Leviticus 20:10 Meaning: Adultery, Death, and the Gospel's Hope
“‘The man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, even he who commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
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, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
`And a man who committeth adultery with a man's wife--who committeth adultery with the wife of his neighbour--the adulterer and the adulteress are surely put to death.
And a man that committeth adultery with a man's wife, who committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, — the adulterer and the adulteress shall certainly be put to death.
Meaning in one sentence
Find the meaning of Leviticus 20:10: why adultery carried the death penalty in ancient Israel and how Christians understand it through Jesus' forgiveness.
Context
Leviticus 20 sits within the holiness code God gave Israel at Sinai. The chapter lists serious offenses and their penalties, calling the people to be holy because God is holy. This verse comes after a command to honor parents and before a series of laws about forbidden sexual relationships. It is one of several verses that prescribe death for sexual sins that violate the covenant. The surrounding context makes clear that these laws were meant to set Israel apart from the nations around them, protecting the sanctity of marriage and the community as God's own people.
Key Words
The Hebrew verb behind 'commits adultery' is na'aph, used almost always of a man with another man's wife. It carries the sense of breaking a solemn covenant, not just a private wrong. The phrase 'shall surely be put to death' translates mot yumat, a doubled form meaning 'dying he shall be put to death', a legal formula that leaves no loophole. The word for 'neighbor' is rea, meaning a fellow member of the community, not a stranger. Together these words show that adultery was understood as a betrayal that struck at the very fabric of Israel's life with God.
How Christians Read This Verse
Matthew Henry called adultery a 'heinous crime' that defiled the marriage bond and the community. Jewish tradition, recorded by commentators like Gill, prescribed death by stoning for the married woman and by strangling for the betrothed. The Cambridge Bible notes that these penalties mirror the prohibitions in Leviticus 18. Across traditions, Christians have read this verse as revealing the profound seriousness God places on marital faithfulness, while pointing to the New Testament where Christ takes the penalty of sin upon Himself, opening the way for repentance and forgiveness.
A common misunderstanding
Some assume this verse commands all governments to execute adulterers. In fact, this law was part of Israel's unique theocratic civil code, not a universal mandate. The same passage calls the people to holiness and points ahead to a greater sacrifice. The New Testament shows that while the moral law remains, the civil penalty has been fulfilled in Christ, who died for all sinners including those guilty of adultery.
Living This Out
This verse asks you to recognize that adultery is not a minor slip but a wound that tears at trust and covenant. This week, if you are married, you might take one small step to strengthen your commitment, a conversation, a shared prayer, a guard on what your eyes linger on. If you have been hurt by betrayal, you can bring that grief to God, who knows the full weight of broken vows and the full cost of redemption. And if you have failed, know that the same God who gave this law also offered His Son to cover every sin.
Main takeaway: God's law reveals the grave cost of adultery, but the cross shows His grace can redeem even the deepest betrayal.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
This verse tells us that God takes marriage very seriously. He wants husbands and wives to be faithful to each other. Even when we make mistakes, God loves us and wants us to say sorry and try again.
For ages 9, 12
In ancient Israel, the penalty for adultery was death. That shows how serious God considers the marriage promise. Today, because of Jesus, we can be forgiven for any sin, but we should still treat marriage with great respect. God designed it to be a picture of His faithful love for us.
Questions People Ask
Why was the punishment for adultery so severe in Leviticus 20:10?
Adultery was a direct violation of the covenant between God and Israel. It broke the seventh commandment (Exodus 20:14) and defiled the community. The death penalty underlined the sacredness of marriage and the seriousness of unfaithfulness in a nation called to be holy.
How does Leviticus 20:10 relate to the Ten Commandments?
This verse provides the penalty for breaking the seventh commandment, 'You shall not commit adultery' (Exodus 20:14). While the commandment forbids the act, Leviticus 20:10 shows the community's response as a theocratic nation, emphasizing that adultery was not just a private sin but a public crime against God's order.
Does this verse apply to Christians today?
Christians understand that Israel's civil laws, including the death penalty for adultery, were given to a specific theocratic nation. The moral principle, that adultery is a serious sin against God and marriage, remains. But the New Testament teaches that forgiveness and restoration are available through Jesus Christ, who took the penalty for all sin on Himself.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study