LEV 20

Leviticus 20:18

WEB

“‘If a man lies with a woman having her monthly period, and uncovers her nakedness, he has made her fountain naked, and she has uncovered the fountain of her blood. Both of them shall be cut off from among their people.

BSB

If a man lies with a menstruating woman and has sexual relations with her, he has exposed the source of her flow, and she has uncovered the source of her blood. Both of them must be cut off from among their people.

KJV

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.

Matthew Henry

Verses 10–21

Leviticus 20:10–21

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, Lev 20:10. Long before this, even in Job's time, this was reputed a heinous crime and an iniquity to be punished by the judges, Job 31:11. It is a presumptuous contempt of an ordinance of God, and a violation of his covenant, Pro 2:17. 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 Joh 8:3-11.

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, Lev 20:11. Reuben would have been put to death for his crime (Gen 35:22) if this law had been then made. It was the sin of the incestuous Corinthian, for which he was to be delivered unto Satan, Co1 5:1, Co1 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 (Lev 20:19-21): 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 4:10. 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, Lev 20:18. 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.

Cross-references: Lev 20:10 · Job 31:11 · Prov 2:17 · John 8:3 · Lev 20:11 · Gen 35:22 · 1Cor 5:1 · 1Cor 5:5 · Lev 20:12 · Lev 20:14 · Lev 20:17 · Lev 20:19 · Hos 4:10 · Lev 20:13 · Lev 20:15 · Lev 20:16 · Lev 20:18

Hebrew interlinear

H376

אִישׁʼîysh/eesh/

n-m — man

Derivation: contracted for 582 (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant);

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

KJV: also, another, any (man), a certain, champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), none, one, people, person, steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare 802.

אִישׁ

n.m — man

אִישׁ 2166 n.m. man (= vir)

H834

אֲשֶׁרʼăsher/ash-er'/

r — who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

Derivation: a primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number);

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.

KJV: × after, × alike, as (soon as), because, × every, for, + forasmuch, + from whence, + how(-soever), × if, (so) that ((thing) which, wherein), × though, + until, + whatsoever, when, where (+ -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, + whither(-soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun expletively, used to show the connection.

אֲשֶׁר

part. of relation — who

אֲשֶׁר part. of relation A sign of relation, bringing the clause introduced by it into relation with an antecedent clause.

בַאֲשֶׁר

adv — in which

בַאֲשֶׁר

a. in (that) which

b. adv. in (the place) where

c. conj. in that, inasmuch as

d. on account of whom?

כַּאֲשֶׁר

conj — according as

כַּאֲשֶׁר conj. according as, as, when

1. according to that which, according as, as

2. with a causal force, in so far as, since

3. with a temporal force, when

מֵאֲשֶׁר

adv — who

מֵאֲשֶׁר

a. from (or than) that which

b. adv. from (the place) where

c. conj. from (the fact) that …, since

H7901

שָׁכַבshâkab/shaw-kab'/

v — lie down

Derivation: a primitive root;

to lie down (for rest, sexual connection, decease or any other purpose)

KJV: × at all, cast down, (lover-)lay (self) (down), (make to) lie (down, down to sleep, still with), lodge, ravish, take rest, sleep, stay.

שָׁכַב

vb — lie down

שָׁכַב 212 vb. lie down

Qal

1. lie down

2. = lodge (for night)

3. of sexual relations, lie with

4.

a. lie down in death

b. esp. in phr. lie down with his fathers

5. fig. = relax

Niph. Pu. = be lain with (sexually; subj. women), only as Qr for Kt [שָׁגֵל] Niph. Pu. q.v.

Hiph. lay

Hoph. laid

H854

אֵתʼêth/ayth/

prep — nearness, near, with, by, at, among

Derivation: probably from 579;

properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc.

KJV: against, among, before, by, for, from, in(-to), (out) of, with. Often with another prepositional prefix.

