Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Leviticus 20:10
And the man that committeth adultery with [another] man’s wife, [even he] that committeth adultery with his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
10 21. Directions on the whole similar to those of Lev 18:6-20; Lev 18:22-23, but adding penalties for transgression.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 10. Committeth adultery] To what has been said in Clarke’s note on “Ex 20:14“, 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 bed.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
And the man that committeth adultery with [another] man’s wife,…. Which is a breach of the seventh command, Ex 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 is so expressed to except the wife of a stranger, or a Gentile; but it means whether a Gentile or an Israelite; and which may be confirmed by the instance of Phinehas slaying a prince of Israel, that lay with a Midianitish woman, Nu 25:6:
the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death; on account of her that is espoused, by strangling, with a hard napkin within a soft one; and on account of her that is married, by casting stones; even both the adulterer and adulteress, as the Targum: and the Jews say b, strangling was thus performed; they that were strangled were fixed up to their knees in dung, and then they put a hard napkin within a soft one, and rolled it about his neck, and one drew it to him this way, and another drew it to him that way, until he expired: and there is no unlawful copulation punished with strangling, according to Maimonides c, but lying with another man’s wife; and who observes, that the death which is spoken of in the law absolutely, that is, without specifying any kind of death, is strangling; but stoning seems rather meant, agreeably to De 22:24.
b Misn. Sanhedrin, c. 7. sect. 3. c Hilchot lssure Biah, c. 1. sect. 6.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
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. 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. 12 And if a man lie with his daughter in law, both of them shall surely be put to death: they have wrought confusion; their blood shall be upon them. 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. 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. 15 And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death: and ye shall slay the beast. 16 And if a woman approach unto any beast, and lie down thereto, thou shalt kill the woman, and the beast: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. 17 And if a man shall take his sister, his father’s daughter, or his mother’s daughter, and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness; it is a wicked thing; and they shall be cut off in the sight of their people: he hath uncovered his sister’s nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity. 18 And if a man shall lie with a woman having her sickness, and shall uncover her nakedness; he hath discovered her fountain, and she hath uncovered the fountain of her blood: and both of them shall be cut off from among their people. 19 And thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother’s sister, nor of thy father’s sister: for he uncovereth his near kin: they shall bear their iniquity. 20 And if a man shall lie with his uncle’s wife, he hath uncovered his uncle’s nakedness: they shall bear their sin; they shall die childless. 21 And if a man shall take his brother’s wife, it is an unclean thing: he hath uncovered his brother’s nakedness; they shall be childless.
Sins against the seventh commandment are here ordered to be severely punished. These are sins which, of all others, fools are most apt to make a mock at; but God would teach those the heinousness of the guilt by the extremity of the punishment that would not otherwise be taught it.
I. Lying with another man’s wife was made a capital crime. The adulterer and the adulteress that had joined in the sin must fall alike under the sentence: they shall both be put to death, v. 10. Long before this, even in Job’s time, this was reputed a heinous crime and an iniquity to be punished by the judges, Job xxxi. 11. It is a presumptuous contempt of an ordinance of God, and a violation of his covenant, Prov. ii. 17. It is an irreparable wrong to the injured husband, and debauches the mind and conscience of both the offenders as much as any thing. It is a sin which headstrong and unbridled lusts hurry men violently to, and therefore it needs such a powerful restraint as this. It is a sin which defiles a land and brings down God’s judgments upon it, which disquiets families, and tends to the ruin of all virtue and religion, and therefore is fit to be animadverted upon by the conservators of the public peace: but see John viii. 3-11.
