Leviticus 20 12

Leviticus 20:12 kjv

And if a man lie with his daughter in law, both of them shall surely be put to death: they have wrought confusion; their blood shall be upon them.

Leviticus 20:12 nkjv

If a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall surely be put to death. They have committed perversion. Their blood shall be upon them.

Leviticus 20:12 niv

"?'If a man has sexual relations with his daughter-in-law, both of them are to be put to death. What they have done is a perversion; their blood will be on their own heads.

Leviticus 20:12 esv

If a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall surely be put to death; they have committed perversion; their blood is upon them.

Leviticus 20:12 nlt

"If a man has sex with his daughter-in-law, both must be put to death. They have committed a perverse act and are guilty of a capital offense.

Leviticus 20 verses

Leviticus 20 12 Meaning

Leviticus 20:12 establishes a severe divine judgment for sexual relations between a man and his daughter-in-law. Both individuals involved in such an act were to be executed. The verse describes this transgression as a profound perversion, emphasizing its unnatural and morally corrupt nature, and clarifies that they bear full responsibility for their capital punishment.

Leviticus 20 12 Context

Leviticus chapter 20 acts as a reinforcing summary of the various prohibitions against idolatry and sexual immorality detailed in chapter 18. While Leviticus 18 outlines what sexual acts are forbidden for Israel, chapter 20 specifies the punishments for violating these divine decrees, predominantly capital punishment. This emphasis highlights the gravity of these sins, particularly as they defile the individual, the family, the community, and the very land given to Israel by God. The broader context of Leviticus underscores Israel's call to be a holy nation, distinct from the surrounding pagan cultures (Canaanites, Egyptians) whose practices often included child sacrifice and various forms of sexual perversion. Leviticus 20:12, along with its surrounding verses, directly challenges these prevailing norms by dictating strict divine consequences, reinforcing the purity required of God's covenant people.

Leviticus 20 12 Word analysis

• If a man: וְאִישׁ (ve'ish) - Lit. "And a man" or "A man." Introduces the subject of the legal clause. This common Hebrew construct frames the statement as a conditional legal rule applicable to any male Israelite.
• lies with: יִשְׁכַּב (yishkav) from שָׁכַב (shakháv) - Verb meaning "to lie down," often used as a euphemism for sexual intercourse, especially illicit relations in legal and ethical contexts of the Law. It clearly denotes sexual cohabitation here.
• his daughter-in-law: כַּלָּתוֹ (kallato) from כַּלָּה (kallāh) - Literally "his bride" or "his daughter-in-law." Refers to a son's wife. This relationship, while not consanguineous in the direct line, is a prohibited affinity, a fundamental familial tie by marriage. The sanctity of such relationships was paramount for family and societal order.
• both of them: שְׁנֵיהֶם (shneihem) - Emphasizes the culpability of both parties involved in the act, male and female.
• shall surely be put to death: מוֹת יוּמְתוּ (mut yumtu) - A Hebrew legal idiom (infinitive absolute preceding an imperfect verb) conveying certainty and the ultimate, undeniable nature of the penalty. It means "dying they shall die," a definitive declaration of capital punishment, usually by stoning or other means (though not specified here).
• they have committed a perversion: תֶּבֶל עָשׂוּ (tevel asu) -
  • תֶּבֶל (tevel) - Noun meaning "mixture," "confusion," "defilement," "perversion," or "abomination." It signifies an unnatural, morally corrupted act that violates fundamental distinctions and the divine order. This word implies a profound distortion of natural relationships and God's creation, rendering the act deeply repulsive.
  • עָשׂוּ (asu) - Verb meaning "they have done," "they have made," or "they have committed."
  • The phrase collectively indicates that the act itself constitutes this fundamental moral violation and a blurring of sacred boundaries.
• their blood is upon them: דְּמֵיהֶם בָּם (d'meiham bam) - A common legal formula in the Old Testament. It signifies that the individuals are directly and entirely responsible for their own death; their guilt is clear, and the community is absolved from culpability in their execution. It removes any doubt about the justice of the verdict, underscoring that their own actions sealed their fate. This phrasing reinforces the idea that the death penalty is not merely a social sanction but a consequence of inherent defilement.

Leviticus 20 12 Bonus section

The specific inclusion of "daughter-in-law" alongside blood relatives in the incest laws highlights the gravity of affinity relations—relationships established through marriage rather than blood. These relationships were considered almost as binding and sacred as blood ties within ancient Israelite culture. Breaching these specific familial and social structures was viewed as a profound violation of trust, order, and the very foundation of societal purity commanded by a holy God. The concept of "perversion" (תֶּבֶל, tevel) not only means moral impurity but can also convey a sense of confusion or mingling that which should remain separate or distinct, deeply unsettling the divinely ordained order of family.

Leviticus 20 12 Commentary

Leviticus 20:12 delineates a critical aspect of God's holy standard for His people, particularly regarding sexual purity within the family. The prohibition of sexual relations between a man and his daughter-in-law, a close affinity by marriage, reinforces the boundary necessary for maintaining family integrity and preventing the moral and social chaos seen in surrounding pagan cultures. The designated penalty—capital punishment for both parties—underscores the extreme seriousness of this specific act of incest. This was not merely a breach of social custom but a defilement (תֶּבֶל, tevel), a perversion that corrupts fundamental relationships and the covenant community's holiness.

The emphasis on their "blood being upon them" clearly places full accountability on the transgressors, absolving the executioners and the community. This act was seen as an intrinsic moral contamination, severe enough to warrant the forfeiture of life. Such a strict command ensured the distinction and purity of Israel as God's chosen people, set apart from the nations that might condone or practice such relations. The Law was a fence to preserve the moral fabric of society, recognizing that breakdown in family relationships leads to wider societal decay. For followers of Christ, while the legal capital punishment does not apply, the underlying principle of valuing marriage, respecting family boundaries, and upholding sexual purity remains paramount, echoing New Testament admonitions against all forms of sexual immorality.