Leviticus 20:11

KJV

And the man that lieth with his father's wife hath uncovered his father's nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood [shall be] upon them.

KJV (with Strong's)

And the man {H376} that lieth {H7901} with his father's {H1} wife {H802} hath uncovered {H1540} his father's {H1} nakedness {H6172}: both {H8147} of them shall surely {H4191} be put to death {H4191}; their blood {H1818} shall be upon them.

Complete Jewish Bible

The man who goes to bed with his father's wife has disgraced his father sexually, and both of them must be put to death; their blood is on them.

Berean Standard Bible

If a man lies with his father’s wife, he has uncovered his father’s nakedness. Both must surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.

American Standard Version

And the man that lieth with his father’s wife hath uncovered his father’s nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Leviticus 20:11 prescribes the severe penalty of death for both parties involved in a man lying with his father's wife, declaring that such an act uncovers the father's nakedness and brings the guilt of blood upon the offenders. This statute is a foundational component of God's moral law for ancient Israel, emphasizing the profound sanctity of family relationships, the abhorrence of incestuous defilement, and the absolute necessity of maintaining covenantal holiness within the community.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Leviticus 20:11 is situated within the broader "Holiness Code" (Leviticus 17-26), a comprehensive collection of divine statutes designed to set Israel apart as a holy nation dedicated to Yahweh. Following the detailed regulations concerning sacrifices and priestly duties, this section shifts focus to the moral and ethical conduct expected of God's people. Chapter 18, in particular, enumerates a list of prohibited sexual relationships, including the specific prohibition against a man lying with his father's wife in [Leviticus 18:8](/leviticus/18-8 "Leviticus 18:8 - Prohibition of Incest"). Chapter 20 then reiterates many of these prohibitions, but crucially, it adds the specific capital penalties for violating them, underscoring the gravity of these offenses and their defiling impact on the land and the covenant community. Thus, verse 11 serves as a judicial enforcement of the moral principle established earlier, demonstrating God's unwavering commitment to purity and justice.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Ancient Israel was called to live distinctly from the surrounding nations, particularly the Canaanites and Egyptians, whose cultures were often characterized by widespread sexual depravity, including incestuous relationships, cultic prostitution, and child sacrifice. The laws in [Leviticus](/leviticus/20 "Leviticus 20 - Penalties for Immorality"), including those in Leviticus 20, served as a divine bulwark against such practices, establishing a clear moral boundary for God's people. The prohibition of sexual relations with one's stepmother (father's wife) was critical not only for maintaining the sanctity of marriage and family structures but also for upholding the honor and authority of the patriarch within the household. Such an act was seen as a profound violation of familial trust and a direct affront to the father's person and legacy, a defilement that warranted the most severe societal consequence to purge the evil from the community and prevent the land from "vomiting out" its inhabitants, as warned in [Leviticus 18:25](/leviticus/18-25 "Leviticus 18:25 - The Land Vomits Out Its Inhabitants").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **"uncovered his father's nakedness" (Hebrew, _galah 'erwah'_):** This is a significant Hebrew idiom that serves as a euphemism for engaging in illicit sexual intercourse. While literally meaning to "uncover nakedness," in this legal and moral context, it signifies a profound act of sexual violation and dishonor. Specifically, "uncovering his father's nakedness" implies not only a physical act but a deep transgression against the father's honor, marital intimacy, and the sanctity of his household. It represents an assault on the very foundation of the family unit and the patriarchal order, a defilement that extends beyond the individuals involved to the entire familial and communal structure.
* **"surely be put to death" (Hebrew, _mot yumat'_):** This phrase employs the Hebrew infinitive absolute construction, which is a grammatical device used to convey emphasis and certainty. The repetition of the verb "to die" (מות) in this specific form ("dying, he shall die") intensifies the command, leaving no doubt about the prescribed penalty. It signifies a non-negotiable, absolute sentence of capital punishment, indicating the extreme gravity of the offense in God's eyes and the necessity of purging such severe sin from the community to maintain its holiness and prevent corporate defilement.
* **"their blood [shall be] upon them" (Hebrew, _damehem bam'_):** This is a legal declaration of guilt and responsibility. It means that the individuals who committed the offense are solely responsible for their own death sentence. Their execution is not an arbitrary act of the community but a just consequence of their own actions. This phrase absolves the community and the executioners of bloodguilt, placing the full culpability for the capital punishment squarely on the offenders themselves, who have brought this judgment upon themselves through their transgression against God's holy law.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the man that lieth with his father's wife":** This clause identifies the primary perpetrator and the specific relationship involved in the forbidden act. "Father's wife" refers to the man's stepmother, a woman married to his father but not his biological mother. The act of "lying with" denotes sexual intercourse. The focus here is on the son's transgression against his father's marital bond and household.
* **"hath uncovered his father's nakedness":** This explains the nature of the transgression in theological and social terms. As discussed in the key word analysis, this euphemism signifies a profound violation of the father's honor, authority, and the sanctity of his marriage. It is not merely a physical act but a deep dishonor and defilement of the patriarchal head of the family and his intimate relationship.
* **"both of them shall surely be put to death":** This prescribes the severe, non-negotiable penalty for the offense. Both the man and his stepmother are held equally culpable and are subject to capital punishment. This underscores the gravity of the sin and the divine imperative to remove such defilement from the community.
* **"their blood [shall be] upon them":** This final clause serves as a legal pronouncement, declaring that the responsibility for their death lies entirely with the offenders themselves. They are guilty, and their execution is a just consequence of their own actions, ensuring that the community is not held accountable for their demise.

