Leviticus 20:10

KJV

¶ And the man that committeth adultery with [another] man's wife, [even he] that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.

KJV (with Strong's)

And the man {H376} that committeth adultery {H5003} with another man's {H376} wife {H802}, even he that committeth adultery {H5003} with his neighbour's {H7453} wife {H802}, the adulterer {H5003} and the adulteress {H5003} shall surely {H4191} be put to death {H4191}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"'If a man commits adultery with another man's wife, that is, with the wife of a fellow countryman, both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death.

Berean Standard Bible

If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress must surely be put to death.

American Standard Version

And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Leviticus 20:10 prescribes capital punishment for both male and female adulterers, underscoring the profound sanctity of marriage within the Mosaic covenant. This severe penalty reflects the gravity of violating the marital bond, which was considered a fundamental institution for the moral and social purity of ancient Israel, essential for maintaining their covenant relationship with a holy God.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Leviticus 20 is an integral part of the Holiness Code (Leviticus 17-26), a section of the Mosaic Law that delineates the requirements for Israel to live as a holy nation, set apart by God from the surrounding pagan cultures. Chapter 20 specifically lists various capital offenses, ranging from child sacrifice to Molech (Leviticus 20:2-5) and consulting mediums (Leviticus 20:6) to a comprehensive series of illicit sexual relations (Leviticus 20:10-21). The inclusion of adultery within this list of offenses punishable by death highlights its extreme severity, placing it on par with other egregious sins that were believed to defile both the individual and the land, necessitating divine judgment and removal from the community. The chapter culminates with a powerful exhortation to holiness, emphasizing that these strict laws were given so that Israel might truly be God's holy people (Leviticus 20:26).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, marriage was a cornerstone of societal structure, often involving intricate legal and social arrangements. While many surrounding cultures had laws concerning adultery, Israel's legal framework, particularly the clear and reciprocal capital punishment for both male and female offenders, distinguished it, reflecting a higher moral standard derived from God's covenant. This law directly reinforced the [Seventh Commandment](/exodus/20-14 "Exodus 20:14 - The Seventh Commandment"), "You shall not commit adultery," given at Mount Sinai, establishing marital fidelity as a non-negotiable aspect of covenant faithfulness. The severity of the penalty was designed to preserve the purity and integrity of the Israelite community, acting as a strong deterrent against moral decay. This was particularly crucial in an environment where pagan practices often involved widespread sexual immorality, sometimes even ritualized as part of fertility cults, which the Mosaic Law vehemently opposed to maintain Israel's distinct identity and covenant purity.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Adultery (Hebrew, _na'aph'_):** The Hebrew verb נָאַף (_na'aph_) specifically denotes illicit sexual intercourse involving a married person. Unlike broader terms for sexual sin, _na'aph_ precisely targets the violation of a marital covenant. Its repeated use in this verse, "the man that committeth adultery... even he that committeth adultery," underscores the deliberate and specific nature of the transgression against the sacred institution of marriage, highlighting the betrayal of trust and the breaking of a solemn vow.
* **Neighbour's wife (Hebrew, _’eshet re'ehu'_):** The phrase אֵשֶׁת רֵעֵהוּ (_’eshet re'ehu_) explicitly identifies the victim as a married woman, belonging to "another man" or "his neighbour." This highlights that adultery is not merely a private act but a profound violation of another's marital covenant and, in a cultural context, an infringement upon a husband's rights. More importantly, it emphasizes the disruption of the social fabric and the family unit, which were foundational to the stability and purity of the Israelite community.
* **Shall surely be put to death (Hebrew, _mut yumat'_):** This phrase employs the Hebrew infinitive absolute construction, מוּת יוּמַת (_mut yumat_), which functions as an emphatic declaration. It literally means "dying, he shall die" or "he shall certainly be put to death." This grammatical structure conveys absolute certainty and severity, leaving no doubt about the prescribed capital punishment and emphasizing the non-negotiable nature of the divine judgment for this offense. It signifies that the sin is so grievous that it warrants the ultimate penalty.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the man that committeth adultery with [another] man's wife":** This initial clause identifies the male perpetrator and the specific nature of his offense: engaging in sexual relations with a woman who is legally bound in marriage to another man. The KJV's bracketed "[another]" clarifies the possessive nature of the wife's relationship to her husband, emphasizing the violation of his marital rights and the sanctity of his household. The focus is on the male's active role in initiating or participating in the illicit act.
* **"[even he] that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife":** This phrase serves as a restatement or intensification of the preceding clause, reinforcing the precise definition of the transgression. The repetition emphasizes that the act is not merely sexual intercourse outside of marriage, but specifically a violation of a *married* woman, thereby infringing upon the covenant relationship of her husband, who is explicitly identified as "his neighbour." This underscores the social dimension of the sin, affecting the broader community.
* **"the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death":** This concluding declaration specifies the consequence for both parties involved in the act. The male ("adulterer") and the female ("adulteress") are held equally culpable and subject to the same capital punishment. The emphatic Hebrew construction "shall surely be put to death" underscores the absolute and non-negotiable nature of the penalty, reflecting the extreme gravity with which God viewed the desecration of the marital covenant and its destructive impact on the purity of the community. It signifies that both parties bear full responsibility for the violation.

