Leviticus 20:13
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The verse clearly states "both of them" are guilty and face the same severe consequence. This emphasizes that in this context, active participation, whether initiating or consenting, carries equal culpability before God. This isn't just about a specific act, but a shared responsibility for the violation of divine order.
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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse is part of a series in Leviticus 20 that reiterates and enforces laws concerning sexual morality, often specifying capital punishment for transgressions. It directly follows prohibitions against various sexual sins and precedes further pronouncements on other offenses, all within the context of God establishing holiness for His people. The severity of the penalty underscores the seriousness with which God viewed these acts as "abominations" within the covenant community.
The Bible doesn't shy away from strong language when describing sin. What does it mean for an act to be called an 'abomination' in God's sight?
The term 'abomination' (Hebrew: to'evah) in Leviticus describes something that is detestable and offensive to God. It often refers to practices that were seen as a rejection of God's order and holiness, frequently associated with the idolatrous practices of surrounding nations.
In this context, the act described is understood as profoundly contrary to the created order God established for human sexuality and procreation, which was foundational to the covenant people of Israel.
It signifies an act so contrary to God's nature and design that it incurs His utmost displeasure and judgment.
This verse prescribes the death penalty. What was the purpose and context of capital punishment in ancient Israel?
The Mosaic Law included capital punishment for a range of offenses, reflecting the severity of sin and the need for a holy community set apart from surrounding nations. The penalty here, 'they shall surely be put to death,' was the prescribed penalty under the Old Covenant.
Commentators note that the enforcement of this law often had specific conditions within the broader legal system of Israel. For instance, the law concerning adultery, and by extension sexual sins, generally required the testimony of two or three witnesses (Deuteronomy 17:6). Furthermore, the context of the Old Testament law indicates that coercion or force altered the culpability of the victim (Deuteronomy 22:25-27).
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Ultimately, this severe penalty underscores the absolute prohibition of the act and God's high standard for His people. It served as a stark warning and a means of maintaining the purity and distinctiveness of the covenant community.
Understand the original words
toebah · Hebrew Noun
Something detestable, loathsome, or ethically abhorrent to God, often used in the context of idolatry or sexual immorality that violates the holiness of Israel.
This passage from the New Testament echoes the condemnation of same-sex relations described in Leviticus, framing them as unnatural and contrary to God's design for humanity.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10Here, the Apostle Paul lists various unrighteous behaviors that exclude people from the Kingdom of God, including those who practice same-sex acts, highlighting the seriousness with which such actions were viewed in early Christian teaching.
Jude 1:7This verse references the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, a historical event often understood as a judgment on pervasive sexual immorality, including same-sex relations, similar to the condemnation in Leviticus.
Leviticus 18:22This verse immediately precedes the passage in question, explicitly forbidding sexual relations between men, establishing the foundational law that Leviticus 20:13 reinforces with a penalty.
bensonLeviticus 20:13: "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 . Put to death — Except the one party was forced by the other: see Deuteronomy 22:25 .
gillLeviticus 20:13: "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."
If a man lie also with mankind, as he lieth with a woman,.... Is guilty of the sin of sodomy, this is a breach of the law in Leviticus 18:22 , both of them have committed an abomination; he that lies, and he that is lain with, both consenting to perpetrate the abominable wickedness; which may well be called an…
The verse clearly states "both of them" are guilty and face the same severe consequence. This emphasizes that in this context, active participation, whether initiating or consenting, carries equal culpability before God. This isn't just about a specific act, but a shared responsibility for the violation of divine order.
This verse is part of a series in Leviticus 20 that reiterates and enforces laws concerning sexual morality, often specifying capital punishment for transgressions. It directly follows prohibitions against various sexual sins and precedes further pronouncements on other offenses, all within the context of God establishing holiness for His people. The severity of the penalty underscores the seriousness with which God viewed these acts as "abominations" within the covenant community.
This verse is part of a series in Leviticus 20 that reiterates and enforces laws concerning sexual morality, often specifying capital punishment for transgressions. It directly follows prohibitions against various sexual sins and precedes further pronouncements on other offenses, all within the context of God establishing holiness for His people. The severity of the penalty underscores the seriousness with which God viewed these acts as "abominations" within the covenant community.
"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." — The verse clearly states "both of them" are guilty and face the same severe consequence. This emphasizes that in this context, active participation, whether initiating or consenting, carries equal cu…
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Last reviewed October 2026