אֵת

prep — with

אֵת, prep. with—prep. denoting proximity

1. Of companionship, together with

2. Of localities

3. אֵת פּ׳ denotes specially

a. in one's possession or keeping

b. in one's knowledge or memory

4. מֵאֵת from proximity with

Note. אֵת expresses closer association than עִם: hence while מֵעִם sts. denotes hardly more than from the surroundings or belongings of, מֵאֵת expresses from close proximity to.

H802

אִשָּׁהʼishshâh/ish-shaw'/

n-f — woman

Derivation: feminine of 376 or 582; irregular plural, נָשִׁים;(used in the same wide sense as 582)

a woman

KJV: (adulter) ess, each, every, female, × many, none, one, together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English.

אִשָּׁה

n.f — woman

אִשָּׁה 773 n.f. woman, wife, female

1. woman

2. Wife (woman belonging to a man, usually cstr. or sf.)

3. Female of animals

4. With distrib. & recipr. sense, each woman from her neighbor; each one

H1739

דָּוֶהdâveh/daw-veh'/

a — sick

Derivation: from 1738;

sick (especially in menstruation)

KJV: faint, menstruous cloth, she that is sick, having sickness.

דָּוֶה

adj — faint

דָּוֶה adj. faint, unwell

H1540

גָּלָהgâlâh/gaw-law'/

v — denude, exile, reveal

Derivation: a primitive root;

to denude (especially in a disgraceful sense); by implication, to exile (captives being usually stripped); figuratively, to reveal

KJV: advertise, appear, bewray, bring, (carry, lead, go) captive (into captivity), depart, disclose, discover, exile, be gone, open, × plainly, publish, remove, reveal, × shamelessly, shew, × surely, tell, uncover.

גָּלָה

vb — uncover

גָּלָה 189 vb. uncover, remove

Qal

1. uncover the ear of one, i.e. reveal to him

2. intr. remove, depart

3. go into exile

Niph.

1. refl.

a. uncover oneself (one’s nakedness)

b. discover or shew oneself

2. pass.

a. be uncovered (one’s nakedness)

b. be disclosed, discovered

3. be removed

Pi.

1. uncover

2. disclose, discover, lay bare

3. make known, shew, reveal

Pu. be uncovered

Hiph. carry away into exile, take into exile

Hoph. carried into exile

Hithp.

1. was uncovered (naked)

2. that his heart may reveal itself

H853

אֵתʼêth/ayth/

prt — self, even, namely

Derivation: apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of entity;

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

KJV: [as such unrepresented in English].

אֵת

mark of the accusative

אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

H6172

עֶרְוָהʻervâh/er-vaw'/

n-f — nudity

Derivation: from 6168;

nudity, literally (especially the pudenda) or figuratively (disgrace, blemish)

KJV: nakedness, shame, unclean(-ness).

עֶרְוָה

n.f — nakedness

עֶרְוָה 54 n.f. nakedness, pudenda

H4726

מָקוֹרmâqôwr/maw-kore'/

n-m — dug, source, pudenda

Derivation: or מָקֹר; from 6979;

properly, something dug, i.e. a (general) source (of water, even when naturally flowing; also of tears, blood (by euphemism, of the female pudenda); figuratively, of happiness, wisdom, progeny)

KJV: fountain, issue, spring, well(-spring).

מָקוֹר

n.m — spring

מָקוֹר n.m. spring, fountain (app. orig. well)

1. spring of water

2. fig. of eye

3. source of menstruous blood

4. = flow of blood after child-birth

H6168

עָרָהʻârâh/aw-raw'/

v — be, make, bare, empty, pour out, demolish

Derivation: a primitive root;

to be (causatively, make) bare; hence, to empty, pour out, demolish

KJV: leave destitute, discover, empty, make naked, pour (out), rase, spread self, uncover.

עָרָה

vb — be naked

[עָרָה] vb. be naked, bare

Pi.

1. lay bare

2. lay bare by removing contents, empty, water-jar

3. pour out

Hiph.

