Leviticus 20:14
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The text calls this specific act "depravity," highlighting that the mingling of a man with both his wife and her mother is a particularly shocking violation of God's order, deserving a unique and severe punishment to cleanse the community. This extreme penalty underscores that the intent wasn't just to punish the act itself, but to eradicate the presence of such profound moral corruption.
If a man takes a woman and her mother also, it is depravity; he and they shall be burned with fire, that there may be no depravity among you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage continues God's detailed instructions to Israel about maintaining holiness and distinguishing themselves from the surrounding nations, specifically addressing severe forms of sexual sin. It follows regulations against adultery and incest, and this verse tackles the extreme depravity of a man marrying both a woman and her mother, an act considered an abomination that must be eradicated from the community. The severity of the punishment underscores the absolute prohibition against such relationships and serves as a stark warning to prevent these practices from taking root in Israel.
This verse describes a crime so shocking it demands a punishment that seems almost unimaginable. What makes this act so heinously wicked in God's eyes?
The text labels the act of a man taking both a wife and her mother as "wickedness" (Hebrew: zimmah). This isn't just ordinary sin; it's a profound violation of the natural order and God's design for family and sexuality. It's a deliberate twisting of sacred relationships—a man's wife and his mother-in-law. The severity of the prescribed punishment, burning with fire, underscores the extreme abhorrence God holds for such incestuous relationships. This isn't about arbitrary cruelty; it's about purging "wickedness" from the community to preserve its holiness and integrity. The intent is not just to punish individuals but to deter the entire community by making an example of such profound transgression.
The punishment here involves 'he and they.' Who exactly are 'they,' and what does this tell us about sin's impact on relationships?
The phrase 'both he and they' points to a collective responsibility and a shared guilt in this act. While the man is central, the inclusion of 'they' implies that the wife and her mother, if they consented to this arrangement, shared in the profound wickedness. This wasn't a crime where one person acted alone; it was a perversion involving multiple individuals who, by their participation or consent, defiled the community. God's command to burn them aimed at eradicating this defilement from the Israelite community. It highlights that sin, especially within family structures, has a ripple effect, and maintaining communal purity required addressing all who willingly participated in such abominations.
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Understand the original words
zimmah · Hebrew Noun
A severe form of wickedness, lewdness, or heinous crime, specifically indicating an act that is profoundly contrary to natural and moral law, deserving of total eradication.
This passage explicitly forbids marrying a wife and her mother, directly preceding the verse in question and establishing the forbidden relationship.
Deuteronomy 27:20This verse outlines a curse upon the one who lies with his father's wife, which parallels the severe condemnation and punishment for incestuous relationships found in Leviticus.
Romans 1:26-27Paul describes similar unnatural desires and actions as a consequence of rejecting God, highlighting the broad biblical condemnation of sexual deviance that violates God's created order.
1 Corinthians 5:1This passage addresses a severe case of sexual immorality within the early church, showing that such deeply offensive acts were not tolerated and required decisive action, echoing the severity of the Leviticus law.
gillLeviticus 20:14: "And if a man take a wife and her mother, it is wickedness: they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they; that there be no wickedness among you."
And if a man take a wife, and her mother,.... Marry both the one and the other, or commit uncleanness with them, they consenting to it: it is wickedness; abominable wickedness, shocking and detestable; there are other things, which also are wicked and not to be done, but this is extremely wicked, wickedness to a high degree: they s…
clarkeLeviticus 20:14: "And if a man take a wife and her mother, it is wickedness: they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they; that there be no wickedness among you."
They shall be burnt with fire - As there are worse crimes mentioned here, (see Leviticus 20:11 and Leviticus 20:17 ), where the delinquent is ordered simply to be put to death, or to be cut off, it is very likely that the crime mentioned in this verse was not punished by burning alive, but by some kind of branding, by which they we…
The text calls this specific act "depravity," highlighting that the mingling of a man with both his wife and her mother is a particularly shocking violation of God's order, deserving a unique and severe punishment to cleanse the community. This extreme penalty underscores that the intent wasn't just to punish the act itself, but to eradicate the presence of such profound moral corruption.
This passage continues God's detailed instructions to Israel about maintaining holiness and distinguishing themselves from the surrounding nations, specifically addressing severe forms of sexual sin. It follows regulations against adultery and incest, and this verse tackles the extreme depravity of a man marrying both a woman and her mother, an act considered an abomination that must be eradicated from the community. The severity of the punishment underscores the absolute prohibition against such relationships and serves as a stark warning to prevent these practices from taking root in Israel.
This passage continues God's detailed instructions to Israel about maintaining holiness and distinguishing themselves from the surrounding nations, specifically addressing severe forms of sexual sin. It follows regulations against adultery and incest, and this verse tackles the extreme depravity of a man marrying both a woman and her mother, an act considered an abomination that must be eradicated from the community. The severity of the punishment underscores the absolute prohibition against such relationships and serves as a stark warning to prevent these practices from taking root in Israel.
"If a man takes a woman and her mother also, it is depravity; he and they shall be burned with fire, that there may be no depravity among you." — The text calls this specific act "depravity," highlighting that the mingling of a man with both his wife and her mother is a particularly shocking violation of God's order, deserving a unique and sev…
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Last reviewed October 2026
