Leviticus 20:11

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Context

Leviticus 20:11 is part of a larger section in the book of Leviticus (chapters 17-26) often referred to as the "Holiness Code." In this code, God outlines specific laws and statutes for the nation of Israel, designed to set them apart as a holy people, distinct from the pagan practices of the surrounding Canaanite and Egyptian cultures. Chapter 20, in particular, enumerates various sexual sins and their prescribed penalties, emphasizing the severe consequences for violating God's moral standards. This verse specifically addresses incest, a gross violation of family sanctity and a defilement of the community.

Key Themes

  • Holiness and Purity: God's demand for His people to maintain moral and sexual purity is central. The strict penalties underscore the gravity of sin in the eyes of a holy God, especially those acts that defile the land and the covenant community.
  • Sanctity of Marriage and Family: The prohibition against lying with one's father's wife (stepmother) highlights the sacredness of marital bonds and the family unit. Such an act fundamentally dishonors the father and corrupts the familial structure. Other related prohibitions are found in Leviticus 18:8 and Leviticus 18:7.
  • Abomination and Defilement: Incest, like many other sexual sins listed in Leviticus, is considered an "abomination" (Hebrew: to'evah), meaning something utterly detestable to God. These acts brought defilement upon the individuals and the land itself, necessitating severe judgment.
  • Consequences of Sin: The prescribed penalty of "surely be put to death" for both parties involved underscores the extreme seriousness of this offense in God's legal system for ancient Israel. It served as a deterrent and a means of purging evil from the community.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "hath uncovered his father's nakedness" is a significant Hebrew idiom (galah 'erwah). It is a euphemism for sexual intercourse, specifically illicit sexual relations. In this context, it implies not merely a physical act but a profound violation of the father's honor, authority, and marital intimacy. It signifies a deep disrespect and a defilement of the father's household and legacy. The concluding phrase, "their blood shall be upon them," is a legal declaration of guilt, meaning that the individuals are responsible for their own death sentence, having brought the judgment upon themselves through their actions.

Practical Application

While the specific judicial penalties of the Old Testament Mosaic Law are not directly applied in New Covenant Christian societies, the underlying moral principles remain timeless. This verse powerfully conveys God's unwavering abhorrence of sexual immorality, particularly incest, which violates fundamental family structures and divine order.

  • Christians are called to live lives of sexual purity and holiness, recognizing that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:18-19).
  • The sanctity of marriage and family relationships is upheld throughout Scripture, emphasizing fidelity, respect, and proper boundaries within the home (Hebrews 13:4).
  • This passage reminds us that sin, especially grievous sin, has severe consequences and that God is just in His judgments. It underscores the importance of upholding God's moral standards in our personal lives and communities.
Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.

Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 27:20

    Cursed [be] he that lieth with his father's wife; because he uncovereth his father's skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen.

  • 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:

  • 1 Corinthians 5:1

    ¶ It is reported commonly [that there is] fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.

  • Leviticus 18:7

    The nakedness of thy father, or the nakedness of thy mother, shalt thou not uncover: she [is] thy mother; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.

  • Leviticus 18:8

    The nakedness of thy father's wife shalt thou not uncover: it [is] thy father's nakedness.
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