#### Literary Devices
Leviticus 20:11 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its message. The phrase "hath uncovered his father's nakedness" is a prime example of **euphemism**, using indirect language to refer to sexual intercourse, particularly illicit relations. This device not only maintains a degree of decorum but also emphasizes the profound dishonor and violation inherent in the act, extending beyond mere physicality to the desecration of familial bonds and patriarchal authority. The repetition inherent in "surely be put to death" (Hebrew: _mot yumat_) is a form of **emphasis** through the use of the infinitive absolute, highlighting the absolute certainty and severity of the prescribed penalty. This grammatical construction leaves no ambiguity regarding the consequence. Finally, the concluding phrase "their blood [shall be] upon them" functions as a **legal formula** or **idiom of culpability**. This concise, declarative statement serves as a formal pronouncement of guilt, placing full responsibility for the capital punishment directly on the transgressors, thereby absolving the community of bloodguilt and reinforcing the justice of God's law.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Leviticus 20:11 deeply embeds itself within the overarching biblical themes of divine holiness, the sanctity of human relationships, and the severe consequences of sin. God's demand for absolute purity among His covenant people is paramount, reflecting His own holy character. The prohibition against incest, particularly with a stepmother, underscores the inviolable nature of marital and familial bonds, which are foundational to a just and ordered society. This act is not merely a social transgression but an "abomination" that defiles both the individuals and the land, necessitating radical measures to purge the evil and maintain the community's covenantal integrity. The prescribed death penalty vividly illustrates that certain sins are so grievous in God's sight that they require the ultimate sacrifice to atone for the defilement and restore purity.