#### Literary Devices
Leviticus 20:10 employs several significant **literary devices** to convey its message with clarity and force. The most prominent is **Repetition**, seen in "the man that committeth adultery with [another] man's wife, [even he] that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife." This restatement is not mere redundancy; it serves to emphasize the specific nature of the offense and to leave no ambiguity regarding the act being condemned. This also functions as a **Legal Formula**, characteristic of ancient Near Eastern law codes, where precise definitions ensured clarity in judicial application. Furthermore, the verse exhibits a form of **Parallelism**, where the two clauses describing the male adulterer are synonymous, reinforcing the same illicit act. The concluding phrase, "the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death," demonstrates a **Reciprocity** in judgment, explicitly holding both parties equally accountable. The emphatic "shall surely be put to death" (infinitive absolute in Hebrew) is a powerful **Rhetorical Device** that underscores the absolute certainty and severity of the divine judgment, leaving no doubt about the consequence.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The theological implications of Leviticus 20:10 are profound, centering on God's absolute holiness and His demand for a holy people. The severe penalty for adultery highlights the sanctity of marriage as a divine institution, reflecting the covenant faithfulness God expects from Israel. Adultery was not merely a social transgression but a direct affront to God's character, a violation of the sacred covenant He made with His people, and a defilement of the land. It undermined the very foundation of the family unit, which was crucial for the stability and purity of the Israelite community. This law underscored that sexual purity was integral to their distinctiveness as God's chosen nation, setting them apart from the idolatrous and immoral practices of surrounding cultures and ensuring the integrity of their relationship with a holy God.

* [Exodus 20:14](/exodus/20-14 "Exodus 20:14 - The Seventh Commandment")
* [Deuteronomy 22:22](/deuteronomy/22-22 "Deuteronomy 22:22 - Law on Adultery")
* [Proverbs 6:32](/proverbs/6-32 "Proverbs 6:32 - Consequences of Adultery")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the specific capital punishment for adultery is not applied in the New Covenant, the underlying principles of God's abhorrence of sexual sin and His high regard for the sanctity of marriage remain eternally valid. This passage compels us to reflect on the seriousness with which God views marital fidelity and sexual purity. It challenges us to examine our own hearts, recognizing that Jesus expanded the definition of adultery to include lustful thoughts (Matthew 5:28), emphasizing that true purity begins internally. For believers today, this means not only abstaining from physical adultery but also guarding our minds, eyes, and desires, cultivating a heart that honors God's design for marriage and sexuality. It calls us to uphold marriage as a sacred covenant, a reflection of Christ's relationship with His church, and to pursue holiness in all aspects of our lives, recognizing that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. This pursuit of holiness is not for condemnation but for flourishing in God's design, fostering trust, intimacy, and faithfulness within the marital bond, and reflecting God's character to a watching world.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the severity of the penalty for adultery in Leviticus 20:10 challenge our contemporary understanding of sexual ethics and the value of marital fidelity?**
* **In what ways can we, as New Covenant believers, actively uphold the sanctity of marriage and sexual purity in a culture that often devalues and redefines them?**
* **Considering Jesus' teaching on lust in Matthew 5:28, how does this passage prompt us to examine the state of our hearts and minds regarding sexual purity, beyond mere outward actions?**