II. Incestuous connections, whether by marriage or not. 1. Some of them were to be punished with death, as a man’s lying with his father’s wife, v. 11. Reuben would have been put to death for his crime (Gen. xxxv. 22) if this law had been then made. It was the sin of the incestuous Corinthian, for which he was to be delivered unto Satan,1Co 5:1; 1Co 5:5. A man’s debauching his daughter-in-law, or his mother-in-law, or his sister, was likewise to be punished with death, Lev 20:12; Lev 20:14; Lev 20:17. 2. Others of them God would punish with the curse of barrenness, as a man’s defiling his aunt, or his brother’s wife (v. 19-21): They shall die childless. Those that keep not within the divine rules of marriage forfeit the blessings of marriage: They shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase, Hos. iv. 10. Nay it is said, They shall bear their iniquity, that is, though they be not immediately cut off by the hand either of God or man for this sin, yet the guilt of it shall lie upon them, to be reckoned for another day, and not be purged with sacrifice or offering.
III. The unnatural lusts of sodomy and bestiality (sins not to be mentioned without horror) were to be punished with death, as they are at this day by our law, Lev 20:13; Lev 20:15; Lev 20:16. Even the beast that was thus abused was to be killed with the sinner, who was thereby openly put to the greater shame: and the villany was thus represented as in the highest degree execrable and abominable, all occasions of the remembrance or mention of it being to be taken away. Even the unseasonable use of the marriage, if presumptuous, and in contempt of the law, would expose the offenders to the just judgment of God: they shall be cut off, v. 18. For this is the will of God, that every man should possess his vessel (and the wife is called the weaker vessel) in sanctification and honour, as becomes saints.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
Verses 10-17:
This text prescribes the penalties for the sins described in chapter 18: the sins of adultery, incest, homosexuality, lesbianism and bestiality. The penalty is death by stoning. In the case of a man who marries both a woman and her mother, they shall be “burnt with fire.” This does not mean that they were to be burned alive, but that their bodies were to be burned after they were stoned to death.
Verse 17 refers to more than the act of a brother and sister looking at each other’s exposed bodies. It denotes sexual relations between brother and sister.
Today’s permissive society sees the sins of incest and homosexuality as being minor matters. But God’s view of these sins has not changed, 1Co 6:15-20.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(10) Shall be surely put to deathThat is, by stoning. (See Lev. 20:2.) This precept is also to be found in Exo. 21:17; Pro. 20:20, and is referred to by our Lord (Mat. 15:14; Mar. 7:10).
His blood shall be upon himThat is, he has brought it upon himself to be killed. (See Jos. 2:19.) This phrase, which occurs seven times either in the singular or plural, is only to be found in this chapter (See Lev. 20:9; Lev. 20:11-13; Lev. 20:16; Lev. 20:27). According to the authorities during the second Temple, it carried with it death by lapidation.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
(10) Shall surely be put to death.This is, by penalty for the sin forbidden in Lev. 18:20. According to Jewish tradition whenever the phrase shall surely be put to death occurs by itself, it denotes death by strangling. This death was inflicted for six crimesupon him who had commerce with another mans wife; who smote his father or mother; (3) who stole an Israelite; (4) who being an elder rebelled against the decree of the senate (Deu. 17:12); (5) who played the false prophet; and (6) who prophesied in the name of another god.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
10. The adulterer and the adulteress In the Mosaic law adultery is committed only through the unchastity of a wife. A husband commits this crime only with the free wife of another. See Exo 20:14, note.
Put to death If the adulteress was another’s slave, the penalty was milder, probably corporeal punishment. The allowance of polygamy implies that the wife has no such exclusive right to the husband as the husband has to the wife. In many countries the adulteress has suffered capital punishment while the adulterer has escaped with a less penalty. Since this crime destroys the family, the corner-stone of society, it deserves the severest penalty. If both parties are married persons, the crime is double adultery; if but one is under marriage vows, it is single. See Exo 20:14, note.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
For Unlawful Marriages
v. 10. And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbor’s wife, v. 11. And the man that lieth with his father’s wife, v. 12. And if a man lie with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall surely be put to death; they have wrought confusion, v. 13. If a man also lie with mankind as he lieth with a woman, v. 14. And if a man take a wife and her mother, v. 15. And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death; and ye shall slay the beast.