1. make naked, of sexual offences

2. pour out

Niph. until there be poured upon us a spirit from on high

Hithp.

1. thou shalt make thyself naked

2. usu. pouring himself, i.e. spreading himself out like a tree

H1931

הוּאhûwʼ/hoo/

p — he, she, it, self, same, this, that, as, are

Derivation: of which the feminine (beyond the Pentateuch) is הִיא; he a primitive word, the third person pronoun singular;

he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are

KJV: he, as for her, him(-self), it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they, this, those, which (is), who.

הוּא

m — he

הוּא m. הִיא f., pron. of the 3rd ps. sing. he, she, used also (in both genders) for the neuter it

1. an emph. he (she, it, they), sometimes equivalent to himself (herself, itself, themselves), or (esp. with the art.) that (those)

2. It resumes the subj. with emph.

3. Where, however, the pron. follows the pred., its position gives it the minimum of emphasis, and it expresses (or resumes) the subject as unobtrusively as possible

4. It anticipates (as it seems) the subject

5. As an emph. predicate, of God

6. In a neuter sense, that, it (of an action, occurrence, matte, etc.)

7. With the art.: so regularly when joined to a subst. defined itself by the art.

H1818

דָּםdâm/dawm/

n-m — blood, juice, bloodshed

Derivation: from 1826 (compare 119);

blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshed (i.e. drops of blood)

KJV: blood(-y, -guiltiness, (-thirsty), innocent.

דָּם

n.m — blood

דָּם 300 n.m. blood

1. blood of man or animal

2. usually blood become visible

3. blood used with religious significance

4. fig. of wine

H3772

כָּרַתkârath/kaw-rath'/

v — cut, destroy, consume, covenant

Derivation: a primitive root;

to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e. make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutting flesh and passing between the pieces)

KJV: be chewed, be con-(feder-) ate, covenant, cut (down, off), destroy, fail, feller, be freed, hew (down), make a league (covenant), × lose, perish, × utterly, × want.

כָּרַת

vb — cut off

כָּרַת 291 vb. cut off, cut down

Qal

1. cut off

2. cut down

3. hew, timber

4. cut, or make a covenant

Niph.

1. be cut off

2. be cut down

3. be chewed between the teeth

4. be cut off, in a more general sense fail

Pual

1. be cut off

2. be cut down

Hiph.

1. cut off, flattering lips

2. cut off, destroy the life of

3. cut down, destroy, cities

4. take away

5. permit to perish

H8147

שְׁנַיִםshᵉnayim/shen-ah'-yim/

n — two, twofold

Derivation: dual of 8145; feminine שְׁתַּיִם;

two; also (as ordinal) twofold

KJV: both, couple, double, second, twain, twelfth, twelve, twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two.

שְׁנַ֫יִם

n.m — two

שְׁנַ֫יִם, שְׁתַּיִם 768 n.m. et f. du. two

H7130

קֶרֶבqereb/keh'-reb/

n-m — nearest, center

Derivation: from 7126;

properly, the nearest part, i.e. the center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial (especially with preposition)

KJV: × among, × before, bowels, × unto charge, eat (up), × heart, × him, × in, inward (× -ly, part, -s, thought), midst, out of, purtenance, × therein, × through, × within self.

קֶ֫רֶב

n.[m.] — inward part

קֶ֫רֶב 227 n.[m.] inward part, midst

H5971

עַםʻam/am/

n-m — people, tribe, troops, attendants, flock

Derivation: from 6004;

a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock

KJV: folk, men, nation, people.

עַם

n.[m.] — kinsman

[עַם] n.[m.] kinsman (on father's side)

עַם

n.m — people

עַם, עָם 1810 n.m. people

1. a people, nation

2. = smaller units

3. = common people

4. people in gen., persons

5. phrases

Bible49 app

Get translation compare, commentary, and interlinear study — offline, on iPhone and Mac.

See Bible49