* [Leviticus 18:6-18](/leviticus/18-6 "Leviticus 18:6-18 - Prohibited Sexual Relations") - A comprehensive list of prohibited sexual relationships, emphasizing the broad scope of God's moral law regarding purity.
* [Deuteronomy 27:20](/deuteronomy/27-20 "Deuteronomy 27:20 - Curse for Lying with Father's Wife") - Reiterates the curse associated with lying with one's father's wife, underscoring the severity of the offense.
* [1 Corinthians 5:1](/1_corinthians/5-1 "1 Corinthians 5:1 - Immorality in the Church") - A New Testament example of severe incestuous immorality within the church, demonstrating the ongoing abhorrence of such acts in God's eyes, even if the prescribed penalty has changed.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the specific judicial penalties of the Mosaic Law are not directly applied in New Covenant Christian societies, the underlying moral principles of Leviticus 20:11 remain timeless and profoundly relevant. This verse powerfully communicates God's unwavering abhorrence of sexual immorality, particularly incest, which fundamentally violates divine order and the sanctity of family. It calls believers to a profound commitment to sexual purity, recognizing that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and that our relationships should reflect the holiness of God. The passage serves as a stark reminder that sin, especially grievous sin, has severe consequences, both individually and communally. It compels us to uphold God's moral standards in our personal lives, within our families, and in the broader community, striving for a life that honors God in all aspects of our conduct and relationships.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the severity of the penalty in this verse deepen your understanding of God's holiness and His view of sexual sin?**
* **In what ways does the concept of "uncovering nakedness" extend beyond the physical act to encompass the violation of honor and trust within family relationships?**
* **Considering the New Testament emphasis on spiritual purity, how can believers today apply the underlying principles of this passage to foster healthy, God-honoring relationships and boundaries within their families?**

### FAQ
**What does "father's wife" specifically refer to in this context?**

Answer: In Leviticus 20:11, "father's wife" specifically refers to a man's stepmother, meaning his father's current or former wife who is not his biological mother. This prohibition is also found in [Leviticus 18:8](/leviticus/18-8 "Leviticus 18:8 - Prohibition of Lying with Father's Wife"). The law is designed to protect the sanctity of the father's marriage and to prevent the profound dishonor and disruption that such an incestuous relationship would bring to the family unit and the patriarchal order. Even if the father were deceased or divorced from the woman, the relationship would still be considered incestuous due to the prior marital bond.

**Why was the penalty for this sin so severe (death)?**

Answer: The death penalty for incest with a stepmother, as well as for other severe sexual sins listed in [Leviticus 20](/leviticus/20 "Leviticus 20 - Penalties for Immorality"), reflects the extreme gravity of these offenses in God's eyes within the Old Covenant. Such acts were considered "abominations" (Hebrew: _to'evah_), utterly detestable to God, because they defiled the individuals involved, the family, the community, and the land itself. The severity of the penalty served multiple purposes: it underscored God's absolute holiness and His demand for moral purity, acted as a powerful deterrent against such heinous acts, and functioned as a means of purging evil from the community to prevent corporate judgment and maintain the nation's covenantal relationship with Yahweh. This was not merely a social law but a divine command for the preservation of a holy people.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Leviticus 20:11, with its stark declaration of judgment against incestuous defilement, ultimately points to the profound holiness of God and the radical nature of sin, which finds its ultimate resolution in Jesus Christ. The law's demand for purity and its prescribed death penalty for defilement reveal the absolute standard of God's righteousness, a standard no human could perfectly uphold. Christ fulfills this law not by abolishing its moral principles, but by perfectly embodying them and by bearing the curse of its brokenness. He is the ultimate Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), enduring the "death" that sin demands, so that those who believe in Him might be freed from the condemnation of the law ([Romans 8:1](/romans/8-1 "Romans 8:1 - No Condemnation in Christ Jesus")). Through His atoning sacrifice, Christ cleanses us from all unrighteousness ([1 John 1:9](/1_john/1-9 "1 John 1:9 - Confession and Forgiveness")), offering not just a legal pardon but a spiritual transformation that empowers us to live lives of genuine holiness and purity, reflecting the very character of God. The New Covenant, established in His blood, calls believers to a higher standard of internal purity and love, recognizing that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit ([1 Corinthians 6:19-20](/1_corinthians/6-19 "1 Corinthians 6:19-20 - Your Body is a Temple")), and that true holiness is now possible through union with Him ([Hebrews 10:10](/hebrews/10-10 "Hebrews 10:10 - Sanctified Through the Offering of Jesus Christ")).

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.