v. 16. And if a woman approach unto any beast and lie down thereto, thou shalt kill the woman and the beast; they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. v. 17. And if a man shall take his sister, his father’s daughter or his mother’s daughter, v. 18. And if a man lie with a woman having her sickness, v. 19. And thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother’s sister nor of thy father’s sister; for he uncovereth his near kin; they shall bear their iniquity. v. 20. And if a man shall lie with his uncle’s wife, v. 21. And if a man shall take his brother’s wife,
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
Lev 20:10. The man that committeth adultery The Hebrew word may signify all kinds of uncleanness; yet here it does, and must, properly, signify adultery; a crime held so detestable by all nations, that there were few in ancient times that did not reckon it capital. Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans held it alike enormous. Is it not strange, that in our laws we punish a petty robbery with death; and suffer adultery to go wholly unpunished?
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
What is here rehearsed concerning uncleanness, every Christian reader may say, as the apostle, of such horrible corruptions in general, let it not be once named among you as becometh saints. Eph 5:3 . Reader! what a humiliating thought is it, that our nature should be capable of such detestable bestiality as is here mentioned! To what a degraded state are we fallen! And observe what is said concerning such things, a man shall bear his iniquity. Gracious GOD had this been our doom forever; and no Redeemer been found to bear the sins of his people, what must have been the portion of all! Dearest JESUS! here let me again look up, and behold thee, as bearing our sins in thine own body on the tree: and while my soul exults in thy love, thine unequalled love, in that thou hast so loved us as to give thyself for us, may I no less rejoice in the FATHER’S tender mercy, who in determined love to a lost world, was pleased to lay on thee the iniquity of us all. Isa 53:5 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Lev 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.
Ver. 10. Shall surely be put to death. ] Adultery was death long before this law. Gen 26:11 ; Gen 38:24 So it was afterwards among the Greeks, Romans, and many other nations. Jer 29:22-23
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the adulterer: Deu 22:22-24, 2Sa 12:13, Eze 23:45-47, Joh 8:4, Joh 8:5
Reciprocal: Gen 20:9 – a great Gen 38:24 – let her Gen 39:9 – how then Exo 20:14 – General Lev 18:20 – General Num 5:13 – General Num 5:31 – bear Num 15:30 – doeth ought Jdg 19:3 – speak Job 31:11 – an iniquity Psa 50:18 – hast been partaker Pro 6:29 – he that Jer 5:7 – they then Eze 16:38 – as women Eze 18:6 – neither hath defiled Eze 22:11 – committed Mal 3:5 – the sorcerers Mat 1:19 – a public Mat 5:27 – Thou Rom 7:3 – So then
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Lev 20:10. The adulterer and adulteress shall surely be put to death Adultery, however lightly it may be accounted of by men who are lost to all sense of virtue and honour, has not only under the Mosaic economy, but by several other civilized nations; been reckoned a capital wickedness. By the ancient laws of Solon the husband was authorized to kill the adulterer and adulteress, if he found them in the fact; or if he did not choose to proceed to that severity, he might put out their eyes. Among the Egyptians too, adulterers were punished with the utmost severity. If a woman were enticed to commit adultery, her nose was slit, and the man received a thousand blows with rods. To the same purpose, by the Roman laws, the adulterer might be put to death if he were taken in the act. Considering the heinous nature and fatal consequences of this vice, we need not wonder much, if, in well-regulated states, it has been punishable with death. By our laws a man shall lose his life by robbing another of a few shillings; but what proportion is there between robbing a man of a sum of money, and invading his property in what he often cherishes more tenderly than ease, plenty, honour, and even life itself?
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Lev 20:10-21. Penalties for Sexual Sinsgenerally death, the manner being unspecified. Adultery, incest, sodomy head the list; the special case of Lev 20:14 (contrast Amo 2:7) is followed by the burning of all three persons (cf. Lev 21:9). Special enormity (RVm) requires special penalty. Bestiality, and other cases of incest, and neglect of the regulation of prohibited periods, are all to be punished by death. Union with an aunt, either on the mothers or fathers side, is regarded less harshly, with a threat of Divine vengeance rather than a penalty; for union with the wife of an uncle or brother no action is enjoined, but childlessness is foretold.