Leviticus 20:11
If a man lies with his father’s wife, he has uncovered his father’s nakedness; both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The phrase "uncovered his father's nakedness" points to a profound violation beyond just sexual sin; it signifies a shocking disruption of the family's honor and God's intended order. This wasn't merely an infraction against his father but a transgression against the very foundations of lineage and respect that God established.
This passage comes right after prohibitions against adultery and incest with one's parents, continuing God's detailed instructions for Israel on how to live holy lives. It specifically addresses the severe sin of a man having sexual relations with his father's wife, which was already forbidden in Leviticus 18. The consequence here is stark: both the man and the woman are to face the death penalty, emphasizing the violation of familial purity and order.
This verse describes a forbidden act with a chilling phrase: 'uncovered his father's nakedness.' What does this evocative language truly mean?
The phrase 'uncovered his father's nakedness' is a powerful metaphor used throughout Leviticus. It doesn't just refer to sexual acts; it speaks to the profound violation of family honor and order.
Shattering Trust
When a man has sexual relations with his father's wife (his stepmother or another woman his father married), he is symbolically violating the deepest bonds of trust and respect within the family. He is breaching the sanctity of his father's household and diminishing his father's authority and dignity.
A Hierarchy Overturned
This act represents an inversion of the natural and divinely ordained family structure. It's a betrayal that brings shame not only on the individuals involved but also on the entire family lineage. The gravity of this transgression is underscored by the severe penalty that follows.
The consequence for this act is stark: 'both of them shall surely be put to death.' Why such a severe punishment?
The penalty prescribed in Leviticus 20:11—death for both the man and the woman involved—reflects the extreme seriousness with which God viewed sexual immorality, particularly within the family structure.
Maintaining Purity
As part of the laws given to ancient Israel, these commands were designed to set the people apart as holy to the Lord. They were meant to create a society that honored God's design for relationships and family life, distinguishing them from the surrounding nations who engaged in various forms of sexual impurity.
Shared Responsibility
The fact that both parties face the death penalty emphasizes that this was not seen as a one-sided offense. Both were accountable for this violation of God's law and the sanctity of the family unit. The phrase 'their blood shall be upon them' indicates that the responsibility for their fate rests with them due to their actions.
Understand the original words
shakab · Hebrew Verb
The act of sexual intercourse, often used in legal and covenantal contexts to describe sexual union. It implies a intimate knowledge or relationship.
ervah · Hebrew Noun
A euphemistic legal phrase for sexual intercourse, signifying the violation of the family unit, the integrity of the father, and the sanctity of the marriage bond.
muth · Hebrew Verb
The ultimate penalty under the Mosaic law for the most serious moral and covenantal violations, emphasizing the sanctity of life and the severity of violating God's statutes.
dam · Hebrew Noun
A legal idiom signifying that the individuals are guilty of their own deaths; they bear the personal responsibility and the judicial consequence for their capital offense.
This passage directly prohibits the act described in Leviticus 20:11, making it the foundational text for this law.
1 Corinthians 5:1-5This New Testament passage addresses a similar, shocking case of sexual immorality within the church, demonstrating that such grave sins require decisive, and at times, severe, community response.
Deuteronomy 27:20This passage echoes the curse and consequence for lying with a father's wife, reinforcing the severity and shame associated with this specific sin.
Proverbs 6:32-33While not a legal prohibition, this proverb speaks to the deep shame and spiritual consequence of adultery, paralleling the 'uncovering nakedness' imagery and the resulting destruction.
pooleLeviticus 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."
No text from Poole on this verse.
ellicottLeviticus 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."
(11) His father’s wife. —Here the penalty is enacted for the sin prohibited in Leviticus 18:8 .
The phrase "uncovered his father's nakedness" points to a profound violation beyond just sexual sin; it signifies a shocking disruption of the family's honor and God's intended order. This wasn't merely an infraction against his father but a transgression against the very foundations of lineage and respect that God established.
This passage comes right after prohibitions against adultery and incest with one's parents, continuing God's detailed instructions for Israel on how to live holy lives. It specifically addresses the severe sin of a man having sexual relations with his father's wife, which was already forbidden in Leviticus 18. The consequence here is stark: both the man and the woman are to face the death penalty, emphasizing the violation of familial purity and order.
This passage comes right after prohibitions against adultery and incest with one's parents, continuing God's detailed instructions for Israel on how to live holy lives. It specifically addresses the severe sin of a man having sexual relations with his father's wife, which was already forbidden in Leviticus 18. The consequence here is stark: both the man and the woman are to face the death penalty, emphasizing the violation of familial purity and order.
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"If a man lies with his father’s wife, he has uncovered his father’s nakedness; both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them." — The phrase "uncovered his father's nakedness" points to a profound violation beyond just sexual sin; it signifies a shocking disruption of the family's honor and God's intended order. This wasn't mer…
