively (like father)); dam, mother, [idiom] parting. - Strong's Number: H2154
There are 27 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: זִמָּה
Transliteration: zimmâh
Pronunciation: zim-maw'
Description: or זַמָּה; from זָמַם; a plan, especially a bad one; heinous crime, lewd(-ly, -ness), mischief, purpose, thought, wicked (device, mind, -ness). - Strong's Number: H8313
There are 107 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׂרַף
Transliteration: sâraph
Pronunciation: saw-raf'
Description: a primitive root; to be (causatively, set) on fire; (cause to, make a) burn((-ing), up) kindle, [idiom] utterly. - Strong's Number: H784
There are 549 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֵשׁ
Transliteration: ʼêsh
Pronunciation: aysh
Description: a primitive word; fire (literally or figuratively); burning, fiery, fire, flaming, hot. - Strong's Number: H8432
There are 390 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: תָּוֶךְ
Transliteration: tâvek
Pronunciation: taw'-vek
Description: from an unused root meaning to sever; a bisection, i.e. (by implication) the centre; among(-st), [idiom] between, half, [idiom] (there-, where-), in(-to), middle, mid(-night), midst (among), [idiom] out (of), [idiom] through, [idiom] with(-in).