Leviticus 20:10-16
God’s people must reject sexual immorality because it defiles His covenant order and invites judgment.
10 “ ‘The man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, even he who commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
11 “ ‘The man who lies with his father’s wife has uncovered his father’s nakedness. Both of them shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon themselves.
12 “ ‘If a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall surely be put to death. They have committed a perversion. Their blood shall be upon themselves.
13 “ ‘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 shall be upon themselves.
14 “ ‘If a man takes a wife and her mother, it is wickedness. They shall be burned with fire, both he and they, that there may be no wickedness among you.
15 “ ‘If a man lies with an animal, he shall surely be put to death; and you shall kill the animal.
16 “ ‘If a woman approaches any animal and lies with it, you shall kill the woman and the animal. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them.
God’s people must reject sexual immorality because it defiles His covenant order and invites judgment.
This passage establishes covenant penalties for various forms of sexual immorality, defining them as violations that defile individuals and the community and require decisive judgment.
This unit belongs to Leviticus 20, where the holiness code moves from prohibitions in Leviticus 18-19 into penalties and communal accountability. After addressing Molek worship, occult dependence, consecration, and dishonoring parents, the text now gives covenant sanctions for adultery, incestuous unions, same-sex intercourse, certain compound family violations, and bestiality. The movement reinforces that holiness touches worship, family, sexuality, justice, and communal purity.
Israel at Sinai, receiving covenant instruction for life as the LORD's holy people. The commands regulate the household, kinship boundaries, sexual conduct, and communal responsibility within ancient Israel's covenant society.
Holiness, Judgment, and the LORD Who Sanctifies His People
The LORD who sanctifies His people requires Israel to reject idolatry, occultism, sexual defilement, and national imitation, preserving holiness as His separated possession in the land.