Leviticus 20 13

Leviticus 20:13 kjv

If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

Leviticus 20:13 nkjv

If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them.

Leviticus 20:13 niv

"?'If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.

Leviticus 20:13 esv

If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.

Leviticus 20:13 nlt

"If a man practices homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman, both men have committed a detestable act. They must both be put to death, for they are guilty of a capital offense.

Leviticus 20 verses

Leviticus 20 13 Meaning

Leviticus 20:13 declares that if a man engages in sexual intercourse with another male in the same manner as with a woman, both participants have committed an act detestable to God. Such an act is to be punished by death, with the implication that their demise is a just consequence of their own actions.

Leviticus 20 13 Context

Leviticus 20 is part of the Holiness Code (chapters 17-26) within the book of Leviticus. This code delineates the behaviors required for Israel to maintain their covenant relationship with God and remain set apart from the surrounding nations. Following detailed regulations on sacrifice and priestly duties, the Holiness Code emphasizes the moral and ethical purity of the people. Chapter 20 specifically lists capital offenses for various grave sins, primarily sexual immoralities and idol worship, that defile individuals and the land itself. The repeated declaration of "abomination" (to'evah) highlights that these acts are repugnant to God's nature and covenant expectations, contrasting sharply with the fertility cults and pagan practices common in Canaanite cultures which often included diverse sexual acts. The penalties underscore the seriousness of maintaining God's order and holiness within the community He established.

Word Analysis

• If a man lies with a male:
  • ve'ish yishkav et-zakhar (וְאִישׁ יִשְׁכַּב אֶת־זָכָר) -
  • ish (אִישׁ): "man, husband, male human being." Denotes an adult male.
  • yishkav (יִשְׁכַּב): From the root shakhav (שָׁכַב), meaning "to lie down," often used as a euphemism for sexual intercourse, particularly in reference to penetration.
  • et-zakhar (אֶת־זָכָר): "with a male." Zakhar (זָכָר) means "male." The phrase explicitly refers to a man lying with another male. This identifies the parties involved as two biological males.
• as with a woman:
  • mishkevey ishshah (מִשְׁכְּבֵי אִשָּׁה) - "the lying of a woman" or "like the lying of a woman."
  • mishkevey (מִשְׁכְּבֵי): A plural noun derived from shakhav, literally "lie downings" or "couches," referring to the act or manner of lying with someone sexually.
  • ishshah (אִשָּׁה): "woman, wife, female human being."
  • This critical phrase clarifies the nature of the prohibited act: it is sexual intercourse that mimics the physical act typically performed by a man with a woman for procreation or marital intimacy. It signifies a complete sexual act, specifically penetrative sex, rather than mere affection or non-sexual physical contact between men.
• both of them have committed an abomination:
  • to'evah 'asu shneyhem (תּוֹעֵבָה עָשׂוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם) -
  • to'evah (תּוֹעֵבָה): "Abomination, detestable thing, abhorrent thing." This is a strong theological term indicating something morally and religiously repugnant to God. It describes something contrary to divine order and holiness. This term is used for idol worship, child sacrifice, dietary transgressions, and various sexual perversions, signifying actions that threaten the spiritual integrity of God's people and provoke divine judgment.
  • 'asu (עָשׂוּ): "they have done, committed, made."
  • shneyhem (שְׁנֵיהֶם): "both of them." This emphasizes the mutual culpability and shared guilt of the two individuals involved.
• they shall surely be put to death:
  • mot yumatun (מוֹת יוּמָתוּ) -
  • mot yumatun: An infinitive absolute construction used for emphasis in Hebrew, meaning "death they shall die," or "they shall certainly/surely be put to death." This emphasizes the certainty and severity of the punishment. It is a capital punishment mandated by God.
• their blood is upon them:
  • demeihem bam (דְּמֵיהֶם בָּם) -
  • demeihem (דְּמֵיהֶם): "their blood."
  • bam (בָּם): "on them."
  • This legal phrase signifies that the individuals are directly responsible for their own death. Their punishment is deserved and just, and their demise cannot be blamed on the executioners or the community. It effectively declares them guilty, removing any legal or moral culpability from those who carry out the judgment as prescribed by God's law.

Leviticus 20 13 Commentary

Leviticus 20:13 is a clear and severe condemnation of homosexual acts between men under the Mosaic covenant. The detailed Hebrew phrasing, "if a man lies with a male as with a woman," pinpoints penetrative sexual intercourse as the prohibited act, distinguishing it from non-sexual interactions. This act is categorized as a "to'evah," an abomination that profoundly offends God's holiness and contradicts His creation design for human sexuality (Gen 1:27, 2:24). The stipulated death penalty highlights the extreme seriousness of this offense within ancient Israel's theocratic framework, aiming to preserve the moral and spiritual purity of the community. This was not merely a cultural taboo but a divine prohibition that sought to set Israel apart from the morally degraded practices of surrounding pagan nations.

Bonus SectionWhile Leviticus 20:13 prescribes a civil penalty (death) for the nation of Israel under the Old Covenant, the underlying theological principle regarding God's standard for human sexuality remains constant for believers in the New Covenant. The New Testament affirms the unchanging nature of God's design for sexual intimacy within the boundaries of a male-female marriage and views homosexual acts as unnatural and contrary to His will (Rom 1:24-27, 1 Cor 6:9-10). The emphasis shifts from an externally enforced societal punishment to an internal call to holiness through repentance and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. For Christians, while civil law may differ, God's moral law regarding sexual purity endures, reminding believers to honor God with their bodies and conform to His righteous standards, aspiring to a life of purity reflecting Christ's holiness.