Leviticus 20:10
“If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse highlights that the penalty for adultery falls equally on both the man and the woman involved. It’s not just the man who sins against his neighbor's marriage, but the woman who participates also bears responsibility for the capital offense.
This verse comes directly after God instructs the Israelites about avoiding the detestable practices of the surrounding nations, particularly regarding sexual immorality. Immediately preceding this, in Leviticus 20:9, it declares that anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death, establishing a context of severe penalties for grievous sins. Therefore, this command about adultery is part of a broader list of capital offenses designed to set Israel apart as a holy people, demonstrating the sanctity of marriage and the seriousness with which God views breaches of that covenant.
Why was adultery punished so severely in ancient Israel? It wasn't just about breaking a rule; it was about a profound violation of trust and commitment.
Leviticus 20:10 lays out a stark penalty for adultery: death for both the man and the woman involved. This wasn't a minor infraction in God's eyes.
A Breach of Sacred Trust
Adultery directly violated the marriage covenant, which God established as a reflection of His own faithful love for His people. It was a betrayal of the deepest commitment between a husband and wife, shattering trust and bringing shame.
Neighborly Trust Undermined
The phrase 'wife of his neighbor' highlights that this wasn't just about any woman, but specifically a married woman. This strikes at the heart of community trust. When you commit adultery with your neighbor's wife, you aren't just harming one person; you're damaging the foundation of relationships and security within the community.
The penalty was death, 'surely put to death.' What does this absolute pronouncement tell us about God's view of sin and His administration of justice?
The phrase 'shall surely be put to death' is emphatic, leaving no room for negotiation. It signals a non-negotiable consequence for a grave offense.
God's Judgment on Sin
This severe penalty underscores that sin has real, devastating consequences. God, in His perfect justice, cannot simply overlook actions that corrupt and destroy the sacred bonds He created. The sentence reflects the gravity of the offense against both individuals and the covenantal order.
Shared Responsibility
Crucially, the verse states 'both the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.' This is vital. It shows that both parties bear responsibility for the transgression. Unlike some ancient laws that might focus more on the woman, or the man if he was caught in the act, God's law here is clear: the sin and its penalty are shared.
Understand the original words
na'aph · Hebrew Verb
Sexual relations between a married person and someone other than their spouse; it is a severe violation of the marriage covenant, which is designed by God to mirror the faithfulness between Him and His people.
This passage is the foundational prohibition against adultery, establishing it as a violation of God's law, which Leviticus 20:10 then explicitly penalizes.
Proverbs 6:29-35This wisdom literature passage vividly illustrates the severe consequences of adultery, describing the wrath of a husband and the ultimate ruin it brings, echoing the severity of the Mosaic penalty.
Matthew 15:19Jesus identifies adultery as originating from the heart, a sin that defiles a person, showing that while the Mosaic Law prescribed a physical death penalty, the New Testament emphasizes the internal sin and its spiritual defilement.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10This New Testament passage lists 'adulterers' among those who will not inherit the kingdom of God, indicating that while the physical death penalty is not applied in the same way, the sin is still gravely serious in God's eyes.
Hebrews 13:4This verse directly states that God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous, reinforcing the timeless truth that adultery is a sin against God that carries His judgment.
gillLeviticus 20:10: "And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death."
And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife,.... Which is a breach of the seventh command, Exodus 20:14 , even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife: which is only an explanation of the former clause; though the Jewish writers, as Jarchi and Ben Gersom, say this…
clarkeLeviticus 20:10: "And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death."
Committeth adultery - To what has been said in the note on See Exodus 20:14 (note), we may add, that the word adultery comes from the Latin adulterium, which is compounded of ad, to or with, and alter, another, or, according to Minshieu, of ad alterius forum, he that approaches to another man's…
This verse highlights that the penalty for adultery falls equally on both the man and the woman involved. It’s not just the man who sins against his neighbor's marriage, but the woman who participates also bears responsibility for the capital offense.
This verse comes directly after God instructs the Israelites about avoiding the detestable practices of the surrounding nations, particularly regarding sexual immorality. Immediately preceding this, in Leviticus 20:9, it declares that anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death, establishing a context of severe penalties for grievous sins. Therefore, this command about adultery is part of a broader list of capital offenses designed to set Israel apart as a holy people, demonstrating the sanctity of marriage and the seriousness with which God views breaches of that covenant.
"“If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death." — This verse highlights that the penalty for adultery falls equally on both the man and the woman involved. It’s not just the man who sins against his neighbor's marriage, but the woman who participate…
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