### FAQ
**Why was the penalty for adultery so severe in ancient Israel?**

Answer: The severe penalty for adultery in ancient Israel, as prescribed in [Leviticus 20:10](/leviticus/20-10 "Leviticus 20:10 - Law on Adultery"), underscored the profound sanctity of marriage as a divinely ordained institution and a foundational pillar of the covenant community. Adultery was not merely a private transgression but a grave offense against God, the wronged spouse, the family, and the entire community. It directly violated the [Seventh Commandment](/exodus/20-14 "Exodus 20:14 - The Seventh Commandment"), "You shall not commit adultery," defiled the purity required of God's holy people, and threatened the social order by breaking covenants and creating illegitimate heirs. The capital punishment served as a strong deterrent, a public declaration of the immense value placed on marital fidelity, and a means to purge evil from the midst of the community, thereby maintaining Israel's distinctiveness and faithfulness to God amidst pagan cultures where sexual immorality was often rampant.

**Does the New Testament still consider adultery a sin?**

Answer: Absolutely. While the New Testament does not prescribe the death penalty for adultery, it unequivocally condemns it as a serious sin with eternal consequences. Jesus, in His [Sermon on the Mount](/matthew/5 "Matthew 5 - The Sermon on the Mount"), expanded the understanding of adultery to include lustful thoughts, emphasizing the internal disposition of the heart ([Matthew 5:28](/matthew/5-28 "Matthew 5:28 - Jesus on Lust")). The Apostle Paul consistently lists sexual immorality, including adultery, among the works of the flesh that exclude one from the kingdom of God ([Galatians 5:19-21](/galatians/5-19 "Galatians 5:19-21 - Works of the Flesh")). The book of [Hebrews 13:4](/hebrews/13-4 "Hebrews 13:4 - Marriage is Honorable") explicitly states, "Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge." The New Testament calls believers to sexual purity and faithfulness within marriage, viewing it as a sacred covenant and a reflection of Christ's relationship with the Church ([Ephesians 5:22-33](/ephesians/5-22 "Ephesians 5:22-33 - Marriage as a Christ-Church Analogy")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Leviticus 20:10 prescribes a severe legal penalty under the Old Covenant, its ultimate fulfillment and deeper meaning are found in Christ. Jesus did not abolish the law but fulfilled it, elevating its demands from external compliance to internal purity. In the [Sermon on the Mount](/matthew/5 "Matthew 5 - The Sermon on the Mount"), He taught that lustful thoughts are a form of adultery in the heart ([Matthew 5:28](/matthew/5-28 "Matthew 5:28 - Jesus on Lust")), revealing the spiritual depth of God's demand for holiness and demonstrating that true righteousness goes beyond mere outward acts. Christ's perfect life perfectly upheld the sanctity of marriage and sexual purity, and His atoning death on the cross addresses the root of all sin, including the lust and unfaithfulness that lead to adultery, offering forgiveness and transformation for those who repent and believe ([1 John 1:9](/1_john/1-9 "1 John 1:9 - Confession and Forgiveness")). Furthermore, the New Testament portrays the church as the [Bride of Christ](/ephesians/5-25 "Ephesians 5:25 - Christ and the Church as Bride"), emphasizing a spiritual fidelity that mirrors the physical fidelity demanded in marriage. Just as adultery in the Old Testament symbolized Israel's unfaithfulness to God, our spiritual adultery—idolatry and unfaithfulness to Christ—is redeemed by His grace. Through the Holy Spirit, believers are empowered to live lives of purity, honoring the marriage bed ([Hebrews 13:4](/hebrews/13-4 "Hebrews 13:4 - Marriage is Honorable")) and reflecting the holiness of God, who has made us His own and calls us to a life of unwavering devotion.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.